Increased Contractions at Night??

My 3rd pregnancy involved TONS of Braxton Hicks contractions. My midwife always said to drink a large glass of water and sit in a long warm bath until they stopped. For a while that seemed to work if the contractions got annoying or tiring. But, they got more and more frequent as I got closer to the due date. Actually, for 48 hours before my true labor started, I had constant BH contractions at about 5 minutes apart (talk about tiring and annoying), then all of a sudden my water broke and the true contractions took over. Ironically, the day the constant BH contractions started, I had been delivering baby after baby by C-Section (I was a surgery nurse then) all day long. lol

I am pregnant again with my 4th pregnancy (30 weeks) and have had even more with this pregnancy. My midwife said they can become more frequent and stronger with each pregnancy, so I am looking for them to do the same (or more) than last time as I get closer to my due date. She said to call her if I have more than 4 in an hour BEFORE I become full term.......otherwise, just let them do their job once I am full term.

Happy birthing!

You are most likely more dehydrated at night. I had that problem and my dr told me to lay on my left side and start drinking a ton of water until the contractions stop. Being so far along though, maybe you dont want to do that :-)

I am a few days shy of being 35 weeks pregnant and I feel the same way. I almost think its because the baby is more active for me after a certain time of the night that she is causing to bring on more contractions. I had a really bad night myself last night so I know how you are feeling. I actually went into pre-term labor four weeks ago and am on medication to stop and ease the contractions. Good luck!

Drink water and rest! I would be sure they check you at the dr office too. I was having COMPLETELY sporadic contractions and when they checked me I was a 5! I had progressed every week a cm to 3 then jumped to 5. I never would have guessed that since my contractions were never consistent, frequent, or increasing in intensity. Keep that baby cooking as long as possible for the babies health and keep resting :) ( when u can.. haha I chased a 2 yr old during my pregnancy too!)

I would make sure you are drinking a lot of water. But if they get any worse I would call the dr and get checked out. All three of mine came early. 7,9, and 11 days early. Each one was different and each one the dr told me I was not in labor. But you are at 37 weeks so it could happen at any time. Babies come when they are ready. So it could be an indication that your are going to go early with this little one.

I would go right ahead and be as active as you want to be during the day!!! Maybe all that activity will get this little one ready to make the rest of the journey and join you!!! lol. I don't know if there is a connection between the time of day and the contractions or not. As you know. you can do different things when you are in labor to help move your labor along...so it makes sense that what you do as you approach the time for labor is going to have an effect on your body.
Good luck and congratulations !!!

Drink a big glass of water and take a warm bath. A small glass of wine or half a beer won't hurt and can help relax you as well. It could be prodromal labor which is just a fancy term for pre-labor that can last for days or weeks before dilation and active labor really start. It's just your body's way to getting ready.