Has anyone here experienced Braxton Hicks yet? I started cramping today after a stressful event, and my husband loves Dr Google and he claims that its BH. I avoid Google like the plague, I don't even want to know what I might accidentally find if I searched cramping at 20 weeks, but I guess I assumed BH happened later in pregnancy? But he says they can be caused by stress, so he's convinced that's what I'm feeling.
It's low, across my whole pelvis, and it's a constant tightening sensation that's been going on for about 5 hours. It's very painful and actually brought me to tears. But RLP has been pretty excruciating, so I'm assuming the intensity isn't anything to worry about....??
Has anyone here experienced Braxton Hicks yet? I started cramping today after a stressful event, and my husband loves Dr Google and he claims that its BH. I avoid Google like the plague, I don't even want to know what I might accidentally find if I searched cramping at 20 weeks, but I guess I assumed BH happened later in pregnancy? But he says they can be caused by stress, so he's convinced that's what I'm feeling.
It's low, across my whole pelvis, and it's a constant tightening sensation that's been going on for about 5 hours. It's very painful and actually brought me to tears. But RLP has been pretty excruciating, so I'm assuming the intensity isn't anything to worry about....??
BH should not be painful- lack of pain is a main feature of BH. Idk what your pain/discomfort tolerance is like, but that sounds somewhat alarming to me.
I've had nasty RLP when going from sitting to standing, or changing positions too quickly and it can be bad enough to take my breath away- but if you're just sitting there you shouldn't get RLP either (it's due to minimally elastic ligaments stretching too fast).
If the above is different from what you're experiencing, and you're getting rhythmic painful contractions that aren't improved by hydration, changing position or relaxing, you need to call your on call OB.
@NoraAurora Thanks. I'm a FTM so I was clueless as to what BH really were. I've been dealing with a lot of RLP, so I know it's not that.
Unfortunately my OBs office does not have an after hours or weekend doctor. I have to call the hospital associated with my OB, and the on call nurses there rarely listen to anything I'm saying. They always just tell me to go to the ER if I'm concerned about anything.
I'll try hydrating myself for now and see if that helps. I'm rarely as hydrated as I should be. If that doesn't help, I'll call the hospital and see what they say.
@krzyriverJust dittoing what @NoraAurora said. I *think* I've been having BH occasionally since week 14 (the NP told me it was RLP but nothing fit when she asked me questions about it and I don't trust her bc she knew nothing during my first visit with her). I get a tightening sensation and my uterus will get hard for maybe 20 seconds or so. It only happens when I'm sitting but it goes away when I change position. The fact that yours hasn't gone away in 5 hours concerns me. I would definitely call the on-call OB at the hospital to see what they say. Fingers crossed for you.
@LGW2015@duckmay Thanks ladies. The pain is gone, although I can still feel the tightening sensation. I did call the on call nurse at the hospital. She said that BH can be painful for some women, though it's rare. When I asked if it should still be happening, she just told me to come to the ER if I feel I should be treated. They always sound confused as to what I want them to do for me.
I have my anatomy scan tomorrow morning and I see my OB on Thursday. As long as it doesn't come back, I'll just ask then. I've had so many horrible cramping episodes this pregnancy that I went to the ER for and they turned out to be nothing, so I'll try to be patient since I'll see Bean first thing tomorrow.
they made this a gif esp helpful for husbands and other people who think pregnancy is "no big deal"
*American lady living in Tanzania.
DH - Tanzanian Maasai
BFP #1 - MC Dec 2, 2015 (@ 9weeks) BFP #2 - Feb 2, 2016 --EDD 10/10/16 --Abigail- October 6, 2016. Heart warrior. October 2017- Began fostering to adopt T, (DOB:November 19, 2013)
Alrighty! Let's talk about mucus and discharge. Sneezed pretty hard, peed my panties alittle and noticed I had some pretty thick 1 inch long mucous that clung on. Skinnier then a pencil and harder then just normal mucous. Anyone else???! Thinking it was maybe part of mucous plug.
I've had a lot of discharge, well not a lot but just a little bit all the time feels like a lot... but it's mostly been clear and runny like raw egg white but sometimes it's thicker where I guess it's dried out or something. I've just started wearing thin panty liners regularly to deal with it.
Anyone feel like they have been kicked in the crotch or spent a week riding a horse or something? My whole area down there feels constantly bruised for the last few days!
