Overview
Braxton Hicks and true labor contractions are both types of uterine tightening during pregnancy, but they differ in purpose, intensity, and timing. Braxton Hicks are irregular, mild contractions that often start in the second or third trimester and are considered "practice" contractions. True labor contractions, on the other hand, are regular, progressively stronger, and lead to cervical dilation and childbirth. While Braxton Hicks are usually painless and subside with rest or hydration, true labor contractions intensify over time and do not go away.
Disease Summaries
Braxton Hicks: Braxton Hicks contractions are mild, irregular uterine tightenings that occur during pregnancy, often in the second or third trimester. They are considered "practice contractions" as the body prepares for labor, but they do not lead to cervical dilation or labor. These contractions are generally painless and go away with rest or hydration.
Contractions: True labor contractions are regular, strong uterine contractions that lead to progressive cervical dilation and delivery of the baby. They usually begin in the lower back and move to the front of the abdomen, increasing in intensity and frequency over time.
Comparing Symptoms
Overlapping Symptoms
- Tightening or hardening of the uterus
- Abdominal discomfort
- May be more noticeable in late pregnancy
- Can increase with physical activity or dehydration
Braxton Hicks Specific Symptoms
- Irregular timing and inconsistent intensity
- Usually mild and painless
- Often felt in the front of the abdomen
- Go away with rest, hydration, or position change
- Do not lead to cervical changes
Contractions Specific Symptoms
- Regular, timeable contractions that get closer together
- Increasing intensity and pain over time
- Usually start in the lower back and move to the front
- Do not go away with rest or hydration
- Lead to cervical dilation and delivery
Treatment Approaches
Braxton Hicks Treatment Approaches
No medical treatment is needed. Rest, hydration, and changing positions often relieve symptoms. If contractions become regular, painful, or more frequent, medical evaluation is needed to rule out preterm labor.
Contractions Treatment Approaches
Labor is managed in a hospital setting. Pain relief options include breathing techniques, epidural anesthesia, or medications. Continuous monitoring of mother and baby is performed. Delivery may be vaginal or via cesarean section depending on the progression and clinical condition.
Reviewed By:
Kenji Taylor, MD, MSc (Family Medicine, Primary Care)
Dr. Taylor is a Japanese-African American physician who grew up and was educated in the United States but spent a considerable amount of time in Japan as a college student, working professional and now father of three. After graduating from Brown, he worked in finance first before attending medical school at Penn. He then completed a fellowship with the Centers for Disease Control before going on to specialize in Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) where he was also a chief resident. After a faculty position at Stanford, he moved with his family to Japan where he continues to see families on a military base outside of Tokyo, teach Japanese residents and serve remotely as a medical director for Roots Community Health Center. He also enjoys editing and writing podcast summaries for Hippo Education.
Seiji Kanazawa, MD, PHD (Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN))
Dr. Kanazawa graduated from the Niigata University Faculty of Medicine and received his Ph.D. from the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine. He is working on the front line of the General Perinatal Center, including the Tokyo Tama General Medical Center and the National Center for Research in Fertility Medicine, where he provides maternal and fetal care and undertakes clinical research. At Ubie, Dr. Kanazawa has been designing the Ubie AI Symptom Checker and has taken on the role of general obstetrics and gynecology consultation at FMC Tokyo Clinic by providing fetal ultrasound and prenatal consultation.
Content updated on May 1, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01443615.2019.1594175Young RC. Mechanotransduction mechanisms for coordinating uterine contractions in human labor. Reproduction. 2016 Aug;152(2):R51-61. doi: 10.1530/REP-16-0156. Epub 2016 May 10. PMID: 27165050.
https://rep.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/rep/152/2/R51.xmlRomero R, Erez O, Maymon E, Pacora P. Is an episode of suspected preterm labor that subsequently leads to a term delivery benign? Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Feb;216(2):89-94. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2016.12.030. PMID: 28148450; PMCID: PMC5575861.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5575861/