Hey Dr Sue — Are Braxton Hicks A Sign Of Pre-Term Labor?

The short answer is no.

But let me define these things so that people can better understand.

Pre-term labor is when a pregnant person goes into labor early. This means that they begin labor before 37 weeks.

Way back in the day, there was a real risk to the survival of the baby if it was born before 37 weeks. But now, thanks to technology and medical advances, babies born between 30 to 37 weeks have a really high survival rate.

Braxton Hicks contractions are sometimes referred to as false labor. They’re when the uterine muscles contract and then relax. Braxton Hicks contractions are pretty common in the third trimester.

There are a few ways to tell if contractions are false labor or true labor. If you’re feeling contractions and they subside when you stand up or move around, probably false labor. You know how in the movies and TV they’re always timing a person’s contractions when they’re in labor to see how long they last, and how often they’re happening? If the contractions aren’t getting closer together, and they’re not getting stronger, then they’re probably Braxton Hicks contractions.

With all that said, if you’re concerned about the pains you’re feeling, definitely call your health care provider. Same is true if…