braxton hicks!? « Back to Group Discussions

[aHikaru]

never had them with DD or maybe I just didn't feel them or knew what they were... Women i've spoken to have said they got them as early as 2 months, Is it possible to get them this early?

For me, they feel like contractions (from experience with DD), not painful for me, as I manage pain well, just uncomfortable. 

[Quinalla]

I never had any that I recognized anyway (I thought early labor at 38 weeks were maybe my first BHs), you can definitely get them earlier with a second kid per all the books. I think I have actually had some this time, I barely feel them, just a bit of tightness/discomfort and then I feel my stomach and realize my uterus is rock solid. From all I've read, those are definitely BHs. I've been keeping a close eye as my only real potential issue with di/di twins is preterm labor, but that won't really be a concern until later, but I figure I better get used to recognizing them now! I think I totally had BHs my first pregnancy, I just didn't feel them.

So yeah, you can get them this early, especially for a 2nd or more pregnancy.

[adventuregirl]

Yep, I've been having them a bit. No pain, just tightness, exactly as Katie described. I had them at the end of my last pg from what my records say, I totally don't remember!

[Lynann]

I only remember them happening the last month with my first, as I have a tendency for prodromal labor. Then with DS2 I had them fairly regularly from about 5 months and then 4 weeks of definite prodromal labor at the end.

I think its quite common to not feel them or recognize them with a first baby.

[aHikaru]

the midwife i spoke to today said they happen earlier with 2nd+ pregnancies because our bodies have to tone themselves from the "damage" done from the previous pregnancy.

[BaileyB]

I don't remember when they started with #1 but with #2 they started around 7-8 weeks and the same with this one, although I haven't had them in a while now. Maybe they start earlier because our uteruses (?) uteri (?) need to get back in shape and toned again before labor. I know when I was still trying to rock DD to sleep earlier in this pregnancy I would get them, so now I just lay down with her at night to put her to bed, or DH rocks her.

[BaileyB]

I also drank a lot of raspberry leaf tea with my second pregnancy so that probably contributed to them. I haven't been able to stand tea this pregnancy.

[aHikaru]

i just started getting cramps today and it's uncomfortable to walk. People are starting to ask me what I want for the baby (to get us christmas gifts), so I thought of doing my registry early so people can get what they want, but after today the idea of walking around a store for 1hr sounds exhausting... guess I could do it online. How is everyone else dealing w. contractions?

[Quinalla]

Originally Posted by aHikaru 

i just started getting cramps today and it's uncomfortable to walk. People are starting to ask me what I want for the baby (to get us christmas gifts), so I thought of doing my registry early so people can get what they want, but after today the idea of walking around a store for 1hr sounds exhausting... guess I could do it online. How is everyone else dealing w. contractions?

Here's to online registries, I made a mini one for my Mom as she wanted to buy Christmas gifts for us and I preferred her getting mostly stuff for the twins. I <3 amazon, especially since you can add things from any website.

I've been drinking a big glass of water and then laying down or sitting if laying isn't an option. Luckily, I've only gotten them at home so far so laying down is usually pretty easy.

[BaileyB]

On another thread somewhere it was recommended to have a half a glass of wine or beer, but that depends on your comfort level. The thinking was that it is recommended for preterm labor so it might help with BH's. other than that I think what Quinalla said is helpful too.

[snozzberry]

I don't remember getting BH for my first pregnancy, but I've been having them A LOT today! I wasn't worried until I looked it up on BabyCenter, and it says you shouldn't get more than 4 per hour. I'm definitely having them more often than that.

Should I be worried?

[zjande]

I just posted about this in the June ddc, but I'll mention it here, too. :) I begin getting BH at 11 weeks each pregnancy. They continue to come just a little more often and just a little bit stronger throughout my pregnancies until the last month or 2 when I am a BH party queen. Or something.

Just think of them as exercise for your uterus! They are preparing your uterus for all the work it will do on the Big Day.

Snozzberry, obviously I'm not a doctor so feel free to ignore me, but my personal experience has been that I very frequently (especially during the 3rd trimester, but sometimes earlier as well) have BH far more than 4 per hour. Especially if I need to empty my bladder, am wearing a seat belt, or am wearing clothes that are even slightly constricting to my lower belly. I dreaded all my appts back in the day during the 2nd half of my pregnancies when I was seeing traditional OBs and doctor folks because they would freak out about my BHs. Many times during my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies I would be strapped into a hospital bed and monitored. They'd find me having BH regularly, freak out, give me anti-labor meds, and put me on bed rest! (I was on bed rest my first 2 pregnancies! And probably was for my 3rd but by then I stopped listening. LOL)

The point to all my blabber is that for some women, having very frequent BH is really, really normal and doesn't mean that you're at risk for early birth. Although my 1st baby was born prematurely, she was extremely ill & needed surgery. I don't believe her early birth had anything to do with my BH. I contracted just as much in subsequent pregnancies & all were born within days of my being 40 weeks, with zero signs of preterm labor (besides the BH around the clock, that is LOL). And I got bold enough to just announce to my midwives that I contract like a crazy contractor person and please just try to ignore them. :)

If you notice any other signs of labor, that is when I would personally pay closer attention to all those BH. Like blood, fluid, the contractions becoming stronger, etc. So, my personal answer is that no, you shouldn't be worried a bit. Just go about life as usual and only worry if you notice any other weird signs.

[Trisha Kalous]

Originally Posted by zjande 

If you notice any other signs of labor, that is when I would personally pay closer attention to all those BH. Like blood, fluid, the contractions becoming stronger, etc. So, my personal answer is that no, you shouldn't be worried a bit. Just go about life as usual and only worry if you notice any other weird signs.

I agree with this.. Signs of preterm (or regular) labor according to MOD would be ( http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/pretermlabor_signs.html )

• Contractions (your belly tightens like a fist) every 10 minutes or more often
• Change in vaginal discharge (leaking fluid or bleeding from your vagina)
• Pelvic pressure—the feeling that your baby is pushing down
• Low, dull backache
• Cramps that feel like your period
• Belly cramps with or without diarrhea

If you only have BH, I wouldn't worry too much. BH for me come and go, and I get them most often when I'm moving around, wearing restrictive clothing, DTD, and nursing DD.