Medical Dictionary

Braxton-Hicks contractions

noun plural Brax·ton-Hicks contractions \ ˌbrak-stən-ˈhiks- \

variants: or Braxton Hicks contractions

medical Definition of Braxton-Hicks contractions

: relatively painless nonrhythmic contractions of the uterus that occur during pregnancy with increasing frequency over time but are not associated with labor

Biographical Note for braxton-hicks contractions

Hicks, John Braxton (1823–1897), British gynecologist. In 1871 Hicks presented evidence before the Obstetrical Society that contractions of the uterus appear early in pregnancy and persist through delivery. A year later he published his findings on these contractions, which now bear his name.