17 weeks pregnant...

[stressed out]

Hi, i'm 17 weeks pregnant with my second baby which is an active little thing!... Last night i went to see a film with a friend and throughout the film i felt an uncomfortable tightening feeling around my whole uterus area and belly! When i felt it it was hard like a watermelon! I have heard of Braxton Hicks but i thought these only occured later on in pregnancy. Does anyone know what this is?

Thanks x

[Lore]

HIya S.O, First of all congratulations!!

I'm 27 weeks and have been getting that tightening sensation for a long time now. I'd sure it is just braxton hicks kicking in but you could always check with your midwife - just for peace of mind.

I don't know if you've been there already but I use the bounty website - it's just a discussion forum for mostly pregnancy related topics. I'm Lore06 in the 'due Novemeber board... You'll have all your questions answered and a couple of giggles too.

Hope this helps. x

www.bounty.com

[handygran]

Braxton Hicks is a pregnant womans body contracting as it would do in labour.

[monkeemayhem]

hello stressed out, glad to hear your (new) little one is growing well, don't think you have anything to worry about, these do sound like B.Hicks- your body has already been through pregnancy once its probably just remembering the last time!!! keep happy! mm x

In a pickle- braxton hicks are just as stressed out describes, women may experience a dull ache down below and a stomach that goes rock hard. its the bodys way of getting a woman tuned into labour (ie mild version of contractions!), they come over the body in irregular waves as opposed to labour contractions which the nearer you are to giving birth, the stronger and faster the contractions come.

[Lore]

I.A.P, Braxton hicks are just "practice" contractions that occur at various times during pregnancy, named after the doctor John Braxton Hicks (who first described them in 1872) basically, the stomach tightens and as stressed out described, it feels hard like a watermelon - however, my watermelon could win prizes looking at the size of it just now!

[stressed out]

lol!! Thanks guys, you're all so lovely. x
So do you think i should'nt worry? It is the first time it's happened in this pregnancy and i did'nt enjoy the feeling much, i was concerned the baby was in danger or something was'nt quite right?

I am a bit worried that this baby moves alot! lol...

Thanks again x

[monkeemayhem]

stressed out by name, stressed out by nature! when I was pregnant,I was sure my baby was doing star jumps and saturday night fever dancing! I loved feeling my baby moving- I knew he was going to be a little live wire (and he is!!)

all this talk of pregnancy makes me feel broody-- ARGHHH!!!! better not tell the hubby!

[boobesque]

hi, my baby has been a fidget bum the whole way through, i got braxton hicks a few weeks ago and they felt like what you experienced, i am not sure if 17 weeks is too early, maybe you should ring your midwife in the morning for a bit of peace of mind.

[Sparkles3]

I'm 19 weeks pregnant with baby no 3 and have been having BH for about 4 weeks now. I guess like the after-birth pains get worse with subsequent babies, perhaps the Braxton Hicks are the same principle. I'm not worried about it, but as others have said, if you are, consult your midwife, as there's no point worrying (and if she says there's a problem please post a message and I'll get to the midwife pronto!!!!.) Take care xx

[trogette]

Braxton hicks happen *all the time* not just when pregnant, it's just we're more likely to feel them when everything else gets stretched. The uterus is a muscle and like all muscles it has to work to be in tone, it's just toning up :-)