What are these?

SweetPea0902

I'm a FTM and I have been having what I thought were BH, but I have no idea. I was wondering if anyone could help give me real life examples of what BH, round ligament pain, and contractions are. My doctor hasn't exactly described them and everything I've found just confuses me. I don't exactly know how to answer them when asked if I've been having contractions when I call my doctor. Anyone have any advice on how to tell the difference?

Littlemama01

Well everyone is different. My BH are relatively painless, just tight belly and feels like pressure on bladder and lungs at the same time. If it hits when I have to poop I find them actually painful, but once it's done and I go to the bathroom they don't hurt again. But other people describe them as more menstruatal type cramps. RLP is serious pain, sharp and on the underside of my belly. Contractions would have pain associated and many describe them as wrapping pan from back to front. They are more timeable, ie every 10 mins you get one whereas BH are totally sporatic. Then again everyone is different yours could be something else completely.

SweetPea0902

Mine have gone from worse than my worst period cramps, to a dull achy throb. Sometimes it's a very sharp pain. I'm trying to figure out exactly what is considered what.

michellersayer

If they get worse and closer then its something to worry about. If not then its just BH.

lindsleek

BH are usually not painful but can be uncomfortable. They feel like pressure on you lower belly/bladder as well as your lungs. Your belly gets very hard (rock hard) and tight. Other contrax can feel more achy or period cramps and with a noticeably hard belly/uterus.

memali26

I would compare Braxton Hicks to the feeling of a blood pressure cuff. You know how it gradually gets tights on your arm, holds for a bit and then releases? That's how my belly feels when I have BH. Gradual tightening that lasts anywhere from 10 seconds to a minute, then releases. Definitely agree with the others you feel the pressure in your belly/bladder and lungs.

RLP is a sharp pain down low. Doesn't usually last long at all.

Real contractions tend to radiate from the back or sides around to the front and hurt a heck of a lot more than BH.

chiboo9

BH are more uncomfortable than painful. You'll feel your belly tighten and get really hard, and then release. Mine didn't really have a pattern. They came and went throughout the day.

RLP for me were sharp pains in my pelvis and sometimes on my butt.

Contractions are like really intense and painful cramps. While PG, everyone said you'll just know you're having contractions, and I never knew at the time if I really will know. After going through them, you really will know! 

CopperT0p

Like others have said, BH's shouldn't hurt, they just feel like a tightening of your stomach muscles/uterus all over. 

Contractions for me are always on the upper part of my uterus and painful.  They feel like a painful stomach ache to me, like I'm going to be ill almost. They tend to peak and fade.  When I have them they are always repetitive (two weekends ago I had them every 7-14 min for a couple hours before they went away). When I get BH's I will get maybe a couple a day. 

RLP feels to me like sharp pain in the bottom of my belly, usually stretching from my pelvis/hip bone area to the front of my uterus. It is the kind of pain that will stop me in my tracks and I'll have to breathe through it.  It's almost like the feeling of pulling a muscle. 

hjweber

From what I understand about real contractions: you'll know it when you feel it. This is what my doctor, doula, and friends have said. There was never any "Oh, I just thought it was BH/RLP/something else" - it was very much a "You'll know it's real contractions when you feel 'em."

Eh.  Not always.  With DD, I thought I was having gas pains.  Until I stopped and really paid attention that I was able to time them did I think to go get checked out.  I was shocked to find out I was actually contracting and was 3cm dilated and 100% effaced.  OP, don't assume that real contractions have to be insanely painful to be real.  If you're able to time ANY of your 'pains' or 'tightenings', go get checked out.  You're saying that you're having pains that are worse than your most painful menstrual cramps?  For how long?  That sounds concerning to me.  

SweetPea0902

I haven't really timed them, because to be honest I'm not sure how to. I have noticed some will last for almost a minute with a break in between. They come and go and I haven't had them since Wednesday. I've been trying to track them. Sometimes they feel worse at night, or if I'm sitting in the car or class for any decent time. I just grit my teeth for the minute or so and try to breathe through it. My fiance gets worried when he sees me going through them, but there's nothing he can do but let me squeeze his hand til it passes.

memali26

If you need to grit your teeth and breathe through it you need to call your doctor ASAP. It might just be how your body handles BH, or it might be real, but please call your dr to make sure everything is okay.

SweetPea0902

I should also say that I have the pain tolerance of a gnat. But Wednesday was the first time I had to grit my teeth, but usually I just take slow breaths. They didn't happen yesterday at all and I'm waiting to see if it happens today because my son is moving a lot and that's when it usually happens...I plan on calling if it happens again.