Cramping?

[rclaz]

I'm not 100% sure what Braxton-Hicks are. With my last pregnancy, I had a c/s due to a complete placenta previa. Someone told me BH feels like your belly gets really tight. I had that. I've had that his pregnancy too.
Tonight for about 30 minutes I've been getting cramps low in my uterus/abdomen...about exactly where I'd get them if my uterus was normal size and I was getting cramps. They are like little flashes of cramps. They last a few seconds and go away. It's almost like a pinching/cramping...like a flash or lightning... should I be worried?? It's about 11:45pm my time right now, and I'm not sure if I should call or wait or what. I had a miscarriage last spring and I remember that the week before I found out I woke up in the middle of the night and had a cramp pain right in the middle of my uterus, and I blew it off thinking it was just normal aches and pains. Thoughts?? I'm really worried...

[jojojojojo]

If you're worried, I'd say to call. Maybe you can talk to an advice nurse or something. The stress of worrying about it can't be good for you or the baby.

I hope all is well.

[stardust swallower]

Hope you made it through the night okay! I get that feeling you describe as well -- a very low crampy thing. I definitely think it's just BHs and don't worry a bit because I'm so used to getting strong BHs. My BHs used to be higher and all over and now I just feel them down very low.

As you probably already know, the general rule about BHs is to pay attention. According to the PTL info I have, more than 6 an hour mean you should lay down on your left side and drink 3-4 large glasses of water. Wait an hour, if nothing has changed call your HCP.

[rclaz]

Thank you so much, ladies! I got up, drank a bunch of water and got on my birthing ball for a bit. I didn't think to lay on my left side. I will remember that from now on! They went away and didn't come back. I'm due to see my m/w for my next check-up tomorrow morning. I told myself if they kept up, or returned I'd call asap. They didn't. whew!
Thank you so much!! BTW, I'll post what she say, in case it helps anyone else.

[wombatclay]

I know I'm a bit soap-box-ie here but at your appointment ask the midwife to check your urine sample for a possible bladder infection if she doesn't do that automatically. I found out the hard way that advanced bladder infections/uti in late pregnancy can be totally symptom free, or they can involve cramping/aching/BH contractions. But if untreated they can cause pre-term labor. It only takes 2-3 miunutes for them to check and it's info worth having.

In my case I was having really strong/crampy contractions but they weren't regular... I'd get one when I "did" something (walk up the stairs, pick up my 2yo, bend over to pick something off the floor, stand up suddenly). Just a crampy ache with the hard belly. Since I started meds for the bladder infection it's been a lot better. And I have a new soap box.

Anyway, I'm glad it went away but do let your midwife know!

[rclaz]

Cramping: UPDATE

Hi,
I just saw my m/w / ob team and they think the feeling I was having was my scar stretching or pulling, or internal scar tissue doing it. It resonates as making sense to me b/c the pain was not super deep, but inside. It started in the middle and went outwards and it was like a pinching or lightning feeling. Anyhow, I guess nothing to worry about! Just wanted to update incase it helps anyone else Rebecca