Braxton Hicks?

Natabear

Is anyone else having nearly constant Braxton Hicks?  I'm not having any cramps or labor pains and I can feel the baby moving, just thought it was odd to have them so frequently at 17 weeks.  Just wondering if anyone else is having them right now. 

megpeg

You need to drink more and relax. You shouldn't be having them often and if you are you may want to talk to your doctor.

[Deleted User]

See if it gets better with a large glass of water.  Sometimes dehydration can cause that.

Gingermom15

I’ve heard you feel them sooner with the second. I feel them more after a long shift or if I haven’t drank enough water. 
Drink water and rest

DDRRT1982

I agree that you should talk to your doctor.  I have an irritable uterus and have BH more than the average person and mine are not constant until I am actually close to term.  It would just be safe to give them a call.  Also, watch for bleeding or spotting.  

chasingroygbiv

Mine started around that time this go around and around 20 weeks with my second. My doctor says I have an irritable uterus and basically to drink, drink, drink, and rest if I have more than I usually do. Still worth running by your doctor in case it’s not normal for YOU. BH scan also be a symptom of UTIs and other fun stuff down there, so best to ask! 

Natabear

DDRRT1982 said:

I agree that you should talk to your doctor.  I have an irritable uterus and have BH more than the average person and mine are not constant until I am actually close to term.  It would just be safe to give them a call.  Also, watch for bleeding or spotting.  

 It's hard to know for me because I had bleeding at 7 weeks that turned out to be harmless, but I also had  bleeding today and even had a clot. It seems to have eased up though, basically just light spotting now.  Hopefully it turns out to be nothing, as my ob has said the earlier bleeding must've just been normal for me.

[Deleted User]

If you're bleeding enough to clot you should really stay off your feet and get into your doctor ASAP.  Even if you had bleeding before, even if they said it was fine.  Anytime something happens like that you need to get checked up. For tonight - hydrate and rest.

DDRRT1982

Natabear said:

DDRRT1982 said:

I agree that you should talk to your doctor.  I have an irritable uterus and have BH more than the average person and mine are not constant until I am actually close to term.  It would just be safe to give them a call.  Also, watch for bleeding or spotting.  

 It's hard to know for me because I had bleeding at 7 weeks that turned out to be harmless, but I also had  bleeding today and even had a clot. It seems to have eased up though, basically just light spotting now.  Hopefully it turns out to be nothing, as my ob has said the earlier bleeding must've just been normal for me.

I am sorry to hear this.  I agree you should contact your doctor.  Bleeding at seven weeks and now could be totally unrelated, so it's best to get checked out.  FX everything is ok.

Gingermom15

If you’ve had any bleeding and now BH I would definitely call or go in. Better to get checked out. 

kalawa

TW I am constantly bleeding due to my SCH. But brown blood. The MW said ANY TIME there is red blood or red clots to get seen right away. END TW Hope everything is okay.

LiveNLove44

As far as the BH go, I've already been having them this time around pretty often. I'm a "contractor" and had it much worse with my second than with my first, so I anticipate they'll continue to pick up at this point. Hydrated or not, I get them daily, it just depends on what I'm doing. If I run, I get them within a mile or so, but if I bike or do elliptical, I don't get them until later in the day. My uterus is just sensitive to a lot of activity.

With that said, I think your primary concern would be the bleeding. My OB's office takes that very seriously, as I'm sure yours does, and they'd probably like to know as soon as you can call in about what's going on so they can help you out if necessary. I'd go into OB triage with your experience, but it's at least worth a call. I hope all turns out well for you and you're given the information you need!

DDRRT1982

Any update?  I was quickly reminded this weekend at work why bleeding and clots should be taken seriously in the absence of a previous diagnosis.  I hope you contacted your doctor and everything is ok.

ShawnnaO

Yes, please update us when you've seen a doctor. 

kalawa

@DDRRT1982 Oh no! What happened? I hope your okay!

DDRRT1982

Oh no!  I  am ok.  I sometimes work NICU and I was reminded that clotting and bleeding can be a precurser to placental abruption.  It's just better to get checked out this far along in our pregnancies if this happens.  It just made me think of this situation.

kalawa

@DDRRT1982 Ah ok...phew! Hopefully that family stays okay as well. But yes, very true. That's why my MW said always get seen, because a diagnosis can change in an instant with a new symptom. 

DDRRT1982

I agree with your midwife, but I am extra cautious due to my history, though.  With my oldest, I had lots of BH (actually painless contractions bc there were changes to my cervix) from 22 weeks on with no bleeding.  Oneday, I finally had the slightest spotting.  I called the on-call (not my doctor) and they said it was probably nothing.  I ended up going in anyways and thank God, because I was in labor.  I was only 24 weeks at the time.  My cervix was dilated and too effaced for intervention.  I lasted a week before he was born at 25w.  Fortunately, I went in bc I was able to get steroids.  If I had waited, things might have turned out very different.  This is why I stress that it's better to be safe.  I just had the slightest spotting and it was something big.  If you haven't already been diagnosed with a cause, it's just best to find out why.

Edit due to autocorrect

Natabear

Thank you guys so much for your replies and concern.    The bleeding and BH stopped by late Sunday, thankfully, and I'm going in to the OB in a few hours.  I'll let you guys know what they say after they check me out.  I spent the whole day yesterday wishing I had just gone to the hospital, I hope that I didn't do a bad thing by waiting for the OB's office to open instead.

DDRRT1982

@Natabear more than likely everything is ok.  Especially if your symptoms stopped. I am at least glad you are going in.  Peace of mind is a beautiful thing.  Good luck!

deleted22152218

Glad you're going on @Natabear!  Hope it all goes well! Will be watching for your update 

heatherdubrow

So glad it has stopped @Natabear! I’m hoping everything looks fine and you have a great update!

Natabear

I just got home from the OB and everything seems to be fine.  She did an u/s and said it seems that I just have a low lying placenta so she wants me to avoid lifting, sex, and housework until my anatomy scan in 2 weeks.  She said it wasn't anything to worry about since the bleeding had stopped, so that was nice to hear.  She also said she thinks it might be a girl.