How do you tell RLP vs BH vs Contractions?

katekat8721 · May 2014

Hey guys,

FTM so bear with me

I'm 34 weeks along and can't tell wtf is going on with my body lol. I've had sharp pains down low in the uterus forever, which the doc's have said are RLP. Now that I'm further along, they're thinking it may still be RLP or localized BHs. They still only really come on with movement though.

Last night my uterus was hard and uncomfortable for 30 secs or so, then softened back up. Does that sound like a contraction? Or BH since I wasn't in too much pain?

The docs/nurses have given me tips to see if the uterus feels hard (it's always hard) and to feel along the top to see if it feels like it's contracting (but I have two babies heads up there so it's hard to tell).

I'm mostly just worried I'll miss contractions or something since I'm getting close to the end.

Tl; Dr version... how we're you able to tell RLP from BH from contractions?

Thank you!

12bailey18 · May 2014

FWIW, this is my 3rd pregnancy and I still have NO idea what BH feels like. I've never had them. I've always been told they should never be painful, though. With my first I "just knew" that they were real contractions because nothing I did made me feel better. Not walking, not laying down, not drinking water, etc.

KatieGummow · May 2014

My experience:
RLP is painful when you move too quickly and is localized

BH is uncomfortable but not timeble (ie, the next one came in 3 minutes, then 7, then 10, then 2...). It is a practice contraction that comes and goes when it pleases but like you said, is the tightening of the uterus.

Contractions feel like BH but intensify and can be timed (ie, every 8 minutes for an hour then every 6 minutes for 2 hours..)

katekat8721 · May 2014

Thank you guys so much. I felt like I've been going nuts trying analyze these aches and twinges! This really, really helps!

Jules_Shamblin · May 2014

I'm a FTM too (almost 30 weeks) and I agree that it's so hard to know what's going on!

I started getting frequent BH contractions at around 22 weeks and it's hard to know what to worry about and what not to worry about. My doctor told me that some women just get more than others and since everything else looks great, as long as I'm not getting more than four/hour, it's fine. I count them in the evenings though just to make sure and no matter how much water I drink or how little I'm doing, I still get 2-3/hour, every hour.

megs2011 · May 2014

I think theSe ladies hit the nail on the head. I never experienced real contractions bc I never made it that far. I had bh starting at 16 weeks. RLP is a sharp localized pain when you move. I'm pregnant with #3 (singleton) and I'm sure I'll be unsure if I'm having real contractions when the time comes.

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