Braxton hicks « Back to Group Discussions

[josie423]

Over the past week my BHs have picked up a bit, but they aren't the normal ones I'm used to feeling. These ones are deep and low and I feel a lot of pressure with them. They're not painful, just uncomfortable. I didn't get this till the end with my other babies! Anyone else getting this?

[typebug]

I'm wondering if this is what woke me up this morning. It's not crazy, I have another friend who had them early too. ;)

[etsdtm99]

i always have BH early (as early as 8-10 wks), but the last 2 pregnancies they are more take-my-breath away type BH.. and the other day i had one that felt like a real contraction..not a really bad one, more like an early labor but the real thing ctx..   just one, but i've never had one of those before 38+ weeks .. i assume this sort of thing happens more the more babies you have.. 
 

[josie423]

Yeah, I think it is a well-used uterus thing, haha! Last night I checked my cervix just to be on the safe side and could feel the baby's head. Chatted with my midwife and she doesn't seem concerned. She said it's not terribly unusual to feel the head this early and to rest and drink more for the BHs. 

[Dia]

I'm wondering if this is what I am beginning to feel too? This is my first pregnancy, so it's hard to know. Could someone explain what BH's feel like?

What I am feeling is non-painful cramping (maybe more like "tightening") low in my uterus, usually when I am working out. 

Oh and I'm 20 weeks. 

[eminvc]

Originally Posted by Dia 

I'm wondering if this is what I am beginning to feel too? This is my first pregnancy, so it's hard to know. Could someone explain what BH's feel like?

What I am feeling is non-painful cramping (maybe more like "tightening") low in my uterus, usually when I am working out. 

Oh and I'm 20 weeks. 

I would love for someone to tell me what they feel like! I think I might have had them last week--I actually thought it was the babies kicking each other; just a really tight kind of crampy feel, also low, I just had to sit down as standing up was kind of a challenge. It went away pretty fast.

[molive]

They feel like a tightening.  Like a muscle flexing involuntarily and remaining flexed for about 30 seconds.  Also your uterus feels hard on the outside.  It's always been the whole muscle for me, not just a part of it.  I'm sure there are many ways they are experienced.  By the end of pregnancy, you'll be so used to them they are unmistakable.  Also they've never been painful for me but they do sort of take your breath away when they are strong.  It is a bizarre sensation.

[josie423]

Yes, they really are a strange feeling! During them, my whole uterus gets tight and I normally just feel some pressure. At the end when the uterus is so big, it is hard to breath during a BH because it is expanding up against my ribs. Dia and eminvc, it sounds like what you're having is BHs!

[Dia]

Thanks for explaining them. You guys were right, what I was feeling was BH's; I had an ultrasound today and was having them while being scanned, the tech could confirm that's what I was feeling. Phew, good to know!

[HouseofPeace]

Originally Posted by josie423 

Over the past week my BHs have picked up a bit, but they aren't the normal ones I'm used to feeling. These ones are deep and low and I feel a lot of pressure with them. They're not painful, just uncomfortable. I didn't get this till the end with my other babies! Anyone else getting this?

mine are more intense than in previous pregnancies.  they catch my breath and i say "whoah" which cracks my husband up.....

and they last a lot longer- so maybe it's just overeager uterus ramping up?  or else a growth spurt making it all stretchy and achy.  i noticed that with later pregnancies i could feel more stretching during growth spurts, and this time around, it's stronger BH.

it's also the other contractions that come with oxytocin release that are really incredibly strong earlier this pregnancy than before as well.  

[typebug]

Aha, I finally had one while I was fully awake. It lasted a long time! I went and looked it up online and it says up to 2 minutes which is I guess what that was. It freaked my husband out completely. He rushed me home to bed. ;) I had to pull up a medical page to show him it wasn't a terrible thing at all. Gotta love the protective papa bear instinct kicking in.