Braxton Hicks, how do they feel?

[Velvetee]

Can anyone please tell me what a Braxton Hicks feels like? I'm 27 weeks tomorrow and this morning awoke with a burning, cramp like sensation in my lower, right stomach area. It took a couple of minutes to wear off. I also had another one this afternoon.

In the early hours of this morning, baby appeared to be moving around alot and I could actually see my abdominal area moving. Is this normal?

[cazzz1975]

for me it felt like my stomach went very hard, a feeling of tightness, slightly uncomfortable, then it eased.

[ummmm]

For me they felt like a tightening of the muscles. Like a contraction but without the pain. Just a mild ache.

The pain you're having could be due to the ligaments stretching etc. I had lot's of that also.

[puddicat]

Like labour pains but nearer your time velvet!!

[Velvetee]

Thanks everyone. The feeling I had was quite painful, that I could barely move.

[chinadog]

Yep I had the same,my stomach used to feel rock hard. It used to be called "The Quickenings" years ago.

[onlyme26]

hi velvetee, i must say i had wondered myself what they were like, dont think i got them with my first and havent so far this time, tho your abdominal area moving is totally normal, the later you get the more you will see movement as well as feel it, i am nearly 35 weeks now and me and my daughter just sit and watch my belly when the baby is awake, its so funny and so lovely to see,

xxx

[shaunzy]

Ive been wondering what 'braxton Hicks' feels like too.
I'm 33 weeks and 3days now and keep getting slight period type pains and other strange pains around my bump but im sure i haven't had 'braxton hicks' yet.
My bump has grown a lot, u cant miss it now lol when baby moves, sometimes its really uncomfy, cant be much space in there now. It's nice to see though, very reassuring :)

[sara3]

mine were very painful and sometimes took my breath away! my stomach went rock hard and my only relief was by lying down and putting my legs up.. right up against the wall!

and I got mine from around 6 months.

yeah, good luck with that!

[blahblah06]

Yes, sounds perfectly normal, I found the best way of dealing with them was to move around, even though you don't feel like it. I ended up getting Braxton Hicks several times every day as I got nearer to my due date. I was so use to them that when I did go into labour I passed them off as Braxton Hicks until my waters broke and then my baby arrived an hour later. Gently rubbing the achey area also helped me, I think sometimes the baby's leg or head presses on nerves which causes cramp like sensations, once they have moved the pain should go.