Anyone else getting occasional contractions?

[Artichokie]

I had my first contractions last night - woke me up at 2:15 AM. I assume it is Braxton Hicks, right? The one that woke me up was super obvious - it felt like all the muscles in my abdomen were flexing at once.

How do I know if I should be worried? My uterus seems to have grown over night and is very firm all the time all of a sudden. No pain, except normal stabs of growing pains. I mean, I haven't had any that took my breath away since the middle of the night, but all day my uterus has been much firmer than ever before. It is actually kind of hard. What if I am having contractions more often than I think, and don't know it?

[MCKH]

I get these in the evenings. I think as long as they are not regular, persistent or painful it is usually okay. However, if you are worried about it you should call your provider asap. There is the possibility they will send you to L&D to be monitored for an hour or so, just to make sure it isn't anything serious. This isn't any big deal other than time out of your day.

[Artichokie]

Hi Maureen~

Thanks for replying. I called my midwife and she said that a firm uterus is fine, as long as it isn't seizing more than 6 times in an hour.

She said if I am still worried tomorrow, that I can come in and they'll check me out.

I really dislike all this worrying I seem to be doing!

[Ackray]

I've been getting a ton of them. Nothing regular, thank goodness! BH are normal. But they freak me out!

[AGlimmeringHope]

I get them when I'm dehydrated, over heated, really stressed, or just after sex. As long as they aren't coming regularly and go away with drinking some water and rest, they should be fine.

[stellimamo]

I get them all the time when I'm tired.. particularly in the evening.

[kirk_heidi]

I have had a few but they come when I am stressed.

[*MamaJen*]

I've started getting them. Between the baby flutters, early contractions and I don't know what else, my entire uterus feels like something alive inside me. I can't even tell what's what--it's just this frequent sensation of motion.

[DucetteMama21842]

Oh good- someone else has been having them too!

I've never had BH this early.. and I know that's what these are... but criminy! I wasn't prepared for them yet!

[jlwagner]

I've been having BH since, maybe, 2 months. When I get them now, I can often tell it's from the baby moving around.

[LaLibertad]

Maybe?

Just today I feel something new going on, but its more like pressure. I don't think anything is actually contracting. Its starting to freak me out a bit. I can differentiate between the pressure and the baby though, so that's good.

[lisarussell]

just wanted to let y'all know it's very normal to be contracting, and kudos for noticing.

your uterus is a muscle, a big bag of muscle. In order to grow, it must contract. the baby's motions, and the increase of fluids and in baby's size stimulate contractions, as can things outside the womb (poking around, full bladder, activity in the intestines)

weightlifters lift weights in order to make their muscles grow, our bellies do it all on their own. it's normal, it's OK, it's easier to feel when we get bigger, and subsequently, our uterus takes up more space.

it's OK, you're body is doing what it's supposed to do, nothing scary, find peace and comfort in the fact that while you're going about your daily business, your body is growing a baby so well that you don't even realize.

As these "hugs" increase in intensity, you can use the opportunity to apply your instant-relaxation techniques from childbirth classes, or your deep-breathing techniques.