Your Pregnancy Journey
Some Moms may start feeling the Braxton Hicks contractions at this stage of their Pregnancy.
Pre contractions or Braxton Hicks Contractions
Pre contractions– This is popularly also known as braxton – hicks contractions or fake contractions. Pregnant Mums usually experience this post week 28 of their Pregnancy.
What causes it?
They say Practice makes man Prefect J These Pre contractions is a manner in which the uterus exercises and prepares for birth. If they are short, painless and sporadic then that’s normal. Dehydration in pregnancy sometimes also leads to these contractions. Some women may even ignore them and not realise that they are experiencing these contractions.
How can one tell whether it’s real labour or not?
Braxton Hicks contractions usually last from 15-20 seconds and stop. Real contractions lasts much longer anywhere between 30 -60 seconds and keep getting longer, more intense and painful each time which is a sign telling you that you are going to be ready to give birth soon. The Pre contractions also stop usually when you have a change in your current activity. (For eg: when you stand if you are in a seated position), whereas real labour pains do not subside even if you change positions
Call your doctor!
If you feel that the contractions are increasing in intensity and if you experience lower back pain, bloody vaginal discharge, please call your doctor immediately in order to understand if its a premature term labour.
Baby’s growth
Your baby is growing rapidly by week 23. This causes the uterine muscles to stretch which at times can be painful to the mother. Ensure that you maintain a healthy well balanced diet and drink plenty of fluids. It is also advisable to listen to your body and rest from time to time. When you now visit the doctor for your routine check up, the doctor will palpitate the abdomen to check the growing baby and one can now feel the different baby body parts as they are more pronounced .