[jrabbit]

Just curious - we were talking at dinner how I haven't had any BH, and DH wanted to know how I would even know ... which led to a discussion of how contractions feel different from cramps, but you wouldn't know if it's BH until it stops. DD1 was born at 37 weeks, never any BH. DD2 was born at 42w5d, and I believe I felt a few BH during the last few weeks (I kept a diary). They could easily have been wishful thinking because I never expected to go that much longer. This pregnancy, no BH at all, but a lot of mamas in my DDC have been having BH nearly the whole pregnancy. I'm very in tune with my body, so it's not that I'm missing them. I'm 38+ weeks now. I'm 42 years old, and I've had a fabulous no-complication pregnancy. My DD's are 9 & almost 5, so I don't really remember details about my other pregnancies.

Yesterday, I overdid it to the nth degree - after overdoing it for a week. Today, I woke up early when our power went off (I might have been able to go back to sleep with the tv, but duh, no power). I really WANTED to sleep, but I have chronic insomnia, and lying in bed without sleeping is the worst thing in the world for me, so I got up. I'm exhausted now - going to bed as soon as my sheets are done in the dryer. I didn't do much today, but I was on my feet more than I should have been.

Anyway, I say all that because today and last night, I was feeling crampy. Kind of menstrual crampy - not any contractions. But a definitely different feeling. Baby hasn't dropped, and it's as squirmy as ever. Mentally, I'm not ready to have this baby yet, but I've tried to be as prepared as possible, given our crazy lifestyle. I know that you never *know* til it starts. I just would really like baby to stay in til closer to Christmas!

Thanks for any opinions - I'm only asking because I'm curious, not worried about anything.
--janis

 

[tanyalynn]

My BH contractions were only an all-over tightening, and labor was always menstrual-like cramps. With my 2nd pregnancy, I don't remember if I had any BH, now that you mention it, while I had them for probably 4 months with my 1st pregnancy.

Make sure you're well-hydrated (not like I had to say that, but I forgot several times during both pregnancies) and rest and see how it goes. It's frustrating that you can only tell in retrospect what's what, because I always wanted to know now!

:

 

[MamaSong]

I never had any BH's my first pregnancy. That I remember anyway. They are rather elusive for me - even in this second pregnancy when I know that I am having them regularly. They just feel so subtle - sometimes I can't tell if its a BH or just the baby moving, and I have heard other mamas explain it that way as well. So for me its a very subtle tightening, I certainly don't see anything and I never feel a distinct beginning or end. I just know that its happening because it feels different and tight.

Real contractions for me are totally menstrual feeling and way down low, I feel the BH's high around my entire belly.

 

[Phoebe]

Never had a BH contraction at all with first pregnancy.
After the birth I didn't have after pains with nursing and I didn't feel my milk letdown for a long long time.

The second time around was totally different. I think that is pretty normal.

 

[Reha]

EVERYONE has BH, from around 6 weeks pregnancy, actually. It is part of what helps your huge muscle (your uterus) grow. During pregnancy, your uterus doesn't just stretch out to accomodate your baby; it actually grows (new muscle cells).

But, that doesn't mean everyone feels them. It is more common for first time moms to not notice them, but some women never feel them regardless of what pregnancy it is for them.

Your noticing BH or not is pretty inconsequential. It won't affect your labor or birth at all.

 

[jrabbit]

every twinge that I ever feel has been in conjunction with a bulging arm, leg, or butt.

The crampiness did go away, in spite of a lousy night's sleep. I've been waking up every 2 hours or less for 3 months, and last night, I took an extra benadryl, hoping to improve my chances, but it didn't work. <sigh>

I'm not worried - just keeping on with normal life! I drink gallons of water every day, so hydration is not a worry.

Relaxing, however, is difficult for me. The only time in my life i ever rest is in those first few weeks when I'm holding/nursing that newborn - or if I'm deathly ill !

--janis

 

[shanahan]

I had a lot of BH w/my son - and so far, I'm getting a lot w/this pregnancy... I start noticing them just before 20 weeks... When I first start feeling it (last pregnancy, and again this time), I assume its just the baby moving, or "pushing" out - but then I start to see more of a "pattern" and realize that its too large of an area to be just baby.... So, now I am again re-learning what is a BH...

Basically - my whole uterus gets tight. Like when you are having a charlie horse leg cramp and you feel your calf and it is as hard as a rock - that is what my uterus feels like - I can actually feel its entire outline (although its usually more pronounced in one area - this pregnancy that tends to be the upper left area).

There also tends to be a pattern in terms of what sets them off - w/my first pregnancy, it was walking (and laying down made them stop). For some reason, this time it is the opposite, and I nearly always have them when I lay down (esp. if I lay on my back).

Like a pp said, everyone gets them - its the way the uterus circulates blood to itself - but I'm sure everyone feels them (or doesn't feel them!!) differently...

Also, last time, I started having non-productive contractions about two weeks before labor. A lot of people would have called these BH - but they were definitely different. More cramping, less "hardening". Hurt mildly. More like labor contractions than my typical BH - BUT, there was still a difference between these and my "active" labor contractions (which were bigger, more painful, more regular, etc.).

hth!

 

[nancynance]

I've noticed when discussing BH in my childbirth classes that some moms know exactly what I'm talking about and other moms just give me a blank stare, and then worry that they're somehow not "normal" because they've never felt one (and they're usually all about 8 months along). So I tell them that they probably are having them but just not feeling them, and not to worry, they WILL be able to feel the real contractions! Stay well.
Nancy

 

[Munki'sMom]

I have RARELY felt any of those time. Maybe 4 or 5 this pg (my 3rd) and I did not feel any with my first 2.

 

[rockportmidwife]

I never felt them with my first two pregnancies. I am now 36 weeks and have really been feeling them the last couple of weeks. Sometimes they are like menstrual cramps in my back or sides. Many times they are just in the top of my uterus.

 

[L&K'smommie]

I never felt BH with my first two pregnancies. At the end with my ds I would feel off and then I would notice that my belly was hard and realized that it was most likely a BH cx. With this pregnancy though I notice them much more frequently and started noticing them in the last few weeks.
For me labor contractions are like horrible menstrual cramps.

 

[Full Heart]

I wish I didn't feel my bh.

: Lots of women don't notice them though, esp if the baby is anterior and that back butt is right out front they might not notice their belly is any more hard. Being posterior you can usually tell better. My labor contractions feel totally different.

 

[jrabbit]

I can definitely feel differences in my belly, but they're always always always associated with baby movement - and never any regularity. It never occurred to me that some of them might be BH.