Braxton Hicks

[Psychick]

Although this is my second pregnancy, this is a new one for me to experience as I didnt have them with my first. I know what happens and what they are supposed to feel like but is there a point when youre getting them more than you should?

For the past couple of days Ive been getting what I think is the Braxton Hicks on a very regular basis. It seems whenever I do something, even something easy like the washing up, my whole stomach goes solid and seems to weigh ten times as much. This does ease but comes and goes until I am resting again. They are not painful as such, but sometimes very uncomfortable and stop me in my tracks!

Are these normal ones or is it being caused by something else like babys position?

Thanks in advance :)

[Louisa 69]

Hi psychick :)
Like you i didn't suffer with them during my first pregnancy but i did get them with my second. It was kind of like what you're experiencing my whole stomach would be rock hard, sometimes i would get a kind of twinge other times i would just feel the tightning. If in any doubt phone your midwife she'll be able to reasure you.
When are you due?

[Psychick]

Hi Louisa Im due in 8 weeks. I may have to give the midwife a call I think as Im starting to be in a little bit of pain. Not just from a constantly solid tummy, but the pressure is causing my hips to ache too!

The problem I have with contacting my midwife is that I can only call between 8 and 9 am! Im also annoyed at how long Im waiting between appointments still. My last one was 18th December and my next is 15th January! Almost 4 weeks apart!

[mountainboo]

Hi psy. I think you should call the NHS direct or the maternity ward at hospital and explain that your midwife is only available between 8 and 9 am. Obviously you know alot more than me when it comes to pregnancy, but if your starting to feel pain, it could be real contractions. Good luck x

[Psychick]

I really hope not with 8 weeks to go lol The pain is mainly being caused by the pressure and is in my hip so keep your fingers crossed for me thats all it is as I dont want baby to come too early.

Im going to go and put my feet up now and see how things go tonight, if Im still like this tomorrow, I will definately give my midwife a call.

The other worrying thing is I dont actually know what those first contractions feel like as I was induced last time so the contractions came thick and fast not steadily like when you start naturally!

Thanks again ladies :)

[bigmamma]

Psychick sweetie , I also think if you are in any doubt and indeed any discomfort contact your Midwife , who will advise you what to do or may get to examine you , hopefully you have a 24hr number to ring. I don't want you sat there worrying honey , rather go and get seen to as we can't tell really on here what it is .Try not to worry though love , that's what your midwifery section is for , to care for you and your baby and answer any questions you have at all times :-) xxx

[Psychick]

Hi bigmamma, Im not really worrying...yet lol I think I was looking for reassurance that its normal lol I can call the maternity ward at the hospital but having done so in the past a couple of times, they really dont seem to care and just leave feeling like you have been an incovenience!

I'll pop back later and let you know how things are after a lay down and rest :)

[bigmamma]

Have a good relax with your feet up honey and do let us know how you are later or sooner if you need. I can only say I am appauled that your maternity unit should make you feel like that ! :-) xxx

[Goodsoulette]

Mine were like that with my second from 18 weeks. Anytime I walked up hill, washed a floor and then less strenous things as the pregnancy went on. I also has awful heavy feeling in my pelvic floor area too, probably explains why I p1ssed myself as soon as my waters broke.

Sounds normal to me but like mamma says any worries leave a message at the surgery for your midwife.

[natalie_1982]

Psy, i think I have been getting pains similar to this - definitely simialr to what Goodsy described. If I walk for more than a few minutes or at a reasonable pace (not particularly brisk or anything, slower than normal pace) then I get a tightening pain across my lower tummy (in the area where you would get period pains) and my tummy goes really hard.

I have been getting this for about a month, but when it started, at around 22 weeks, it was if I was doing something particularly strenuous like a brisk 15 minute walk; now at 27 weeks I can't walk for more than a few minutes, have to hoover / sweep / mop in short sessions, can't wear even very low heels or do too many stairs at once (I work on the fourth floor without a lift so have to do it very slowly).

