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Braxton Hicks experiences
redheadmommy
Posts: 908 Member
I wonder if anybody experienced Braxton hicks contractions? When did it started, and how often you had them? How long you kept the baby inside after the first one?
I feel stupid not knowing anything about this, but I never had them with my firstborn. Back then, the very first contraction I had was on the night I went to labour. within an hr my water broke on the 2nd contraction, and things speed up like crazy from that moment, and had the baby within half day of the very first contraction.
Right now I am 36w5 days and I had a contraction at dawn 3 days ago. I totally freaked out because I thought it is the real deal, and I am not ready. We have quite a bit of situation here with our dog, and there is nobody who can watch my older child and my dog while I am in labour until my mom arrives on the 16th.
After the first contraction 3 days ago around 5 am, I had an other one 2 days ago around 4 am, and an other one today at 3:30 am. They were actually painful and lasted a minute or so.
I had an ob/gyn appointment yesterday and baby heart rate is good, urine test is good, blood pressure is good, and I am completely closed, no dialation whatsoever. Also no sign of losing my mucus plug either , but again I didn;t lose it with DS either until i was in active labour. My dr said these were Braxton hicks.
I try to figure out what to expect. Will this baby last inside until my mom arrives in 10 days? Theoretically I have 3 weeks 2 days until my my EDD, and DS didn;t come early , but this pregnancy is totally different.
I feel stupid not knowing anything about this, but I never had them with my firstborn. Back then, the very first contraction I had was on the night I went to labour. within an hr my water broke on the 2nd contraction, and things speed up like crazy from that moment, and had the baby within half day of the very first contraction.
Right now I am 36w5 days and I had a contraction at dawn 3 days ago. I totally freaked out because I thought it is the real deal, and I am not ready. We have quite a bit of situation here with our dog, and there is nobody who can watch my older child and my dog while I am in labour until my mom arrives on the 16th.
After the first contraction 3 days ago around 5 am, I had an other one 2 days ago around 4 am, and an other one today at 3:30 am. They were actually painful and lasted a minute or so.
I had an ob/gyn appointment yesterday and baby heart rate is good, urine test is good, blood pressure is good, and I am completely closed, no dialation whatsoever. Also no sign of losing my mucus plug either , but again I didn;t lose it with DS either until i was in active labour. My dr said these were Braxton hicks.
I try to figure out what to expect. Will this baby last inside until my mom arrives in 10 days? Theoretically I have 3 weeks 2 days until my my EDD, and DS didn;t come early , but this pregnancy is totally different.
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This is my third pregnancy and I am just shy of 15 weeks and I will feel them occasionally now. With my second, I probably started noticing them around 20 weeks. With my first, I honestly don't remember feeling them until the last few days. My 1st and 2nd were both born full term.0
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I started getting them around week 15-17 (not exactly sure), and they have been getting more intense especially now.
They don't really hurt, but I notice a firmness in my belly, and they can be a little uncomfortable.0 -
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Was it ever actually painful for you? I had belly tightening before, those do not really worry me. However these were actually painful like a strong menstrual cramp. They were like exactly the type of cramps I used to get when I got my period. Since it happened when I was asleep. I got up went to the bathroom half sleeping and expected to see my period. Then I realized that I am pregnant and I can not have my period, and I realized OMG I am I having a contraction? But it went away, and didn't repeated until next night.0
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Was it ever actually painful for you? I had belly tightening before, those do not really worry me. However these were actually painful like a strong menstrual cramp. They were like exactly the type of cramps I used to get when I got my period. Since it happened when I was asleep. I got up went to the bathroom half sleeping and expected to see my period. Then I realized that I am pregnant and I can not have my period, and I realized OMG I am I having a contraction? But it went away, and didn't repeated until next night.
As long as you're not bleeding and they aren't regular, then it should be fine and nothing to worry about. Just keep an eye on it. If they start getting regular and more frequent, call your doctor.
The last one I had was earlier this week, and it was a little painful but not too bad. Felt like a menstrual cramp.0 -
You might be experiencing more serious braxton hicks as you get cloer to your due date. They may even be starting to soften and dilate your cervix, which is great. I had intense braxton hicks during the last four weeks or so of my last three pregnancies, and was 100% effaced and 3-4 cm dilated before going into labor each time. Your body knows what it is doing, just make sure that you are well hydrated and not over- doing activity, because these things can also give you contractions.0
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With my first I had them all the time for the last two months, with the second I had them from about 5 months on and he was a week late, I did have some that were so bad that I thought I was in labour for sure with him as well. With this pregnancy I've already started having them at 14 weeks...
(The crap feeling I wonder if that could maybe be round ligament pain. Never had those so I'm not sure but I think those are just above your pelvis.)
Of course always best to speak to your doc about any concerns you have.0 -
with my daughter I didn't get any BH, I started getting them this time around the 25wk mark. They have decreased some lately, but now I have a ton of pressure. I am thinking he dropped. I never experience this pressure before with my daughter either. I feel like this is my first time being pregnant. LOL I am 34.5wks now so I guess this is the point where everything will get uncomfortable.0
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With my first I had them all the time for the last two months, with the second I had them from about 5 months on and he was a week late, I did have some that were so bad that I thought I was in labour for sure with him as well. With this pregnancy I've already started having them at 14 weeks...
(The crap feeling I wonder if that could maybe be round ligament pain. Never had those so I'm not sure but I think those are just above your pelvis.)
Of course always best to speak to your doc about any concerns you have.
I've had round ligament pain since beginning of my second trimester. It's more of a sharp painful groin pain. BH feels like a hardening of the belly and a menstrual cramp.0 -
Yes, this is not ligament pain. I used to have those in my first pregnancy. Somehow not in this one. Probably my uterus it used to stretching out lol.With my first I had them all the time for the last two months, with the second I had them from about 5 months on and he was a week late, I did have some that were so bad that I thought I was in labour for sure with him as well. With this pregnancy I've already started having them at 14 weeks...
(The crap feeling I wonder if that could maybe be round ligament pain. Never had those so I'm not sure but I think those are just above your pelvis.)
Of course always best to speak to your doc about any concerns you have.
I've had round ligament pain since beginning of my second trimester. It's more of a sharp painful groin pain. BH feels like a hardening of the belly and a menstrual cramp.
The whole issue is not really medical, since I am 37 weeks tomorrow, so full term anyway. The baby measured slightly bigger than average on the 34th week u/s 5+ lb at that time, so she is probably 6.5+lb by now. If the baby comes, she won't be premature or anything like that. It is only matter for us, because we are not mentally ready yet, plus we have a problem with who is going to watch my DS while I am in the hospital. We just need 10 more days. If she doesn't want to wait until her EDD , that is fine by me, just wait until the 17th of December.
T be premature0 -
with my first I had a ton of BH contractions. They were a tight band that formed right across my belly, very similar to the tightness felt whilst blood pressure is taken, (except the tightness is around the belly, not the arm!) Mine were never painful, but often made me catch my breath and I had to stop what I was doing. This time around I'm barely getting any! but I do get menstrual like cramps in my lower back, which I can only assume is my Braxton Hicks. (My muscles separated pretty badly with my first, and I can only think that now my back muscles are the stronger one... which does worry me for the birth!! ) I'm currently 36.5 weeks.0
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