Braxton Hicks!!!

freckled1104 · March 2019

Hey ladies soooo, I have started having these darn Braxton Hicks contractions 😩 I am 20 +2 and this is baby three for me. I just feel like this is too soon. Has anyone started experiencing them yet? Have you noticed any trends that seem to set them off?

xtinecatherine · March 2019

I have been having some too. I notice they start earlier and earlier with subsequent pregnancies. I had them early with previous ones too and went full term with them all.

mamanbebe · March 2019

@freckled1104 I asked one of my midwives about this at my last appt and she said not only is it normal to feel them at this point, but you tend to feel them more with subsequent babies. She also said they've been occurring since 1st tri (which I've felt) but you may not have noticed. I have them all throughout the day, regardless of how much water I drink, and she still said that it's normal and good because the uterus is just doing its thing.

bartonolivia · March 2019

I’ve been feeling them since 15 weeks. Except they’re pretty painful now and have cramps occasionally and they happen very often so I’m going to talk to my OB but I’m sure she’ll say it’s normal. I didn’t have them at all with my other pregnancies. They look really weird and painful too it happens when I’m walking around too to the point that I have to take breaks, and I take pain well... I didn’t even go into the hospital until 8 cm & 7cm dilated with my boys. Lol

Happyin14 · March 2019

I get them! I’m 22 weeks and have been feeling them for at least a week. Baby #3 here also.

Panaceia · March 2019

Mine just started this past week (I'm 23 weeks today). Definitely more painful than I remember with DD. I've only had a couple but I don't remember them this early with DD either.

nopegoat · March 2019

Baby #5 and I've been having them for a few weeks now. Mostly when I have to pee, been super busy and not drinking enough, and after sex.

mrscammack · March 2019

I’ve had the tightening but they haven’t been really painful yet which has been nice. I’m 22+6 today with #2 and I was wondering if it was too early so this thread was really comforting to read!

kingdommom · March 2019

I've always gotten braxton hicks. My sister had 3 kids too and has no idea what they feel like! Mine have been very mild so far and are usually after me and my husband have sex or sometimes if I have to pee really bad. I know they say drinking plenty of water can help. I'm 21 weeks 3 days also with my third.

key33 · March 2019

I've had them for a few weeks now. They never hurt just random tightening. This is #3 for me.

indulgentgypsy · March 2019

Hmmm... interesting. I have never felt them in any of my pregnancies. And to be fair I did not feel my actual labor contractions before the epidural and C-section with my first either. Not even a "pain tolerance" thing, like I literally did not feel them. A sign (just for me! not for others, don't freak out mamas!!!!) that my body was not prepared to "do what it was supposed to" for a vaginal birth.

Ashers423 · March 2019

Third pregnancy here and I honestly can say I don’t think I’ve noticed any contractions without being pitocin induced contractions

kingdommom · March 2019

@key33 they don't usually hurt for me either, just annoying sometimes. I will say though that I didn't recognize I was in labor immediately with my second because I just thought they were braxton hicks! I was already 7 cm when I arrived at the birth center. If only things had gone smoothly after that...

Bear14+ · March 2019

I've been having them for a few weeks (19+4)... never really noticed them with my first two. Doctors aren't really concerned. They are really random and sometimes will go on for a few hours at a time.

key33 · March 2019

@kingdommom - I didn't realize I was going into labor with my first. I had Braxton Hicks for so long they were just a normal part of pregnancy to me. I realized what was going on when my water broke at home. Once my water broke, those contractions went from 0 to 10 for pain within 30 minutes. My daughter was born a couple hours after we arrived at the hospital. I knew better with my second and we were prepared for another quick birth.

mnkenned · March 2019

I've been having them too and just asked my OB about it, who said totally normal. She advised staying hydrated and avoiding a full bladder but nothing to worry about.

JLHeisler · March 2019

I don't remember them with my first at all. This morning however maybe this is what I was feeling heading into work? Can you explain to me what this really feels like? Today I felt very tight in the stomach and almost reminiscent of early contractions.....

key33 · March 2019

@JLHeisler - Sounds like you had one, they are essentially an overall tightening feeling. According to my midwife today, they also become more frequent and noticeable with subsequent pregnancies and start sooner.

hakele · March 2019

My L&D nurses said if you have them this early, they give you an IV at the hospital because it is often a sign of dehydration. So drink up!

key33 · March 2019

@hakele - Thats a pretty extreme statement. Dehydration is just one thing that can cause them but is definitely not the only reason. I have something to drink with me at all times and I have them rabdomly throughout the entire day. There are multiple things to try to relieve them as well.

hakele · March 2019

@key33 I’ll be sure to call over to the hospital and let them know you found their advice “extreme”. 🙄

Bear14+ · March 2019

@hakele https://americanpregnancy.org/labor-and-birth/braxton-hicks/ There are many triggers for braxton hicks that can occur throughout the second and third trimester. It could be one of many reasons. Maybe that is how a hospital chooses to try to alleviate them though as a preventative measure?? But dehydration isn't the only cause of them.

key33 · March 2019

I don’t see why a hospital would give an IV for something that is completely normal. So without additional context that is an extreme statement to me. Because again, dehydration is not the only cause of Braxton Hicks.

