frequency/intensity of BH

[crsta33]

I'm having lots of these. I talked to my mom for about 40 minutes this morning and had 2 during that time that were pretty intense. Actually, I'm having one right now. Belly gets tight, my breathing feels different (I think b/c the uterus moves down and my lungs have more room) and I feel some pressure low. They don't exactly hurt, but they are uncomfortable. Some last longer than others, though I haven't actually timed one from start to finish.

I know I'll get one if I bend over to pick something up off the floor or move the laundry from the washer to the dryer, or if I have a full bladder, or if I haven't had enough to drink. They aren't enough to make me immediately stop what I'm doing, but are very noticable.

Anyone else having lots of BH? Do they really mean anything? My current plan is to just pay attention and if I get any other symptoms (increased discharge, cramping in my thighs or back, loose stools) I'll call my midwife, but I don't want to be alarmist over something that's benign and I really really don't want to go to the hospital and be treated for preterm labor if it's really just nonproductive contractions. (terb is contraindicated for me anyway)

Christa

[PicnicBear]

No, I think that I may get one about every week and not very intnese at all. Just kind of weird feeling and tightness. It seems like lots of others mention them in posts though. Does it have to do with having a first or later baby? I'm interested to see other's replies . .

[crsta33]

My midwife did say they are much more noticable in subsequent pregnancies (this is my 2nd). You feel them sooner and more often. I rarely noticed them with my 1st.

Christa

[gossamer]

I am getting quite a few. If I don't drink enough water then I get one every time I stand up. My OB hasn't been worried about it though. HE said it's just my uterus practicing.
Gossamer

[meagen]

crsta-

I get them all the time! I could have written your post! and, my plan is similar, do nothing unless they get worse. Hopefully a couple months of these will make for a quick labor!

[Queen of Cups]

I get them all the time, too. I think I've had 20+ this morning! I've had a very busy morning already, though, including grocery shopping and going to playgroup. My midwife said that they are much more noticable/frequent/strong with every pregnancy, and especially if you are nursing (because of the increased oxytocin in your system).

My first pregnancy I had a lot, too. In my experience, they are different from PTL in that the contractions that seem to make a difference for me as far as dialation/effacement are really more of a menstrual-like-crampy feeling, not the tightening of BH. So, I'm not worrying too much about the BH - just trying to drink more water and sit down more.

[kel]

I've been able to feel them occasionally throughout this pregnancy since really early on - just that general feeling of tightening. I'm actually going to talk to my midwife about the ones I've been getting for the past few days though because I don't even really feel the tightening so much, it's more a dull crampy pain in my lower abdomen and some lower back pain. Definitely beyond uncomfortable, to a little painful. I have heard that they can get stronger/painful with subsequent pregnancies.

[SoggyGranolaMomma]

Mine have kicked up for sure in the last couple days that I've noticed. The other day I actually had them fairly regularly for a couple hours.

I also figure unless I am having any "labor signs" I will just let them go.

I have my 34 wk appt on Weds and will mention it then.

[gonnabeamom]

I have been having them my whole pregnancy, but didn't notice until a month ago, because I didn't know what to look/feel for. Then I was asking my midwife, and she said basically "Don't worry about it" Then a minute later while she was examining me, I had one. I couldn't feel it directly only by poking my belly and noticing it was firm.

I notice that they seem to be difficult when I am exerting myself, sometime when I am walking or bending over. Then it's just kind of an "oof" feeling. That maybe happens three times in a row, but they haven't settled into anykind of pattern.

So basically I think that I really have no idea how frequent mine are, and some are quite intense, but most of them probably go unnoticed. I'd certainly talk it over with your midwife, but it sounds pretty normal to me. Of course I'm a first timer, so "normal" means, reflects my experience.

[Gunter]

Originally Posted by crsta33

My midwife did say they are much more noticable in subsequent pregnancies (this is my 2nd). You feel them sooner and more often. I rarely noticed them with my 1st.Christa

Good to hear this b/c I don't recognize them if I feel them.

[MrsMoe]

My first they actually seemed more painful than this time.

[eastvillage]

I have been getting them for the last month at least (I'm in my 35th week now) and my belly just got really super hard - so rocklike, actually, it was unbelievable. They are getting more often now, though (sometimes several per day) and uncomfortable enough that I have to stop walking for a second and wait for it to pass. I had some that woke me up the other night, accompanied by low uteral pain and lower back pain.

I asked my doula and she said BH are great, and wonderful practice for my uterus, and to welcome them. So, I guess it's all good!

[flapjack]

I'm having lots and lots of them (2-3 an hour, at least) but they're generally not painful- depends more on how baby is lying than anything else, I think, as to how much I feel them. The ones I had with my first were the worst though- hurt far more than labour did.

[kroonkles]

I get lots of these, have with all 3 pregnancies. The first time I was never sure, but ended up on bedrest with the pre-term labor thing. The second time, I was put on modifications. This time I am not making a big deal out of them (and my MW is really laid back, too), and am much calmer in general.

[3for3hb]

I've been having noticable BH basically this whole pg. Have really been noticing them lately. My abdomen gets really tight and I feel my uterus drop a little and stay tight for about a minute sometimes 2. It's usually accompanied by mild cramping in my lower regions including as far down as the front of my thighs. I know if I bend over, twist sideways, get my belly stepped on by ds, flip in bed, empty my bladder or bowels, sit crooked, or go from sitting to standing, I'll get a good strong one.
I'd say they are stronger this time around as compared to my last pg.
I plan on just letting them happen... I know I'll KNOW when I'm in labor. Just my uterus working out (at least some part of me is :LOL ).