Painless BH contractions????

[MandyB]

Do you think it's really possible to have totally painless - as in you can almost not feel them EXCEPT for the stiffness of your belly - Braxton Hicks/Prodromal Labor? I've heard of women saying they've had these before, and would have put myself in that category previously too. BUT, what I meant in the past by "painless" was just that they were not very painful. I could still feel them and then had a tiny bit of pain associated with them, and more pain with other ones, but not COMPLETELY painless, (like zero on a scale of 0-10 pain).

The last two days, I HAVE been having what I think ARE painless contractions though! It's really really wierd. The ONLY reason I think they're contractions is because my stomach does get hard and tight as a ball. I guess it could just be baby curling up in a tight ball, but that doesn't seem like it either.

I guess I just never believed that Painless really meant TOTALLY pain free. I have been drinking lots of RRL tea, so maybe that's helping.

I'd love to hear other "painless" BH/prodromal labor experiences! Also, did this extend into your REAL labor as painless too? At what point did you start to feel them more?

[trinitys_mom]

I get painless and painful BH. Sometimes I don't even know I'm having a contraction. In fact, most of the day I get painless BH. I don't drink RRL tea either.

I had them with DD too, but that didn't mean labor was painless...QUITE the opposite!

To me, BH contractions were nothing at all like the real thing. A real contraction (to me at least) felt down low and achy and drawn out....and then it would contract and I could feel each nerve. BH just feel like rubber tightening (sometimes a little crampy here and there).

[AuntieLiz]

I would say about 90% of my BH are completely painless. If they are hurting me, I know it's because I've been slacking off on my calcium. Does the trick every time.

[Friendlee]

My BH's are completely painless. I only notice them when I forget my RRL tea. But even then, they are painless. Normally, I don't notice them unless my hand is on my belly or if I happen to be feeling/pushing on my stomach. Unfortunately, I've heard more than once that labor contractions are different from BH ctx. Like the previous poster said, lower and more crampy. But this is my first, so I don't know much yet! (I'm due Thursday)

[MandyB]

It's funny how everyone is so different! My regular labor contractions with my 1st two births felt exactly the same as my BH contractions, only much stronger. Same feeling, just even more painful.

[joyakshi]

My BH contrax are painless, except they are so intense they make me unable to move. They are very hard to describe b/c although the uterus is without pain (except I do get fleeting sharp stabbing pains low down), the contractions are so intense they are uncomfortable. I feel like I'm being strangled in my middle. Plus they last hours at a time and do not cycle in waves as far as I can tell. They just come on and stay...
And, I get weird rushes where I feel kinda high. This has been happening for a while. I wonder if it's a hormone release.
I have no idea if they are doing anything, or if my uterus is just exercising.
I'm due Saturday.

[joyakshi]

are you feeling anything besides BH, Friendlee?
Do you think you'll be on time? I'm due Sat. and have lots of BH, and am just wondering and waiting...

Originally Posted by Friendlee

My BH's are completely painless. I only notice them when I forget my RRL tea. But even then, they are painless. Normally, I don't notice them unless my hand is on my belly or if I happen to be feeling/pushing on my stomach. Unfortunately, I've heard more than once that labor contractions are different from BH ctx. Like the previous poster said, lower and more crampy. But this is my first, so I don't know much yet! (I'm due Thursday)

[Friendlee]

Nope, not feeling anything else. The BH (the ones I can feel) only returned this week. Just about 2 a day when I'm up walking around cleaning or running an errand. I had them at around 28 weeks as well, but that's when I started the RRL tea, and they vanished until now. I don't think she has dropped really. My sister gave birth one week early. My mom said each of us were late. Apparently very strong amniotic sacs run in the family and so my mom and all my aunts never had their water break on their own. So from a family history standpoint...I'm guessing I'll be a little late and may not have the water break. My doc says he's fine delivering her in her sac and that he's seen that before - they break the sac outside of the womb!

[joyakshi]

the baby is supposed to be special when born en caul (in the sac!).
your BH sound like mine. keep us posted!