I hope you are feeling better this morning x x x

[redcrx]

how are you feeling today psy?

I cant tell you what the start of labour is like as i was induced by having waters broken but i have been told that if you gt tightenings when active and arent sure, to have a lie down and relax for a bit and see if they slow up or stop.

True contractionsrather than braxtons would continue regardless of whether you were lying or walking.

But as always, if in doubt call the maternity ward. xx

[Psychick]

Morning ladies,

Well after all that complaining from me, I went and laid down on the sofa eventually and ended up falling asleep there. I woke up, thanks to my ready-to-burst bladder, at about 2:30 this morning! lol The best sleep I have had for weeks. Trouble is, it was gone 5am before I was able to get back to sleep again.

Im starting to think that a lot of it is baby putting on extra pressure because when I was sat down last night, I was still getting the tightening and dull aching across the bottom of my tummy and back. Today it is going to be a nightmare though as its my little girls 7th birthday tomorrow and we are throwing her a surprise party so theres not going to be much chance of resting today..... too much to do! lol

[Louisa 69]

Hi psychick, sorry i couldn't post any more last night. It let me post the first answer to you and then it was taking ages to load a page so i gave up lol.

Glad you're feeling better today. I remember with both my pregnancies, especially in the latter stages, every twinge,tightening, pain had me looking up the pregnancy books lol. The latter stages of pregnancy put a heck of a lot of strain on your body, so it could just be the babys position.
Don't feel put off about calling your maternity unit if you feel unsure about anything. That is their job and they shouldn't make you or any other woman feel like a nusiance.
Have a great day tomorrow for your daughters birthday, but don't tire yourself out, let others help.
Take care xxx

[Psychick]

I gave my midwife a call this morning and going to see her today instead of having to wait til next Tuesday. She had me call the labour ward as well to see what they wanted me to do and because the hospital is quite a distance ffrom me, they have said to go see the midwife first and if they have any concerns, they will send me off to the hospital.

[bigmamma]

Well done Psychick for ringing with your concerns , better to get checked over honey . I am pleased you have an appointment today , let us know how you get on if you can manage sweetie :-) xxx

[Pippa68]

Hi Psy :o)

When are you due? I remember Braxton Hicks getting quite painful sometimes, but of course they were nowhere near anything like real contractions.

Glad you are getting checked over, and hope you feel a little more comfortable today. xx

[redcrx]

Im glad your midwife is seeing you early. Hope alls well hun xx

[Psychick]

Hi ladies and thanks.

Pippa, I am 33 weeks today and probably over reacting as I have no experience of braxton hicks or early contractions as I had neither with my daughter but I guess its better to get checked over now than leave it til its too late to do anything if something really does start!

[bigmamma]

That's right Psychick , better to be sure that it's not early labour signs and just Braxtons . I started with tightenings at 28 weeks and I was at work , after a while I decided to ask to get checked out and they found I was in early labour .After drugs to stop it , I ended up on strict bed rest in hospital for 9 weeks . luckily the labour was averted early on before it got established .

[Psychick]

Just been to see the midwife and its all actually looking positive. Baby has actually turned and is now head down and the pains are more than likely being caused by the head trying to engage. Also, the midwife I see last time, insisted they wouldnt even consider letting me have a home birth unless my iron levels were above 11 (the were 10.3 at the time) but the nice one I see today said it wont be a problem and they have even allowed home births when the iron level has been as low as 9! Baby is fine, good strong heartbeat, so strong in fact, she was able to listen to the heartbeat all over my tummy! Im measurring correct for the weeks I am and all is good with both ma and baby.

Really glad I took everyones advice and went :)

[redcrx]

head down and trying to engage? at 33 weeks for a second thats pretty good isnt it?

Am so glad you now know what the pains were and can continue without the worry, I hope that that midwife relays the message to the other so they dont now give mixed messages on the home birth!

Wish i was measuring to dates lol, am 2 weeks larger than i should be