Early and frequent Braxton-Hicks - who else has had this without preterm labor?

[Neldavi]

So my last pregnancy BH started around 28 weeks and were pretty frequent (it would be unusual for an hour to pass without having one or two). It was unclear what was going on and I was obviously extremely worried so I put myself on bedrest for a couple of months, got up at 37 weeks and didn't give birth until 3 days before my due date. Bedrest was hell. I was so upset and worried, didn't know what was going on with my body, and wasn't even sure that staying in bed was helping, I was just laying there contracting.

I'm 21 weeks pregnant now (2nd pregnancy) and have been having BH for a couple weeks now. Maybe one every couple of hours on average. Could this just be what my body does? How much is too much? Anyone else have frequent and early BH in an otherwise normal, term pregnancy?

I really just want to stop worrying and carry on. Anyone else experienced this?

[maxmama]

This pregnancy, I've been contracting daily (painful regular BH for at least two hours a day)since 17 weeks. My cervix is 4 cm long, closed and high. Clearly, I'm not in preterm labor, but damn, they hurt.

You know how most providers have you call if you're contracting regularly for more than an hour or two earlier than 37 weeks? Mine said, "Um, if you're contracting regularly..wait, okay, if they're painful...well, okay, just call if you think you need to be seen."

Some people contract a lot. And FWIW, there's no real treatment that's been shown to improve outcomes with true PTL (as in cervical change, true labor, not just contracting). We can make ladies stop contracting,but then they generally weren't in labor.

[lizabird]

From what I've read in books and heard from my midwives, BH contractions are both more noticable and more common in subsequent pregnancies. I started feeling mine a LOT sooner the 2nd time around than with the first one, and I don't remember exactly how often I felt them earlier in this pregnancy, but now (36 weeks) it seems like I feel them all the time. I wouldn't worry about it at all unless you have any other symptoms of preterm labor. If you're concerned, ask your midwife if you have one...

[mamanurse]

I started feeling BH at 24 weeks. They occured daily starting around 32 weeks. Dd was born healthy at 37w 4d. I had a really easy labor and deliver FWIW.

[Neldavi]

Originally Posted by mamanurse

I started feeling BH at 24 weeks. They occured daily starting around 32 weeks. Dd was born healthy at 37w 4d. I had a really easy labor and deliver FWIW.

When you say daily do you mean a few times a day, or at least once an hour throughout the day. If I was just having a couple a day I wouldn't worry, but it seems like a lot for 21 weeks pregnant, yk?

[mamanurse]

I'd say it happened 1-2 times a day with multiple BHs per time. Meaning I would have about 10-15 contractions every day. I

If you're worried, I'd contact your care provider and see what they think. That would at least put your mind at ease

[storychick]

I have had frequent (though I think irregular, or at least far enough spaced that I didnt notice regularity) through all of my pregnancies. With this one (#3) I started noticing them pretty much as soon as I knew I was pregnant, about 6 weeks I'd say. I had my previous two at 38w exactly and 39w6d, so it definitely didnt cause preterm labor for me. I did, however, have fairly quick labors both times (7 1/2 hours even with 4 hours pushing, and just over 2 hours). I dont know if there is a correlation or not.

I'd go with your instinct. Some people notice them more, some people have more, I think you'd know if something was really wrong. Figure out what's normal for you and go from there.

[AlbertaJes]

I had frequent, irregular contractions during the second half of my pregnancy. Nothing painful, just tightenings. Sometimes it would last quite a while, but never actually did anything. DD was born at 41 weeks and 1 day.

[<<>>]

BH don't mean preterm labor.
with #1 i was in a small car accident, and had a ultrasound to check for damage.
I had braxton hicks constantly.... like every 7m....
Those &%$^# kept me in the hospital for 3 days.
saying "do you feel any pain" constantly.
eventually after no "progress" meaning I didnt dialate, they sent me home.
doctors :

With my 3rd I felt my first BH before the 20th week, 18 maybe, anyway I remember being worried but then thought about what happened before and decided that if they got painful then I knew something was up...

