braxton hicks?how do u know?

[lolagrl]

so today i started out the day having what i am only to assume are braxton hicks contractions.i kept gettin these pains very strong cramp like pains but at the same time id feel like out of the clear blue i really had to go to the bathroom.id run to the bathroom and nothing i just didnt even have to go at all.theyd pass and they were very infrequent maybe 2 an hour of that much threwout half the morning.i came home from work and fell asleep for an hour or two and they seem ot have subsided only thing is the pelvic pressure ive been having for weeks now has doubled and i am having a very difficult time moving around.none of this happened to me with my first pregnancy and i dont wanna be a giant worry wart thinking somethings wrong every second and running to the hospital.plus i really dont wanna be sitting in the hospital all night to find out its just gas or something.i mean yes better to know all is well but when u have a 6yr old child home who needs to be at school tomorrow and urself at work its not really what u wanna do.either way i am just wondering given the same symptoms what would ur responses be?would u be more likely to go to the hospital just to make sure or wait it out as long as nothing worse occurs?

[lolagrl]

i know i know but i think i am just so worried bout something going wrong that sometimes im making myself believe things r worse.there r days when all day i am fine i almost forget other then not being able to move around quicly that im even pregnant..lol..things have been ok and i am going to the doc in about an hour for my reg appt so i will try again to discuss any concerns wit them.we'll see what happens!

[StressHead]

Don't ignore anything because you 'think' they may not be the real thing. Even if it seems to annoy your Midwife/OB by calling every five minutes.
When I started getting contractions Neil kept saying it's too early just relax and try and get some sleep and EVEN when I got my bloody show that morning he was trying to be all calm and I was in LABOUR!!!

Take care xx

[nikko*ttc]

lolagrl,

That would drive me nuts. I usually get calls back the same day. You could try calling the L&D nurse. Also, alot of insurance companies have a nurses line. Maybe yours does and you can call and ask them questions. Just remember though more than 4 an hour and go to L&D to be checkeed.

[lolagrl]

i appreciate the help but my ob office is completely useless.i call and they call back days later.im so glad i havent had an actual emergency yet and if i did id just go right to the hospital i wouldnt bother calling them.i have hated these docs from the beginning but because of my insurance they r the only ones i can go to.either which way i have been feeling better today so im glad i waited it out.10 more weeks of worry..lol..

[nikko*ttc]

I keep having BH that are very painful. I have had as many as 4 - 5 an hour. I had the fetal fibronectin test at the last OB visit and has given me peace of mind to know that the results were negative. (Meaning less than a 2% chance of going into labor in the next 2 weeks) If you have more than 4 an hour before week 36, they say to come in to get checked. Otherwise, drink a big glass of water. If you were up and about, have a seat or lay on your left side. If you were sitting or laying down, then get up and move around. If you are in at home or a place where you can, try taking a bath or a warm shower. If none of the above help and the BH seem to be coming in 4 or more an hour then it's time to head to L&D if you are before 36 weeks. Otherwise, after 36 weeks, they want you to wait until you are having contractions every 5-10 minutes that last at least 30 seconds or more.

However, any time you are in doubt call your OB or if their office is closed call L&D and they will let you know if you should come in or if you should just follow the normal recommendations.

[Tarobinc]

Can you call your OB office to talk to a nurse?  At my OB, we can call in and leave a message for the OB with a nurse.  I did have done that a few times. The nurse will then call me back.  Of course this is during normal business hours. After hours, you leave a message with an answering service that pages the on-call OB.  The OB calls you back.

My b/h were more of a tightening with no pain.  It was like my whole baby belly got super tight and then it would lessen.  I tracked them and had no more than 2 an hour when they occurred.

My OB told me to track them and if I had 5 or more in a hour to call bask ASAP.

I know how you feel, you don't want to go to the doctor with every concern but when it comes down to it...you need to put yourself and your baby first and make the best decision for the two of you.

I hope this helps.  Please keep us posted.