What do Braxton Hicks feel like?

[RockerMummy184]

...And how early can they start?

I never had any at all with DS but this time round (I am 20wks with DCDA twins) I have been getting mild period type pains a few times a day in my lower tummy/back. Generally it's when I have been sat at my desk for a long while without moving and stand up, or while I'm on the loo. They only last a few seconds then disappear.

Are these Braxton Hicks or is it just general muscle cramps/stretching?

[Number3cometome]

My braxton hicks feels something like this - I get a feeling (which I cannot explain!) that comes over my body, I feel periody, but tight across my bump, especially on the right hand side which goes rock hard (baby is on the right)

When I have a BH, baby is very still and quiet, and after it stops (usually no more than 45 seconds) baby has a good kick again (as if to say WTF just squished me)

I have been having them since very early on this pregnancy and they have got stronger and stronger (they now make my eyes water)

Sometimes just one or two a day, sometimes more than 15.

They are very similar to early labour pains, but with a very solid and tight bump feeling.

This is DC3 for me.

[crumble74]

If Ibremember correctly mine started before 20 weeks and were never really painful but definitely a strange sensation, bump would go really hard as if stretching but never lasted more than a minute.

[batfish]

I am 22+5 and for the past 4 weeks my stomach has been going rock solid and then soft again, I asked doc about it and he said it is BH - he said they actual start as early as 6 weeks! But we don't feel them until later. I had no idea, always thought they were a very close to birth thing. I don't feel any pain, just get a really hard stomach.

[Skeppers]

I'm almost 31 weeks. I had what I thought were BH whilst driving home from work a couple of days ago; turns out I just had a bit of an upset tum and needed a dump...

I don't think I've had any yet. Bump goes hard/soft quite frequently but assumed it was baby changing position...he's VERY wriggly!

[Number3cometome]

Sorry should have said I am 33+5

[FreeButtonBee]

With twins, I got them from early on - definitely 20 weeks they were starting. Uncomfortable hard bump, not particularly painful but not nice either. Last up to a couple of minutes.

This time (singleton), I've started getting them recently at 30 weeks.

Apparently dehydration can make them worse - and I HATE drinking water this pregnancy (normally I can't get enough) so trying to be a bit more diligent on that front.

Since it's twins, if they start to feel painful or seem to develop into a pattern (rather than being random or isolated group of BHs in one part of the day), call your midwife. Twins pgs are different and it might be a signal that something is going on that needs checked out.

[NickyEds]

Like pp mine feel like a tightening and my abdomen goes very hard. it's not painful exactly, more uncomfortable, especially if I'm walking. I get them most days now (35 weeks), maybe 3/4 times a day lasting 45 seconds and I've had them since 20 ish weeks (same with ds). They aren't very pleasant but definitely not the worst bit of pregnancy!!

[spillyobeans]

I dont know if ive had them or not tbh. Im 38weeks and last 2-3 weeks randomly get periody type crampy feeling and sore back and non painful tightening sensation in my vagina rather than bump? Midwive said is BH but some people feel it differently!

I thought id had them earlier too, but like skeppers i just needed the loo

[weelamb123]

They feel like tightenings across your bump and your tummy will feel really hard for a few seconds. More painfull ones can occur too. You will usually feel these in any part of your tummy or back. I had quite a scare 2 weeks ago, as mine were very painful and I could actually feel them in my cervix! xx

[TakesTwoToTango]

For me I wouldn't describe it as feeling a tightening, it feels to me more like the baby is having a really good stretch, making me a bit uncomfy and harder to take a good lungful of air. It was only in my second pg that is realized the pressure feeling wasn't coming from baby pushing out but from my muscles pushing in