Practice Contractions
Practice Contractions
Apparently, many pregnant people have practice contractions. Again, apparently they often start at about six weeks, but usually aren't felt by the pregnant person until about 20 weeks. Usually they are called Braxton-Hicks contractions, but I'm going to call them practice contractions. These contractions are named after John Braxton-Hicks who according to wikipedia, among other resources "first described them". Right, because no pregnant person, and certainly no pregnant woman would have ever described them before he did in 1872. I'm sure the women would never have noticed them, at all had he not "first described them". It drives me a little crazy that his name (someone who I assume never experienced them personally) gets attached to an experience of pregnancy. A classic case of not trusting women to describe their own experiences, and not counting something as real until a man came along to "discover" it.
Turns out, that Dr. John Braxton-Hicks trained in obstetrics at Guy's Hospital Medical School beginning in 1841. It seems curious to me that Guy's hospital would teach obstetrics - perhaps it specialized in transmen's pregnancy. I love the idea that in 1841 there was a hospital in London that was assisting transmen become parents and working with them and their children. I know, that's not how they are using "guy", but don't go ruin my historical fantasy, I like it far too much.
Apparently, many pregnant people have practice contractions. Again, apparently they often start at about six weeks, but usually aren't felt by the pregnant person until about 20 weeks. Usually they are called Braxton-Hicks contractions, but I'm going to call them practice contractions. These contractions are named after John Braxton-Hicks who according to wikipedia, among other resources "first described them". Right, because no pregnant person, and certainly no pregnant woman would have ever described them before he did in 1872. I'm sure the women would never have noticed them, at all had he not "first described them". It drives me a little crazy that his name (someone who I assume never experienced them personally) gets attached to an experience of pregnancy. A classic case of not trusting women to describe their own experiences, and not counting something as real until a man came along to "discover" it.
Turns out, that Dr. John Braxton-Hicks trained in obstetrics at Guy's Hospital Medical School beginning in 1841. It seems curious to me that Guy's hospital would teach obstetrics - perhaps it specialized in transmen's pregnancy. I love the idea that in 1841 there was a hospital in London that was assisting transmen become parents and working with them and their children. I know, that's not how they are using "guy", but don't go ruin my historical fantasy, I like it far too much.