braxton hicks

[Picture.Of.Obedience]

what do they feel like?
what do normal contractions feel like?
how do i know the difference?

I have been getting what i think are braxton hicks everyday. nothing regular, but they hurt in my lower back all the way around my lower tummy.

today is the worst. nothing regular, but still quite awful, its also putting alot of pressure on my behind.

 

[~Mrs. A2J~]

For me BH don't really hurt I just get an uncomfortable squished feeling. And they always make me want to pee LOL because I feel the pressure on my bladder. When I started having contractions with my daughter they started out like BH but I had more of a crampy feeling that went with them and they also started getting regular. If you're worried you might be having contractions start timing them and see if there's any kind of pattern to them.

 

[Linnis]

That discribes the pain I felt which turned out to be a bladder infection.

I don't know if I've had BH contractions yet or not so I don't know what they feel like.

 

[Cright]

I've had several... if there is any timeing to them yet, it's about every 4 days to a week! haha

Only one was painful, I had been sitting on a hard bench, when I stood the pain was gone, and there was just a feeling in my lower abdomen that I can usually only get in other muscles when doing stretches.

 

[Picture.Of.Obedience]

So....i guess i still dont know if those were BH or not. I go to the doc on Tuesday so i will ask her more then.

 

[Cright]

from what i've been told is that one of the main differences between BH and the real thing is that with BH you usually feel it from the lower part up, where as the real thing will usually present from the top of the uterus down.

Can't tell if that's true or not as of yet, as this is my first pregnancy.

How far along are you?

 

[katelyn]

My BH contractions last time never really hurt. I could just feel the muscles contracting, and at times it was a little uncomfortable. I remember the night before my baby shower having them quite a bit and it being difficult to get to sleep because they were uncomfortable. I think it is hard to know the difference unless you have felt how strong real labor contractions are. Even then it can be hard to know if it's BH or early labor. I know that's not very helpful...

 

[Picture.Of.Obedience]

With Trevor i was induced and the contractions were horrily horrible, so i dont know what normal ones feel like.


i only have 4 weeks left so i am assuming these are BH, but will talk to the doc again on Tuesday...... she said last time thats what it sounded like......

also gotta talk to her about the pain in my right side. last night i was up a lot b/c the lower right side of my tummy hurt like crazy, it went away, but happens often when i lay down.

 

[Tea]

Towards the end of a pregnancy it is quite normal for B&H activity to step up a little, as this is your bodies natural way of preparing for labour. Personally I have alot of B&H during the last 4-5 weeks of pregnancy. Sometime they can be just an incredible tightening of tummy muscles, and sometime they are associated with an intense lower back pain. Sometime they can be regular for an hour or two, then they go away. Usually though they should not be accompanied with either a blood spotting, a muscus show, or water leaks. If these are happening, then it is always best to have things checked out immediately.
Just learn to relax, and breath thought them, and marvel at the wonder of your body.
If of course the pain seems inconsistant with B&H, and you are worried, always, always, have things checked out.
Tracey

 

[RoseofLima]

Pian on the side there- is round ligamnet pain--that together with where your BH contractions are--would lead me to conclude that you have a little one who is laying posterior. Do you have any books around that have any recommendations in them for encouraging a posterior baby, to turn? One position that is encouraged is hands and knees....I had one baby where I scrubbed floors- so as to be productive on my hands and knees....it's the only time my floors have been shiny!

 

[Picture.Of.Obedience]

Pian on the side there- is round ligamnet pain--that together with where your BH contractions are--would lead me to conclude that you have a little one who is laying posterior. Do you have any books around that have any recommendations in them for encouraging a posterior baby, to turn? One position that is encouraged is hands and knees....I had one baby where I scrubbed floors- so as to be productive on my hands and knees....it's the only time my floors have been shiny!

joy..... does that mean back labor??? thats what i had with Trevor

 

[RoseofLima]

It might....and it might not.... babies often rotate before labor ever begins

I'll see what I can dig out about getting baby to rotate. I don't know if you have the money- but there is a chiropractic adjustment that is pretty effective--but I would make sure the chiropracter felt comfortable and was knowledgeable.

My babies are often posterior up until just before labor...I am only 5'2", and I think that just might be the only way that they are really comfy, which unfortunately is not so comfy for me

 

[Picture.Of.Obedience]

It might....and it might not.... babies often rotate before labor ever begins

I'll see what I can dig out about getting baby to rotate. I don't know if you have the money- but there is a chiropractic adjustment that is pretty effective--but I would make sure the chiropracter felt comfortable and was knowledgeable.

My babies are often posterior up until just before labor...I am only 5'2", and I think that just might be the only way that they are really comfy, which unfortunately is not so comfy for me

We do not have the money for a chiropractor. I totally wish we did. So if one baby is posterior does that mean the other will likely be too? I know for sure Trevor was and it was pretty awful like this..... i dont want to look forward to this for the next kid too..... it stinks....

 

[jazzbird]

Stacy,

Check out spinningbabies.com for help with turning a posterior baby.

(I can't believe you only have four weeks left)!

 

[RoseofLima]

We do not have the money for a chiropractor. I totally wish we did. So if one baby is posterior does that mean the other will likely be too? I know for sure Trevor was and it was pretty awful like this..... i dont want to look forward to this for the next kid too..... it stinks....

No, no not at all!!! My kids like to be posterior nearly up to labor --but I have only had one stay that way for labor (she liked it so much she decided to stay that way all the way through birth!)

I think in my case- that the babies just have mmore room that way--but then their shoulders and the occupit of their head presses right into my pelvic bones, and my round ligaments.

Also--remember this is just my guess about what's going on--I could be totally, totally wrong!!! I have just found that lower back pain+ round ligament pain= baby posterior to hang out and wait to be born.

Nearly all baby's turn before labor--so statistics are defintely in your favor. Remeber you were induced- and so your body wasn't actually ready to go into labor...so Trevor may just not have turned yet- becuase he wasn't quite expecting to be born yet !

jazz--thanks- that's a great site!

 

[Picture.Of.Obedience]

Great website (www.spinningbabies.com)

Remeber you were induced- and so your body wasn't actually ready to go into labor...so Trevor may just not have turned yet- becuase he wasn't quite expecting to be born yet !

good point!!

 

[jgonz]

I LOVE spinningbabies.com! Excellent site.