Consistent Contractions at 32 Weeks

del22b3c

I went in to the doctor on Friday and they did an NST to make sure baby was okay (she wasn't moving for me as much as usual) and monitor uterine activity. I had been (and continue to) have consistent headaches and some cramping for the last week. Monitor showed consistent contractions (I thought BH were supposed to be inconsistent?), but they checked and said I'm not dilated. I am drinking tons of water and it's not helping - they've continued consistently since Wednesday or Thursday if last week, and woke me up last night and the night before (not excruciating, but definitely painful). Anyone else have this happening? Anything to be concerned about or anything I can do? I love my OB practice, but the doctor I saw on Friday is my least favorite, so I'm probably second guessing more than usual.

claudia3059

I copy and pasted this from a previous post of mine...

I had similar contractions a week and a half ago At 31+1 (now 32+3). Was diagnosed with irritable uterus and put on modified bed rest. If I do anything even remotely strenuous the contractions kick in. The best advice I got from my OB was hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. I drink 4 litters of water a day plus Gatorade and milk. So about 18 glasses of fluid a day. The theory behind this is your uterus becomes waterlogged and the hormones telling it to contract are so dilute it doesn't get a clear message.
Potassium and magnesium also help reduce muscle contractions/spasms. I eat bananas and I take 500mg of Magnesium a day. Calcium helps your body absorb magnesium so milk is good too.
I also do very little bending and I limit walking as much as possible. If I even feel a little overexerted I stop and lay down. It sucks but at this point we are in the home stretch.

mnj05

BH aren't painful, those are probably real contractions. It doesn't necessarily mean they will cause you to dilate or go into labor early. I've been having some off and on for weeks now. They usually happen when I haven't had enough water or if I do something strenuous that I probably shouldn't be doing at 34 weeks. If you're concerned, go back in and try to see a doctor you like/trust better.

mrsrep123

@claudia3059 thanks for posting/reposting this. I've been having intense BH and RLP this entire morning which is waaaaay different then what I've experienced so far. I was in tears getting out of bed even though I'm exhausted (minimal hours of sleep in 3 days now). Downing glasses of water, resting, walking... Trying everything. Luckily, I still feel baby boy moving a ton. DH wakes up and urged me to call the advice line. The L&D nurse said it may be painful gas bubbles and try drinking warm water and warm compresses first. If it continues, call back. Here's hoping they don't continue...

claudia3059

mrsrep123 said:

@claudia3059 thanks for posting/reposting this. I've been having intense BH and RLP this entire morning which is waaaaay different then what I've experienced so far. I was in tears getting out of bed even though I'm exhausted (minimal hours of sleep in 3 days now). Downing glasses of water, resting, walking... Trying everything. Luckily, I still feel baby boy moving a ton. DH wakes up and urged me to call the advice line. The L&D nurse said it may be painful gas bubbles and try drinking warm water and warm compresses first. If it continues, call back. Here's hoping they don't continue...

Originally when I had the pain a nurse told me it was probably just the baby moving that was making it hurt. Then she said I could come in if I wanted. I felt a little silly going in at that point but figured, screw it, that's what they are there for. Plus I wanted a doctor to weigh in not just the nurse. When I got in the doc took it pretty seriously because those non-coordinated contractions have the potential to turn into real labor if you don't get them under control.
Also, walking makes mine worse...laying down on my side or reclined in a chair is the only thing that works for me.

Let us know how you do.

wheresilenceismusic

I had one, long-lasting contraction last weekend at 32 weeks.  I believe it's my fault, though:  I was expressing colostrum from my nipples.  Almost immediately after, I felt an intense pain in my lower back that caused me to double over, and then it radiated to my front (my uterus) and hardened my uterus from the top all way down.  I was entirely unable to speak or to move and it felt like period cramps except 5x more uncomfortable.

My Braxton-Hicks have been more 'painful' since then too -- more like period cramps.  I wonder if I'm dilated?  I told my midwife about the experience and she told me not to touch my nipples  She didn't check to see if I was dilated at all.

The experience caused me to get into gear getting the nursery together and prepping in other ways!  My husband has been following me around with water, encouraging me to drink and rest.  

 It's relatively common for women to be 1-2 cm dilated for the last two months of pregnancy, so I think these types of contractions are common.

mrsrep123

Originally when I had the pain a nurse told me it was probably just the baby moving that was making it hurt. Then she said I could come in if I wanted. I felt a little silly going in at that point but figured, screw it, that's what they are there for. Plus I wanted a doctor to weigh in not just the nurse. When I got in the doc took it pretty seriously because those non-coordinated contractions have the potential to turn into real labor if you don't get them under control.
Also, walking makes mine worse...laying down on my side or reclined in

Let us know how you do.

@claudia3059 so my DH put me on bed rest all day yesterday and I'm glad he did because I slept ALL day. He woke me up for meals and water which was awesome. I didn't experience the tightening in one spot that lead to entire abdomen tightening anymore but still had the pain in right lower abdomen when standing, walking, lifting right leg. I've gotten out of bed a few times to use the bathroom and it has definitely improved. (I've also been passing gas- so maybe that L&D RN was spot on.) I emailed my doctor to let her know what was going on... She'll be back in the office tomorrow. I may just take it easy and call in sick to my shift tonight... Don't want to take any chances. Thanks for following up with me... As a FTM, I'm greatly appreciative!

future ms L

I don't post much, but wanted to let you know you are not alone. I went into PTL at 22 weeks, and they were able to stop it, but it left me with an irritable uterus. I do exactly as other posters have said. Modified BR, tons and tons and tons of fluids. Also. My doc told me to keep my bladder empty as possible and they have me take 3 colace, because any stool in your rectum makes you contract.

nj001

Similar situation.  Painful contractions at 33+5, they were regular and lasted up to 1 minute 40 seconds. Scary!! I called the dr and they had me go to the ER, where I had lots of regular contractions.  They couldn't find my cervix to check it but did an fFP which was negative and sent me home.  They gave me the option of meds to stop the contractions as well as ambien with the goal of kind of sleeping-off the contractions, but I opted to just go with benadryl and no other meds, and the Dr felt fine about that.  Now I'm just drinking TONSSSSSSS, resting when possible, and being generally cranky about feeling so limited in my activity, but grateful that labor didn't start that  night.  Honestly, the contractions really reminded me of the first couple of hours on pitocin so I had a bad feeling when I went in but they were obviously calming down by the time I got there.

I've not had contractions in a day and only had a few painful ones since I got home on Friday night.  So I don't have a lot to offer in advice, just to let you know that painful contractions do happen.  It's my understanding that while they may not have yet changed the cervix, take them seriously because they could start to change it (putting you into labor) if they don't stop in time,