Contractions Question

SWA80

This probably sounds dumb, but I have been having contractions without feeling them for the past few weeks. I know because I have NSTs twice a week and they show up. I assume they are BH. I finally figured out today that I can tell if touching my belly. I had read that your whole uterus gets hard and I guess I was expecting it to be more noticeable, mine are kind of subtle, I thought it was just babies pushing out. My doc said it is very common with twins to not feel them. They don't seem too concerned.

I feel like if I was actually having real contractions it would be pretty obvious, right? Do I need to pay attention to how often I'm having these that I can't feel? These are questions I should have asked the Dr but didn't think of til later.

JordynLeighx3

Definitely pay attention. They can be hard to feel sometimes but make sure to always be drinking water and if you have more than 4 in an hr, go to L&D! Or call your Dr.
FWIW, I had this feeling ALL THE TIME and when my water actually did break and my contractions were 2min apart, I still couldn't feel any strong contractions. Just a ache in my lower back like I'd been sitting in bleachers for too long, but no pain in my front.

PurpleIris30

Yes, definitely pay attention to those. I have them a lot too if standing or walking. My doctor wants me to pay attention if i have 4 or more in an hour that last for 45 seconds or more. They don't have to hurt. If that happens I'm supposed to empty bladder, drink water,and lay down. If I have any stomach muscle tightening lasting for longer than 45 seconds once I've done that, I need to go in. Mine usually go away once laying down, but I have to keep a hand on my stomach to tell.

SWA80

Thanks, sounds like I need to get a better idea of how often I'm having them because I have NO idea. I always thought contractions would be impossible to ignore, it seems so strange.

caden

I also had contractions I couldn't feel for many weeks. My biggest clue was that I felt a shortness of breath/chest tightening when I had them, but even that was only later. I felt nothing at all in those earlier weeks. Unfortunately my cervix was changing with them and I was on bedrest for 15w. Did they check your cervix? Definitely keep track of how many you have in an hour.

I didn't think my contrax were obvious and noticeable until after I started pitocin in L&D. I was really surprised at how different/subtle they were compared to how everyone explained contrax to feel like. I didn't think my entire belly got hard. They didnt hurt at all. They weren't regular/timeable etc.

SWA80

They checked my cervix last week and it was still long and closed, but I know things can change quickly.

Stephanie2167

Thanks for posting this. I told DH last night I thought I might be having BH contractions but I wasn't sure. I thought the hard pressure I was feeling was the girls moving around in there. I have an appointment with my MFM doctor tomorrow so I'm hoping if they are BHs that my cervix is still thick and closed (It was 4.6 something at my anatomy scan at 18w5d).

Let us know what the doctor says.

10-4LilBuddy

I am on hospital bedrest for a shortened cervix and contractions. I was admitted at 24 weeks because my cervix shortened and I had contractions that I could not feel. Now that I am bigger and have more experience, I can feel them. They are irregular and are a tightening of my belly. I usually have between 4 and 6 an hour. I get regular twice daily monitoring here in the hospital.

The best measurement of your cervix is an internal ultrasound. The abdominal scan kept saying my cervix was fine, but once they did the internal, we knew I needed to be admitted.

SWA80

My MFM won't do u/s measurement of cervix after 28 weeks, I'm 31 now so they're checking manually but it makes me nervous to have them mess with it more than necessary.