If someone had contractions that were not stopping and other things have been tried, I could see an IV being used. However, that would be a more severe situation. But stating a hospital is going to give someone an IV for dehydration because of BH is not the common protocol for regular BH.

nopegoat · March 2019

Having to pee makes me have BH. I'm not sure IV fluids or even more fluids would help that.

I also get them after sex/orgasm. I'm not sure if it would stroke H's ego or scare him shitless if I told him I have to go to hospital for fluids after having sex with him lol.

Now if BH become regular and/or more intense THEN you have a problem. I've had early BH with every pregnancy and I've only been sent to the hospital once with them, but that was mid gallbladder attack, they were regular, intensifying, and ended up being PTL.

nopegoat · March 2019

I will say that most OB's will tell you to drink water and lay on your left side to see if it helps lessen BH/contractions. But once again that's if they are frequent or regular.

leylea89 · March 2019

I didn’t realize I was having BH last week and I got them because I was working hard that week. I worked 5 days in a row and my job is on my feet. I didn’t know until an article popped up on here that being overly active can cause them or that that’s what’s i was feeling.

I am a FTM though so a I can’t be too surprised that i assumes it was round ligament pain even though it felt nothing like what RL pain is described as.

It actually hurt more than most describe on here. It was borderline period cramps and walking was fine after a minute but sitting made it worse. Laying straight did help too.

cindler · March 2019

I have had this feeling like my stomach is tied in knots for the past two days. When I stand straight after bending over, there is a very distinct feeling of muscles uncramping. Nothing painful, but definitely tightness. Is this Braxton Hicks?

greeneyedgirl12 · April 2019

Can a STM+ tell me what BH feel like? I just had what felt like a contraction (slow increase in pain and then release) in my LOWER abdomen (like below my belly button), but it went away. I also know some cramping during pregnancy is normal, and I'm fine now, but I also want to know what they feel like so I know for future reference...

mamahmh2 · April 2019

@greeneyedgirl12 I’d say you had one! Mine feels like an overall cramp, my belly skin and muscles get really tight and tense for a few moments and then gently release. Uncomfortable enough to notice, for sure!

greeneyedgirl12 · April 2019

@mamahmh2 Thanks! It was lower than most of the other cramps/discomfort I felt (below most of my bump), but it sort of felt like it spread up from there. I also had a discharge of um, discharge, right after (sorry if TMI), so that made me think it was a B-H too, since obviously contractions are ultimately meant to push stuff out.

No blood in said discharge or anything, plus I feel fine now, so not worried, but it was an all-new sensation. Going to hydrate and just pay a little extra attention today.

foodislove · April 2019

@greeneyedgirl12 I think it feels a little different for everyone. Mine feels like a tightness, like someone is putting weight on my stomach area, and then it releases again. Not like a period cramp, which I would call a "deeper" feeling, these are more... topical? Feel likes my muscles as opposed to my ovaries.

indulgentgypsy · April 2019

@foodislove I agree, different for every one. Mine feel like an overall heaviness in my ute - like it suddenly put on 10lbs and gets really tight. Then it rolls like a wave as it releases.

key33 · April 2019

I definitely agree, BH and even labor contractions are different for everyone. BH have always felt like an overall tightening feeling. If you touch my stomach during one you can feel the hardness of my uterus. They have never caused me pain, but are something I notice.

I'm always told that if they start to become painful or regular is when I should be concerned. I really only have consistency to judge for contractions. Even my labor contractions felt like a tightening feeling and never caused pain until after my water broke.

Now with baby #3 I have BH whenever I stand up or am Moving or walking. I've been told not to worry so long as they stop when I lay down.

greeneyedgirl12 · April 2019

@key33 @indulgentgypsy @foodislove Thanks ladies! This was, as I said, a new sensation from the previous crampy/b****you need to hydrate ones, so I’m guessing B-H. Only one though.

Currently working my way through 46oz of Starbucks chai and iced tea (only 16 w/ caffeine, am 40mg under my limit for the day and I’m done) and will keep pushing fluids, because I bet I’m dehydrated too...

Cbeanz · April 2019

To me, BH feels like a tingly sensation like getting goosebumps but on the inside. Then I can feel my ute get really firm and tight to the point where I can see the outline of the baby's body. Then it releases in the same tingly way.

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