another BH contrax thread...

[rock_dr]

ok, so are Braxton-Hicks 'bad'? In other words, is it unwise to keep doing activities that I know will start them up? I get them whenever I exercise (and pretty often when I'm not). Usually they are uncomfortable enough to get my attention, but I just slow down or rest for a bit and then keep going. I'm still walking about 30-45 minutes twice a day, plus yoga and occasional stationary bike. any of these will give me contractions.

Plus I kind of freaked out last night when I had 3 hours of contractions every 15-20 minutes, lasting about 2 minutes each. Very regular pattern but not progressing in intensity or getting faster. I seem to get into this regular pattern in the evenings. That's nothing to worry about, right?

[Jilian]

Do they hurt? BH are normal, especially this late in pregnancy. Your uterus is gearing up for what she's gonna have to do soon. But if they start to get rhythmic then you may want to slow down a bit (unless your term). My MW says to be worried when contractions are getting stronger, longer, and closer. I have contractions throughout the day and then usually rhythmically every night and my cervix is ok.

But I'd hate to tell you not to worry if you are having cntx lasting 2 mins and coming regularly. Try drinking a ton of water and laying down to get them to slow down or space out. You don't want to start encouraging them to get closer or stronger yet.

[Nora'sMommy]

I was wondering this too. I've been having bh contractions like you describe quite regularly. But I also did with my daughter and went all the way to 40 weeks. And sometimes they come on without exercise and when I know I'm drinking enough water.

I asked this question to a group of childbirth educators last week at our local BirthNetwork meeting and the concensus was that they're healthy.......and maybe why my 1st labor was short and efficient.

Does anyone notice they get more with dehydration. I always hear that as a reason but then why don't I get them early in the morning when I've been without water all night? Right?

[GenomicsGirl]

I never had any BH with either of my other two pregnancies - just went right into full-blown labour when my water broke. But this time around, I also get them when I exercise. I find that I have to slow down a bit when I get one because it kind of hurts if I keep my pace up. But it's just a tightening of the uterus - nothing at all compared to real contractions. I'm going to my 34week appt tomorrow, so I'll ask about the BHs and see what she says

[rock_dr]

do they hurt? I'd say they are more like 'ugh' rather than 'owww' contractions. Not pleasant but not really painful. Such a bizarre feeling (this is my first time). I may be exaggerating the length - seems like it takes well over a minute for my stomach to go from rock hard to soft again, but there are stages in between.
I just hate to stop exercising but maybe it's time to slow down as you say...I try to drink water but also now it's getting warmer maybe I am dehydrated.

[GenomicsGirl]

Yeah, it's more of a discomfort for me as well, and as long as I slow down, while it's happening, I can resume my normal speed when it passes. Mine aren't painful either, but they're very noticeable. Dehydration hasn't been a factor in mine since I'm currently obsessed with crunching down on ice all day long :

[gwannenmanveri]

Oh i'm so glad for this thread! I asked these questions in the "i'm pregnant" forum and i guess it slipped under the radar...

I haven't had any (that I know of) and i'm at 8 months today. Am I supposed to be having them? I read that it's your uterus "practicing" for actual labor. Am I going to have a harder labor if I don't have any?

[Therese's Mommy]

Originally Posted by gwannenmanveri

Oh i'm so glad for this thread! I asked these questions in the "i'm pregnant" forum and i guess it slipped under the radar...

I haven't had any (that I know of) and i'm at 8 months today. Am I supposed to be having them? I read that it's your uterus "practicing" for actual labor. Am I going to have a harder labor if I don't have any?

With my first pregnancy I either didn't have them or never noticed them. I think this is very common. Is this your first? Perhaps that is why. I get them alot this time, but again perhaps I had them last time and just didn't notice.

There are other things that are often different for women in their first pregnancies and deliveries than in subsequent ones, such as after pains.

As for the labor being harder, I am not sure. I was induced : with my first, but I think that I progressed pretty quickly even though the conditions were much less than ideal. I went from no more than 1cm to fully dialated in less than 10 hours, which I think was fast and I certainly wasn't able to work with the contractions as the pitocin was not something I had an easy time with.

Beth

[willoLevin]

I'm also curious to hear what some of the professionals say about continuing activities that trigger BH ctx. I will get some when I'm at work (on my feet, running around a store), when I take a walk, or when I do more vigorous household activities. Mostly, I think the walking is good for me, but I just wanted to be sure I should keep it up if the activity triggers BH.

My next mw appt is Monday. I'm sure someone here will have an appt before I do. Let us know!

--willo

[herbmama3-7]

I get them if I am bending over picking things up, or on my feet regularly, I also get them when I drink my red raspberry tea. My MW said I could lay off the tea and to try to take it easy as stress can cause them too. I drink a lot of water to ward them off, but I do tend to get them a lot anyway, especially at the end of the day. Mainly my MW wants me to not "encourage" them to happen, because we are going trough a lot right now and doesn't want anything to activate true labor. I was getting tired of my RRL tea anyway.

[Neve]

I have been having them since week 12, but now that I'm almost at week 34 they are definitely more noticeable and strong and longer lasting. There are a few theories about BH out there:

--fibroids cause them because the blood flow is stemmed in the uterus by them (doesn't interfere with pregnancy)

--stress and dehydration causes them--I think this is true because if I feel one coming on I just sit back and take very deep breath and it usually goes away

--calcium and magnesium supplements help them

--red raspberry leaf tea increases them dramatically

--exercise increases them (this has not been true wiith me though)

--lying on your back and orgasms (not necessarily together lol) cause them

--they are practice for labor--this remains to be seen too! I'll know more after my first labor!!

Anyway, in my experience they shouldn't be painful...not the most comfortable in the world (feels like a hard ball in certain places and makes my belly feel very tight).

Oh, also, copious amounts of cocoa butter (I like the JASON brand) applied a few times a day helps with the tightening sensation in my opinion.

Some women have them, some don't. It's quite mysterious at the end of the day...just like pregnancy...lol.

Hope this helps!

[Marvelleaux]

I get'em sumptin' fierce, especially when I exercise, get up, lie down, roll over, bend over, and sit still for too long. Basically, I get them often throughout the day. For me they're most intense when I go on one of my brisk walks. We live in a very hilly neighborhood and I've had to reduce the lengths of my walks significantly due to the contractions.