Can anyone remember how long the regular evening Braxton Hicks/baby engaging etc goes on for before labour kicks off?

[bronya]

I seem to remember a week or two, but not sure. I remember getting all excited last time, but it definitely lasted a while before anything else happened. Am not enjoying every evening with BH, cramps and a bowling ball between my legs, but at least it's a sign that something is happening!

[13Stitches]

I had at least 20 weeks of BHs! Sorry!

[devoncreamtea]

Interested to hear more - I'm in the twingey camp too - none of my dc so far have been early so not REALLY expecting anything imminent....but hopeful!!

[bronya]

13Stitches yikes! Thankfully that's not possible for me - 37 weeks now, so at most 5 to go!! Would love this baby not to be late (like the last one was) but not too hopeful!

[devoncreamtea]

has anyone else had a bit of 'plug' go? pretty sure I just did...somehow I have birth amnesia and can't remember what happened and in which order/how fast last time!!

[2madboys]

With my DS2 I spent a night in hospital at 34 weeks with suspected early labour. It stopped around midnight, but I had braxton hicks every evening from then until he was born at 39 weeks!

[Allisgood1]

It was a week before going into labour that the bh went from a irregular painless tightening to more frequent and a tiny but painful tightening. If that helps...

[bronya]

That does help Allisgood1. I had 'period pains' all last night (made trying to sleep interesting!) and they started again at 4pm today. I know it's not too long now, but remember it being more than a few days!!!

[ohthegoats]

I'm over 40 weeks now - have had various degrees of period pains for about 2 weeks in what I'd say are a 'proper' way. Couple of quite bad nights with them + BH.

Before that though I had low level period pain for ages. Certainly all the way up to about week 20. I wonder if I just have an achey uterus, so I'm not getting too excited about current period pain feelings.

[DinoSnores]

Weeks and weeks. I've been having regular painful contractions if every evenings for about 3-4 weeks. I'm now 40+2.

[LegoCaltrops]

I had BH from the first trimester. Got more frequent & stronger, with more repeats on each episode, as time went on. Then I had BH every hour or two, from 37 weeks. However it was very obvious when labour started, very different.

[VeryLittleGravitasIndeed]

I didn't really get braxton hicks in any kind of observable pattern. I did have very noticeable (and painful) pre-labour for 6 days before going into established labour though! DD didn't have her head at the right angle. She still likes to ponder things for a whole before committing

[VeryLittleGravitasIndeed]

*while

[SingSongSlummy]

I remember having nearly 3 weeks of BH with DD2. It would start around 7pm every evening (just after DH had headed out to work) and stop when I went to bed! Must have been doing something though as birth was nice and quick when it eventually happened!

[MrsBungle]

My daily strong braxton hicks started around 32 weeks. So about 9 weeks for me.