What's up with the super-tight belly?

[Molck]

It's not coming and going like BH, just tight belly lasting for hours on end, especially in the evenings and at night. I've noticed other people are experiencing the same thing. Just wondering what causes it/ what it means. Am I dehydrated? Do I need to relax? Or it this just one of those things?

[jjsexton]

Hey there, fellow Bay Area mama!

Not sure if this is the same thing, but with both my pregnancies I've had this from about 31 weeks. My midwife says it is BH, and that some mamas just get them more consistently than others. I find that the more I can rest during the day (especially fully horizontal; not easy with a 3 year old boy!), the less intense they are in the evening. Resting also helps to reduce the electric-shock type cervical twinges (fun fun) in my crotch that get much worse in the evenings. I think it's just all the accumulated pressure of the baby's weight over the course of the day that makes the evenings more intense (although lately I've had the seemingly constant tight belly thing when I wake up to pee and also in the mornings).

I'm also taking an herbal tincture to help ease them, but plan to stop in a week or so (I'm at 36 weeks now). It's a 1:2:3 blend of Wild Yam, Black Haw, & Partridgeberry, and I take 4-5 dropperfulls a few times a day. You can check with your care provider as to whether it would be appropriate for you...unfortunately I can't really tell if it makes a difference, but had preterm labor with my first so am being extra cautious about uterine activity.

I also had some reduction in the tightness when I eliminated Red Raspberry Leaf...it's meant to be a uterine toner that either strengthens or relaxes the uterus as needed, but I found that it just set mine off. Also planning to start that again at 37 weeks though.

Hope some of this is helpful! Sorry if I'm rambling; my pregnancy brain really is a thing to behold :

[smeisnotapirate]

I have no idea, but sheeeeez I'll be glad when it's over.

[cj'smommy]

I've had the same thing, later at night and the longest one lasted 45 min. I have no idea if it means anything either but it is weird.

[Breeder]

My belly is constantly doing that. My MW and OB have no idea. They think it's BH.

It totally sucks, that's all I'm sure of.

[pdxmomazon]

I had my first and only internal today (at my request) and I've been having the tightness- like an extended BH- for the past three hours! I figured they must've irritated something while checking my cervix. I am excited to take a bath and hopefully it'll go away!

[Molck]

Originally Posted by pdxmomazon

[...]I am excited to take a bath and hopefully it'll go away!

I bet it will: showers, massages and hypnobabies relaxations seem to make it go away for me-- but I can only spend so much of my evening doing those things!