18 weeks pg and braxon hicks already!!!

[nikko*ttc]

Friday night, I was having some abdominal and back aches. I would then get a very sharp pain and my abdomen would get very hard. I thought for sure that I was in early labor. The sharp pains were about 18-20 minutes apart. Got into ER after a 45 minute wait for a bed (was in a different hospital than my normal hospital) and the doc pulled in a portable U/S  machine. Baby was so active that it took the tech a few to find the heartbeat fluttering away. But then when he did, he turned on the sound and you could hear a strong HB. They checked my cervix, very much closed. Then they catheterized me for a urine sample to test for a kidney infection. Everything came back normal, but they could feel my stomach tightening and I was in definite pain. All they gave me was some tylenol and then explained that I may not have felt BH this early with my first. They said that women who have been pregnant before are more likely to experience it earlier. However, if I do decide to go into labor early to wait at least another 2-6 weeks so that the baby will have a much higher chance of surviving. Very scary, anyone else having BH this early?

[nikko*ttc]

I sure didn't expect them to start so early and to be so forceful either. I can sometimes feel my stomach tighten during the day, but the worse ones are in the afternoon when it seems like the lil bean is more active. It is like a constant dull ache with a few pops that are more intense.

[martikadragoon]

I had BH early and this is my first... but they didn't hurt then. They're beginning to hurt a bit now tho! (35w)

[JoyRenee]

Here are some quotes from websites. I'm not allowed to post the websites themselves but if you do a search you'll find the info:

Technically speaking, you will begin to have Braxton-hicks contractions starting well before the second trimester. Braxton-Hicks contractions can start as early as somewhere around your sixth week of pregnancy. Having said that, these early Braxton-Hicks contractions are generally so mild that you arent even going to be able to notice them. Typically, it is sometime much further into pregnancy, often somewhere in the middle of the second trimester, before you start to be able to feel and to recognize Braxton-Hicks contractions.


Another article:

In reality, Braxton Hicks contractions, named after an English doctor from the 19th Century, John Braxton Hicks, are a normal part of every pregnancy and start when a woman is still in her first trimester, at about 6 weeks pregnant into the pregnancy. However, most women don’t feel them until at least late in the second trimester, or for first-time mothers, in the third trimester.

[JoyRenee]

BH actually begin around 6 weeks pregnant (those early pregnancy cramps = braxton hicks).

[JustMe0925]

mine started at 15weeks

[LACh1]

Hi, yes with both my pregnancies i was haing bh contraction quite early (around 16 weeks) they weren't painful more uncomfortable and i could feel my stomach tighten and then release.  I ususally get them when i have down too mucha nd figure it is my bodies way of saying take a break and put your feet up.  BH contractions are normal throughout your pregnancy and you can get them at anytime.  It is usually only when they start comming at regular times and more then 5 in an hour that you may need to call your doc to check things out - good luck and try to rest and relax.