Hey weird symptom buddy!
Lately I too have been getting a weird dull ache on the left side of my pubic bone / groin area. Mostly when I lift my left leg to go up stairs. Almost feels like a bruise but only when I move right do I even feel it. I thought it might be pubic symphysis dysfunction but it seems too early for that (17w5d) and my pain isn't as debilitating as what SPD has been described as. I'm considering support belts but they're so expensive. I see my doctor in a couple weeks so I plan to just pay attention to any changes until then. My job requires a lot of lifting and moving and I really don't want to lose my ability to work for as long as possible.
I had SPD with DS (started at 24w) and it's starting to flare up now (16w3d). For me, it hurts with any kind of twisting motion involving the hips (walking certain ways, rolling over in bed, lunge-squats at the gym, etc). It kind of feels like the pelvis is coming unglued from the back (I never had the frontal pain with it, only in my sacrum). I got fitted by an orthotics specialist for a maternity belt and holy balls, night and day difference!
@krzyriver I hope things are going okay with you now! I just wanted to chime in, late or not, it is actually possible to have painful BH. I like to think I have a pretty high pain tolerance, but some of my BH with LO definitely left me planted on the couch saying ouchie. And they started around 14 weeks for me and got more and more consistent until 38 weeks, and more and more painful. I actually went to the ER twice between 26 and 38 weeks thinking I was in labor. DRINK LOTS OF WATER.
@itsmyangel Ah yes, the ol' swollen crotch. There is a lot of extra blood flow not to mention all the other funky stuff going on down there and it's just going to happen off and on. At least, from my experience. It always showed up for a bit, went away for a while, came back... very annoying and achy. Makes panties and jeans very loathsome items of necessity haha
@kmolleltz I watched that over and over again, and am going to have to save it!
We're moving this upcoming weekend and did a lot of packing yesterday. I was EXHAUSTED after about an hour, I think just from sitting down and standing up too much. I felt like a 100 year old woman when I had to take a break.
@AllyTheKid Thank you! The pain is gone and I've been feeling better. And yeah, I've had a couple other people tell me their BH are painful. I guess it's just not as common, but I've been told to relax about it. And my husband is practically forcing water down my throat! Lol
Had my anatomy scan today and the tech asked if I've been having contractions. I told her about Saturday night and how the pain is gone, but the tightening sensation hasn't let up. Apparently my uterus was contracting through the entire scan, which is why she asked. She reassured me that it's totally normal. Thank you for all your help ladies!
Is anyone experiencing CM that is more watery? I'm going back and forth between creamy and watery and the watery is freaking me out, I'm worried it could be an amniotic fluid leak. Everything I've read has been people going back and forth between Urine or AF and but I know it isn't urine. I have my AS tomorrow so I'll make sure the fluid looks good and ask, just curious if anyone else has experienced the same thing.
Me: 32 & DH: 37
Married: November 2014
TTC #1 Since: October 2015
BFP #1: 11/18/15 - CP BFP #2: 2/8/16 - EDD 10/20/16 IT'S A BOY!!!! DS Born 10/16/16
@MRSCORKER Mine is kind of back and forth like yours. I haven't really been concerned because there doesn't seem to increase in the amount. Not sure if that's a good reason to not worry. Hope all goes well at your appointment!
Me:33 DH: 34 Married: May 2011 TTC #1: May 2015 DS: 10/20/2016 TTC #2: June 2019 #2 EDD: 2/20/2020
@itsmyangel this is actually why I jumped on here this morning. It's mostly behind my pubic bone and lower, and has gotten progressively worse the last few days. It's worse when I stretch that area - standing up/sitting down, getting in and out of bed, and I almost couldn't get in my husband's truck yesterday - that lunging/step-up motion is killer.
ETA: I totally missed that there was a page 5 of replies where more had weighed in on this. @CaptainPhasmayour SPD link has me kind of freaked out. But at least we're all in this together?
@MRSCORKER I've had some watery CM and totally jumped to the "leaking amniotic fluid" conclusion too. Everything I've read on Dr. Google said that if you lie down for 15-30 minutes, then stand up quickly and feel sort of a rush of leaking, then it might be AF. Of course I did this test and was fine, but more importantly my anatomy scan was fine. I think CM might just really vary.
