5th baby, should braxton hicks feel so productive at 31 weeks? « Back to Group Discussions

[hoping4just1more]

Well this is baby #5 so I know my body just knows what to do and it is sure going to do it. But I have never had this many braxton hicks with previous pregnancies nor have they been this intense at such an early stage (31+1 today). I mean intense enough to wake me from my sleep. Last night I could have sworn I was in labor. I am not the sort of person who times contractions or keeps track of things like that. I have had so many kids that I just kind of wait until it's unbearable and then go have a baby. I am definitely not the boy who cried wolf when it comes to labor. When L&D sees me it's because I am about to have a baby. But the pain associated with the braxton hicks I have been having in the past week leads me to feel I must be having cervical changes. This is how I felt with my last child. I had about a week and a half of severe braxton hicks and then one day she said I'm coming out and it all happened so damned fast she was moments away from being born in front seat of my SUV. 

When I began feeling these changes in my braxton hicks I did a cervical check to make sure all was well and it was. Nothing to worry about. A few days later I knew something had to have changed and sure enough it had. Cervix was slightly open. On a good day I would say it was 1cm. So not a lot, but enough. So here I am at 31 weeks wondering if I am going into preterm labor. If my body is doing what it did last time then I will continue to have these contractions for a few weeks and all of a sudden be in the throws of labor. I don't want to check myself again because I don't want to agitate anything down there any further but I am not sure if I should raise a stink or if this is may be pretty normal. 

I sincerely hate going into my OB. I have been to maybe 3 appointments this entire pregnancy I hate going in so bad. 

But I know if things are moving along at this point then it is just way too early.

So ladies, do you guys think it may be just normal since I have had so many children? Anyone else going through something similar? I drink a crap ton of water. Probably an abnormal amount since it's all I crave. Ice water all day long. So dehydration is probably not a factor. I have been under a tremendous amount of stress though the past few weeks. Uncontrollable crying and depression which I believe is hormonal. DH is away until mid august and so I have been pretty sad about it. Go figure I can handle deployment after deployment, but one month away for training and I may need to be admitted.  I have completely lost my appetite and although I drink a few glasses of ice water every hour or so I still feel an insane amount of thirst and a need for ice, and my bowels have been emptying. Which is weird for me. I am a do it every 3 days or so kind of gal and the past few days I have gone so many times I wonder where the heck it's coming from since I don't eat very much. And I have been having morning sickness again. Only way worse than it was in the 1st tri. So those are my symptoms. 

Any thoughts?

[Princessjules]

I'm so sorry that your sleep is getting interrupted!

My mom's labor with her seventh child was really long compared to her other labors (18hrs compared to an avg. of 4). Her Doc said that with each pregnancy the uterus can be less and less efficient. Maybe there is a similar concept with Braxton Hicks? I've heard that they can start earlier and be harder with successive pregnancies. I think this is what has been going on with me.... I am only on my second pg so I don't have much experience... just theory...

Anyway I hope that helps.

[momtoafireteam]

My BH have definitely got stronger and more obvious with each pregnancy. When I was admitted prior to delivery last week, I was having what I would have considered actual contractions, but they werent changing my cervix and were totally non-productive. I think as pregnancies go on (number wise) the uterus is just more ready to go. :)

[JuicyPakwan]

I'm on number 6 and have really noticed this time the bh are stopping me in my tracks I haven't checked for progress but it has crossed my mind.  I'm also a big water drinker and my midwife mentioned it would be a good idea to throw in an electrolite drink, wether natural or gatorade, a couple times a day since only water (in large quantities and I drink around a gallon a day) can lead to an electrolite imbalance/dehydration especially in the heat.  Once I started doing that I noticed my bh were reduced not eliminated but to a less worrisome level.  Hope that helps it really is unpleasant isn't it.

[13pumpkins]

I think everyone and every pregnancy (even for the same mother) are different.

With DD1, I had tons of BH during the early 3rd trimester and then they stopped week 31 and never came back until labor.  With DD2, I had a crazy amount during the second trimester and then nothing until it was time for baby.  With these three, I have experienced a small amount and NONE in the 3rd trimester.  I would have thought I would get them at this point (31 weeks and 3 days) but nothing!

[hoping4just1more]

Ok glad to see it's probably normal. I am actually really interested in the Gatorade thing. I didn't know too much water could cause an imbalance. I am going to give that a try because it sort of sounds like that just might be my problem!

[Princessjules]

Originally Posted by JuicyPakwan   I'm also a big water drinker and my midwife mentioned it would be a good idea to throw in an electrolite drink, wether natural or gatorade, a couple times a day since only water (in large quantities and I drink around a gallon a day) can lead to an electrolite imbalance/dehydration especially in the heat. 

How weird that drinking too much water could lead to that... Is coconut water good for that too? I noticed a lot of moms on here have talked about having coconut water on hand for labor, but I never knew why. Does it help replenish electrolytes and such?

[dmpkmom]

yes, drinking way too much water can sorta make you pee out all the good stuff. Your kidneys are good at keeping in good stuff but only to a point. I think this is true for bfeeding too..if you over do it/go past "to thirst" you risk messing w/ your natural/healthy biology.

I do think coconut water has quite a bit of potassium in it but I'm not sure about other salts. I drink it b/c I like it but I also fine if I drink too much or if I take Mg/Ca I get MORE foot/calf cramps! 

[Princessjules]

Interesting... I'll have to remember that!
 

[judybean]

I'm on baby #5... and while my BHs aren't super duper crazy or anything, I can tell they're there -- and that's a lot earlier than ever before (um, with the first two I don't think I even felt one. single. contraction. at.all. before being induced... with dd3 I felt a few, dd4 maybe a few more, but now I"ve felt a lot and pretty early!).  It's wild... and... I admit to hoping it means things might be happening sooner than later ;)