Braxton Hicks!!!

[trimestersdoula]

Already!!!! They started last night and have been going all day long. They didn't start until about 18-20 weeks last time and were pretty constant (but painless) for the rest of my pregnancy. It actually got a bit annoying. Apparently I have a few more weeks of them this time LOL.

Anyone else having BH's yet?

[rlandnl]

Totally dumb question but how do you know when you are having braxton hicks?

I don't know if I even had them with DS1 how sad is that because I didn't know what to look for, and now I still don't know... god I feel so dumb asking that!

[lindsayb]

I'd also like to know how to distinguish BH....

[MJB]

I've been having really strong contractions after sex but haven't noticed them at other times. I'm 16w with my third. I didn't really notice any contractions until labor with my boys but I have a feeling it'll be different this time around.

[limette]

I've been having them for about 3 weeks now (I'm 14 wks tomorrow). Normally they start much earlier than that for me. They also aren't nearly as intense this time around.

Just flex any muscle and that's what it feels like. Some are more intense then others. The ones in previous pregnancies were really uncomfortable.

[babycatcher12]

I've been feeling them the last few days too. I'm about 13 weeks. Definitely earlier than with my first 2 pg, but my 3rd pg I started feeling them about 14-15 weeks. My uterus is pretty high in my abdomen already though. My midwife says it's because 1. I'm short and 2. It's my 4th baby. So I think I'm feeling them earlier than usual.

--Erin

[trimestersdoula]

Yeah, my uterus is at my belly button already!

Braxton hicks contractions are not painful but they feel like a tightening of your uterus. For those of you that have been pregnant before, it sort of feels like the baby pushing only your uterus will get noticably hard. Like a PP said, it feels like flexing a muscle.

[LindsayK]

Yeah, I am 15 weeks now, and I had my first one 2-3 weeks ago. I started feeling this sensation and thought "wait, that is different, yet it feels sorta familiar.... oh yeah! I remember what this is!" lol

[CrunchyChristianMama]

I didn't get them until 38 or so weeks with DD, so I'm not expecting them to start up anytime soon.

[dannic]

I only get BH when I'm stressed or tired. Just another sign that my adrenals are low. When I'm babying them ,I don't get BH.

[rightkindofme]

I get them around sex and otherwise I didn't get them till like 39 weeks last time. I guess my uterus thinks it doesn't need practice?

[babycatcher12]

Yeah, my uterus is at my belly button already!

Can I just say I'm so glad to hear you say this! This week has been a bit of a shock for me because my belly has just popped out, I mean seriously! I look really pregnant this week.
Sorry to hijack, but glad to know I'm not the only one.

[trimestersdoula]

Originally Posted by babycatcher12

Can I just say I'm so glad to hear you say this! This week has been a bit of a shock for me because my belly has just popped out, I mean seriously! I look really pregnant this week.
Sorry to hijack, but glad to know I'm not the only one.

I seriously look like I did last pregnancy at 20 weeks. At my ultrasound she said my fundus was a couple cms below my belly button. Now it is at, or beyond it LOL. I have even been feeling movement beside my belly button. It is just totally wierd for me at this point LOL.

[sweetiebird]

My uterus is also up quite high, not that far from my belly button.. but part of that is because I have fibroids and one of them is quite large I think. I can feel it. Eww.

Anyway...

[jorona]

I've had a few already, but drinking water and relaxing has helped. I'm also another one feeling movement by the belly button, at 14 weeks my midwife said fundus was just a couple of cm shy of being there. So I'm almost positive I'm not losing my mind.

[MyFillingQuiver]

Me! I have a very active uterus, anyway, LOL.. I tend to get prodromal labor for a couple of weeks before the real deal. In fact, when I was with a c-section happy OB, this easily recognizable activity on the NST sent me into c-sections earlier than I should have...all because of that...now I know that it's just my body growing and doing it's thing.

So, yeah. I just posted a thread about my gargantuan uterus measurements. I'm about 12.5 weeks and it's measuring at just below my belly button.

[carrierenee]

ya know what, I read this and I think I have had them! Just the last few days.

[rightkindofme]

And then last night I had a bunch of BH. Figures.

[BlackSheepPDX]

I can't remember how early they started with last time...I remember having them after orgasm fairly early on, and often when I'd start to exercise, and after peeing. They've started already this time for sure. Not super often, but I feel them happen. Not painful, or even really uncomfortable at all, just a firm tightening sensation over my low belly.