Thanks @ibabyloveb87 and @depineta I think I just have pre-AS jitters and I'm looking for things that could go wrong. It's a lot of work being in my head. lol
Me: 32 & DH: 37
Married: November 2014
TTC #1 Since: October 2015
BFP #1: 11/18/15 - CP BFP #2: 2/8/16 - EDD 10/20/16 IT'S A BOY!!!! DS Born 10/16/16
@MRSCORKER Same here. Mine started a few days ago and was so watery, I sat there for a few minutes trying to remember if my husband and I had been intimate the night before. Lol. Isn't it fun how these things come up right as our anxiety is kicking in??
@itsmyangel - mine hasn't felt bruised, but I feel a lot of pressure down there. I was freaked out but my dr assured me it's very normal.
@MRSCORKER - yes, I've had that recently. I was worried it was amniotic too, but don't think it is. I know it's not urine and while it's very thin, like water, when I put my finger in it it's still slightly sticky, which I've read/been told is NOT like amniotic fluid. See if you're has any scent or "feeling" to it. I'm sure it's nothing.
Me: 31
DH: 32
Married: Sep 2012
TTC #1: Jan 2015 Baby A (via IUI due to MFI): Sep 2016 born at 35+6
Surprise but very welcome + on 5/16/2019, EDD 1/25/2020
BFP #1 - MC Dec 2, 2015 (@ 9weeks) BFP #2 - Feb 2, 2016 --EDD 10/10/16 --Abigail- October 6, 2016. Heart warrior. October 2017- Began fostering to adopt T, (DOB:November 19, 2013)
@kmolleltz heartburn has been with me for years with my hiatal hernia. It's even worse now and unfortunately the best meds for me to take aren't covered under my insurance anymore, so I'm struck taking another Class B med that doesn't work. Tums are my BFF.
Married 11-11-11 TTC only since Dec 2015. I had some weight to get off. Been working hard in the gym for over a year. BFP 02-15-16 with our first IT'S A BOY!!!
@itsmyangel , I sometimes get the "swollen" feeling too. Especially when I've been on my feet for a long long time. It sucks.
@kmolleltz , i'm with you on the heartburn. I get it almost every night. Last week someone told me, "oh you have a lot of heartburn? you'll have a hairy baby." made me think of that superstitions thread we had a few months back.
I'm experiencing a lot of hand pain ladies... not quite wrist, but hand.... i'm worried about carpal tunnel. Why is it common during pregnancy? What causes it? Anyone have experience?
@annabenanna I get the hand pain to, but I don't know what it's from and never thought to ask...
It's so weird because a month ago, one of my friends was like "oh Jenee had these wrist braces during her pregnancy." I asked why and he said carpal tunnel.... but didn't elaborate. Didn't even think it was a pregnancy symptom! Till now.
@annabenanna I get the hand pain to, but I don't know what it's from and never thought to ask...
It's so weird because a month ago, one of my friends was like "oh Jenee had these wrist braces during her pregnancy." I asked why and he said carpal tunnel.... but didn't elaborate. Didn't even think it was a pregnancy symptom! Till now.
Maybe due to the relaxin hormone? I know it effects joints and ligaments.
@annabenanna - I have been dealing with carpal tunnel since about week 12. I had nothing prior. It started with a bit of pain in one finger when I was holding my cell phone and is now full blown, painfully numb hands in the middle of the night. I have found a link between water and it being worse. It I drink a lot of water in the evenings, I have very little pain all night. I do wear a brace on each hand, and still wake up with pain, except when I drink a ton in the evenings. It's all the extra fluid in our bodies right now, putting increased pressure on the carpal nerve in the wrist. It can affect everything from the tips of your fingers up to your elbow. I've lost a lot of strength in my hands as well. The good news is, it's most likely only while you're pregnant and after the baby it should quickly go back to normal. I can't wait. I'm here to commiserate and answer questions though - I've become pretty knowledgeable on it over the past several weeks.
Me: 31
DH: 32
Married: Sep 2012
TTC #1: Jan 2015 Baby A (via IUI due to MFI): Sep 2016 born at 35+6
Surprise but very welcome + on 5/16/2019, EDD 1/25/2020
Thanks @MorganL925 , I've felt it on certain occasions, but I haven't figured out what triggers it for me just yet. I will be more mindful about it! Thanks for the tip on drinking water. So crazy that now our choices boil down to:
1.) Drink a lot of water before bed and wake up 15x a night to pee; or 2.) Don't drink a lot of water and wake up with crazy hand pain.
