Braxton Hicks??

[seattlemama]

This is my first pregnancy so I have no idea what braxton hicks feel like or what contractions feel like... But the last few days and especially last night while I was trying to sleep my uterus has been getting so hard! No cramping or anything just all of a sudden it feels so tight and I feel it with my hands and its like a rock! You can feel the shape of it and everything. Is that braxton hicks? If not what could it be? Every now and then I feel like the baby arches its back or pushes its bottom out cause one side will feel hard and then it will move, but this is the whole uterus.

 

[Mango]

Hmm could be your lil one moving around but if you feel your entire uterus contracting and going hard I'd contact my MW/GP and decribe what you're feeling!

 

[seattlemama]

What do braxton hicks feel like, do you know? I have my doc appt on wednesday so I was just going to ask about it then... I figured it wasnt anything bad since I havent been having cramping or spotting or anything.

 

[JamieX]

I do get frequent braxton hicks as well, ever since 16 weeks, it gets really significant. I feel the tightening sensation, my sides and back starts to ache a little and I would feel kinda breathless...now i know why we should learn how to breathe during labour.....i don't really get this often, maybe 3 times a day at the most.

braxton hicks should be fairly common to my knowledge, as long as it is not as regular as 4 times in an hour and no noticeable pains.....

https://www.babycenter.com/0_braxton-hicks-contractions_156.bc

 

[AquaDementia]

I haven't gotten any yet, hmmm.

 

[seattlemama]

Thanks Jaime for that website. I know that they happen I just didnt realize so soon. I have kept my eye on how often they have been happening and I have had it about 3 times today, but spread out. I am going to check with my doc on wednesday but Im sure its fine. It just feels really weird!

 

[Louisa K]

Sounds exactly like what I had over the weekend. Were you on your feet all day the day you starting feeling this? I went christmas shopping on Saturday and starting feeling my stomach squeezing and getting very tight.. It was on and off for most of the afternoon. I had it again on Sunday, but nothing since..

My mum is always feeling my stomach so when it went tight I asked her to feel it and she said "oooh thats braxton hicks" she said she had it when she was carrying me from about 18 weeks..

My mum had braxton hicks alot from 18 weeks and apparently I shot out like a bullet.

Its just our body practicing for the real thing...

 

[nikkybaby]

I've been getting those a lot too. My MW told me that I should drink a glass of water when it happenes, or if I'm sitting down, to change positions, because that will sometimes relax it. She also said that they tend to happen after an orgasm, which is completely normal. Just make sure, like everyone said, that they are not more than 4 an hour, and there is no pain or cramping involved.

 

[seattlemama]

I am on my feet everyday all day except my days off and even then I have running around to do. But yes I was on my feet a lot the day before because they started happening that night while I was sleeping. I havent had any for a while now. Do you ever feel like your bump was bigger the day before and then it feels smaller and then it feels bigger again a day or two later?

 

[Margerle]

Sounds like BH to me. I had them with DD#1 and they were almost constant through the day.

BH doesn't hurt, though as you grow larger they will seem to take your breath away. Your uterus gets very hard like you describe, like you're doing a sit-up without the muscle strain feeling.

Just let your doc know you're having them, I doubt they'll do anything unless you have pain with them. I remember asking at the time how I'll know the difference between actual labor pains and BH? The nurses all just laughed and said OH YOU'LL KNOW!

I'm sure I'll get them with this one too... It's kinda comforting for me to know my body is preparing for labor.

 

[Jenny]

Yup, definitely sounds like BH. I've had them since reaaaally early but didn't realize what they were until later . And I totally get you on the bump thing, somtimes it feels like I shrunk overnight and then the next day I'm huge . Pretty sure bloating has something to do with it or baby position

 

[seattlemama]

Im glad you have that with your bump too. It worried me that the BH were shrinking my uterus or something lol! I love how irrational pregnant women are!