Constant bh contractions

[waluso]

I am so miserable right now. I had lots of ptl issues and was on bed rest until late last week. I will be 37 weeks on tues. I've been doing some walking (shopping) and trying to prepare for the new baby and my body is really feeling it. I am having constant bh contractions (my uterus is rock hard 75% of the time), my lower back kills me every time I stand or roll over, walking is somewhat painful, and my thighs are really sore. Anyone else going through this? I don't think it's labor but I can't imagine going through this for 3-4 more weeks.

[cedarwoman]

Yup. Most of the above. I haven't been on bedrest or had specific ptl issues, but the bh contractions are driving me up the wall. All. the. time. I'm exactly a week behind you and I am just DONE. Sleeping is hands down the worst. I dread going to bed every night because I'm so uncomfortable, and I constantly have this feeling like I want to jump out of my own skin because I can't stretch my muscles like I am used to being able to.

I wish I had something helpful to say rather than just commiserating here!

[waluso]

I'm with you on the sleep. I'm having a hard time falling asleep, and then I have to constantly change sides which is painful. Not to mention peeing at least 3 times a night! I don't recall being so uncomfortable with my dd.

[chilichiki]

Sleeping...whats that?? I sit in a recliner and doze if I can...which still isn't happening all that much.

Crazy BH here too...but I haven't dropped yet.

the past few days feels like my little man is taking his fist and banging away on my lower pelvis.  It is soooo uncomfortable and a bit painful. Doesn't matter how I am sitting/standing/laying...he seems to enjoy that position.

[coldandsleepy]

Big hugs.  Sorry to hear about your discomfort.  That must be such a drag especially now that you're finally off bed rest and I'm sure eager to get out and *do* stuff! 

With my first son, my OB, my doula, and everyone else I talked to was sure I was going to go into labor early-- I started having regular, patterened, often uncomfortable/painful BHs for hours every day around 34 weeks gestation.  I finally had my son at about 41.5 wks. 

So-- I can't tell you that you're necessarily going to have your baby early.  However, even if you go to the other extreme, you are so close to the end mama.  It doesn't feel like it right now, but the crazy thing is that in ~1 month or less, you are going to be on the other side of this!

[proud2bemommy]

i had those for a couple days and then went into labor baby will prob be having baby soon!!!

[MidwifeErika]

With my third baby I started contracting constantly at 34 weeks or so and became convinced that I would be having that baby early...... I was finally induced at 43 weeks. My induction was easy though since I was still literally contracting every 4 minutes without it being labor.

I have contractions constantly now too.... if my bladder is full, if it just gets empty, if I sit or stand, if I shift positions or if the baby shifts positions. Last night they were coming every 4 minutes and were 60-70 seconds long, and while they were REALLY uncomfortable, they still weren't that same quality that comes with labor. I really don't expect to have this baby early...... my uterus is just irritable and lets me know that it is in charge :)

[cedarwoman]

Arg... I keep hoping the stupid BHs mean something (like maybe pregnancy is almost OVER! I mean, it is but the thought of going to 43 weeks... just... no). I had crazy ones yesterday - painless though - they lasted 3-4 minutes at a time... just 'tightenings' in which my entire uterus became ROCK hard per usual. Today baby has moved down even lower (which I didn't think was even possible) so I guess they were good for something!

[montessorimama1]

I'm hardly having ANY BH, which has me thinking this little guy is going to be a 41+ weeker... ugh... I sorta wish that something were going on, baby hasn't dropped yet and I'll be 36 weeks tomorrow.  Any ideas as to when first babies normally drop???  She's in a great position, so I guess that as long as she stays that way, I can't complain too much...

[HippieIncognito]

I have not dropped either (I don't think?) I have been carrying low the whole pregnancy so people keep telling me "I've dropped" but I don't feel any different. I am not waddling and baby doesn't feel like it's super low. How can you tell when you've dropped? I have been having a ton of BH but I think it's from the massive amounts of RRL I have been drinking. I took yesterday off from tea, and today I have gotten less BH. They don't really bother me so I think I am going to return to the tea on Tuesday when I am 37 weeks and safe for my hb.

Also, I can only feel the BH at the top of my uterus, not below my belly button. Is that weird?

Baby is NOT in the ideal position. Last time I was checked at 34 weeks, he/she was ROA. But now I am really scared it's posterior. I feel tiny body parts up front and my stomach is squishy. I have been doing hands and knees, only laying on my left side at night, sitting on a birth ball, and have had my husband use a rebozo to "sift" my belly. I am hoping when I get checked tomorrow, the baby is in a good position. Someone told me that maybe the baby is moving from ROA to LOA (ideal) and has to go posterior for a bit to get there. I would love for this person to be right.

Tomorrow my midwife is coming to our house for the first time and I am so excited!

