[D'sMama]

So I've been really anxious the last couple days and I think it's causing me to have a lot of Braxton-Hicks contractions. Last night they were coming every 3-8 minutes for a couple hours. I called my MW and she said to just drink water, take a bath and go to bed. I did and they slowed down to 10-12 minutes and then I went to sleep. Today, they've been every 7-14 minutes for the last couple hours. I drink a ton of water, so I don't think it's dehydration.

Also, it seems like when I touch my belly, or press around to feel the baby, that sometimes triggers a contraction...?

Is anyone else having this many? Should I be worried?
The baby has been dropped for a couple weeks now, and is really low. My MW says this doesn't mean anything in terms of labor starting, but I'm still paranoid. When I checked my cervix yesterday, I couldn't even find it - it's still really posterior, so that's good right?

Please tell me I'm overreacting and won't have the baby anytime soon!

 

[Hebaume39]

Deep breaths. If you can't find your cervix its most likely still high and mostly closed (most cervix are mushy and little open through out pregnancy). Your midwife is right lots of BH don't mean you'll go into labor anytime soon. Also some babies are just born at thirty five or thirty six weeks and are fine. In oregon, where I am a home birth is an option as long as baby is coming after thirty five weeks. Messing with your belly does cause contractions (so do cold hands!) and won't hurt anything. You won't have your baby until the baby is ready to come. Take a deep breath, drink your favorite tea, and relax. Really you'll be fine. Don't borrow trouble if you can help it ( I know its hard).

 

[quietserena]

I had this yesterday. BH can suck when you have things to do.

What helps me is lots of water, which you seem to be doing, great! And it also helps me to take a double dose of my minerals. Or a double prenatal but not all at once, split if you can. Sometimes the contractions are from lack of minerals just like cramps.

Lie down, relax, breathe, drink and eat as you feel you need to. RRL might help. Find what works and do that.

 

[Phoenix~Mama]

Rest! *nods* Do some relaxing breathing excercises.

I have had several episodes of hours of BH's. I just make sure to lay down, or get my feet up and drink tons of water... soak in a tub if it helps. They generally go away.

If they don't... then I'd start hounding the MW. lol

 

[_ktg_]

As all the pp noted - rest & relaxation is the key, along with lots of water. Or if you're so inclined - perhaps a glass of wine, a nice bubble bath and etc.

Just breathe - if the ctx increase in intensity or frequency, especially after changing what you were doing (increasing movement, or etc) I would then hound my care giver if you are super concerned, as I didn't see when your EDD was specifically.

 

[MommyToElla]

I have SOOOO many. They are worse at night (at least 3-6 an hour), but I get them a lot during the day too. Especially if I stand for long periods, or am trying to clean (bending over often). Any time I move at night, I wake with them.. some nights I feel like every time I wake my stomach is in a hard knot. And as time goes on they are getting more and more uncomfortable.
With my dd, I STRESSED - it was the most stressful pregnancy ever and I even ended up at the hospital at 21 weeks b/c of them. They told me it wasn't doing anything to my cervix and that I had an "irritable uterus" so I worried a little less but it was still very stressful until I got closer to being in the clear. Don't know if I'm being too lax this pregnancy but I kinda just ignore them this time around and I'm at 32 weeks now, so I guess they are not doing much.

Sounds like you have the same kind of uterus, but if you've never gotten checked to see if they are making a difference with your cervix, maybe have your midwife check to give you some peace of mind.. it'll make you feel a little better.

 

[D'sMama]

Thanks for all the tips, everyone! They haven't been as bad the last few hours, but still a couple an hour. I've been trying to stay calm and relaxed and work on my breathing - good practice, I guess.
I'll probably look back on this and laugh at myself when I'm at 40-41-42 weeks and begging the baby to come out...

 

[xakana]

I've been getting BH like that for weeks now, so you have my sympathies. But my baby won't drop. Just sits up in my lungs...