What are Braxton Hicks Contractions?
They are contractions of your uterus – often labelled as ‘false labour’ or practice contractions. They are not false contractions though, as the muscle of the womb is in fact contracting – but in a different way to what occurs in the actual process of labour and giving birth. They prepare the muscle of the uterus for your actual labour by tightening and relaxing it– but they do not cause labour to start and don’t make the cervix dilate. You don’t need to worry though, they are a very normal part of your body preparing for your actual labour and birth.