[TurboClaudia]

with my first pregnancy, braxton hicks started coming noticeably at around 20 weeks. they got more intens and stronger after 28 weeks, happening for up to an hour (every 5-10 minutes, sometimes closer together) at least once a day. baby was born at 41 weeks 2 days.

with this second pregnant, i noticed braxton hicks beginning at around 14 weeks. they have gotten stronger and more intense since about 32 weeks, again happening for up to an hour (every 5-10 minutes, sometimes closer together) at least once a day but usually a couple times a day. usually, they happen for me later in the day. baby is still gestating at almost 38 weeks, and i'm feeling like this will also be a 41 weeks-ish baby.

~claudia

[poetesss]

You mentioned one every couple of hours? Seems like no biggie...I get BHs all the time, my midwife was just like, "Oh, good, that means that you have a good communication system going on with the uterus/baby and pituitary gland." They also started fairly early with me as well. It usually happens when I have to pee...I don't know if the BH stimulates it or having to go stimulates the BH or what. Kind of a "which came first, chicken or the egg?" I guess...

[RosesToys]

I started noticing BH before 20 weeks this pregnancy. I can't recall exactly when. My OB has said that if I notice more than 6 contractions an hour, that continue for two hours in a row and that don't go away when I lay down and drink water, then I need to call them. My doula says something similar, except that she really emphasizes that if you have 5 or 6 in an hour then you need to drop everything and get in the bathtub and hang out there while drinking a liter of water. Usually that will stop them, but if they do continue at the same rate, then you need to call the OB or midwife.

If you are only having one an hour, I wouldn't worry at all. I don't even pay much attention to mine most of the time. I did write down when I had one when it was convenient for a while (usually at night when I was reading in bed), and I could tell after several days that I wasn't having enough BH to worry about. Now I don't tend to worry about them as much because I know what my body is doing and it's ok. If I start to notice more BH than usual, I try to jot down the times when they occur so I can see if I'm having too many.

[broodymama]

I've had early & frequent BH with both of my pregnancies - had PTL with DS (4 cm dilated, 80% effaced then onto bedrest), none with DD.

On the other hand, I never had anything stronger than BH until transition with both births so I might not be the best person to answer you.

[Piper's mama]

It's totally normal! This is my 2nd pregnancy as well, and what you have to keep in mind is that because you have experienced all of this before, then you will actually feel everything sooner. (like you probably felt the baby kick much earlier this time). Think of BH's as your uterus taking it's daily run...it's exercising itself getting ready for birth. The only time you should be concerned is if you start having 4 or more in 1 hour. Because your uterus is a muscle, if it becomes dehydrated sometimes it will flex itself more often. So if you find you are experiencing more than 4 in an hour, don't freak out, just get a nice big glass of water and sit down and relax for a bit. We went over this a lot in my DDC because some of us 2nd/3rd/4th time mama's don't know when to give ourselves a break and were experiencing a few too many BH's :, so if they increase too much just think of it as your body saying "Hey Lady, slow down. I'm growing a baby here, give me a break". If you start having a bunch in an hour, and you drink water and have a rest and they don't stop or slow down within and hour or 2, then you need to call your Dr. or MW. Just remember, BH's aren't real contractions. Just practice. By all means you don't need to put yourself on bedrest again.
Mama, try not to worry too much

[Mama2E&O]

I always start having braxton hicks very early- around 16 weeks- and I have never had preterm labor.

[Peony]

I've been feeling BH since about 20 weeks, they were very frequent, one after another, at one point, but have since slowed down a little.

[NaomiLorelie]

With my second and third pregnancy I started noticing BH at around 18 and 16 week respectably. I would get several in an hour at times. I never had any PT labor, although I always started thinning out and dialating early. I got a lot of the hard work done before I went into labor.

[hopeful1]

I have BH on a fairly regular basis. I have at least one every couple of hours every day. It's perfectly normal and is absolutely no indication that you will go into preterm labor. In some instances it can indicate a uterine infection but that is NOT commonly the case. Sometimes if you over exert yourself it will bring them on. They're basically a workout for your uterus for the Main Event .

[TurboClaudia]

dude, if i called my midwife every time i had more than 4 braxton hicks contractions in an hour, we'd have to get a family cell phone plan with all the phoning going on! it seems normal for me, and i try to take it easy when i notice them but sometimes it's just what my body is doing. so it could just be normal for you.

~claudia

[tangozulu]

I have lots and have noticed them earlier and more intensely with each pregnancy, including very early in this one (I'm 24 wks now). My kids were all 3 arrived on time, and I am sure this one will as well. HTH.