[organicmom3]

I'm trying to determine if what went on last night was anything to worry about. I am almost 34 weeks...it's my third pregnancy but there's been 11 years since the last one.... Yesterday I had several contractions through the day. Last night, I had about 6 contractions in less than a 40 minute period...each getting worse, more painful, needing to do breathing
exercises, etc. A couple happened within 5 min or less of one another
when I
started writing down times....in the next hour I had 5...sitting, leaning and walking did no good...in fact walking made it worse...finally laying down completely seemed to perhaps lessen them..or at least the time between became greater....till I finally fell asleep after about 2 hours of this. I feel they were mostly braxton hicks as all discomfort/pain was in the front and each only lasted 30-45 seconds...there was about 10 minutes in the hour I was writing down times that I was getting back ache as well...but I've been getting some of that, so I'm not sure it was really part of the contraction....

Obviously I'm fine now...but I'm wondering...was this normal for just 'braxton hicks'...or can it be a sign of preterm labor coming on? I've tended to be pretty paranoid with this one, which is why I"m hesitant to call her..Hubby seems to not be worried since I can talk through the contractions...I'm just worried is it a sign that things are going to happen sooner than expected?

Has anyone had braxton hicks that were this intense, this close for several hours? What would you do?

 

[lunita1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by organicmom3 I'm trying to determine if what went on last night was anything to worry about. I am almost 34 weeks...it's my third pregnancy but there's been 11 years since the last one.... Yesterday I had several contractions through the day. Last night, I had about 6 contractions in less than a 40 minute period...each getting worse, more painful, needing to do breathing exercises, etc. A couple happened within 5 min or less of one another when I started writing down times....in the next hour I had 5...sitting, leaning and walking did no good...in fact walking made it worse...finally laying down completely seemed to perhaps lessen them..or at least the time between became greater....till I finally fell asleep after about 2 hours of this. I feel they were mostly braxton hicks as all discomfort/pain was in the front and each only lasted 30-45 seconds...there was about 10 minutes in the hour I was writing down times that I was getting back ache as well...but I've been getting some of that, so I'm not sure it was really part of the contraction.... Obviously I'm fine now...but I'm wondering...was this normal for just 'braxton hicks'...or can it be a sign of preterm labor coming on? I've tended to be pretty paranoid with this one, which is why I"m hesitant to call her..Hubby seems to not be worried since I can talk through the contractions...I'm just worried is it a sign that things are going to happen sooner than expected? Has anyone had braxton hicks that were this intense, this close for several hours? What would you do?

I would have called after 5 or 6 in an hour's time. That's a pretty standard guideline for preterm labor contractions. You do NOT want to get to the point that you can't talk through contractions at 34 weeks! I'd still call this morning, as preterm contractions could be a sign of a UTI and your midwife might want to check you for that.

If it happens again, empty your bladder, get a big glass of water and lie down/get off of your feet. I've had 5 contractions in about 40 minutes at 30-34 weeks a few times, but getting off of my feet and making sure I'm well hydrated always seems to stop them.

 

[wbg]

When in doubt, call!
Thats the way I live. If I am concerned, I believe it is because my body is sending me a message. The message can be that it needs help, or simply that my brain needs peace of mind in order to rest. either way, it can't hurt!

 

[jecombs]

Definitely call!
I had something similar happen when I was pregnant with DD. I was 33 weeks, started having ctx in the grocery store (around 4:00 PM), laid down, drank 2-3 glasses of water... but they didn't stop. I met my MW at the hospital and was put on a monitor, had a VE, got checked for various infections. Luckily the ctx petered-out on their own after about 6 hrs and they weren't strong enough to cause me to dilate. I went home around midnight.
My MW said that she would have wanted me to take a medication to try to stop the ctx if they hadn't stopped on their own or had caused me to dilate.

 

[organicmom3]

I put in a call and left a message over the lunch hour....

I guess I left out that she had told me to call if I had 6 in an hour for two hours straight....I wasn't real sure how many I had that first hour...more than 6 I'm sure, but that second hour was 5 and they were getting further apart then,,,which is what caused my hesitation.

I've had a few this morning...normally I don't get them until afternoon or evening..but they are mild and no more than one or two at most in an hour...but I'll still talk to her and see what she thinks..I'm just nervous mostly because my husband will be away at work tonight if it starts up again.

I'm fairly sure it wasn't dehydration...I've been getting at least 2 quarts of water in a day and a little juice or clear teas... but I'll increase that today anyway.
Thank you.

 

[thefreckledmama]

As a guideline, you should be drinking 1/2 of your body weight in ounces of water daily. Most women aim for 64oz. and call it done, but some actually need significantly more than that.

 

[caiesmommy]

I'm glad you called. This started happening w dd off and on about 20 weeks. By about 33 weeks I was put on bedrest and forced to drink water till I thought I would float away. It was either that or stay in the hospital. I would have such bad contractions that the midwives were having to come weekly to monitor them, check me and literally push dd's head back up. I would have to sleep with pillows under my bum to keep dd from falling out of me.The contractions were nasty bad just didn't cause me to dialate! The midwives have my active labour/pushing written down at 45 min...felt like I was in labour for months though

 

[organicmom3]

LOL...prepregnancy weight would more than cover the 64 oz...With the other liquids I get, I'm still fine...but will probably increase a little anyway... going in to get checked!

 

[organicmom3]

Everything is fine....no efacement, no dilation...
Evidently they are just really strong braxton hicks...will continue to monitor of course, but I fell soooooooo much better knowing it's not preterm...!