Whoever says BH don't hurt.... WRONG!!!

Babycakes29

Last night for 3 hours I had the worst BH I've had so far. Granted, I just started my 3rd tri so maybe this is just how things are going to be for me over the next few months, but it was rough.

I felt like I was having one giant contraction that really just didn't relax, it would get worse, but it wouln't really relax. Whenever I was standing it was the worst and thats when the pain kicked in. I had lower pelvic pain, pain towards the top of my belly and pain in my lower back. It was all so crampy and tight that I started getting a little concerned. So just did the typical recommendation and drank my water and laid down to rest. Fortunately I fell asleep and everything turned out ok. I still feel a little uncomfortable this morning though.

It's so hard being a FTM and not knowing when you should and shouldn't be concerned! Normally, when its just me I have to think about, I have to be on my death bed before going to urgent care or anything like that. But now that I have a baby in me to think about, its so hard to know how to gauge those types of things!

star173

Good job drinking water and resting. I know mine hurt when I don't get enough water.

If you feel like something is wrong, no harm in calling L&D.

ChavayJakov

Agree with the good call on drinking water...you might want to up your regular water intake as a norm (or make sure that you aren't supplementing your daily intake with things like juice, coffee, etc).

Sometimes BH will leave me with a catch in the side for a day or two...sorta like when you first pick up jogging.  And if you happen to be heartburn or have been constipated/unable to pass gas that day, BH will really do a number on you.

The only advice I can give you sounds counterintuitive.  If, when you are having BH, you are tensing up yourself (sorta like when a kid with a tummy ache/cramp, doubles over and holds their stomach) try the opposite approach...Lay or sit down and just go with the flow, breathing deeply and slowly through your mouth, drinking water (I also close my eyes and really won't speak with anyone until it has run its course).  Do not fight against it at all, because your fighting against it, is fighting against your body...if you are balling up because of pain, the contractions are just going to pull in that much more, increasing the tightening pain.

The advice was given to me, and it has been successful (I'm less than a month before due date).  This is my fourth child, and it's the first time I've felt relief (yes, you still feel it, but you actually feel more in control, and it seems to lessen the "volume" of BH...I'm wondering if it will work the same in L&D).  The analogy given to me was akin to recognizing how in frequent car crashes that a drunk is almost always the one that gets to walk away with minimum damage to his body...because his body remains loose and doesn't tense at the impact.  Not an ideal example, I know...but it was how it was described.

AliW220

I completely agree. And agree with PP - when you get bad BH, chug some water!  Mine always hurt way worse when I'm not getting enough liquids or if I'm really gassy or constipated (as if being backed-up or gassy doesn't suck enough!).

Just know you're not alone! Oh the joys of pregnancy! They just keep coming don't they