when should I worry about BH

Saturday night my husband and I had sex.  No problem there but a couple of hours afterward I started to have BH.  They started about 12am and went on until after 5am.  I was unable to sleep b/c of the discomfort so I was timing them.  They were consistantly 2-5 minutes apart the whole time.  I wasn't bleeding or anything, just uncomfortable.  I did not go to the doctor b/c I thought they would think that I was making a big deal over nothing and say it was just from the sex.  Every since then I am having 3 or 4 BH an hour.  It is not hurting like before but I do feel even more exhausted and have a lot pressure bearing down on my bladder and cervix (or that is what is feels like).  I am 22 weeks.  Should I be concerned?  Are any of you having the same thing?  I am curious b/c I went into labor at 32 weeks with my son but they stopped it.

[cindy82]

Time your contractions. If you have more then 4 per hour or if they come in a pattern (example: a contraction every 10 minutes) and get closer together, you are likely experiencing real labor and should go to a hospital right away.

2Step TwoMeasure ;the pain of your contractions on a scale of 1 to 10. They will also ask you to do this when you arrive at the hospital. If your pain is severe, seek medical attention immediately. Braxton Hicks contractions can be uncomfortable and even slightly painful (like a menstrual period cramp), but should not be extremely painful. During real labor, some women find it hard to walk, talk or even think.

3Step ThreeSeek a medical evaluation. This is important if you are convinced that you are experiencing real labor. Real contractions will change your cervix over time, so you should see your doctor or go to a hospital. Have your contractions monitored to see how far apart they are. Have your cervix checked for dilation and to monitor any changes to your cervix during a one- or two-hour period.


trust me , they wont think your making a big deal. its better to be safe

[onlyme27]

I have asked my doctor about this sort of thing before but he doesn't seem to think it is something be concerned about.  The pain did not get severe.  It was just really uncomfortable.  It wasn't like a menstal cramp.  My whole abdomen hurt.  It kind of felt the way it did with my first child.  Since I only dialated to 3-4 with my first and they stopped my labor, I am just not sure what real full blown labor is like and I will be having a c section with this one as well.  I am wondering though.  Could scar tissue from a previous c section make you hurt more with a second pregnancy?

[JoyRenee]

Do you keep changing your username?

[onlyme27]

nope.  this is the same one I have used the whole time I have been on the forum.

[JoyRenee]

Never mind!!! LOL!

Anyway, BH are nothing to worry about. They are "warm up" contractions. When you're not pregnant, an orgasm is actually your uterus contracting. So if you're pregnant and you have sex, obviously you'll feel contractions afterwards. It can be uncomfortable, but it is not harmful.

That's why your doc isn't concerned. BH won't cause you to go into labor.

[Jaces312]

I've never heard of scar tissue from a previous csection causing BH. I was told that if i had 4 or more in one hour to go to L & D...i think you should be on the safe side and just go to labor and delivery. If its nothing they will send you home. If its something, then you will be glad you went! Trust me, dont worry about what the doctor will think, thats what they get paid for!

[onlyme27]

That is why I didn't go to the doctor that night.  I was trying to chalk it up to being tired and maybe a little dehydrated.  I know it is not b/c of an orgasm.  I just don't seem to get those like I used to since I got preg.  Weird huh?  

[Jaces312]

Oh one more thing...try moving around and drinking some water to see if they go away. If they do, then its prob nothing, but if they persist or get worse, then i would go to L & D.

[JoyRenee]

True labor will be just as cindy described. You won't be able to walk or move, talk or even think. I've had two children and I am a volunteer at a preg. center. Women get crampy after sex, orgasm or not. It's not uncommon or unusual. If you suspect something is wrong, then you need to see a doc.

[onlyme27]

Thanks.  The reason I wa asking about scar tissue was b/c for over a year prior to this preg I was having pains.  I would feel like all of insides were just going to fall out. (If that makes sence) I went to 3 different gynos and was told that I it was probably from scar tissue from the c section.  I had never heard of that but I got tired of paying these doctors and not getting better.  So I learned to deal with it.  I was just thinking that if what they told me had some truth to it, could this be why I seem to have more discomfort with this preg than I did with my first.  

[JoyRenee]

My OB and nurse told me that most women's 2nd pregnancies tend to be a little bit more uncomfortable. I do not know about the scar tissue but it's def. something to look further into! Scar tissue might cause pain, or at least intensify pain.

[Jaces312]

Some women do have pain during pregnancy as a result from of scar tissue from previous c-sections. I thought you were asking specifically about scar tissue causing BH (i have never heard of that). i just had my 3rd c-section, and i never experienced any pain during pregnancy, but again there are women that do get like a pulling sensation, and cramps at the incision site. From what I read that is normal and no cause for concern. HTH

[good2bhere]

whats BH....?

[Jaces312]

BH=Braxton Hicks contractions