How many braxton hicks a day is normal?

[Bebica]

I know about the rule-if 4 and more in one hour-call your dr. but I want to know,nnow that you are all 27 and + weeks,how many do you get usualy during the day? Also do yuo get them sometimes at night too??? And do you think you have more if you are more active that day,do you thing something may trigger them or you could be just chilling all day and still have the same amount...
I am now into 3rd tri(few days) and noticed to have more then I did at 24 weeks..

 

[cattattat]

I have tons, particularly in the evenings. I don't know if anything triggers them for me, but they do say that they can be more frequent if you are a bit dehydrated. As for the no more than four in an hour, I dont know about anyone else but I quite often have a lot more than that...

Hope that was even a little helpful! X

 

[Ouverture]

I don't think there really is a normal - some women never feel them at all

Since you have been feeling them, I would say it's normal for them to increase and get stronger week by week - I felt the first one at 16 weeks, by 24 weeks I had them 2x/day, by 30 weeks maybe 4-5x/day, and now at 37 weeks it's a LOT! Strong ones that are sometimes uncomfortable - especially at night.

As long as you can't time them or have several in an hour, they are totally normal Not drinking enough water is the biggest reason women get too many -so stay hydrated!

 

[mistyscott]

I second the dehydration thing - I was getting loads (like, a few an hour) when I was 28wks, but drinking like a fish sorted it out. Now getting loads again, but normal for late pregnancy I think. Can be a few an hour, and can be uncomfortable and take my breath away a little (not painful though). Sometimes doing something like bending down triggers one, and woke up by them in the night the other day - another reason for my poor bladder to have no room
Needing the loo (and not going straight away) can also bring them on...

 

[ilvmylbug]

No idea I don't think there is a set amount. I have tons throughout the day, especially when I am on my feet a lot. Sometimes I don't even notice them until midway through.

 

[alison29]

Maybe you are excersing too much or pushing yourself too hard? I agree have water with you all the time.

 

[Braven05]

My mw explained that the uterus is not a vital organ so when its hot and dry out and you don't have enough water in you, your body takes water from non vital organs for the vital ones. And being dry can cause your uterus to be irritable...and contract...so that could definitely be the cause if you feel you are having too many. I only had one every once in awhile at 27 weeks. Once I got upwards of 30 weeks I was having 3-4 a day

 

[Bebica]

this is my third baby and i started at 17 weeks...they were like up to 5 a day..now i am 26 weeks and for the past week I've had about 20 or so a day...some are short and not that much unconfy and some last for a min and kinda unconfy...i do drink but nowhere near to 8 glasses a day ))) maybe 6...if so...and on the move...and plus maybe some aren't BH maybe it's baby.because she is on the go 24/7

 

[Braven05]

this is my third baby and i started at 17 weeks...they were like up to 5 a day..now i am 26 weeks and for the past week I've had about 20 or so a day...some are short and not that much unconfy and some last for a min and kinda unconfy...i do drink but nowhere near to 8 glasses a day ))) maybe 6...if so...and on the move...and plus maybe some aren't BH maybe it's baby.because she is on the go 24/7

Yeah I have to concentrate sometimes to tell if its a contraction or if its baby moving...feels similar sometimes

 

[new_mum]

I'm getting them all the time too, its not nice as I feel them alright! ouchie

 

[Periwinkle]

I'm getting more and more as I go on. I get them one after another for long periods, even if I'm just sitting on the sofa all day, I don't think moving about makes a lot of difference to me.

The dehydration thing is hard, because I get them every time I need the loo (which is often lol) so drinking more would make them come more anyway. Not that I'm holding back on drinking at all.

 

[OneFitMom]

The four per hour rule is some kind of internet urban legend that's become "true" by virtue of the fact it's been repeated so many times. It is perfectly normal to get more than four in an hour, and as long as they're not getting stronger and developing a regular pattern (like true labour contractions), don't worry about them.

I get them mostly at night, when I have to pee, when I bend over. Sometimes they last a long time, sometimes I get a whole bunch in a row, and then I go for hours without getting any. It's all normal

 

[liz_legend]

There's no "normal" number. My friend had NONE, I have them all the time.

 

[ashley2pink]

I don think there is a normal amount. It varies a ton.
With my 2nd pregnancy I started noticing them around 27-28 weeks. I didnt get too many at first. By 31-32 weeks I was getting 4 every waking hour. That was with taking it very easy and trying to be down as much as I could while taking care of my daughter. If I was up they would double in amount and go over the 5 an hour, which I was told is too many. I continued to have 4 an hour and at 37 weeks I was up as normal again so I had more, but I didnt bother to count at all-I was induced at 39+2.
This pregnancy I started feeling them at 20 weeks. I felt I was doomed to start feeling the 4 an hour even earlier this time. I was thinking by 28 weeks. But no, I am here at almost 36 weeks and only feel maybe 1 an hour, sometimes 2. Though I do feel more when I am up on my feet, so I try not to get up too much and wont until 37 weeks again.
For me I definitely notice more when I am up(even sitting can set them off so I usually do a half lie on the couch while I watch my kids). Also if I dont drink a bunch of water I start to get more. So I make sure to recline on my side and drink plenty of water and with that I have felt really good about the amount I have been getting.
Oh and my 2nd pregnancy my Dr. put me on nfedipine to help calm my BH. It didnt help too much really. Just a little. My Dr. told me he thought I would go in labor within 24 hours of stopping the nfedipine-but I went another couple weeks and even then I was induced, so who knows how much longer I would have went. I havent had to take any this pregnancy. My Dr. was still worried I would go into labor before 34 weeks this time though. I am hoping to hang on until at least 37 weeks! i can tell he doubts my ability to do so. But my other Dr. with my 2nd baby doubted it too!