Originally Posted by Friendlee

Nope, not feeling anything else. The BH (the ones I can feel) only returned this week. Just about 2 a day when I'm up walking around cleaning or running an errand. I had them at around 28 weeks as well, but that's when I started the RRL tea, and they vanished until now. I don't think she has dropped really. My sister gave birth one week early. My mom said each of us were late. Apparently very strong amniotic sacs run in the family and so my mom and all my aunts never had their water break on their own. So from a family history standpoint...I'm guessing I'll be a little late and may not have the water break. My doc says he's fine delivering her in her sac and that he's seen that before - they break the sac outside of the womb!

[jaylily]

Yes!

I get a lot of them. I've been getting a lot of slightly painful ones, too, lately. But sometimes I don't even know I'm having one unless I'm touching my stomach. One time my midwife was feeling my baby and said "Oh there's a contraction!" and I had no idea... but I guess my belly was hard.

[MandyB]

Originally Posted by Friendlee

Nope, not feeling anything else. The BH (the ones I can feel) only returned this week. Just about 2 a day when I'm up walking around cleaning or running an errand. I had them at around 28 weeks as well, but that's when I started the RRL tea, and they vanished until now. I don't think she has dropped really. My sister gave birth one week early. My mom said each of us were late. Apparently very strong amniotic sacs run in the family and so my mom and all my aunts never had their water break on their own. So from a family history standpoint...I'm guessing I'll be a little late and may not have the water break. My doc says he's fine delivering her in her sac and that he's seen that before - they break the sac outside of the womb!

My last baby was born in with her sac still intact, into the tub. I have to say, it was neat, but very strange! It surprised me when she started to come out because I felt like I was pushing out a big balloon instead of a head!

[eloise24]

Oh yeah, all of mine with DD were painless . . . in fact I didn't even realize that they were contractions until DD was almost born because I expected a BH contraction to hurt. I just thought baby was pushing and trying to get out

Erika

[Nature]

All my BH contractions are painless. I call them "Super Belly" because I've been known to knock toddlers down when I'm not looking where I'm going. LOL My labor contractions are mostly painless as well. Unfortunately that means I don't know I'm in labor until the baby is practically out.

[Friendlee]

Nature!! What's your secret?

[Contrariety]

I have had, like, three BH this entire pregnancy that were somewhat painful. Otherwise, they don't hurt at all. I mostly notice them when I am laying down because it feels like my belly is laying on top of a rock or something because it's so hard.

I never felt them at all whatsoever when I was PG with DS, so I don't even know if I had them.

They feel absolutely *nothing* like the real deal. My mom gets antsy in her pantsy whenever I get them, but I tell her to chill out because it's nothing at all like labor, and no, I will not be having this baby in an hour or two.

I'm optimistic that since I'm getting them approximately everyotherfreakingsecondofmylife that they are doing some work and hopefully labor won't be too long, when it does come.

[Maela]

Originally Posted by Friendlee

Nature!! What's your secret?

Yes!! let us know asap!



Pretty much all of my BH are painless.

[mrscompgeek]

Ok not to highjack this thread but I have been having BH for the last 3 days almost constant. Yesterday they were pretty strong and my stomach was a hard ball all day. Is that normal for BH? Is it a sign of anything?

[Watershippy]

Me too! I've been having nearly constant BH for the past 2 days. I'm hoping it means something's happening soon!

To answer the original question, all of my BH have been completely painless. I've been having them since the middle of the 2nd trimester and the only reason I know they are happening is because I occasionally poke my belly and find that it is rock hard. Maybe it is the rasp leaf tea?

[beatgenxer]

interesting....my experience seems the opposite of lots of other posters.

i've been having the low-crampy BH off and on for weeks now. but the hard belly only started late last week and that's been the upper half of my belly.

wild stuff, this nature-body thing

[nectarine]

My BH are pretty much always painless. I actually often don't know they're occurring until I happen to reach down to touch my tummy.