Braxton Hicks and, ummm... sex

[violet]

Okay, so we've been having some fun. I'm 34+ weeks with our 4th. DH came home for lunch..... and I spent the rest of the afternoon, into the evening with crazy BH! I was getting nervous because more than a few were into my back and lower pelvis area, not just the top of the abdomen area. They were as often as every 5 minutes! It was starting to feel like the night before I go into labor. And I'm no where near ready for that!

This is the second time we've had an afternoon romp followed by BH's for hours. Is there some connection? Usually when we DTD I'm off to sleep and likely sleeping through any BH action. I know labor can start after sex but I thought that was just once you were close to due date and everything was ready. I always go to my due date.

ugh. it was exhausting. I have way too much to do to be close to delivery now! and I don't want to end the fun just to avoid BH! Am I silly to think the sex is causing this? what is up?

[MsBlack]

No, you're not crazy to think this--because a woman's arousal and orgasm does cause the release of oxytocin into her bloodstream, and oxytocin is the hormone causing uterine contrax. Still, most women do continue to have sex during their entire pregnancy, and it doesn't bring on preterm labor. So, I wonder if there is something else bringing on all these post-sex contrax though--well, I mean, something *in addition to* the flow of oxytocin that's normal after sex. For instance, fatigue, hunger and/or dehydration can bring on contrax--are your 'afternoon delights' causing you to miss a nap? Does the extra calorie burn or fluid flow (sweat maybe?) mean that you should be having a good drink and a snack after that fun?

Just a thought.

[JorgieGirl]

MsBlack's comments were what came to mind for me too.

I had BH's all through my pregnancy with dd, from 16 weeks on. It really hit me hard after each romp in the hay. If I lay down with a bottle of water and had a bit of a rest they would slow up faster than if I got up and continued life.

[violet]

Thanks ladies- I'm glad I'm not crazy and so glad they went away. My other pregnancies I have had the BH for the last 4 months or so, nothing new. But they are usually more random and fleeting, related to bending over or going for a walk or something. I've noticed them after sex before too. But like you suggested, laying down, drinking water, going pee, etc they usually calm down and go away for a bit. Yesterday it was from 3pm til I went to bed - about 6 hours. And sometimes more intense, sometimes less. Often at 5 minute intervals. I laid down for a couple hours, I ate, I drank, I relaxed, I took a huge dose of magnesium. Still, kept on coming on until I went to sleep. UGH. Maybe afternoons are out and before bed would be better -- if sleep makes it all the more mellow.

[Kidzaplenty]

Well, I always get them for a while after DTD. But they always go away. Never has started labor, even when that was my goal.

[APToddlerMama]

I went into preterm labor with my first, so have been told I'll be on "pelvic rest" for much of my next pregnancy....meaning no sex, no orgasms. I was told that in a low risk pregnancy, you don't have to worry, but in a high risk pregnancy, sex may cause preterm labor. I'm now considered to be high risk. What I don't understand is the fact that they don't know until you've had preterm labor if you're going to turn out to be one of the ones who should be on pelvic rest...

[violet]

so is "pelvic rest" the polite term for no bedroom action? We've been having wayyyy too much fun around here. Something about that extra bloodflow... my DH will get a kick out of a request for some pelvic rest.

[BabyMae09]

I had those every time after sex for the last 1.5 months of pregnancy. It got REALLY annoying. But we didn't cut out our fun time and you shouldn't either.

I might recommend doing some perineal massage while you're at it. We did - and I didn't tear AT ALL.

Also - labor with DD only lasted for about 6 hours, and she was born in three pushes. All those 'BH' contractions helped prep my body!

Good luck

PS - DD was born 8 hours after her due date

[athenalove46]

I have banned DH from even touching me for the past week because after our last session I was in some serious pain. It really concerned me because I wasn't 37 weeks yet (after Friday and we'll be okay). Lots of BH, lots of cramping, and it even sorta moved around to my back. Felt a lot like the beginning of labor (but it obviously wasn't).

Sex is what got me into labor with my last one and I'm hoping maybe it'll work this time too when the time is right!