great info my belly gets tight sometime following the presure feeling.. maybe its the braxton hicks i will be sure to ask my doc. about them on the 24th :0) Thanx
So I googled Braxton Hicks and this is what I found... sounds a lot like what I've been experiencing. I will feel my uterus tighten and when I lay flat I can see and feel a bulge a little smaller than the size of my fist in my lower abdomen usually on the right side. I started massaging them and found they will usually go away after.
A Braxton Hicks contraction is defined by Taber's Medical dictionary as an intermittent, painless contraction that may occur every 10 to 20 minutes after the first trimester of pregnancy. These contractions were first described in 1872 by British gynecologist John Braxton Hicks. Sometimes these contractions are also called prelabor contractions or Hicks sign. Not everyone will notice or experience these contractions, and some will have them frequently. Some mothers say that they notice them more in subsequent pregnancies than in their first pregnancy.
Usually women will notice them by casually brushing their hands against their protruding belly and notice that it has tightened, while other moms will notice the tight feeling without having to feel it with their hands. Don't panic if you don't notice them. Some women only notice them because they find them to be uncomfortable.
While Taber's medical dictionary may say that they are painless, pregnant women tell a different story, though most would call it uncomfortable rather than painful. If you experience discomfort or pain with these practice contractions, try out techniques you've learned in class to deal with labor, such as breathing, relaxation, massage, movement and more. Often women will find that simply changing position can help with any pain from these contractions. A nice warm bath or shower can also help relieve any achiness and promote relaxation.
shellio i am not sure if this is the same. but i get alot of presure fromt ime to time and it hurts it feels like a lot of pressure in the uterus area. is that what urs feels like? i havent asked my doc. yet either i forgot when i went in on the 22nd.. but when it does get that pressure it hurts to sit or even just to stand there.very uncomfortable. :0(