34 weeks pregnant: early contractions?

[Kimbee003]

Just wondering if any of yall have expirienced a really tight sensation of your uterus? I think it might be early signs of preterm labor, which i really hope it isn't The other night, i woke up in the middle of the night and i was apparently sleeping on my stomach-on accident, and my uterus was all cramped up and tight, my boyfriend felt it, and he even said it felt tight. I just brushed it off and went back to sleep. Then today, i got up from the computer to answer the door, and it got really tight again, almost painful, but then it went away after like 15/20 seconds. I think it might be braxton hicks contractions, but i am not sure. Any suggestions?

[alaysha]

Sounds like BH contractions to me. When you feel them if you change positions do they go away? Real contractions are hard to explain but they would be happening in a pattern and getting progressively worse. Keep an eye on them though once they get to be every 5 minutes lasting for at least 1 minute for an hour than head to the hospital. Also, when I was pregnant there was many a night that I would end up sleeping on my tummy. What my doctor said was basically if I could get on my stomach to sleep then more power to me but that the baby is so protected in there that you most likely won't harm him or her at all.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

If you aren't feeling any pain or discomfort other than the tightening then I'd be so inclined to say that I'm almost positive it's braxton hicks or "practice contractions".  When they start...you need to change what you're doing...if you're laying still, get up and move around, drink some water or eat something...if you moving around, stop and lay down, prop your feet up for awhile...they should stop.  

Braxton hicks are "real" contractions...it's kind of like the uterus getting a work out by contracting and loosening in preperation for birth.  Starting about 30 weeks I get them all the time with all my pregnancies.  If it's a REAL contraction you'll really feel it..if you're concerned about preterm labor here are some of the signs:

from Babycenter.com

Call your midwife or doctor right away if you're having any of the following symptoms in your second or third trimester (before 37 weeks):
•  An increase in vaginal discharge

•  A change in the type of discharge — if it becomes watery, mucus-like, or bloody (even if it's pink or just tinged with blood)

•  Any vaginal bleeding or spotting

•  Abdominal pain, menstrual-like cramping, or more than four contractions in one hour (even if they don't hurt)

•  An increase in pressure in the pelvic area (a feeling that your baby is pushing down)

•  Low back pain, especially if you didn't previously have back pain

These symptoms can be confusing because some of them, such as pelvic pressure or low back pain, occur during normal pregnancies, too, and sporadic early contractions may just be Braxton Hicks contractions. But it's always better to be safe than sorry, so call your midwife or doctor right away if you're experiencing anything unusual.

From the MarchofDimes website

Warning Signs
Here are the warning signs:

Contractions (your abdomen tightens like a fist) every 10 minutes or more often
Change in vaginal discharge (leaking fluid or bleeding from your vagina)
Pelvic pressure—the feeling that your baby is pushing down
Low, dull backache
Cramps that feel like your period
Abdominal cramps with or without diarrhea
What Should I Do If I Think I'm Having Preterm Labor?
Call your health care provider (nurse, doctor or midwife) or go to the hospital right away if you think you're having preterm labor, or if you have any of the warning signs. Call even if you have only one sign.

Your health care provider may tell you to:

Come into the office or go to the hospital for a checkup.
Stop what you're doing. Rest on your left side for one hour.
Drink 2-3 glasses of water or juice (not coffee or soda).
If the symptoms get worse or do not go away after one hour, call your provider again or go to the hospital. If the symptoms get better, relax for the rest of the day.


Hope this helps!

[loismwallace]

It's probably just Braxton Hicks. I've been getting them since 21 wks or so. They come and go....If they get regular and don't quit, it is probably the real thing and you should call your Dr.

[aly2008]

i have the same thing, everyday. and it is not pleasant. BH contractions are just your body's way of getting ready for the real contractions.  drink water, rest on your left side and i've noticed laying a heating blanket on the belly helps a LOT also.

Causes of BH contractions:
*not drinking enough water
*having an intense orgasm
*working out too much
.....and others. if you need more examples i can give them.

if they get too intense you will want to call your doctor right away!! some women brush REAL contractions with BH ones and that isn't healthy for you or your baby! Hope You feel better soon!!