Braxton hicks??

I am 31 weeks pregnant and have started having low back pain that is abnormal for me and what i think is braxton hicks, tightening with alot of pain and it hurts to walk through them. is this ok??

[jgirl34]

I have the same thing. Braxton hicks don't usually "hurt". They may be uncomfortable but shouldn't be unbearable to walk through. I just get tightening in the belly and sometimes have to breathe through them to  get the tightness to let go. I would probably put a call into your Dr. just to see what they say. They can alot of times stop pre-term labor if that's what it is. But the sooner the better. I hope this is just braxton hicks. Let us know what happens.

[mandymoo1983]

if its been going on for some time i wouldent worry the same thing happens to me with this pregnancy currently nearly 36 weeks and my last pregnancy just take it easy you would no if you were in preterm labour beleive me the contractions would get stronger you need to kick back and relax thats all i can do to stop these pains good luck.

[stephd]

I wouldnt say you would necessarily KNOW that its preterm labor.  I had contractions at almost 37 weeks and I was going into labor.  I HAD NO IDEA, because the pain wasnt very strong but they kept coming regularly so that is how I knew.  I work in a hospital so I just went up to our OB dept. and they put me on a monitor and sure enough I was having contractions!  Then they gave me Brethene to stop them and it worked.  So they dont have to be strong in order for it to be preterm labor.

alec:  I would call the doctor just to be safe.  Cause you could have labor pains.  You never know.  Atleast they can ease your mind as to what it may be.

[stephd]

Well they stopped my contractions and said that I was going into premature labor and I was almost 37 weeks.  So I wouldn say they dont stop it after 34 weeks. Cause from what you said, its only called preterm if your cervix changes then mine must have.  I dont know if that is entirely true.  preterm labor is anything before 38 weeks.

[Bicornuate Uterus]

Actually, It's only called preterm labor if your cervix changes.  I went into preterm labor at 27 weeks and I have been dilated to 1cm and 50% effaced since then.  The baby is now at stattion -1 and I'm only 32 weeks now.  They stopped the labor then with magnesium sulfate but they usually don't stop labor once you hit 34 weeks if your cervix has changed.  Just make sure your timing your contractions. Pay close attention to your symptoms.  It's important to get in there if there is change.

[mandymoo1983]

full of facts there hey were only offering opinions u no

[stephd]

That is all I was doing was offering my opinions and experiences.  I was just saying that is what they told me in the OB dept - that I was in premature labor.  So I was just saying I dont think that is right about them not stopping labor after 34 weeks.  Thats all.  I wasnt trying to start anything I was just saying that was my experience.  No big deal really.  It shouldnt have been anyway.  Also, that you may not necessarily have HARD contractions when you are in premature labor, cause I didnt.