Sooooo many Braxton Hicks. Anyone else?

ktob3

I've had so many braxton hicks, its ridiculous. I'm just curious if anyone else has them as frequently as I do. Mine are usually regular and go on all day and all night although mornings are less intense (still about every 10 mins at least). By night they are every 4-5 mins, regular, painful, radiating to my back and with pelvic pressure. I know it's nothing to be worried about and that it's not real labor but it's very uncomfortable. I'm also concerned that I won't know when I'm actually in labor since I really don't bother timing my contractions anymore. Everyone says "you'll know" but I have a couple friends who did not know so that phrase is not always true. Anyone else?

meg+on+the+DL

I'm totally there with you! I just left L&D because I couldn't get little miss to move all morning. I tried everything to get her to move, even just a little. Nothing was working! I had had the worst Braxton Hicks last night and this morning. They monitered us and said that I'm having pretty strong BH but they are super irregular. 

So we wait. I'm 39w 1d and I just wish I knew when the end will be. It's hard being in the waiting game. Especially since I'll be working up until she comes. 

sherbear09

Ohhh me
too!! Im scared i wont know lol

Karen249

I'm right there with you. Mine wake me from sleeping and feel like painful period cramps. They linger a long time so I can't time them. Just curious... How far along are you and has your doctor checked to see if your dialated yet? Im 37 weeks and at my appointment on Tuesday I was already almost 5cm. i wonder if there is any correlation to having a ton of Braxton hicks and dialating? But I feel ya on feeling like I won't know when they are the real deal. I am just hoping my water breaks as it did with my first so I'll know it's time. 

kenzieworth

I'm right there with all of you. Pain is getting worse and more frequent. I'm 39w 5d so also just playing this terrible waiting game. Been taking baths everyday, sometimes twice a day if they get really bad. Being in the water is sometimes the only way I can relax my lower back and abdomen. 
Crossing my fingers that we can all remain calm and relaxed as much as possible through these last couple weeks!! Hang in there mommas, we got this!!

ktob3

I'm also 37 weeks and I'm not dilated but I'm fully effaced. They said the intensity and frequency are hopefully signs that labor will go more quickly and smoothly so I guess we have that going for us?  

meg+on+the+DL

When I went to my 37 week appt, I was barely over a cm dilated and my cervix hadn't dropped enough to tell how much I was effaced. But I was having zero contractions. They just barely started yesterday when I was exactly 39 weeks. I'm guessing this week is going to be hard and fast with the contractions. But we shall see!

paytonpedro

Meeeee. I'm a FTM and I'm so afraid I won't know when labor is really here. Lol. I also have some painless BH still, although I'm super lucky and usually they hurt. My stomach is hard from contractions probably 20/24 hours a day, I'm starting to feel like a turtle. 

cMichelle0423

I've been having BH on top of some other irregular contractions, and cramping. It's been like this with all 3 of my pregnancies so far. I promise, you'll know if you start labor contractions! There really is a noticable difference. Not to mention you'll be able to time them, and they'll definitely get stronger as time goes on. 

BabySeaTurtles

I get a lot of BH contractions when I haven't had enough water. When they get frequent or painful, I quickly down a bottle of water or two and they go away enough to be "normal" BH. 

PaniaO

Yep. I think it's pretty common. As my doctor says, 'contract away.' No reason to go in until baby is on the way (and, yeah, it'll be obvious when it's for real).

mamacastro

Yep been having them since early january all the time, just not frequent enough to go back to L&D. I got to 3cm three weeks ago then nothing, just been stuck at 3cm and i'm only 37 weeks so could still go on for a few weeks but its frustrating 

wisco29

Yes. 

ayokay516

Sounds like it may be prodromal labor. I had it with both of my girls and apparently again with this lil guy. It's on and off labor. It's sometimes called 'false labor' which isn't really true because it does make cervical changes although usually very subtle and slow. It can be as intense as 'real labor' and can fool even seasoned moms into thinking its time. 

Hang in there. As for your fear of not knowing, I completely understand that. My suggestion is to listen to your body and if it feels real, go get it checked out. The worst that can happen is they say it's not time but then you have peace of mind. 

Typically, if you can't talk normally through the contraction and you have to stop to breathe through it, they're real. Again, prodromal labor can be that intense sometimes but the only way to know is to go get checked. If they die off, it was prodromal, if not, it's baby time. 

Good luck!