[cedarwoman]

Originally Posted by HippieIncognito 

How can you tell when you've dropped?

For me I could feel pressure in my very-low-pelvic area - I also checked with a mirror and could see that a lot of the tissues were bulging out all of a sudden (TMI, but my urethra looked HUGE for example). Baby's bum also moved down quite a bit and is now resting 3-4 fingers above the middle of my belly button most of the time. After I have been lying down on my side for a while I think the baby's head disengages a bit, but if I get up and walk around for a while it drops back down. I've been carrying low the whole time as well so I didn't have the experience of 'lightening' some women have (when they can breathe again all of a sudden and fit more food in) nor did I ever get rib kicks! So for me the 'landmarks' were a bit different.

One thing I did to help baby get into the right position was to do all my forward-leaning and hands & knees stuff when the baby was the most active. There's also a section in "The Birth Partner" that talks about which side to lie on depending on whether baby is LOA or ROA - I want to say it was the opposite sides (eg. on your left if ROA, on your right if LOA) but I'd have to double check! 

[Kindermama]

Originally Posted by cedarwoman 

For me I could feel pressure in my very-low-pelvic area - I also checked with a mirror and could see that a lot of the tissues were bulging out all of a sudden (TMI, but my urethra looked HUGE for example). 

Ohhh so this is normal!?! I looked down there with a mirror and I was shocked to see how swollen everything was. I was thinking how the heck is he going to get through there. Glad to know this is normal. Now, what to do about shaving/trimming....which is why I was looking in the first place.

[pixelmixel]

I am 35 weeks along and have experienced really painful BH contractions (or false labor?) for the past 2 weeks! It hurts mostly lower abdomen. I read that the lower abdomen contraction pains are generally false labor. I know it's not nearly as painful as the real deal, but definitely they hurt!!! This is my third pregnancy and the first one to experience any painful BH contractions. Sigh...

[juneboymum]

Originally Posted by Kindermama 

 Now, what to do about shaving/trimming....which is why I was looking in the first place.

Ha Ha!  This is what I want to know!  If anyone has any brilliant ideas....even with a mirror I can barely reach, let alone do any reasonably even grooming.  I'm sure many people get waxed, but at this point it doesn't really appeal to me.

[Sweet.Bee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by juneboymum 

Ha Ha!  This is what I want to know!  If anyone has any brilliant ideas....even with a mirror I can barely reach, let alone do any reasonably even grooming.  I'm sure many people get waxed, but at this point it doesn't really appeal to me.

I think the only way feel is to do it by feel. Brush your finger over an area with the cream, then follow with the razor, then brush your finger over again to make sure you got most of it. And be careful with the razor, of course. Slow, gentle movements. It's not perfect, but it's the best idea I have. I can barely reach my lower legs, let alone that part of me.

Waxing sounds like it would really hurt with how sensitive the area is, especially now. Scary just to think about it.

[cedarwoman]

I've had success doing it by braille ;) I also bought a razor that had kind of a flexible head so it is a bit more forgiving... and weirdly, I did not shave before getting pregnant! Now all hair is offensive and I can't STAND having any touching clothing.

[Conchobhar]

Yeah, I do it by feel as well.  I don't use shave cream, but I do use the Venus Embrace, so it's got some pretty good guards around the blades.  It's not perfect, but it's better than the alternative.  Definitely not doing any intricate "stripes" down there or anything....

[HardCoreMom]

i use one of these down in that region.  it's not totally hair free when i'm done, but it trims really close to the skin.  it occasionally catches a hair but doesn't nick like a blade, and it's safe to use when i can't see perfectly.  and no ingrown hairs/itchiness.  i really like it.

[montessorimama1]

I can't even imagine shaving at this point...  ITCHY!!!!!  I use a beard trimmer (like the ones used for goatees), and although it doesn't get rid of hair all the way to the skin it keeps the area "presentable".  Best of all, you don't need to look or fear getting cut!  And no ingrowns or itchiness!!

This thread made me laugh because just yesterday I was going to go swimming so I put on my swimsuit and looked down to search for any stray hairs.  All I could see was belly, no matter how I wiggled!!

[AfricanQueen99]

You all will love this...

When I was pregnant with my first I was at something like 39 weeks and literally begged my husband to help me clean up down there.  So he's sitting on the toilet using an electric razor on the lowest setting...while I'm standing in front of him.  I can't see anything.  Then he looks up and his face is stark white.  He held up his hand to show me blood and very nearly passed out.  I didn't even feel the cut!  As we had never done that sort of activity in our marriage he didn't know that shaving *me* wasn't as straight and easy as shaving a face.  Poor guy!

I begged again for the second kid but he refused!  Now I just go braille (good one, cedarwoman!).