How many of you had braxton hicks at 12-13 weeks pregnant?

[tonya3]

  I am scared because starting at 6 weeks I started having braxton hicks contractions.  They were not intense till about week 10.  I am almost 39 and this is baby #3.  With my 2 other girls I started at about 4 months with these same contractions.  I am going to try something called mama calm, it has magnesium in it.  Has anyone tried magnesium to stop the braxton hicks?
  I have experimented the last 2 days.  I have stopped taking my calcium supplement, I take this because I hate milk.  I have started taking magnesium oxide, 250mg.   I have stopped taking my prenatal because it has red raspberry tea extract.  I have heard good and bad about this extract.  So far I have not had any contractions in 24 hours.  They were none stop up untill then.
  I went to the doctor Thursday and she checked my cervix and the baby's heart beat.  Everything looked ok.  I had a ultra sound on Tuesday of last week and everything looked ok then also.
  Has anyone had a similar experience.  If so please tell me.  I am scared to death I am going to loose this baby.  

[Jmlien]

Hi...I googled about this very thing because my daughter in law has been having the bh early.  I listened to Dr. Carolyn Dean on YouTube about magnesium and we get too much calcium since magnesium is burnt off with stress, alcohol, caffeine, meds, etc.  too much calcium causes cramping, magnesium relaxes.  We get enough calcium in a normal diet but not enough calcium. Alot of supplements are body doesn't absorb anyway and it's usually the minerals that get off balance, resulting in too much calcium, the Cramper. If we think for ourselves, asking God for the truth...we can put two and two together and come up with the right answer.  She is also getting calf muscle cramping which is another sign of too much calcium. Nowadays, whatever you hear in mainstream, go against it. Too much water dilutes and washes away minerals...again refer to Dr. Dean. Also, Eat For Heat is another good reference. Taking a pint of water with 1/4 tsp. mineral salt ..celtic sea salt, himalayan, ...will balance the mineral supply, taken in the morning and then sipping through the day...again referencing those two.  I have noticed a big difference in energy level, strength, clarity, muscle instead of fat since it helps the glandular system get on track, metabolism corrected, too....and for you all, relaxed muscles....magnesium is the Relaxor!

[Eryn1212]

I'm 12wks with baby number 1 and I had them a couple days ago. They were really strong for a while. Was that normal for bh or should I be cautious in the future is they happen again?

[tonya3]

Thanks everyone for replying.  Its sounds like some of you have had some trying times.  I just found out its a boy, I have 2 girls.  Also my blood surgar is going to act up again this time.  What a bummer!

[Melka76]

I was just on endocine in the hosptial for contractions and they will give me the procardia if it starts up again - they just know I won't call if I have access to it at home so they want to make it so I have to tell them to get the contractions to stop. I contract a lot - and since early on with all three babies - just keep and eye on them and if you can't get them to stop by turning on your left side and pounding a ton of water than call.  I am 26w and 2 cm dialated - with my DD - I was 3cm fully effaced at 19w and she came at 32 weeks after 15 weeks of hospital bedrest.. now I am on bedrest at home... I think you should probably take it easy at least until 28 weeks to not start anything that might want to start.... that is a lot of walking.  Take it easy!! And good luck!

[martikadragoon]

nifedipine is Procardia the same stuff I had your just on the generic form.

I had to take the procardia on 1 occasion but that was only because my dr wouldn't give it to me to take home. They have a different view on that sorta thing at the hospital I went to.

Procardia is ok to take early on. it won't hurt the baby. Have the contractions caused any changes in your cervix?

the way the hospital explained it to me was if there are no cervical changes than it's just an "irritable uterus" and you can get ctx rather close together (mine were 3min apart) and it won't cause cervical change. But they don't really like a woman to be contracting that much because once they do get to be enough to cause change then you may not know it until they check you.
that's probably why your doctor gave you the medicine to take at home.

[tonya3]

Hi I am 17 weeks and my doctor put me on nifedipine 30mg xr.   Non stop contractions.  I started taking it last night and wow I feel weird today.  No contractions.  I have them at night with no break in them.  Sometimes I have so many I cant count them.  
Did you try nifedipine?  Honestly it scares me to use it so early.

[martikadragoon]

Tonya~ I think maybe your taking it a little rough on the excercise. try to cut back some!

[tonya3]

Hi thanks everyone.  I do drink tons of fluids and I pee every hour!!!  I get no sleep at night because i am up all night peeing.  I think the baby is laying on my bladder because when I go to the bathroom I only go a little each time.  I cant seem to fully empty my bladder. Maybe my body is too old for this again!
Also I work in a pharmacy in the basement of a hospital and I walk 5 miles daily for 8 hours.  By the time 6 hours is past,  I start to feel some tightening.  So I might have to cut back some on my hours.
Thanks again everyone!

[NicMom]

I think someone else already said this, but be sure to drink lots of water! BH are normal at any stage, but being dehydrated can really stress your body out.

I heard from a midwife that second (or more) time moms notice the bh earlier than first-timers. Just because you are a little more intune with the pregnancy and your body.

I had one baby at 37 weeks after going into preterm at 18 weeks. Then one at 35 weeks after going into preterm at 20 weeks. Keep an eye out for a pattern that lasts more than an hour. Good luck and congrats!

[martikadragoon]

I had bh ctx early on too, as a matter of fact at 12w I had real contractions because I was dehydrated. I recognised what they were after a while but it didn't make sense at first because it felt like horrible menstrual cramps but they stopped when I drank a bunch of water.

I also had preterm contractions throughout my pregnancy that required meds to stop them on 6 occasions, once at about 18w, then around 20-21w then around 25w and so on til around 33 or 34w. I didn't have my lil guy until 37w5d.

[tonya3]

It sure is scary.  My whole stomach and pelvic area aches.  I had this but it didnt start till about 16 weeks with my other 2.  I quit taking calcium 2 days ago and i have had less of them.  ?????

[brownsugabear]

I did, this is my 3rd child as well. I kept telling my dr that it was happening and she kept telling me there was nothing they could do. As long as I wasnt bleeding,had  water leakage, or there wasnt more than 6 an hour then dont stress about it. So I havent, I also havent dialated as well I only have 57 more days to go. So I will pray for both of us that our sweet lil angels will make it to the end. Take care!

[tonya3]

Hi thanks for the reply.  I talked to the dr already about the calcium and sometimes this can cause muscle contractions..so its worth a try.  I will pick up some prenatal at walmart that is just a simple one.  I have been using Rainbow Light  but the red raspberry scares me.
  I am only 13 weeks and my stomach feels so weird as if its slighly crampy, and achy, as if I was in my last trimester.  I feel so strange.  I am a thin person, so I am not sure if this makes things much worse.

[KarenDiane]

I have had a few contractions very early, but nothing daily. My understanding is that Braxton Hicks are not harmful because they don't dialate the cervix. I'm sure I'd be nervous too. What does your Dr. say about them? I wouldn't stop taking your prenatal vitamins, or your calcium. Ask your Dr. if there is another brand that doesn't have the raspberry tea leaves in it. The baby needs those vitamins and minerals. I hope someone else can answer your questions better.