Braxton Hicks

[ArmyPrincess819]

Is anyone experiencing this? It usually starts close to or in your 5th month but I think mine is starting sooner. I'm going to mention it to my dr on my app on the 28th.....

AP:

I'm so happy we are all in our 2nd trimesters...WOOHOO!

[GRose]

lis- yup you are definitely feeling BH contractions. I am getting them a lot today like around 8 times already, not all in a row though.

[liscamdave]

Mine are definitely the uterus contracting..I can feel a large bump where my uterus is and its a brick then it loosens and goes away...it happens often..

[GRose]

Anya- you may just be feeling stretching and maybe some round ligament pain. Some women never feel BH contractions, I didn't with my first.

[Anya1984]

Thanks girls...still not sure if that s what I am feeling, perhaps yes but my pains are not very painful and all over the place....sometimes it feels like its my stomach and then my uterus but I don't really feel tightening..

[Suzie0224]

I cut and pasted these from the internet...
definitions of braxton hicks -

*contractions (uterine tightening) - Intermittent uterine contractions with unpredictable frequency throughout pregnancy. ...
www.waukeshamemorial.org/OPage.asp

*Usually painless uterine contractions which the mother may feel from about the fifth month on. Less than four per hour is considered normal. ...
www.womenscareofwi.com/wcofwi/services/glossary+of+terms.asp

Just your body's way of practicing I guess.  

[GRose]

Anys- I can actually feel my uterus tightening when I put my hand on it, it is like a wave the tightening starts at the top of my uterus and works its way down to the bottom. It isn't very painful, just uncomfortable.

lis- Being checked wouldn't hurt but BH are a normal part of pregnancy and usually aren't a bad sign.

[liscamdave]

I knew it., I felt like an idiot cause the dr and my BF were both like laughing at me...lol...I knew that is what it had to be...that is definitely what I am having. My uterus gets like a brick then stops..I don't remember then with my first.

Also, he wanted to check my cervix for pre-term labor...could braxton hicks be a symptom of that, should I be worried?

[Anya1984]

Sometimes I feel sporadic weird pains down there, is that Braxton Hicks or something else? I m not sure what I am feeling..

[GRose]

I copied this from baby center .com
Braxton Hicks contractions start as early as 6 weeks, but are usually felt sometime around 20 weeks. Women who have had previous pregnancies may notice them sooner, and some women may not even notice them at all.

[GRose]

NO. It isn't right, you can get BH contractions at any point in your pregnancy, you can get them earlier with every pregnancy.
I don't think that you, me, AP, suzie and kc are all crazy and making up that we are having them lol.

[liscamdave]

See, I  went to my dr yesterday and explained my symptoms and told him that I read that they were braxton hicks..he looked at me like I had 3 heads and said that was impossible..he said not until 8/9 months can braxton hicks start..is this right?

[GRose]

You can absolutely be feeling them at 16 weeks, I am only 15 weeks and I feel them all the time.

[SoCalTricia]

I'm about a month behind most of you...I'm due August 5, but I joined this forum because I'm fairly sure the baby will come in July. Anyway...I haven't had any BH yet. But with my son, I had them quite frequently, from about five months. They weren't painful, or really uncomfortable - just a very odd feeling. What felt even stranger was when my son got hiccups! He had them a LOT for the last month I was pregnant. Funny thing was, he had them a lot for the first few weeks after he was born. I never did find out if there was a reason for that!

Tricia

[liscamdave]

I think I may be having them then if going by what you are all describing. But I am only 16weeks...I am having major pressure when I lay down and I can feel my uterus, it feels like a rock and the pressure is crazy..I didn't know what it was and was going to ask my dr today at my 4mo appt....wow, thanks

[liscamdave]

How am I in my 4th month and you are all in your 5th..lol..I am due on the 4th of July..

[Suzie0224]

I have been having them too.  My dr. said to keep track of them.  If they are 4 or more in an hour, to come in.  When I feel the first one, to sit or laydown, go to the bathroom and drink a glass of water.  That should make them subside.  So far, I haven't had more than 2 per hour.

[kc1021]

i have some from time to time (i am only 13 weeks).  I had them a lot with my previous pregnancy with my son.  I noticed that when I didnt drink enough water or fluids, I would get them more frequently.   Last pregnancy my doctor said to drink 3 liters of water a day!  

[GRose]

I know right?!?!?
They weren't necessarily painful but they were pretty uncomfortable, just a lot of pressure like I could actually feel my uterus getting hard when I felt my belly. As I am typing I am having one. One thing I notice is I get them after working a long shift, like if I overdo it, I am going to mention that to my OB at my next appointment.

[ArmyPrincess819]

Grose how did I know you would say yes. We have been having similiar pgs I bet we are both having the same sex! Thanks!  Were yours painful? Mine are in the middle!

Hugs,
AP

[Tasia32]

I am not sure what they feel like but I don't think I have been experiencing them yet.

[GRose]

Yup I got them for the first time on Friday night and have had them everyday since. I never had them with Noah so I had no idea what was going on.
They say after every baby you have the sooner they will start.