Braxton Hicks at 20 weeks?!

[EmsMumOf2]

I'm currently 19+3 with my 2nd and have been experiencing labour like pains which are worryingly the same as the pains I experienced whilst in actual labour with my first!

I first put them down to growing pains but after a few more googled when braxton hicks can start and apparently they start from 6 weeks but aren't felt until much later, but sometimes as early as 20 weeks.

I had an incredibly easy pregnancy and labour with my first (2 hrs in total and more uncomfortable than painful!) I know have the same lower back pain and the tightening is really low down, seems lower than described in the write up for braxton hicks.

This time my pregnancy has been completely different so nothing should surprise me...but braxton hicks already?!

Has anyone experienced similar so early on? I feel like I'm going mad!

Thanks in advance x

[S2b16]

Currently 23 weeks and have been having braxton hicks for a few weeks now. They are quite painful and I don't remember having them with my previous 2 babies until 35+ weeks.
I don't see midwife for 6 weeks but aren't worried as also read they normal x
Wishing you a happy pregnancy x

[OhMjh]

Very normal! I had them from 18 weeks and carried til 40+12! Annoying but harmless ??

[seaoflove]

Same here. This is my second pregnancy and they started just as early with my first. I think I have an irritable uterus to be honest. Most evenings are spent having STRONG BHs every 5, 10, 15 minutes. I gave birth on my due date with DC1, so am not particularly worried about these BHs resulting in premature labour this time around.

[OhMjh]

Just re read your post. If you're actually in pain, please ring your maternity assessment unit. Braxton Hicks should to be painful, just uncomfortable and tight. I think it would be a good idea to get checked out, even if it turns out to be nothing.

[EmsMumOf2]

Thanks all. Reassuring to hear its normal.

[EmsMumOf2]

Thanks OhMjh. I feel a little like I'm overreacting but because it's so like last time I have a nagging feeling about it! I don't usually have a high pain threshold but I found my first labour easier than I expected and more uncomfortable than painful. which is probably why I'm so confused now.

I don't think it helps that the midwife I have isn't the most helpful or empathetic x

[willnotbetamed]

I am just going to echo OhMjh - if contractions are painful, you should get them checked. Quickest is to go to hospital where they can do a CTG. I had no Braxton Hicks (that I noticed) in my first pregnancy, but in the second and third they started at about 20 weeks. The tightening is noticeable and uncomfortable, but not actually painful.

[BedAfterDark]

I'd say trust your gut instinct and get them checked out ASAP if they feel even remotely like labour contractions to you. There's no such thing as overreacting in pregnancy when it comes to these sorts of things - it's always better to err on the side of caution.

FWIW I had very strong and frequent (but painless) Braxton Hicks contractions from about 20 weeks. The point at which I also started having lower back pain was when I started going into preterm labour at 29 weeks. This isn't to say that having strong Braxton Hicks necessarily means preterm labour - it obviously doesn't! But just to say that it can occasionally happen, and can do so with fairly few warning signs, and it's always worth getting checked out if at all in doubt.

[ovumahead]

Why happened with your preterm labour? I've been getting BH contractions at 20 weeks and am worried about this....!