Constant Braxton Hicks 6 minutes apart

kimberleanna

This is my second baby and I didn't experience this with my first. I woke up yesterday at 1:30 am and noticed I was having contractions pretty often probably 10 minutes apart so after not being able to fall back asleep I got in the bath to help them go away so I could stop worrying and go back to sleep. After I got out of the bath they got closer together so I timed them and they were averaging every 5-6 minutes. I know what contractions feel like and they weren't strong enough. I had a 28 hour labor with my first and even in early labor I couldn't walk or talk through the contractions and this was nothing like that just a tad more uncomfortable than the normal tightening of Braxton hicks and I was feeling it in my back. I laid there timing when I decided at 6 am that I wasn't going to get sleep and had stuff to get ready if she was choosing to come today (I'm 38 weeks) so I cleaned the house made sure all of our stuff was ready and then laid back down. At this point they slowed down to 7-8 minutes apart and I tried to sleep until they got stronger but they never did. This went on until 12 when I was not having them consistently enough to time them and obviously still not strong enough until it was probably less than 2 an hour. Also TMI I had diarrhea that morning which happened with my first before labor as well. I'm still having more Braxton hicks than normal but was able to sleep all last night thankfully but can feel the pattern coming on again. I don't want to go sit in the hospital for Braxton hicks. Does anyone have any experience with this? Baby is moving a ton, moved all day yesterday actually. And currently moving around in there. I'm just at a loss because this didn't happen with my first. I had no labor signs until my due date and had him the next day. Could I go sooner? Are these just practice labor pains? I've read since that I should call the doctor if I have more than 4 Braxton hicks in an hour and I definitely went over that!

Zoey1309

I'd call my dr if they get close together again. It could be that contractions feel differently for you this time around.

djoliet

This happened to me last week. I had them for 3 days in a row and Thursday they were getting stronger and painful. Also I had been having looser and more frequent bms for a few days prior. I finally called the doctor and they sent me to labor and delivery to be checked. As soon as they hooked me up to the monitors I was having them consistently and in a pattern. They checked me but I wasn't dilated at all and my cervix still closed. They sent me home and told me to increase my fluid and come back if they got stronger or my water broke. This is also my second pregnancy and I was only 35 weeks last week. I've still been having them consistently, even showing up during my NSTs but the doctors are never concerned. I think it's just normal body prepping for labor

Bostonchelle

My doctor said 4 in an hour and I should call. This labor could be totally different than your first so best to at least check in with your doctor.

goosenpumpkin

For me, this is normal. The latent part of labor in all my pregnancies after the first seems to last forever. It's annoying, and I refuse to go in anymore until my contractions are nice and strong because I hate getting checked and sent home. My docs always say to call or go in if I have more than 4 in an hour too, but if I did that, I'd be in and out of L&D from 33 wks on. Hope you can rest up a bit before things really start to ramp up! Maybe drink some RRLT to help those contractions become more productive?

LBeez13

That sounds miserable. Hopefully these contractions turn into labor or stop for you!

quitiaray

Same here. Since my appt on Monday been having very strong uncomfortable painful contractions. Just when I think it's real they go away. Only to start up again. 37 weeks. I can't imagine going through this another week. I'm due to be induced Monday.

court1786

Same thing, I'm 38 weeks having them on and off for 1 1/2 days now.

kimberleanna

Yep today is my third day of false labor. So weird I didn't experience this with my first. I think it messes with my head more than anything, constantly thinking "maybe this is finally it"... Nope! I'll probably go to 41 weeks X_X