Sex and contractions!

[utuss]

I'm 29 weeks along and have had a very low risk pregnancy (this is my second one). The other day, my husband and I had "relations" and soon after, I had some wicked Braxton Hicks contractions...literally for a couple hours, with increasing intensity, where I had to stand up and sit down, then back again. I thought they would go away, but they didn't for a loooong time.

I had a scheduled doctor appt. that day, and my cervix was checked and everything was hunky dory (except I was told that I couldn't have sex for at least a week). Our baby seems in good health (although, my doctor mentioned that when she tried to hear his heartbeat, he would immediately move away from the pressure of the scope....she had to chase him around for awhile)

Has anyone else had experience with this? I literally thought the contractions came about because of sex....(was it the sex, or was it my orgasm previous to sex?)...but now I'm nervous to have either an orgasm OR sex. My mom and others are telling me now to take it easy, don't lift my 3 yr old and I'm thinking "It was just the sex!" I'll take it easy for the next few days, but my doctor didn't advise me to cut any other activities out...what do you think?

[lyttlewon]

I don't think it is a concern. I tried inducing labor with sex and it didn't work. Your doc said your cervix was fine so I wouldn't worry about it. Contractions are a normal reaction to orgasam his and yours.

Why did they tell you not to have sex for a week?

[utuss]

I guess my doctor wanted to play it safe....she wanted me to let her know if this happens w/o the sex....I picked up a little bug, though, on the same day, so my body is achy and I've had some stomach cramps....but I'm pretty sure they aren't the contractions. My son is definately moving around...wish he would take it easier on his mom!

[Therese's Mommy]

When I was 26wks I had my first noticeable BH contractions the day after sex. I had them pretty much all day, although they weren't terribly strong. These days I will get a really long and hard contraction right after and then usually BH cxns for the rest of the evening. I don't think there is anything to worry about. BTW, it is most likely the orgasm that caused your cxns because of the oxytocin. Sex is perfectly normal and healthy during a normal pregnancy. Also, if you had a bug or were dehydrated that could have intensified things as your uterus could have been a little irritated. Did you try hydrating yourself to get them to stop?

Beth

[jrayn]

Orgasms are what causes the contractions not the sex, I get short braxton hicks from them, nothing like what you described. I think the doctor should have been more specific on the activities allowed.
To be safe I would avoid both though.

[utuss]

Dang, I kinda knew it was the orgasm and not the sex that brought it on. I just can't win, huh? No more orgasms anytime soon for this mama :lol I knew it was just a VERY strong form of Braxton Hicks, but they were really strong....it was just like when was in labor with # 1, the rising in intensity, the peak, and then the decline.

[nadia105]

Yeah, it is the orgasm. Two weeks ago, we had sex with an O for me and I had ctxns (BH) for 5 hours every 3-4 minutes (I was 35 weeks). The next week we had sex with no O for me and there was almost nothing, just a few BH here and there and they weren't intense at all.

[AbbieB]

I'm 22 weeks and noticed the same thing. STRONG contractions after an orgasm. I'm also noticing BH contractions a lot more this pregnancy.

Sometimes I wonder if it's because I am nursing so I have a lot more oxytocin floating around in my body then last time.

My friends all say that during their second pregnancy they noticed more/stronger contractions.

I think you don't have anything to worry about. You could try drinking water and a warm bath to settle the contractions down if they become really uncomfortable.