contractions or practice contractions?

[megan210792]

so I woke ul at 4am Sith slight pains jn my belly. They didnt other me ax they weren't strong. So went back to sleep and woke up gain at 6 and they are a little stronger. I'm only 24 weeks. Wa do you guys think

[megan210792]

ok thanks for the advice I think I'll try that bit its ok I like cranberry juice.

[the_other_half]

Infections and pregnancy do NOT mix well. I get a lot of bladder/kidney infections and my kidneys like to inflame causing horrible back pain. I hope you get over it very soon! To speed up getting over it drink cranberry juice. Its gross but really helps and avoid caffeinated drinks as they will make the pain worse.

[megan210792]

well I went to the doctors and she said there was nothing wrong with me. But I was still in pain. So my mam phoned the maternity ward and they asked me to go in. It turns out I have a very bad kidney infection.so I've been put on tablets and have to go back in 2 weeks to see if it has cleared up. And thank you ladies for replying.

[Clysta]

Depending on your doctor, they'll say more than 4 or more than 6. To play it safe it's always best to go in if something doesn't seem right.

[PetiteWonder]

ive always been told more than 4 in an  hour

[bhenneker]

If you have more the 6 an hour you need to go in to get checked
I have contractions daily since 19 wks and my doctor told me not to worry unless more then 6 an hour doesn't matter if they are regular or not.....
always be safe then sorry

[PetiteWonder]

I had alot of early braxton hicks... I mean really irregular non painful...  then around 25 week i started having only 1 or 2 a day... When I ended up in the hospital because I had the pain associated with 2 one morning, it showed my cervix very short already so my practice contractions were creating cervical change..

When I was in the hospital... I started out having them every 30 mins to an 1 hr... then it started going 45 to 1.5 hours... then all over the place....  but over the week I was there, there was no change in my cervix... I went home, still having them pretty irregularly and at my 33 week appointment, cervix is softening, still the same length, and still closed so again like no change...

its a really difficult situation because i have learned that you can have irregular contractions that do nothing and irregular contractions that do things.. and to me they have felt thesame way....  If they start to pick up starting timing them and recording it so you can see if there is any pattern.. If you have contractions with cramping (even if only brief like in my case) go to the l&d or your OB to be on the safe side.. since if you are at risk for PTL, the earlier you know the better...  Who knows how things would have progressed if I was still working full time, going up and down the stairs at work 50 times a day, overdoing,etc....

But when they come on, always drink a full glass of water and lay down for a bit..  

[the_other_half]

It's really hard to say. If they are not consistent or do not keep to a pattern then it's probably braxton hicks. Also If they only stay consistent for a short time and then get irregular again probably braxton hicks. Dehydration during pregnancy has a bad habit of causing braxton hicks to get bad enough to mimic actual contractions. Things to try would be walking, laying down, change positions, drink tons of water, take a warm bath, and see if they go away. If they get stronger and stay the same pattern or get closer together it would be best to notify your doctor or go to the hospital especially if the pains are also with low back pain.  You should tell your doctor you have been having them at your next appt just to be safe. I am 36weeks and my contractions have not been regular but I have started to dilate and efface. So its always best to fill in the doctor no matter if they go away or not.