Braxton hicks

Ravenbaby · June 2014

I'm having a lot more Braxton hicks this time around! My tummy is always pretty tight so sometimes it's harder to tell but I know I for sure had at least 2 in an hour. I called the dr to be safe so now I'm supposed to be monitoring them closely and go in if I have 4 an hour. Trying not to stress because I'm sure it's fine but it's hard when I know baby isn't ready yet!

Ravenbaby · June 2014

So far a bath a lying down has really done the trick

griffers · June 2014

I feel them randomly, but thought it was normal and didn't worry too much. I'll have a couple in 15 minutes and then just nothing the rest of the day. They are pretty uncomfortable though, and my belly gets rock hard in that spot. It's kinda creepy!

cozybluebear · June 2014

I seem to have them a lot more with this pregnancy too and they started much earlier... around 14 weeks!

SaphireShimmer · June 2014

Ok, dumb question but I never had real labor (long story) and don't remember if I had braxton hicks last time. So, what do braxton hicks feel like? I've read from my books but I'd like to hear from those who have them. Are they like period cramps?

griffers · June 2014

I think it feels like a muscle cramp in my uterus, but more localized to one spot rather than the whole uterus like a period cramp would.

Eta: my uterus must know what I'm typing because I'm having one now

Ravenbaby · June 2014

Jeez I wish they would just stop. I keep having them but 2 an hour which just stresses me out because I have to go in if I have four in an hour. I haven't been havin 2 every hour some hours I don't have any but as a whole I have had A Lot of them today. I had a friend recently give birth at 25 weeks and the baby didn't make it. It weighs heavy on my mind

griffers · June 2014

Ravenbaby said:
Jeez I wish they would just stop. I keep having them but 2 an hour which just stresses me out because I have to go in if I have four in an hour. I haven't been havin 2 every hour some hours I don't have any but as a whole I have had A Lot of them today. I had a friend recently give birth at 25 weeks and the baby didn't make it. It weighs heavy on my mind

Totally understandable why it makes you nervous. Do they last a long time and do they hurt? When I have one is pretty uncomfortable but only lasts a few seconds. Unless whatever I feel is something else.

Ravenbaby · June 2014

Yeah uncomfortable and some are painful

savicke2009 · June 2014

I have loads and loads of them.. I talked to my doc about it today and he said that with each pregnancy they become more and more frequent, but if youve never had pre-term labor (which I haven't) your chances of pre term labor goes down each pregnancy. . Kind of a riddle of sorts and he said as long as they're not regular not to worry..

griffers · June 2014

I'm a sonographer and we see them on ultrasound all the time. Seems like most of the time in my experience the person says they don't feel them. But I don't do ob regularly so I don't know if that's the norm. Maybe some people are more sensitive to feeling them? Or maybe it depends where they are? I think the ones I feel are always my anterior uterus.

lct2008 · June 2014

I only had a couple all pregnancy last time and didn't even know really because to me they really weren't too uncomfortable. this time I have definitely had more though. My dr said it was normal especially for 2nd time moms and that you can normally feel them earlier too. She was only concerned if I had 6 in an hour or they were abled to be timed like actual contractions.
For me they just feel kind of like my whole uterus just tightening up almost like if you were flexing a muscle. I don't find it particularly uncomfortable, just weird.

HappyCianci · June 2014

OP, you are probably perfectly OK. Braxton Hicks are fundamentally different from labor contractions and they don't change your cervix. Not to get too personal, but you might keep track of your bowels... being constipated or gassy always makes Braxton Hicks act up for me.

Another thing: try not to obsess about that four-per-hour cutoff they gave you. I've heard a lot of women say they get them in clusters. I do. In my first pregnancy, I definitely had days where I'd have more than four in an hour, then none an hour later. My son was born at term. Anecdotal, I know. But I believe you'll be OK.

jesslinnn · June 2014

I get BHs pretty often, sometimes 4 in an hour but that's normal for me. With my other two pregnancies I had them a lot too. I still went over my due date with each kid by 2 and 6 days. For me I get them more if I have a full bladder and right after I pee, or if I'm doing a lot of physical activity. Mine also last longer than most, sometimes they'll last for a full minute or two.

For me they don't hurt and I wouldn't compare mine to a period cramps because those bitches hurt! My stomach just gets rock hard... & It's hard to describe but I guess it almost feels like someone is squeezing me or I have something heavy laying on my stomach. They do get a little uncomfortable, but nothing like a real labor contraction.

SaphireShimmer · June 2014

Thanks for the info ladies.

And OP, good luck with everything. I hope things settle down for you. Try to take it easy.

mrstorrestobe · June 2014

I had a lot of BH'S with my first, but not until the end, like after 32 weeks. With my second, I felt my first BH'S around 15 weeks and they continued very steadily until birth which was 3 days before his due date. Now with this one, I'm getting them very frequently. Mostly if I am the slightest bit dehydrated and usually when I'm at work (I'm an RN and on my feet constantly during my 12 hour shifts). I just up my water intake and try to take short breaks. Also, a full bladder really triggers them for me. My 2 LO's were both born 3 days before their due date and I'm not expecting my frequent BH's to make this one come any earlier either!

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