Are Your Getting Braxton Hicks?

[henhao]

I felt a few whoppers yesterday. I had to go sit down and breathe and do hypnosis to get past it. What surprised me was the way the BH made my ab feel like it was pushing *out* to the pt of bursing. Not what I expected! Anyway, my body is really getting ready to go. It's exciting.

[anudi01]

Some

I'm getting some, there not that intense though. I'm approximately 35 weeks, but I didn't get a lot my first pg, so I wasn't expecting a lot my second.

[AugustLia23]

I am, plently. But they're not too intense yet. I get at least 5-10 a day, but only one or two are so serious that I have to stop what I'm doing, and breath through them. I just hope all these "practice" contractions make the real thing go faster.

[fiddledebi]

Does a bear spit in the woods?

Especially if I overexert myself all day, I spend the evening having one after the other. They are really uncomfortable -- it feels like a beach ball inflating to bursting in my abdomen. They'll be erratic for hours, then just stop.

For those of you who are first time moms and wondering if this is good prep for the real thing, I'd have to say that my experience is NO. They're only like real contractions in the way that a really irritating hangnail is like a gunshot wound. Sorry!

[heldt123]

I've been having them since about January. From about April-May I was getting them about once every hour (more if I was doing something strenuous). The last few weeks they have tappered off a bit to about 10 per day. I'd say they are great for practicing your relaxation/breathing techniques even if they aren't the same as real contractions, though. It is good to teach your body to totally relax and go limp in response to the contraction, why not start early, right?

[Momsteader]

I've been having some whoppers today!

I'm laughing at your analogy fiddledebi.....but for me....'real' labor was A LOT like BH's! And not much more painful. REALLY! It just really varies from person to person. My first baby was born on 6 mins after getting to the OB floor, because I swore I wasn't in 'real labor' because it didn't hurt any more than BH's!!! And he was 8.5 lbs!!! His head 'fell out' and then pushed for his shoulders and that was it. It was quite the shocker!

Sooo....sometimes.....BH really are just like the real thing

[quelindo]

I've been getting them for a few months. They're not painful, though they are getting a bit more uncomfortable as time goes on. It does feel like my abs are "pushing out" -- it's a weird feeling.

[nancy926]

Well I'm glad I read everyone else's descriptions of what they feel like....I don't think I would know a Braxton Hicks contraction if it knocked me over. It's kind of embarrassing...every mw appt they ask if I'm having any BH contrax and I always look kind of deer-in-the-headlights and say "Um....I don't think so?"

:

[Aeriane]

Well I get them alll the time. I have an easily irritated uterus..my own definition. Get out of the car..have one..walk up to the store, get another, walk down one aisle..another. *shrugs* just the way it is.

I had a day of really intense one, they got stronger..longer...not good, we (midwife and myself) decided perhaps I needed to get back into bed where I should've been *tsk tsk on myself* . So I went to bed, watched them be 4 mins apart...getting worried (which only makes it worse) and kept drinking water and eventually I nodded off and they went away. *phew*

Have fun!! Kitty

[rainbowmoon]

yep I've been having a bunch. though my activity level doesn't seem to make me have more unless I am getting dehydrated.

[mtnsunshinemama]

Yep, from time to time- every few days and yes, and especially after doing lots of physical activity...
fiddledebi that analogy cracked me up!!!! :LOL
i had one today and my belly tightened up so much I could see my baby's butt sticking out!!!

[streetkitty]

Originally Posted by nancy926

Well I'm glad I read everyone else's descriptions of what they feel like....I don't think I would know a Braxton Hicks contraction if it knocked me over. It's kind of embarrassing...every mw appt they ask if I'm having any BH contrax and I always look kind of deer-in-the-headlights and say "Um....I don't think so?"

:

Glad I'm not the only one...this is my second pregnancy- you'd think I'd know.

[chiro_kristin]

Originally Posted by nancy926

Well I'm glad I read everyone else's descriptions of what they feel like....I don't think I would know a Braxton Hicks contraction if it knocked me over. It's kind of embarrassing...every mw appt they ask if I'm having any BH contrax and I always look kind of deer-in-the-headlights and say "Um....I don't think so?"

Except! After the Indy 500, well actually 20 laps from the end, dh and I decided to start our trek to the car. We walked so incredibly fast (for me being pg, not fast for me normally), and I think I had some minor ctx then. But they weren't painful, more like just a good tightening. I figured it must be BH bc I didn't know what else it would be.

But yeah, I have the same answer at my prenatals...."uhhhhhhh..." *shrug*