What are Braxton Hicks like?

[Mica]

Just curious what they've been like if you've had them. I guess if I'm going to have them, it could be any day now.
I've been having some funny pains lately, but I wouldn't describe them as contractions. I have a hunch that baby has flipped, and now has his feet on my cervix. Good times...

 

[greeneyes0279]

You will feel your whole uterus tighten up into a hard ball. It takes my breath away.

 

[ttc1soon]

You'll notice when you put your hand on your stomach that your uterus is rock hard. With my braxton hicks sometimes I don't notice them at all but other times I can feel the tightening and it can be very uncomfortable. For me they usually last about 30-45 seconds but it depends. Cervix kicks are no fun, I know that! My little girl has been breech for quite some time now and loves to give me a good swift kick to the bladder or cervix and that hurts!

 

[meli1981]

im 22 weeks and yave had them for awhile, although this is my fourth preg, third baby. they are like a tightening and sometimes your belly will look lopsided. it will take your breath away, and sometimes i even breathe thriugh them for practise. it will often squeeze yourbladder as well! having one right now!

 

[littlesteph]

for me it feels like someone has grabbed hold of my bump and has given it a tight squess. it also takes away your breath. it's tight and uncomfy,

 

[YikesBaby]

I pretty much never felt mine at all. Everyone's different. The only way I would know I was having one was from feeling my bump and noticing it was hard. Some times I would feel as though baby was having a good stretch (especially when walking up hill) and those ones I would be aware of... otherwise I didn't really feel any contractions until I was 5 cm!!

 

[dollface85]

I don't know if all practise contractions are called braxton hicks. Because most people mention that tightening that I have experienced as well but I also get mild to moderate period like cramps on my lower back and abdomen. So they can be painless or painful.

 

[meli1981]

I don't know if all practise contractions are called braxton hicks. Because most people mention that tightening that I have experienced as well but I also get mild to moderate period like cramps on my lower back and abdomen. So they can be painless or painful.

ive heard they can feel like period cramps, im kinda glad mine dont! but the tightening is quite uncomfortable, especially when you have a full bladder!

 

[AlesiaNicole]

I have had a few that feel period like with the major tightening. I keep questioning if it's really mild contractions or Braxton hicks. I just call them all "practice" anyway! LOL

 

[NaturalMomma]

Can be a dull ache in the lower back followed by your uterus tightining. If you have contraction like cramps, where the front and the back get painful and you tighten, it can be prodomal labor (which is not the same thing as actual labor).

 

[Krissys]

Not painfull just a whole belly tighten out of nowhere I've had a few it's just this wow out of nowhere ur stomach is hard and you can't time u may get a few or just one, labor ones hurt and get worse and u can time them so if its just a harden and then stops w no pain that's what it is

 

[AlesiaNicole]

Can be a dull ache in the lower back followed by your uterus tightining. If you have contraction like cramps, where the front and the back get painful and you tighten, it can be prodomal labor (which is not the same thing as actual labor).

So is it odd to be having prodromal labor early? I'm only 29 weeks. That seems pretty early to me! I'm not worrying it's only been a handful of times anyway. It may be the closest I get to labor anyway if babe doesn't turn! I definitely don't remember having it with my son for sure.

 

[haileybrooke3]

for me the very top of my uterus gets rock hard almost like baby has her but up and out and then if i feel around my whole stomach is rock hard and i feel lots of pressure in my pubic area and they make me breathless and sometimes ill have a little bit of back/gas like pain with them...

 

[ttc1soon]

I have had a few that feel period like with the major tightening. I keep questioning if it's really mild contractions or Braxton hicks. I just call them all "practice" anyway! LOL

I talking to my nurse who does my NST and the way she explained it braxton hicks contractions are true contractions but they are just not regular or strong enough to start labor so they are classified as practice contractions. If they are strong/painful, occur at regular intervals and/or the intensity increases they can cause cervical changes and those would not be considered braxton hicks.

 

[JennyBLove]

This is my first and didnt know what or how they felt either but now know y my belly tightns on n off few times a day. Is that pressure ok if been a long day and stressed? Always thought was baby just pushn on me

 

[ttc1soon]

This is my first and didnt know what or how they felt either but now know y my belly tightns on n off few times a day. Is that pressure ok if been a long day and stressed? Always thought was baby just pushn on me

BH are totally normal. They are especially common if you've had a long stressful day. When they get going its best to rest, drink water, and keep your bladder empty so you don't get a lot. If you get more than 6 (some OBs say 4) in an hour they might want you to get checked out but a few in a day is nothing. I get 20+ a day sometimes and am still fine (but I have meds to take if I get more than 6 in an hour since I have an irritable uterus).

 

[Spicychick10]

For me, it feels like cramps real low and sometimes I feel light cramping in my lower back with it. Doesn't last long at all for me. Maybe like 20-30 seconds. It's different all the time for me. But last night one woke me up and lasted almost a minute. Then I went back to sleep lol I sometimes breathe through them too. They aren't painful just uncomfortable.