Braxton-Hicks...out of curiosity...

[the janet]

Has anyone who's previously given birth found any correlation between their experience with BH and real contractions?

In other words, if you had painless BH, were your contractions relatively tolerable ?

If you had intense BH, were your contractions unbearable?

Or is it all totally unrelated?

Just asking b/c my BH contractions have been so painless to the point of non-existent. Wishful thinking!

[myk]

i had painful BH and unbelievably painful labour contractions. i was induced though, which almost certainly comes into play.

[nadia105]

I have had painless BH in each pg.  First birth was back labor, so painful for sure.  Second, babe was better positioned and ctxns weren't painful, just pressure really.  Third, babe had arm up by his face leaving his elbow in my spine, excruciatingly painful.

In my experience, the baby's position had everything to do with the level of pain I had during the birth, the BH were the same.  Not sure if it is that way for everyone though.....

[the janet]

True, true...other factors such as pitocin and positioning will affect the pain level. Hoping this kid stays OA with all its body parts neatly tucked in!

I wonder if anyone who didn't have those issues (like with nadia's second kiddo) had the same experience?

[Smokering]

Well, I was induced, but not "very" induced, as it were - AROM and prostoglandin gel, but no Pitocin. I had slightly uncomfortable but by no means painful BH, and very painful contractions. I've never heard of a correlation... sorry! (Although I've only rarely heard of BH hurting - aren't they usually painless??)

[the janet]

Hmm...not "painful" but "uncomfortable".

I guess I'm asking more about people who have noticeable BH ctx vs people who don't (like me). I never feel the actual contracting but occasionally I'll touch my belly and it'll be harder than normal. Totally under the radar.

[MyFullHouse]

This is my first go-round with noticeable BHs.  To be honest with you, they're making me a little nervous.  I can tell that it's not the "real thing" because of the sporadic timing, but some of them feel a lot like the first few hours of my previous labors, which I found quite mild.  I get the impression that that's not completely normal (for the average hospital birthing mother, at least), since nurses always seem to doubt my progress!

[Peony]

I had many a BH with DD1, never felt them, regular labor. They were painful with DD2 and DS, one regular labor again, and the other was of the hit by a semi truck variety. 

[annablue]

Quote:

Originally Posted by the janet 

I never feel the actual contracting but occasionally I'll touch my belly and it'll be harder than normal. Totally under the radar.

I have these "stealthy" Braxton-Hicks, too.

[MrsBone]

I had painless BH and very intense, painful back labor...so yeah I don't think it's related!