While Braxton Hicks contractions are irregular and sporadic, labor contractions have a consistent pattern. If your contractions are occurring regularly — every 10 minutes or more than six times per hour — you may be in labor and should call your doctor right away.
To find out, use your fingertips to feel your tummy – an uncomfortable feeling of firmness all over is probably a contraction, whereas if it's hard in some places and soft in others, it was probably just bub moving. In between baby movements and real pre-labour contractions are Braxton Hicks contractions.
During the pushing stage, you will most often feel a strong expulsion sensation with (and sometimes between) contractions, a feeling very much like having to poop. It's not uncommon for contractions to slow down quite a bit during this time, allowing rest in between.
You may feel upper abdominal pain near your rib cage, particularly on your right side. These issues require immediate medical attention. So, if you think you are having Braxton-Hicks contractions but the pain becomes severe and doesn't let up, get medical help as soon as possible.
Braxton-Hicks contractions are a very normal part of pregnancy. They can occur more frequently if you experience stress or dehydration. If at any point you're worried that your false labor contractions are real, consult your doctor. They'll be more than happy to check and see how things are moving along.
Unlike contractions during labor, Braxton Hicks are irregular and usually don't hurt, though they may be uncomfortable and occasionally are strong and painful. Some women say Braxton Hicks feel like mild menstrual cramps.
Braxton Hicks contractions may feel like a tightness in your abdomen, or they can be a bit more painful. Be aware that they're more likely to strike later in the day and after exercise or sexual activity.
However, if the contractions begin happening at very regular intervals under 5 minutes apart, they last for longer than 1 minute each, and this happens consecutively for over 1 hour, it may be time to call your healthcare provider.
Premature babies born between 33 and 34 weeks are called also called "moderately preterm babies." Weighing between 4 and 5 pounds at birth and measuring almost 20 inches long, these babies are getting much closer to the size of a baby born at term. Premature babies are almost fully developed by 33 and 34 weeks.
For most of your pregnancy, baby sort of swims around from one side of your uterus to the other. But at the 33- or 34-week mark, he or she will likely start to move permanently into the “head down” position to prep for labor, and descend further into your pelvis.
If a baby is born before 32 weeks, however, the prognosis is less optimistic. That's because premature delivery can result in negative health consequences such as low birth weight, vision or breathing difficulties, improper organ development, and learning disabilities.
Fetal Positions for Birth. Ideally for labor, the baby is positioned head-down, facing your back, with the chin tucked to its chest and the back of the head ready to enter the pelvis. This is called cephalic presentation. Most babies settle into this position with the 32nd and 36th week of pregnancy.
If you're 33 weeks pregnant, you're in month 8 of your pregnancy. Only 1 month left to go!
Early Signs of Labor that Mean Your Body Is Getting Ready:
- The baby drops.
- You feel the urge to nest.
- No more weight gain.
- Your cervix dilates.
- Fatigue.
- Worsening back pain.
- Diarrhea.
- Loose joints and increased clumsiness.
If you're in your second or third trimester of pregnancy and you notice that sometimes your pregnant belly gets very hard, feels tight, and even causes mild discomfort, you're probably experiencing Braxton-Hicks contractions.
A preterm or premature baby is delivered before 37 weeks of your pregnancy. Extremely preterm infants are born 23 through 28 weeks. Moderately preterm infants are born between 29 and 33 weeks. Late preterm infants are born between 34 and 37 weeks.
Risk factors
- Previous preterm labor or premature birth, particularly in the most recent pregnancy or in more than one previous pregnancy.
- Pregnancy with twins, triplets or other multiples.
- Shortened cervix.
- Problems with the uterus or placenta.
- Smoking cigarettes or using illicit drugs.
Fetal Growth Chart
| Gestational Age | Length (inches) | Weight (oz/lb) |
|---|
| 31 weeks | 16.18 | 3.31 lb |
| 32 weeks | 16.19 | 3.75 lb |
| 33 weeks | 17.20 | 4.23 lb |
| 34 weeks | 17.72 | 4.73 lb |
What do Braxton Hicks feel like? They may be uncomfortable, but they are not painful. Women often describe Braxton Hicks contractions as feeling like mild menstrual cramps or a tightening in a specific area of the stomach that comes and goes. "I find them like a mild stitch that goes almost as quickly as it comes.
7 Pregnancy Warning Signs
- Bleeding.
- Severe Nausea and Vomiting.
- Baby's Activity Level Significantly Declines.
- Contractions Early in the Third Trimester.
- Your Water Breaks.
- A Persistent Severe Headache, Abdominal Pain, Visual Disturbances, and Swelling During Your Third Trimester.
- Flu Symptoms.
Abdominal cramping.At 33 weeks pregnant, cramping can be a sign of preterm labor. Sometimes, but not always, this cramping is accompanied by diarrhea. If you notice either of these symptoms, let your healthcare provider know right away.
Different hospitals have different definitions of 'slow labour', but the main way to spot the signs of slow labour is to measure the rate at which your cervix dilates. If this is less than 0.5cm per hour over a four-hour period, Mother Nature might need a helping hand.
The signs and symptoms include a backache that does not stop, more than five contractions in one hour, a release of your bag of water, cramping, bleeding, any lower abdominal or back pain, and anything else that you find concerning.
Your doctor should have told you when to call if you experience cramping during the third trimester of pregnancy that you think may be labor contractions. Always be sure to call if you're bleeding, your water breaks or you have signs of preeclampsia like sudden swelling or blurry vision.
If the gush is a one-time event it's probably urine or vaginal discharge. If you continue to feed fluid leaking it's more likely to be amniotic fluid. Put on clean, dry underwear, add a panty liner, and lie down for about 30 minutes.
It's similar to email, but you don't have to worry about sending your personal medical information through – it's completely private and safe. While Braxton Hicks contractions can be uncomfortable and annoying, they are perfectly normal and do not pose a danger to you or your baby.
When do Braxton Hicks contractions start? Braxton Hicks contractions can begin any time after week 20 of pregnancy in the second trimester (though they're more noticeable in later months, in the third trimester). They'll increase through week 32 all the way until real labor starts.
Once your baby drops, you might notice a lot of increased pressure in your pelvis. This may be a time when you develop a significant pregnancy “waddle” as you adjust. This is probably the same feeling as walking around with what feels like a bowling ball between your legs.
You guessed it: by contracting. And yes, Braxton Hicks all day = totally normal (In most cases! See this post for how to tell labor contractions from Braxton Hicks contractions)
In cases where your baby would be premature, they may survive just fine for weeks with proper monitoring and treatment, usually in a hospital setting. In cases where your baby is at least 37 weeks, current research suggests that it may be safe to wait 48 hours (and sometimes longer) for labor to start on its own.
Braxton-Hicks contractions simulate real contractions to prepare the body for labor. However, they do not lead to labor. Real contractions only occur when the body is genuinely going into labor.
