Braxton Hicks?

When I had them, it just felt like I was trying to start my period, but would come and go. It was uncomfortable, but not as intense as my true labor pains were.

Hi A.! I had braxton hicks with both of my pregnancies, and with my 2nd, they started very early. I was like around week 14. They were harmless. Braxton Hicks feel like a tightning in a portion of the uterus. They can actually get quite uncomfortable. They don't necessarily indicate labor is on the way, but I think it depends on your pregnancy. If you are just starting to have them, it sounds like your body is gearing up. Just relax when you get them and they will lessen. Of course, be mindful of the timing of them if they get regular. Good luck on the birth!!

I agree with Marci. Since this is your 3rd pregnancy, however, you should probably go ahead and call your OB on Monday to let him know that you are feeling your Braxton-Hicks this time. (I was having B-H's with my 1st, but *never* felt them (my OB told me I was having them!), so when I was feeling the contractions, it was *real* labor.) With each pregnancy, the muscles don't hold as "tight" as they did previously, either, and labor can come on more quickly. And this little boy just might be in a bigger hurry to meet you than your other 2! :)

(S)He'll probably have you go ahead and come on in, just to check and make sure everything is ok.

CONGRATS on baby #3!! :)
~J.~

I think I would call the doctors office. You are to late in your pregancy to take any chances.

It sounds to me like you have Braxton Hicks. I had them for a month and a half before my daughter was born. The day I went into labor, I knew that it was true labor. Time how long your contractions are far apart. Good luck!

Hi! Dont want to alarm you but just informing you. I thought I was having a Braxton-Hicks about 2 months before my due date. They werent painful but it was a serious twitching I had never experience. I went in because I am paranoid. My doctor hooked my up to the machine that measured contractions. I was rating off the chart!! The nurse kept exclaiming "Didnt just feel that?!?!" The whole time, nothing but twitches. Turns out I was going into labor. I was admitted and given a shot and an IV. I was released a few hours later but I was put on medication for 6 weeks (a safe time to go into labor) and kept off sex until our son was born. Better safe than sorry.

I started getting them about two months before I had my daughter. I would get an intense tightening that felt like a cramp, and sometimes it would be so strong that I would double over in pain. But it eased up after ten or so seconds... sometimes longer and sometimes shorter. If I got them consistently, I would drink a lot of water and lay down on my left side to see if they would go away, and they always did.

Make sure and stay hydrated and also rest as much as you can!

Hello A.,

I too am at the end of my 36 week congrats. My doctor told me that in order to tell if these are real or fake contractions to go laid down and drink a glass of water if they are real they will not go away and will be regular they told me to monitor them and if they got to where they are 1 min long and 5 mins apart to call the doctors, braxton hicks in the later part of your preggie will get harder and more regular and sometimes you cant tell if they are real but try drinking the water and laying down.
T.

A., what you are discribing is exactly like what I had during my first pregnancy and the doctors told me it was just Braston-Hicks. Hope all goes well and just remember to take it easy, you're almost done.

My experience with BH wasn't painful, more uncomfortable tightening sensations.

It is possible this is a gas pain. I did have those and they were quite painful (not as much as labor pains though!)

Try resting on your left side or using the restroom.

Rest up while you can! :)

I started having them in week 24, with this pregnancy which is my second. Sometimes they come very regulalry, sometimes sporratic. They feel like, at least to me, really bad cramps. My OBGYN told me unless they start coming every five minutes and lasting about minute, not to worry.

Honey I know exactly how you feel when I was pregnant with my twins the Braxton Hicks started at about 3 months into it and went through till I delivered...So much so that I actually thought when I went into labor it was them and was already at hospital due to high risk pregnancy I went thru 14 hours of it before I finally couldn't take anymore...LOL Everyone's body is different and it sounds as if your having them they'll usually continue to the end they always told me when one comes on lay on your side and relax and they'll ease up....Hope it helps you and good luck...GOD BLESS AND CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Ok, to give you some info, here is what I know from personal experience and asking my dr. about it!

1) You DID have braxton hicks with your first two preg., you just didn't feel them! My dr. had to tell me when I had them with my first baby and I asked her why I couldn't feel them. She said lots of women have them without ever feeling them, esp. in first pregnancies and that is normal. All they are really is muscle spasms and you can't always feel or don't feel uncomfort or pain when a muscle contracts
2) braxton hicks oten make the baby move because the baby too senses the muscle contraction and then moves in response.
3)TRUE LABOR is regularly timed, increases in length, intensity (pain/uncomfortableness), does NOT subside with movement, drinking, eating, changing positons, etc.
4)Braxton hicks do not give any real indication of when labor will begin. Some women have braxton hicks all the way from their second trimester on and still deliver on time or even late.

Hope that helps!
T.

I had them starting at 35 weeks and thought the same thing. I finally got used to it and they would stop when I would stop. When I went into the hospital for my scheduled c, I was actually having real contractions that I had written off as Braxton Hicks just because they were normal to me and what I had become used to at the time - though not really hard. I assume it is normal unless they become more regular and do not stop. It's just your body's way of "practicing".

Good luck to you and your family!!!!!