[mel_rak]

hi,

I was in the hospital for 4 hours on Friday. I had a little (very little) bleeding on Friday morning. So my doctor sent me to the hospital labor and delivery. I really just wanted to go to the office for a check. So 4 hours of being hooked up to the monitors and checking my cervix. All is ok. I left feeling sicker than when I arrived because I was so hungry.

So, who else is having lots of braxton hicks?? I mean A LOT! I have several an hour at times, but usually just once an hour, a big one and then not a again for a while and then another big one. Right now it is about 5pm and they pick up getting closer together for a while and then they will settle till tomorrow. My doctor is not worried, and the midwife at the hospital was not worried after monitoring my contractions on Friday afternoon. I spend a lot of time laying down and drinking trying to keep myself calm and relaxed.... but it seems that my heart is racing a lot or just pounding harder. Maybe it is the extra 30 pounds I have already gained. This is my 3rd pregnancy this far and that may have something to do with it....

So what are your thoughts....

Thank you

Oh.... sometimes I don't have the BHs, but a lot of tightness that seems to linger on and off for a long time.

 

[baileyandmikey]

I have only had a few, but would probably worry if they happened alot. Hopefully they will let up for you, this baby just wants to test you

 

[Altair]

I have BH all day, every day. I work FT and it involves a lot of bending and twisting and moving and standing... and they just keep going all day. I also have bled 3 times now. My midwife isn't worried!

 

[dachshund mom]

Glad to hear it was a false alarm. Bleeding is scary. Better safe than sorry.

I've had crazy BH too. They were happening when I'd sit too long, but now it's if I move around too much

. Like Altair, I have a physical job and some afternoons it feels like: take a few steps, pause, take a few steps, pause...

I freaked out when they started happening all the time last week, but my midwife wasn't worried either. She said if you're sitting and they start, walk around. If you're being active and they get bad, sit for a while. It helps to drink lots of water (someone here said 100oz a day) and pee often.

We have three months left! I hope they don't get worse!

 

[momto4kids]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mel_rak hi, I was in the hospital for 4 hours on Friday. I had a little (very little) bleeding on Friday morning. So my doctor sent me to the hospital labor and delivery. I really just wanted to go to the office for a check. So 4 hours of being hooked up to the monitors and checking my cervix. All is ok. I left feeling sicker than when I arrived because I was so hungry. So, who else is having lots of braxton hicks?? I mean A LOT! I have several an hour at times, but usually just once an hour, a big one and then not a again for a while and then another big one. Right now it is about 5pm and they pick up getting closer together for a while and then they will settle till tomorrow. My doctor is not worried, and the midwife at the hospital was not worried after monitoring my contractions on Friday afternoon. I spend a lot of time laying down and drinking trying to keep myself calm and relaxed.... but it seems that my heart is racing a lot or just pounding harder. Maybe it is the extra 30 pounds I have already gained. This is my 3rd pregnancy this far and that may have something to do with it.... So what are your thoughts.... Thank you Oh.... sometimes I don't have the BHs, but a lot of tightness that seems to linger on and off for a long time.

Glad to hear all is okay.....on the BH ~ generally the more pg you have the harder & earlier the BH will be...at least that is my experience

. FWIW ~ I began taking calcium supplements in my 4th pg on the recommendation of my MW at the time. They helped SO MUCH! The concept is that the uterus is a muscle & will cramp just like your legs......This is my 6th pg & I am taking the calcium again....I can absolutely tell you when I have missed a couple of days because the BH start up with a vengeance(along with my horrible leg cramps)!

Oh yeah ~ the tightening you are talking about.....BH can also be painless tightening in the uterus...they don't always feel like an actual contraction.

Make sure you drink plenty of water too

Dana

 

[kdf]

I totally understand. I ended up in the hospital too with very little bleeding and really bad cramps. Now ever since then I have had cramping and what I am guessing is BH. Last Friday I was grocery shopping and I was in so much pain from the BH that I thought I was going to have to go home. I think it has to do with 3rd pg and just feeling everything more intensely and sooner. My SIL who is a doula just said to make sure I drink lots of water and eat lots of protein.

Glad that everything was ok with baby and we will all make it through the next 3 months. We are in the home stretch now.

 

[GoddessJ]

I seem to have the all the time too, especially if I am moving around a lot. I have them when I have to go to the bathroom, after I have an orgasm or any kind of intimate interaction, if I dance, if I am doing yoga...basically anytime that I am not lying down or sitting still.

Mine get really tight for long periods of time, sometimes 30-40 minutes. I haven't had any little ones close together, more like tightening that just lasts for awhile. It can be a little uncomfortable and it worried me a lot in the begining, but my midwives tell me it is just practice for the birth day. I haven't had any bleeding or vomitting with it so that reassures me.

Someone told me that this will be what my birthing day will be like. Does anyone know about any correlation between the quality of BH and the quality of giving birth?

 

[filiadeluna]

Glad you are OK! I don't think I'd know what a contraction felt like if I had one.

Well, I guess I would, but I have no clue since I've not had them yet. I am still getting used to being able to feel baby kick, since I have an anterior placenta, and it's not as strong due to that. RE: heart racing, yeah I get that at times. I get out of breath just walking a short distance now, too. I have asthma, but it is worse since being pregnant.

 

[shanahan]

I had a LOT of BH with my son - and now I'm having a decent amount w/this one (actually just posted about this yesterday on the HB board!)...

BH are actually GOOD for you! Its the way the uterus makes sure the blood gets circulated to itself, etc. - and its the way it strengthens itself. Obviously, you don't want pre-term, productive contractions - but BH are not, in themselves, dangerous...

Someone asked about correlation of BH and labor... Like I said, I had a ton w/my son. My labor was long-ish (24 hours), but my pushing phase was a BREEZE - about 20 minutes, and I always felt strong and in control. I do think BH kep keep the uterus strong to help do its job during labor!

 

[mel_rak]

Thank you for all of the responses!!! Very helpful information. I am so glad for this forum. I didn't know there was a special place for BH... I'll look for it.

Thank you again. Things this week have been very quiet for me. I am trying not to do a whole lot....as little as I can do with a 3 and 5 year old around

and I am feeling better.

Mel

 

[eewieew]

I've been noticing BH here and there, but last night I had 5 or 6, one right on top of the other, and I started to time them. They were coming +\- every 2 minutes, lasting about 30 seconds. I didn't feel any pain but I could see my stomach tighten over to one side. Really weird. I read anything more than 4 an hour is cause for concern, but I figured since I wasn't in pain and didn't have any other symptoms of PTL, I shouldn't worry.