Dilation and Braxton Hicks...

[lamb18]

Hey ladies. I am 36.2 weeks and lately, my BH have like tripled daily. At some times, they are pretty painful. I don't know if these are what real contractions feel like? They also make my lower back KILL! I mean, I don't think they are that meaningful because on Monday I wasn't even dilated and the baby hasn't dropped yet. That leads me to my second question. How quick can your cervix dilate? Since I was 0cm and high on Monday, could I be like a 1 or 2 and low next Monday? Or does it take longer than that? Does the baby have to drop first before you can start to dilate and thin out? I don't think she has dropped at all! LOL. How does the process go? Or is it different for everyone?

Me and my husband have bets going about whether or not I will make any progress down there by Monday. LOL. I need a head start. LOL.

[nikko*ttc]

BH do not produce any changes in the cervix, if they do then you have begun labor. Although the first stage can take several hours all the way up to several weeks. My DD's head did not engage until after I was 4 CM, so no baby doesn't have to be engage for contractions to start. Personally, I was 3 CM for a month before I went into active labor about 3 weeks before DD was due. Your BH are more or less practice contractions, if they are occasionally painful than I would count that as a real contraction, especially if doc says you are beginning to efface and dilate. It is possible to change drastically in just a few hours, so yes it is possible to be low and 1 or 2 CM by monday. Best of luck, keep in mind everyone is different.

[lamb18]

Wow... I can't believe that you have never had any BH. Maybe you have and just didn't notice them? But they say it is normal for some women to not have them. I was having more contractions lastnight and they were kind of painful! I just dont know how to tell the difference between BH and if they are real or not. Everyone says oh you will know when its the real thing. I sure hope so. Still havn't progressed since Monday, so I have given up on that. LOL.

[diela]

okay..apparently i am an alien here! Im 39 weeks and hv never felt any BH..! My baby has fully engaged since 3 weeks ago and i dont feel any signs of labor just yet..!am i that insensitive to not feel anything? Ihv never had any lower back pain this entire pregnancy too! Now im afraid i wont be knowing when the real contraction coming!

[CYW]

i was told(since i had started BH at 28 weeks...baby decided to flip in one shot and sent me in pain....it hurt soooo bad...at 34 weeks i was dilated 1 cm.. dr thought he would be here by 38 weeks he was so sure...but...no he had the cord around his neck keeping him from coming down...but by 37 weeks i was 2 cm.. i stayed that way until 41 weeks the day i was induced... a few days before i seen the dr the appt i was to find out i was 2 cm.. i was having contractions regularly... every 15 then 12 then 10 then 5 for abolut 2 hours but they told me to only go at every 3 mins... after it had been 2-3 hours.. i had been walking around trying to make the contractions stop... they didnt and kept regular.. as i was getting ready to go to the hospital and it all stopped... when i saw the dr i was 2 cm.. he said the purpose of BH is the baby preparing and your body practicing but... with the baby doing some work you start to dilate and thin out... so who knows look online you will get tons of info...

[lamb18]

Me too! I am going to ask my doctor what things I can do to help the baby drop. She is still sitting SO high! I bet it is awesome knowing that you are getting closer and closer in terms of your body preparing itself. I went walking lastnight and it seemed like I had a constant BH the whole time! I did have a really good contraction lastnight which was located all in my back, which makes me think I am going to suffer from back labor. All of the painful contractions I get are located mostly in my back. I will let the doctor know today about how much my BH have picked up and how they have gotten stronger. Maybe she will check me again today and I will be at least a 1cm! LOL. Im not getting my hopes up though! LOL.

[connorethansmom]

I have been having BH contractions for awhile.  At almost 36weeks they started to get more painful and sure enough I was 2cm at my next appointment.  I am now almost 39 weeks and I was at 3.5 cm last Thursday.  It is miserable because I am constantly thinking, surely this has to be it, but so far no luck.  Oh, and I was 50% effaced and at station 3.  With my son I felt nothing, until I was in labor so this is VERY different.  I hope you make some progress next week.

[lamb18]

I drink TONS of water. The blood pressure meds that my doctor has me on gives me the worst dry mouth ever! So, I know that I am not even the least amount dehydrated. I go back to my doctor tomorrow. I know for sure she is going to be taking my BP and weight. I wonder if she is going to check me again? Would most doctors do it 2x in one week?

[kjbutcher]

Real labor feels like you are about to start your period, a heavy painful period.  It is weird because 9 months ago you would feel it and go put on a pad.  Now, you will feel it and it will make you think...hmmm I know this feeling, just cant pinpoint why I know it.  I dont know if BH can make you dilate, however it is your body practicing.  You can dilate at any time.  At 38 weeks I had not started to do anything.  The docs were actually talking C Section because the baby was so high.  At 39 weeks I was less than 1cm.  They said they could feel a change, but not worth a number.  4 days later I went to the hospital with 5-1-1 contractions to find out I was 3cm, closed and high.  I was sent home.  Two hours later I was back at the hosptial, ready to deliver.  It can happen quick!  I found that the heat played a huge part in my BH.  The pain you are feeling may be dehydration.  Drink a ton of water.  A LOT!!  Good Luck and try to enjoy the last bit of your pregnancy!

[Wendy80]

It can never hurt to call your doctor and let them know what's going on (that's what they're used to ... especially with first-time moms)... however, I have had similar questions about BH contractions (I've also noticed mine have been coming more frequently and most recently HAVE started to hurt in my abdomen and lower back) and from talking to my doctor and doing some poking around online, Braxton Hicks contractions do actually have a purpose.  It's the bodies way of preparing for the real deal... when you actually go into active labor.  They help to contract your uterus and prepare it for the big day... they also help soften the cervix (so says my doctor and a bunch of websites I found).  

I found this info reassuring... knowing that you're not going through the pain and discomfort for no reason at all.  It doesn't mean that just b/c you have painful BH contractions, you will definitely dilate by your next appointment, but it does mean that your body is prepping itself and getting ready (if you have lots of BH prior to your "real" labor, it can actually make the delivery process much less painful b/c your uterus has been practicing at this for a while now).  I have an upcoming appointment to find out how much I've dilated and I'm just like you... I've got my fingers crossed that there will be a notable difference (I'm at 1-2 cm now and I'm 38 weeks).  Good luck... the dilation change can happen within hours or within weeks!  (Sorry to be so long-winded)  =)  

[xoxo_Confused_xoxo]

All BH are is just false labour....i dont think there is really a point to them except to make you ask questions lol....And normally BH are painless...if you are getting some that are painful in your abdomon and your back then i would call your dr. Thats what i have been getting and they are real contractions. Also Yes you could be 0cm and even be at 1cm an hour later or a week. I have been at 2cm for a week and a bit now. The dropping i have always been confused about..because to me i dont loook like i dropped but doctors say i have and his head is really low. ALL soo confusing. My best advice is call dr just to make sure that everything is going good...they will check you too to see if you are dialated and how things are progressing...Good luck :)

[lamb18]

O ya, and is the purpose of BH to help you dilate and thin out? Since they have picked up a lot, should I progress more quickly?