Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

Schwangerschaftswehen

English translation:

Braxton-Hicks contractions

Added to glossary by Anne Schulz
Oct 14, 2013 09:03
10 yrs ago
26 viewers *
German term

Schwangerschaftswehen

German to English Medical Medical (general) obstetrics
I'm having trouble with the different types of Wehen / contractions. I'm finding too many alternatives. Help.
Schwangerschaftswehen = braxton-hicks contractions
Vorwehen = premonitary pains or braxton-hicks contractions
Senkwehen = false labour
Change log

Oct 17, 2013 07:18: Anne Schulz Created KOG entry

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (1): Ramey Rieger (X)

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Discussion

greanbeen (asker) Oct 14, 2013:
The problem is the differentiation between: Schwangerschaftswehen, Vorwehen, Senkwehen, Geburtswehen, Presswehen, Nachwehen.
greanbeen (asker) Oct 14, 2013:
I have a list of the above contraction types in German, and I find Braxton-Hicks contraction for 2 different German types. I just need to know the common English name for these different German types.
Anne Schulz Oct 14, 2013:
What is your problem – the classification of contractions, or atranslation differentiating Schwangerschaftswehen from Vorwehen (which are actually synonyms, as far as I have encountered these terms as a pediatrician)?
Eleanore Strauss Oct 14, 2013:
Contractions The term Schwangerschaftswehen in itself is a strange one. Pregnancy comes with contractions, during and after. There are various types of these. It depends on the context.

Proposed translations

11 hrs
Selected

Braxton-Hicks contractions

That's a difficult one. The English and German concepts of labour and contractions are different, as far as I know. Moreover, neither English nor German terminology is strictly defined in that area.

You are probably on the safe side, if you use Braxton-Hicks contractions for "Schwangerschaftswehen".
But "Vorwehen", especially if they are to occur before "Senkwehen", are really the same as Schwangerschaftswehen in German, and a translation like pre-labour, prodromal contractions or false labour may be misleading, because these terms are mostly used for intensifying Braxton-Hicks contractions during the days before "true" labour starts which then leads to effacement and dilation of the cervix. You could work around by using any of the (equally ill-defined) synonyms like "practice contractions".

Senkwehen occur in the last month of pregnancy and lead to dropping of the baby. I am not aware of a specific term for this in English; they are included in the Braxton-Hicks contractions, as far as I know.

Geburtswehen is not really a technical term, more often used in a figurative sense, or as a general term for any labour during birth. The first stage of labour (as suggested by the sequence of your terms) would be "Eröffnungswehen".

Presswehen is the second stage of labour (one obvious correspondence at least, in your list).

Nachwehen is sometimes (infrequently) used for "Nachgeburtswehen", the third stage of labour expelling the placenta. More often, Nachwehen describes afterbirth pains/afterpains occurring in the days following delivery.

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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "It's like detective work when terminology is so different in the different languages. No direct translation. Thank you for the explanations. "
22 mins

Pregnancy contractions (phantom contractions)

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/braxton-hicks-contractions
As the German term doesn't distinguish between real and false contractions, neither sjhould your translation; if howevwer you do need to distinguish, then 'contractions/ phantom contractions' should suffice


Braxton Hicks contractions - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braxton_Hicks_contractionsSymptoms · Cause · Alleviating factors · History
Braxton Hicks contractions, also known as prodromal labour or practice contractions, or incorrectly as false labour, are sporadic uterine contractions that sometimes ...
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