I've found the waking up to pee 15x is the lesser of two evils, but my hand pain is serious. It's worse because when you sleep you're probably keeping your hands closed, or clutching a pillow, etc. and that puts more pressure on that vein and makes it worse. So the braces help to keep the wrists straight. I've just ordered a different brand to try and see if it make a difference vs. the ones I have now which are for "women" and may be wimpy. I'll report back if I find a good brand.
Me: 31
DH: 32
Married: Sep 2012
TTC #1: Jan 2015 Baby A (via IUI due to MFI): Sep 2016 born at 35+6
Surprise but very welcome + on 5/16/2019, EDD 1/25/2020
-my discharge smells different -my nipples. Dark and huge. -fatigue -for the first time in my life, I have boob sweat and crotch sweat. -did I say fatigue? -my sex drive has tanked. -yay fatigue.
Chiming in on the wet crotch and watery discharge. If it's anything like my last pregnancy, it increased in frequency until I gave birth. I was switching panties twice a day to avoid irritation! As long as it isn't a funky color or smell, it's all normal and totally annoying.
I have to go to the bathroom all the time now. And if I get up too fast or without supporting myself enough, I get twinges in my abdomen (not quite cramps, more like muscles protesting because I'm using them differently). I also have horrible foot cramps at times.
@annabenanna I get the hand pain to, but I don't know what it's from and never thought to ask...
It's so weird because a month ago, one of my friends was like "oh Jenee had these wrist braces during her pregnancy." I asked why and he said carpal tunnel.... but didn't elaborate. Didn't even think it was a pregnancy symptom! Till now.
Maybe due to the relaxin hormone? I know it effects joints and ligaments.
Makes sense, just stay on top of it because after LO mine didn't go away, and is just getting worse with this pregnancy. But I also have RA which may very well be contributing to that, I definitely don't want to freak you out!
@annabenanna I get the hand pain to, but I don't know what it's from and never thought to ask...
It's so weird because a month ago, one of my friends was like "oh Jenee had these wrist braces during her pregnancy." I asked why and he said carpal tunnel.... but didn't elaborate. Didn't even think it was a pregnancy symptom! Till now.
Maybe due to the relaxin hormone? I know it effects joints and ligaments.
Makes sense, just stay on top of it because after LO mine didn't go away, and is just getting worse with this pregnancy. But I also have RA which may very well be contributing to that, I definitely don't want to freak you out!
Thanks ladies, as I type, I'm chugging a ton of water too. LOL. I feel like typing makes it worse too. Ugh!
Re: Symptoms Thread 05.09.16
It's low, across my whole pelvis, and it's a constant tightening sensation that's been going on for about 5 hours. It's very painful and actually brought me to tears. But RLP has been pretty excruciating, so I'm assuming the intensity isn't anything to worry about....??
I've had nasty RLP when going from sitting to standing, or changing positions too quickly and it can be bad enough to take my breath away- but if you're just sitting there you shouldn't get RLP either (it's due to minimally elastic ligaments stretching too fast).
If the above is different from what you're experiencing, and you're getting rhythmic painful contractions that aren't improved by hydration, changing position or relaxing, you need to call your on call OB.
Unfortunately my OBs office does not have an after hours or weekend doctor. I have to call the hospital associated with my OB, and the on call nurses there rarely listen to anything I'm saying. They always just tell me to go to the ER if I'm concerned about anything.
I'll try hydrating myself for now and see if that helps. I'm rarely as hydrated as I should be. If that doesn't help, I'll call the hospital and see what they say.
E born 6/2014
I have my anatomy scan tomorrow morning and I see my OB on Thursday. As long as it doesn't come back, I'll just ask then. I've had so many horrible cramping episodes this pregnancy that I went to the ER for and they turned out to be nothing, so I'll try to be patient since I'll see Bean first thing tomorrow.
E born 6/2014
esp helpful for husbands and other people who think pregnancy is "no big deal"
BFP #2 - Feb 2, 2016 --EDD 10/10/16 --Abigail- October 6, 2016. Heart warrior.
October 2017- Began fostering to adopt T, (DOB:November 19, 2013)
Hey weird symptom buddy!
