Are braxton hicks suppost to hurt this bad???

I'm 35 weeks along.  Went to the OB yesterday and was told I'm almost two centimeters and 25% efacted (I know its possible to stay that way for weeks before labor), but I keep having contractions.  It feels like period cramps and pain in my lower back, stomach gets tense from the bottom up.  I've had 7 in the past hour and a half, some of them are so intense I have to stop what I'm doing and end up bent over, but then it goes away.  Is it braxton hicks or might I be trying to start real labor??  I was induced with my first child, so I have no clue what I'm looking for..  Am I ok as long as I'm not spotting, bleeding, or gushing fluids??  Or should I go in to the doctor and get checked just incase??

[JAXX55]

Sounds like you should atleast call your doctor to see what they think? Sounds iffy to me... Good Luck. I hope everything's ok for you....  

[spade22]

The rule of thumb I was told is if you have 4 or more contractions in an hour and are preterm, you should call your doctor.

[boosty]

sounds like youre going into labor. call your doctor.

[Crritter]

Sounds like my last entire month of pregnancy each time.  They would get close, then nothing.  I would definitely time them and call your Dr.  Could be false labor, but it's kinda early in case it's the real deal.  Mine was normal for me, but I still let my Dr. know, good luck!

[RockRose]

For me,  braxton hicks contractions weren't painful - they were just TIGHT.  Like a fist getting tighter and tighter.  I could definitely feel them,  and knew when they began and ended,  but I wouldn't have called them "painful".  

I agree with Boosty that you might be in labor.

[boosty]

brandy, if youre still there and not gone to the hospital yet, i wanted to say to time your contractions. real labor contractions are more in order than braxtons. were waiting for some response. i hope youre doing good. best of luck!

[WhatYouMakeMe]

Thanks you guys so much for getting back to me!

[jenstam]

Any chance you could have a UTI? Are you drinking enough water? My BH contractions did get kind of crampy and uncomfortable towards the end of my pregnancy, but contractions and cramping also can mean a UTI, which I also had throughout pregnancy. Have they continued?

[deanne11]

Sounds like possibly 'early labor'.  I had contractions every 5 minutes for 2 weeks straight with my last baby.  It was a nightmare, and yes they hurt but not painful enough to dilate me fast enough....very very slow dilation.  This started at 36 weeks....Jake was born almost 2 weeks early.

I have never heard of 'early labor' lasting weeks but sure enough after going through it ....it sure was it.  My Drs just told me to stay close.  Because it was my second by the time the contractions got closer and unbearable it could be to late.....I held out as long as I could but when heavy labor started, it happened fast and thank goodness I listened to hubby or I would have had my baby at home.

[boosty]

well, i read from  brandy today and shes fine . they were real labor contractions but after getting to the hospital, they stopped . so now shes fine and waiting for the right time. just thought to give some info so noone is wondering and waiting.

[Me2mommy2b]

thanks for the update.  i hope she's resting now with her feet up :)

[rosie1600]

I would check it out with your doctor. Be paying close attention to the baby moving because not to scare you but I had bad contractions at 36 weeks and my precious baby had passed away. How I wish I would have paid more attention. Just call your doctor to see what they say and if you have to go to the ER, then go.