Late in the second trimester and throughout the third trimester many pregnant women experience an uncomfortable phenomenon known as Braxton Hicks Contractions. Though they feel similar to real labor contractions and can cause a panic in the mind of a pregnant women, these contractions are inactive and are relatively harmless.
What Are Braxton Hicks Contractions?
According to the American Pregnancy Association, Braxton Hicks contractions occur when the uterine muscles tighten and are possibly the body's way of getting the uterus ready for stronger and more effective contractions that occur in actual labor. Unlike labor contractions, Braxton Hicks contractions do not cause a pregnant woman's cervix to dilate.
