Calling mums pregnant with no3....26wks, massive hard high bump.....

[icravecheese]

Title says it all really....I know I should be more "experienced" having already had 2 babies, but from about 22 weeks, my bump suddenly grew massive, it feels mega high up, it frequently feels hard (especially when walking - surely too early for Braxton hicks?).

I havent seen a midwife (apart from 20wk scan) since 15wks, and am seriously worrying about how huge my bump will measure at my 28wk appt in a few weeks.

Can any other 3rd timers offer their experiences / reassure me that all sounds normal??

[grubbalo]

Hello! I'm also 26 weeks with no3. I think I've been having braxton hicks for ages and am definitely getting them now. Apparently you do get them more with subsequent pregnancies and I had loads even with no1!

[nunnie]

I am 30 weeks with my 1st and experienced my first ever braxton hick on monday morning. My bump went hard in spasams but softened up again after, it is back to normal now.
My bump however is huge compared to my previous two and did appear to happen suddenly.
I had my first measuring feeling the same as you but all was fine.

You can contact your midwife if you are worried about anything though.

[nunnie]

That should say with my 3rd not 1st sorry.

[icravecheese]

oh yes, I hadn't even noticed - I'd read it as 3rd anyway!!

Thanks for your comments....making me feel better about my oversized bump. Think its because it grew so big so quickly- I was quite a 'normal' size at the 20wks scan, then all of a sudden its HUGE!!

[Cheria]

This happened to me when DD turned and went breech. She turned back again though just before the end. The bump went higher and harder at times depending on how she was positioned.

[icravecheese]

Hi Cheria -i was wondering whether my baby might be breech... I have an anterior, low lying placenta this preg (never had anterior OR low lying before), and my friend who had an emerg c-section due to a breech baby a few years ago, said that the hospital told her that baby may well have been breech due to her placental position (low & anterior too).

I guess midwife will try to determine position at my 28wk appt....thanks for your response tho' x

[expatcat]

I am only just pregnant with my 3rd, but I remember having this with my 2nd - and she was breech. I had a hard, high bump, lots of braxton-hicks type pains from around 28 weeks or so. Midwife insisted baby had turned (although I was pretty sure she hadn't) but I ended up having a late scan for other reasons and baby was breech and had been all along. There is still a lot of time for yours to turn if this is the case (mine didn't tho!)

[harassedandherbug]

Your bump sounds exactly how my friend was describing hers when she had her first, and that was breech.

I'm 17wks with my 4th, and my bump is huge! I'm not tiny, about a 14, but at preg yoga last night I could have cried at all the tiny first time bumps.

[Cheria]

I had the same anterior, low lying placenta - wasn't aware this had an impact on their position though. She was breech from about 25 weeks to 38. ELCS was planned for 39w but cancelled as she turned one evening. Most turn the right way up before 37 weeks though. Ended up with EMCS for a completely diffrent reason.

Another symptom of her being breech was a kind of hard pressure feeling on my sternum (?) or in that area -her head was pushing upwards and the bone on bone was bloody painful rather uncomfortable

[icravecheese]

thanks for all your replies ladies, the more I read about breech babies, the more I think that is probably what is going on with my baby...28wk appt next wk so hopefully i'll find out then. I also only ever seem to feel movement really low down, which I guess could be feet kicking.
Thanks for all the reassurance x

[cupofteaplease]

My first baby was breech and my bump with her was large and high up.

[Fleecy]

3rd time here and a huge, hard bump but my midwife wasn't worried. It's not enormously high up but baby is currently transverse so it gets very uncomfortable anyway at times! Braxton Hicks are painful this time around but again, the midwife said it's normal.

I'm 28wks and yesterday met a lady who was due any day and much smaller than me!

[lollystix]

Third was high up too and hard. Got braxtons from 20 weeks constantly - he came on due date. On 4th now and huge and high up but no braxtons yet and I'm 26 weeks now.

[icravecheese]

Thanks ladies...keep the experiences coming, each post is making me feel loads better...saw a friend today who couldn't believe I still have 3 months left, & so got me paranoid about the size all over again!!

[philippas75]

Hi I had my 3rd 4 weeks ago and was absolutely ginormous at the end measuring in at 46cm at 38 weeks, only diff was my bump was very very low. I do think that you do get bigger with each pregnancy but not helped by this time having a 10lb 15.5 oz baby. The good thing was I lost 2 stone in a week

[icravecheese]

blimey!!! 10lb5.5oz!! Congratulations by the way!! Did you survive the birth without any tears??!!

I think this one could be a biggy - my last 2 babies have been mid-8lb'ers so I expect this one to be at least 9lb+. I'm having an ELCS this time due to previous birth complications, so at least if she's big she'll be coming out the sunroof!

Am dreading my midwife appt next wk when she'll do my first fundal height measurement - am sure I'm going to be measuring way above the expected 28cm....

[philippas75]

I too had an ELCS due to probs with DD2's birth luckily although I did have a mini breakdown on morning of section and very nearly changed my mind.... How happy was I that I didn't

Just get used to everyone commenting on your hugeness and marvel at how skinny your legs look
In comparison, oh and get something for your midriff when maternity clothes don't fit, it'll be cold for you otherwise

[icravecheese]

ooh yes good plan philippas75, my beloved skinny maternity jeans are already beginning to feel tight when I put them on now... I've never grown out of maternity wear before!! Have spotted bump band / coverup things in jojomaman catalogue so might have to invest in one of those.

Loving the potential for mega weight loss when big baby is born though

[Cattleprod]

Could it be gas? I'm only on my second preg, but I have so much more trapped wind this time which makes the bump big and hard and uncomfortable. I just have to lie down and force myself to burp and fart it all out - so glamorous!!!

[lizandlulu]

hiya, i am onyl on my 2nd pregnancy but just wanted to say that mine is rock hard and high up too. i am 38 weeks and it has dropped slightly in the last week or so, and mine is breech, but its the hardness that people find so unusual.
i did tell my midwife about it and she just said its the braxton hicks, but surely i cant be having them ALL the time. it must just be how i am, carring alot of water and a bog breech baby.