Friday, April 06, 2007

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Arundhati Roy - Business of War

Nature Podcast: 29 March 2007

Dj Tiesto - Adagio for Strings, Just Be

56 DTG!


We are headed to Indy for a baby shower this weekend (April 6-9th). Braxton-Hicks contractions are more frequent, but the 'Child Preparedness classes' have been a source of assurance for us both.

Braxton Hicks' contractions, also known as false labour (British English, false labor in American English) or practice contractions. Braxton Hicks are sporadic uterine contractions that actually start at about 6 weeks, although one will not feel them that early. Most women start feeling them during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. It is a tightening of the uterine muscles for one to two minutes and is thought to be an aid to the body in its preparation for birth. Not all expectant mothers have these contractions. They are thought to be part of the process of effacement, the thinning and dilation of the cervix.

Braxton Hicks are named after the English doctor who first described them. In 1872, John Braxton Hicks investigated the latter stages of pregnancy and noted that many women felt contractions without being near birth. This process was usually painless but caused women confusion as to whether or not they were going into actual labour. It has since been found that Braxton Hicks' contractions are much less noticeable during exercise, whereas real contractions are not.

Dehydration is thought to be a contributing factor in extended Braxton Hicks contractions.