labor or braxton hicks?

[jgonzales]

I'm 36 weeks tomorrow:)
I was googling and said that braxton hicks ur stomach gets hard on the bottom? is that true?? or is it the top??
because when my stomach tightens, its always on the top? it doesnt last that long, I've been having some mild back cramps..from 1-10 I'd give it four...lol

[carmelazap]

I am 31 weeks. I have gone into labor twice and my cervix has almost completely thinned. It is still closed all the way but her head has moved down into my canal and is making it very difficult to walk, sit, and even get dressed. I have been having contractions about every 5 minutes and they last about thirty seconds. Every time I think that it is labor, they slow down and stop completly. I have had 2 other children. They were both about 5 weeks early. But is seems like I don't remember what it feels like to go thru it again.. it's like I have never done it before. Can anyone tell me if they think that I am in pre-labor or if I am going to go soon? Or is this normal for someone who will go full term?

[grammybucks]

It's been 20+ years since I gave birth and I have forgotten exactly how the pain felt. My question for is in regards to my 24 year old daughter who is now in her 23rd week. She has a cyst one overy and has had some bleeding with it(like a very heavy period)in the first trimester of her pregnancy. She hasnt been working as of yet. The father is presuring her to work and to do so full time. She has started to have what I believed to be BH contractions yesterday. Her abdoman will become rock hard and she has pain between and down her legs. They are not at all regular and last for around 30 to 40 seconds. She may have this happen three times a day or more. Or, she may go a day or two with none. After a call to her doc yesterday that resulted in a trip to the womens pravillion at the hospital that showed nothing on the monitor, she was sent home. My question ... Is there something that happens to the womans body that mimics BH contractions? I went into premature labor with all three of my children from three months to 5 months into the pregnancies. So you can see my concern for her. Expecially with the father presuring her to work.
Thanx for your time.

[AnnieBrooke]

Try drinking a huge glass of ice water and then lie down again.  If the contractions calm down, they are probably BH and not labor.

[nalla]

sounds like it could be pre labor. You should mention it to your Dr. tomorrow when you go in. They might want to check to see if you are dialted.
If they become 5 min apart or less, lasting 30-60 sec tonight go in tonight. how far apart are they right now?

[jgonzales]

I went off the medication at 34 weeks.
tomorrow they gonna run some tests, and see if I still have blood in my urine:(
but the baby looks good, I just have a cyst on my right kidney...

[jgonzales]

I'm on bedrest, I was starting to dilate at 31 weeks, and they put me on medication.. and when I went to L&D they told me to stop taking it.
My stomach gets hard when I sit, It hurts when I walk.. etc.

[nalla]

It's possible that you could be in pre-labor. How often are the contrations from each other? Timing from the begining of the contraction to the begining of the next contraction. That will tell you how far apart your contractions are. How long are they lasting? Do they go away when you walk around?
Keep us posted.

[cugirl]

Ive heard with Braxton Hicks that if you change positions then it will go away. Example: your laying down and get what you think are BH and so you stand up and walk around and they stop then it was BH
But if they dont go away when you change positions then it is real contractions.

[jgonzales]

when I had braxton hicks, my stomach got hard and soft, that kept goin on, but now it just gets hard... and goes away?

[nalla]

When I was pregnant I had a lot of braxton hix. Towards the end of the pregnancy, it was hard to tell them from brax or real labor. With me, the braxton hix were hard on top also. As soon as they become at least 5 min apart and lasting close 30-60 sec. you want to get to the hospital. A lot of times when they are braxton hix they will go away when you get up and move around, won't last as long as real contractions and will be more irregular. But don't be afraid to go in if you think you are in labor.
Good luck and have a safe labor and delivery.