Braxton Hicks contractions, also known as practice contractions or false labor, are sporadic uterine contractions that may start around six weeks into a pregnancy. [1] However, they are usually felt in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. [2]

Braxton-Hicks contractions are sometimes called “false labor” because they give you the false sensation that you are having real contractions. Although they can thin the cervix (the opening of the uterus) as real contractions do, Braxton-Hicks contractions won’t ultimately lead to delivery.

Before experiencing true contractions, many women have what’s known as Braxton Hicks contractions, also referred to as practice contractions or false labor. They are described by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as “irregular and they do not come closer together.”

False contractions, or Braxton Hicks contractions, are uterine muscle contractions that usually begin to appear from the second trimester of pregnancy.

False labor, also known as Braxton Hicks contractions, occur in the later stages of pregnancy and are often mistaken for real labor. False labor can be distinguished from real labor by irregular contractions, tightening of the abdomen, and the absence of water breaking.