PREGNANCY: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT Braxton Hicks CONTRACTION
So many people confuse Braxton Hicks Contraction with a sign that you are ready to give birth. That you are having cramps or tightening in your abdomen during pregnancy, does not mean you’re having labor. This is normal during pregnancy.
Braxton Hicks Contraction is a tightening in your abdomen that comes and goes. You feel your stomach muscles tighten across your belly and you feel your uterus becoming hard. These feeling are normal and should be expected because tone your uterus muscles and prepares your cervix for birth.
It usually happens all around the pregnancy period, but you begin to feel it more physically in the second trimester, around the 16thweek.
They usually last for 30 seconds, comes irregularly, stop when you change position, can be really uncomfortable but not painful and happens once or twice in an hour.
On the contrary, unlike labor pain, Braxton Hicks does not last longer as pregnancy progresses, doesn’t get stronger as time passes and does not get closer together.
The major difference between Braxton Hicks and Labor is that Braxton Hicks goes away when you change position.
You can ease the discomfort by taking a walk, taking a warm bath. Lying down and changing position.
