This is my first, and I've never had braxton hicks that I know about, but something is happening that I think could maybe be a contraction...
All of a sudden i felt kind of a weird crampy tightening at the top of my belly and it slowly went down my entire belly until the whole thing was hard and tight, then it just faded. About 10 minutes later, same thing happened...again about 10 minutes later...
But it doesn't hurt at all, just slightly uncomfortable, and also my back doesn't really ache anymore than usual. (TMI-but I've had a lot more thicker and whiter CM today, and very loose BM's since yesterday) Once when I asked how I would know if I was in labor, everyone said that I would just know... but I have no clue! It's just a wierd sensation that I've never really felt before!
Contractions? Baby just moving in a new way? Braxton hicks?
Btw, I'm 38 weeks on Monday...Thanks!
Re: Might be stupid-contractions?
Latent contractions feel exactly as you described OP. They are not painful. Start timing them. They may be a bit irregular at first, but you will continue to feel them for longer than an hour. If they are BH, then they would taper off. When in doubt, go to L&D. Luckily, you are far enough along that I hope this is the real thing for you!
They started to get more and more frequent and more painful, but my back is what was REALLY killing me, so at 11PM we went up to the hospital, where we got monitored. Yes I was having contractions, yes I was having back labor (really bad!). Contractions were about 2-3 minutes apart but weren't lasting long enough, so I got sent home at 12:30, with ambian and told to come back if I got worse or my water broke or anything....
Still having contractions, but maybe not as bad, but my back is just as painful! I'm off to research ways to move her off my back! Because Lordie, if I go into labor still having back labor, all my plans for au natural go out the window, someone give me pain relief for my back!