Braxton hicks (yes, again...sorry)

SarahJean0

I get them all damn day long. It's so annoying and they are starting to feel crampy sometimes. I've been running to the bathroom to make sure I'm not spotting at least 3 times a day.

Im seriously wondering if I won't know when I'm in actual labor.

Anyone have a lot of these? Think it has any relation to going early/late?

Its starting to piss me off. 

Newt69

I get them too alot, especially at night while trying to sleep. My belly tightens then lets up.I wake up with tight belly as well and it goes away after I go to the bathroom.

Manx4

I get them all the time - sometimes they do feel crampy. 

From what I remember of the contractions I had in the hospital with DS - you'll know when they're "real" vs just BH.  

They should be something you can time, from the start of one to the start of the next one, and they should increase with intensity.  

You shouldn't be able to talk/walk through them either - they'll take your breath away and make you stop in your tracks.  

LILBIT1221

I know this is repetitive, but make sure you are drinking plenty. The more dehydrated you are, the more you will have & the stronger they will be. Also, I know it sounds crazy, but you will surely know when they become "real". Unless you are one of those freaks who has no concept of pain. BH's shouldn't really be painful, just a little uncomfortable & pretty damn annoying.

EGMphoto

Manx4:

From what I remember of the contractions I had in the hospital with DS - you'll know when they're "real" vs just BH.  

This. I'm sure everyone is different, but you will know.

:shudders at thought of having real ones again:

macy42

I was extremely sick last week and ended up severely dehydrated. I had some pretty crazy and intense BH. Drink lots! I've been drinking a gallon of water a day (along with juice and other liquids) and haven't had any since. Good luck

mrs.kapow

Ditto the hydration recommendations. 

And, yea, you'll know the practice contractions vs. the game-time ones. I always wondered, too, since I had a lot of BH and was supposedly contracting when I went in for my NST the day after EDD, but when I woke up at 2 am the next morning, I knew. 

GeorgiaYankee

Drinking more water really does seem to help.

I agree that you'll know the difference. Real labor was definitely nothing like BH contractions. However, I did have a friend who thought she was just having BHs until she started timing them. They were coming every 5 minutes, then every 3. She wound up going to L&D, finding out she really was in labor and 7 cm, and having her baby med-free shortly after arriving. The thought of being in labor and not knowing it is scary, but I'd take that delivery any day!