starting to get super confused about what I'm feeling

mcnava

So I had been having braxton Hicks...or at least what I thought were braxton hicks...it felt like period cramps...then they stopped... I had like a week of lightning crotch and now I'm having pain in the same place as lightning crotch, but its not as shooting...its more of a full, all around pain...like the whole area feels like its in pain, but not for any length of time...just kind of a spreading pain around and then it stops.  Are these still braxton hicks?  Baby is still super active, so I don't think its actual labor. also they are not consistant...but it just seems weird that it is a completely different feeling than I was having before.   I am 39 weeks 4 days.  I am going crazy waiting here.  My DH and I are so anxious we can't get to sleep at night!  FTM so we don't really know what we're looking for.  I'm so ready to be done.  

MrsT2008

With my BH (which I've had since 18 weeks) - my entire stomach gets rock hard for 30ish seconds, then relaxes.  I'm not sure if what you're describing is BH.  Then again, my entire vaginal region has been very sore for months now.

mcnava

He dropped about 3 weeks ago...at my appointment 3 weeks ago I was 2 cm dilated.  Last week I was still 2 cm.  I've been very sore for a few weeks, but this is like a pulsating pain almost...but just doesn't last very long.  The stomach getting hard was what would happen before. now the stomach doesn't do anything...its just pain in the vaginal region but I can feel him kicking up top too.  

Mwyld

I'm having kind of the same thing... My BH still make my stomach rock hard, but are now accompanied with period like cramps and my entire pelvic area feels sore, like almost bruised

Runningtostandstill

Mwyld said:

I'm having kind of the same thing... My BH still make my stomach rock hard, but are now accompanied with period like cramps and my entire pelvic area feels sore, like almost bruised

I have this exactly. I totally can't sleep at all. I'm not quite 37 weeks so it seems early to me, but this is my 3 rd pregnancy, so I am sure that something is going on....I'm just not sure what or how fast! Eeep!!

Mwyld

Runningtostandstill said:

Mwyld said:

I'm having kind of the same thing... My BH still make my stomach rock hard, but are now accompanied with period like cramps and my entire pelvic area feels sore, like almost bruised

I have this exactly. I totally can't sleep at all. I'm not quite 37 weeks so it seems early to me, but this is my 3 rd pregnancy, so I am sure that something is going on....I'm just not sure what or how fast! Eeep!!

This is my first and I'm 38w4d so every time I feel anything I think "this is it!" But I haven't slept at night for days... I just take a nap during the day when my mind finally is so exhausted it falls asleep. I have what I'm assuming is my last OB appointment on Tuesday and I can't wait to see what kind of progress has been made!

RachelCA29

I've been feeling very similar for about a week. I have ha a lot of period like cramps, and at my first cervical check last week I was already 3 cm, so I am assuming that the cramping is from cervical change. They have definitely picked up in intensity since my first check, so I hope that means more progress.

I think the BH (where your stomach gets hard) are still "practice" though, and while the timing with the cramps seems to sync up (I had that all Saturday evening and thought I might be going into labour) I think it's just coincidence. The cramps ARE doing something but not the BH/tightening feeling.

Last night I had my first few real contractions. Definitely different from period cramps and tight stomach BH. My stomach felt hard still, but their was definitely pain and almost like really bad heart burn like burning (maybe that's the stretching causing a burning feeling?). It wasn't so bad that I was like "get me to the hospital for an epi NOW" but if they had piked up we would have been heading to L&D. The feeling lasted a full minute and then eased off. I only had a couple before they stopped for the night. I thought contractions would just feel like the period cramps but WAY more intense, but this really felt different and in a different part of my belly. 

Stinag30

It is very confusing.... I just started feeling cramping, which my OB had previously warned me about. But they're actually more painful in the past 12 hours than I would have expected. Mine are concentrated in my lower abdominal area, so I don't think they're BH. I'm 38 weeks and the anticipation is driving me crazy too!,

Mwyld

Stinag30 said:

It is very confusing.... I just started feeling cramping, which my OB had previously warned me about. But they're actually more painful in the past 12 hours than I would have expected. Mine are concentrated in my lower abdominal area, so I don't think they're BH. I'm 38 weeks and the anticipation is driving me crazy too!,

I asked my OB about this and all he said were painful cramps are a good thing, it means you're getting closer.

On another note, are any of you experiencing the wonderful joys of diarrhea now too?

mcnava

I've had diarrhea forever!    

Mwyld

I've had it all day today... Makes me anxious that she's gonna come tonight! I came to get a pedicure so I can relax some

ns1

With both pregnancies I consider stomach tightening to be BH and anything like + pain in my back is a contraction. I did have a day of painful inconsistent contractions a week or so before DD was born. They went away and didn't get more consistent so I just let them go.

Hasna23

I'm 39 weeks 3days... I understand all of the pains you are decribing! This is my second and I'm having a vbac. My midwife says it's the pelvic bones shifting to make room for the baby. Sometimes I can't even lift my legs. I went to the hospital twice because my contractions were 5 mins apart then they stopped. Take a nice bath that usually helps. I think they like to come when you let your guard down and least expect it... Try and relax and enjoy your last days with your baby snug in your belly because you will miss it! Best of luck!