Braxton Hicks contractions

OBGYN Shamsah Amersi, MD, explains what Braxton Hicks contractions are, how they feel, and how to help them go away
Braxton Hicks Contractions - Expert Pregnancy Guide
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Braxton Hicks contractions

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Braxton Hicks contraction are sporadic uterine contractions that start as early as six weeks and continue through the remainder of your pregnancy. Most patients can't tell if they're having them. If you're having them, they're usually mild; they feel like menstrual cramps. They go away as you lie down, hydrate yourself, and change positions. These contractions are not a sign of pre-term labor and do not cause cervical change. True labor, or true pre-term contractions, are contractions that are very strong in intensity. They usually start as more than 6 - 8 per hour. They don't change if you lie down. They don't decrease in intensity if you hydrate yourself. When you experience strong, stabbing contractions, pain to the point that you can't talk through the contractions and you have difficulty expressing the symptoms, you should contact your doctor as this may be a sign of true labor or premature labor, depending on where you are in your pregnancy.

OBGYN Shamsah Amersi, MD, explains what Braxton Hicks contractions are, how they feel, and how to help them go away

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Shamsah Amersi, MD

Obstetrician & Gynecologist

Shamsah Amersi, MD is a preeminent Board Certified physician in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She received her undergraduate degree in psychobiology from UCLA, where she graduated summa cum laude, with Phi Beta Kappa membership. At the prestigious, UC San Francisco medical school, Dr. Amersi graduated with top honors, and was recognized as a distinguished member of alpha omega alpha, an honor society for the top 5% of all medical doctors.

Dr. Amersi has received numerous professional and academic awards, including the University of California Distinguished Scholar Award for four consecutive years, an endowed merit scholarship, and the UCLA Alumni Association Achievement Award for four consecutive years. Through her private practice in Santa Monica, CA, Dr. Amersi is the personal physician to several Hollywood A-list celebrities. Dr. Amersi has been in private practice as an obstetrician/gynecologist for over ten years. She specializes in natural child birth, offers VBACs to her patients, and focuses on natural conservative treatment options, minimally invasive surgery, and bioidentical hormone replacement. Her favorite part of her job is delivering babies and sharing this intimate journey with her patients. She provides comprehensive compassionate care for all phases of a woman's life from adolescence through menopause.  Her special interest in female sexuality, libido and the effects of childbirth on pelvic prolapse has led to Dr. Amersi's renowned expertise in these fields. She performs both surgical and nonsurgical treatments for pelvic prolapse and vaginal relaxation.

 

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