Almost constant BHs?

[evening start]

So for the last few days I feel like my uterus is constantly contracting. I will have BHs that last for 1 to 10 minutes at a time, sometime with very little time in between. I had one today that felt like it lasted 20 minutes (I really had to pee, but I was in the middle of grading a lab report and didn't want to get up so that made it more uncomfortable/noticeable). When I got up and spent some time on the birth ball it relaxed some, but they keep coming back. Even when I get up to pee at night I feel like I'm having them. I have been drinking water pretty much all day, but I'm still getting them now.

They don't hurt particularly unless I sneeze or move suddenly in the middle of them, but sometimes it feels a little annoying. Is this normal at this stage (almost 38 weeks)?

[Delight]

Yes...very normal. Your uterus is practicing I get them OFTEN as well...especially when my bladder is full. If I have a particularly stressful day or one that I am on the move and on my feet all day, it feels like one long BH!
I've been getting them since about 20 weeks...and they have just increased in length and intensity. I'm 35 weeks now.

My midwife recommends slowing down, laying on your left side, taking a warm bath, or having a very small amount of red wine. Hang in there...

[Sadie Lake]

Yes! I'm having the same thing. I'll be 37 weeks tomorrow. I had an appt with my m/w today and when I told her about them she said it was a good thing and that she'd be worried about me if I didn't have them like that.

She also said that, while it probably seems like they're non-stop, I probably have certain times each day when they seem to be happening (which, when I thought about it, was kindof true). I get more of them around 3pm and they last almost non-stop for a good hour or two. Some days it just seems like I have one big BH all day long!

But, its good and normal. Phew!

Sadie

[shannomad]

I've been feeling like I'm having almost constant BH cxns too. For weeks. My uterus is almost always tight and hard. I'm 39 weeks now, but it has been like this since 34 weeks, or even earlier... It's my 3rd baby, though, and I didn't experience anything like this with the first two.

Does it correlate with later pregnancies for other people too?

[CanBoo]

Originally Posted by shannomad

I've been feeling like I'm having almost constant BH cxns too. For weeks. My uterus is almost always tight and hard. I'm 39 weeks now, but it has been like this since 34 weeks, or even earlier... It's my 3rd baby, though, and I didn't experience anything like this with the first two.

Does it correlate with later pregnancies for other people too?

Yes. Did not have them at all with DD, but I have them like crazy with this one.

I am always scared to go into real labour anytime when they don't stop. It freaks me out.
Baby cannot come yet for too many reasons...
-Can't have homebirth until next week (37weeks next weekend)
-House is not all ready for the birth either... Still cleaning after DH's renos...
- and I have not trained a replacement at work yet... Supposed to have someone starting this week ... Sure hope so...

[evening start]

Thanks all. It's good to know they are normal. This is my first, so I wonder if they will just get more intense with future pregnancies. I've been told (by Mom and 2 midwives) that I will KNOW when I am having real labor contractions vs. BHs, so I try not to worry about them too much -- but some days I do wonder if they are the prelude to something more dramatic (clearly not so far . . .)

[twins+1]

Me too. Today felt like constant BH too. I'm glad its normal! I have one more week until full-term (37 wks) so I want him to stay in there a good long time.

[PTmorgan]

I had lots of BH with DS (first pregnancy) - and yes, it seemed like sometimes they were almost constant. I just viewed them an uterine exercises - at least part of me was getting in lots of exercise!

A week before I had DS they started to organize - became regular at 6 minutes apart, stronger, lasting a few hours. Again, I was excited - practicing for labor! My body learning how to do regular contractions. When I actually went into labor, the contractions were different, more crampy, different feel.

This pregnancy my BH are about the same. I notice that when I drink my RLL tea my BH are a lot more frequent. Of course, if I'm not drinking enough they get overactive as well. But for me, lots of BH is normal.