Bump suddenly really hard (32 weeks)

[heatherxo]

I'm 32+1 today, and for the last 3 hours my bump has been very hard and I've not felt baby move either.
Is this something to worry about?

[gamerchick]

Baby could be just sticking bum out and having a good sleep?

Lie a packet of frozen peas on your bump to see if he shifts a bit. But always always if you're worried about something then go and get some reassurence, ring your midwife.

[heatherxo]

He's currently breach and I can always feel when he's pressing outwards, but this is my whole bump that's suddenly gotten really rock hard.
There's no pain or anything, but this is my first so I'm unsure..
Also, as I said, I haven't felt baby move since my bump got hard either

[TeddyBear5]

Braxton hicks contraction.

[Number3cometome]

Certainly sounds like braxton hicks.

If it is unusual for you not to feel movement for 3 hours then you should phone your MAC unit.

[CarrotPuff]

I don't think it's normal for the bump to be rock hard 3 hours in a row. Braxton hicks come and go. I would call the labour ward and get this checked over.

[FallenOnHardTimes]

I'd call your midwife or the labour ward. That doesn't sound normal to me.

[heatherxo]

Bump still hard but baba kicking and squirming again..
I don't actually know if I've had bh or not as don't know what they feel like

[CarrotPuff]

BH is when your bump goes rock hard and then soft again. Shouldn't last longer than a minute. This however doesn't sound normal to me so I would really urge you to get checked.

[3littlefrogs]

You need to ring labour ward straight away.
They will want you to go in for monitoring.

[3littlefrogs]

Braxton Hicks contractions do not last for 3 hours. They last a few seconds to a few minutes. They may continue for hours, but it is not normal for the bump to go "rock hard" for 3 hours. (ex midwife)

[Thisismyfirsttime]

Is it hard at the top but softer at the bottom? Mine did this with dd who was breech and the top was rock hard (but didn't hurt or anything) but the bottom felt hardish but squishy if you poked it, you could tell there was no baby in the bottom bit. Best to get checked either way, better to err on the safe side!

[heatherxo]

Bump started getting softer just about an hour ago, think maybe it was just the way baby was lying

[Picklesauage]

This is the second one of these in 2 days.

Again I will say PLEASE CALL LABOUR WARD. Anything out of the ordinary and you call or go in. Don't take chance, I am begging you. I know it's inconvenient, but there is a reason they give you the labour ward number so you don't go through A and E. They want you to come in of at all worried.

Please call them.

[ovumahead]

I've had long BH type contractions - they seem to go on for longer when I'm dehydrated. Having a couple of bug glasses of water helps... Maybe try that if it starts again, but definitely call antenatal unit as well.

[weelamb123]

Sounds like Braxton hicks. Although bump should stay hard for long. Did u call midwife x

[weelamb123]

Shouldn't stay hard I mean

[SaveMeTheWaltz]

Was everything ok, OP?

For anyone else who comes across this thread whilst searching for information on a rock-hard bump that remains that way for several hours, I had this and assumed it was braxton hicks. It wasn't - it was a placental abruption (I have since found out that a bump that stays rock-hard is a classic sign of a placental abruption - why isn't this kind of information made available to pregnant women?) My baby didn't survive, but she might have done if I had realised what it was and gone to hospital sooner.