Braxton hicks???

[Laswarb]

Mumsnet-ers I need some advice on Braxton hicks I've tried to ask my midwife but she's very vague.

Does everyone get Braxton hicks? I can't tell if I'm getting them and I kinda assume I'd know, right? People keep talking about the change in shape etc but I just have my LO rolling about in there not any obvious change from football to rugby ball (yep that's how it was described to me). Could I not be noticing them? What did you feel?
Oh and I'm 36 weeks :)


Thanks ladies!

[DontBuyANewMumCashmere]

I didn't feel any pain, it just suddenly got very tight. If I touched my bump it would feel rock hard, as opposed to fleshy and feeling baby inside.
I wouldn't have said a shape change, and have never heard of the football / rugby ball thing.
I don't think everyone has them.
I think I often didn't notice it, it was only if I happened to be sitting a certain way or lying down quietly.
I had them multiple times a day for 3 weeks or so before I gave birth.

[bananamonkey]

I'm nearly 39 wks and haven't had any or rather have never noticed, as I understand it everyone gets them but feels them differently. Sorry that's not v helpful!

[Dixiechick17]

Mine were painless, and my bump would be Rock hard and kind of coned if that makes sense, they started early on, from around 25 weeks. I would just feel it tighten.

[AddictedtoGreys]

I never had any with DS but I did with DD. They felt like period pains to me, didn't notice any change in shape to my bump though.

[ALittleOblivion]

Pregnant with DC3 and have had lots during all three pregnancies from 25 weeks ish. As above, my whole bump goes absolutely rock hard. I generally find it uncomfortable to do anything other than sit still while one is happening as everything just feels so solid internally (they don't last too long - maybe 30 seconds or so). Mine aren't totally painless but have a slight "twinge" which can be a bit on the sharp side sometimes, especially in this pregnancy. My uterus must be getting fed up! They are much shorter and less intense than real contractions though. I've never noticed a shape change, but then again have never really paid attention to that!

[ALittleOblivion]

Also, I found them pretty unmistakable from the start, but have friends who said they never had any. So either not everyone gets them, or some people get very get extremely mild ones that are not noticeable...

[JC23]

I never had them/noticed them with my first pregnancy but with the second I experienced them from quite early on and they would often be very regular. It was a tightening, hardening sensation, sometimes very powerful but no pain. I would get the same thing when I had an orgasm.

[Iwantagoonthetrampoline]

Not painful at all but can definitely tell when they happen. Bump goes hard and pulls a bit to the right. Lasts for about 30 seconds and tend to come in clusters of 5 or 6.

[CatsCantFlyFast]

Two pregnancies, never felt or noticed any. Interestingly I was having contractions both times I was put on the monitor and couldn't feel those either