When are Braxton Hicks more than Braxton Hicks? « Back to Group Discussions

[Astraia]

I'm not sure, not even close to sure, but I think I MIGHT have been having regular contractions at work yesterday. I noticed that my stomach was hurting off and on in a crampy, going-to-get-my-period sort of way but didn't think much of it for awhile, until I noticed it only lasted about a minute each time I felt crampy. So I started timing when my stomach hurt and it was about every 10 minutes, lasting about a minute to 2 minutes, for at least the 50 minutes that I was counting for, and then I took my break and sat down for awhile and it stopped. I was also noticing that my belly felt like a hard ball for a lot of that time. When I was walking the dog later that night, no matter how slowly I walked, my belly was still in constant contraction-like form, just hard as a rock and made it very uncomfortable to move. And made me need to pee desperately- walking slow when you need to pee so bad you think you'll explode is REALLY really hard. And I peed right before I left the house, too! 

My first thought is UTI, but I'm drinking tons and peeing tons and have no real urgency (most of the time!) or burning or weird smell/colour. I have cranberry juice that I'll start drinking just in case.

Any ideas? Is this normal, or not normal? When do you start to worry that those aggravating BH's aren't just BH's?

If it happens again I'll call my midwife ASAP, take an extra break at work, etc. Right now my #1 thought was to take it nice n' easy today so today I've... played with the kids, taken a nap, and spent way way too much time on MDC!

Need to run to work now (not literally, I'm driving!) but I'll check back later tonight.

[poppyseed2012]

Hi Astraia! How have you been feeling today? I've had all of those experiences/sensations, although I've never timed them and they haven't been that consistent.  A call to the midwife is probably not a bad idea if it happens again just to comfort yourself.

I hate the feeling that you have to pee so bad and then a little trickle comes out!

Hope you're feeling better!

[mlovesj]

I think it's a good idea to pay attention (like you did) to the frequency of the BH contractions.  If you find that drinking fluids and resting doesn't change the frequency, that's something you should definitely communicate to your midwife.

I had official preterm labor with my twin pregnancy and that's exactly what was going on - BH contractions, but too frequently to be in the normal range.  When I rested, drank water and paid attention, the contractions kept coming.  We got it under control but in my case it did require a hospitalization and later I was on modified bedrest (extra precautions because of the twin pregnancy though). 

[Natalya]

Some days I have contractions pretty regularly through out the day.   I asked my midwife if it was ok, and she said that "normal" is considered having contractions 24 hours a day, 10 minute apart.  That seems like a lot to me, but she seemed pretty sure of herself. Another midwife friend of mine said as long as they aren't increasing in frequency or intensity you are fine.  Crampy seems scary to me though...

[Astraia]

Natalya- yeah, the crampy had me pretty concerned especially when I was feeling it in my back at the same time.  I figured if sitting down for a bit didn't stop it I'd probably go home early so I could lay down and really rest. 24 hrs a day, 10 minutes apart... I'd put MYSELF on bedrest! That sounds like a lot, especially at a timeable interaval like that.

Marisa- thank you, I think that's what I was trying to remember. I know when it's considered labour is when they increase in time and intensity and resting doesn't make them stop but I wasn't sure if preterm labour was considered the same thing or not? I don't know where the line of being concerned is- there's obviously "get to the hospital now" sort of contractions, but I don't know when it crosses from annoying to concerning to dangerous. I think I also never expected anything like this so I'm unprepared and a bit panicked. I threw out my form on "when to call your midwife (before 37 weeks)" because I thought it wouldn't matter.

Poppy- I think I'm just exhausted in general these days! (maybe related?) Nothing contraction-like today, thank goodness, but I'm definitely keeping an eye on it.