Lately I too have been getting a weird dull ache on the left side of my pubic bone / groin area. Mostly when I lift my left leg to go up stairs. Almost feels like a bruise but only when I move right do I even feel it. I thought it might be pubic symphysis dysfunction but it seems too early for that (17w5d) and my pain isn't as debilitating as what SPD has been described as. I'm considering support belts but they're so expensive. I see my doctor in a couple weeks so I plan to just pay attention to any changes until then. My job requires a lot of lifting and moving and I really don't want to lose my ability to work for as long as possible.
https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/symptoms-and-solutions/symphysis-pubis-dysfunction
Wish I had more answers but at least we aren't alone.
I had SPD with DS (started at 24w) and it's starting to flare up now (16w3d). For me, it hurts with any kind of twisting motion involving the hips (walking certain ways, rolling over in bed, lunge-squats at the gym, etc). It kind of feels like the pelvis is coming unglued from the back (I never had the frontal pain with it, only in my sacrum). I got fitted by an orthotics specialist for a maternity belt and holy balls, night and day difference!
@kmolleltz I watched that over and over again, and am going to have to save it!
Also, my nipples are weird af.
BFP: 8/20/2018 - EDD 5/4/2019
Had my anatomy scan today and the tech asked if I've been having contractions. I told her about Saturday night and how the pain is gone, but the tightening sensation hasn't let up. Apparently my uterus was contracting through the entire scan, which is why she asked. She reassured me that it's totally normal. Thank you for all your help ladies!
Is anyone experiencing CM that is more watery? I'm going back and forth between creamy and watery and the watery is freaking me out, I'm worried it could be an amniotic fluid leak. Everything I've read has been people going back and forth between Urine or AF and but I know it isn't urine. I have my AS tomorrow so I'll make sure the fluid looks good and ask, just curious if anyone else has experienced the same thing.
Me: 32 & DH: 37
BFP #2: 2/8/16 - EDD 10/20/16
IT'S A BOY!!!!
DS Born 10/16/16
DH: 34
Married: May 2011
TTC #1: May 2015
DS: 10/20/2016
TTC #2: June 2019
#2 EDD: 2/20/2020
ETA: I totally missed that there was a page 5 of replies where more had weighed in on this. @CaptainPhasma your SPD link has me kind of freaked out. But at least we're all in this together?
Me: 32 & DH: 37
BFP #2: 2/8/16 - EDD 10/20/16
IT'S A BOY!!!!
DS Born 10/16/16
@MRSCORKER - yes, I've had that recently. I was worried it was amniotic too, but don't think it is. I know it's not urine and while it's very thin, like water, when I put my finger in it it's still slightly sticky, which I've read/been told is NOT like amniotic fluid. See if you're has any scent or "feeling" to it. I'm sure it's nothing.
Baby A (via IUI due to MFI): Sep 2016 born at 35+6
BFP #2 - Feb 2, 2016 --EDD 10/10/16 --Abigail- October 6, 2016. Heart warrior.
October 2017- Began fostering to adopt T, (DOB:November 19, 2013)
TTC only since Dec 2015. I had some weight to get off. Been working hard in the gym for over a year.
BFP 02-15-16 with our first
IT'S A BOY!!!
@kmolleltz , i'm with you on the heartburn. I get it almost every night. Last week someone told me, "oh you have a lot of heartburn? you'll have a hairy baby." made me think of that superstitions thread we had a few months back.
I'm experiencing a lot of hand pain ladies... not quite wrist, but hand.... i'm worried about carpal tunnel. Why is it common during pregnancy? What causes it? Anyone have experience?
Me: 32 & DH: 37
BFP #2: 2/8/16 - EDD 10/20/16
IT'S A BOY!!!!
DS Born 10/16/16
Baby A (via IUI due to MFI): Sep 2016 born at 35+6
1.) Drink a lot of water before bed and wake up 15x a night to pee; or
2.) Don't drink a lot of water and wake up with crazy hand pain.
Baby A (via IUI due to MFI): Sep 2016 born at 35+6
-my discharge smells different
-my nipples. Dark and huge.
-fatigue
-for the first time in my life, I have boob sweat and crotch sweat.
-did I say fatigue?
-my sex drive has tanked.
-yay fatigue.
Bonus though? No need for lube lol