A first-time mother at 18 weeks of gestation is in for her regularly scheduled prenatal visit.The client tells the nurse that she is afraid that she is going into premature labor because she is beginning to have regular contractions.The nurse explains that this is the Braxton Hicks sign and teaches the client that this type of contraction:

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Soon after the fourth month of gestation,uterine contractions can be felt through the abdominal wall.Braxton Hicks contractions are regular and painless and continue throughout the pregnancy.Although they are not painful,some women complain that they are annoying.This type of contraction usually ceases with walking or exercise.Braxton Hicks contractions can be mistaken for true labor;however,they do not increase in intensity,frequency,or cause cervical dilation.These contractions facilitate uterine blood flow through the intervillous spaces of the placenta and thereby promote oxygen delivery to the fetus.

A First-Time Mother at 18 Weeks of Gestation Is in for Her