Painful Braxton Hicks? Def not contractions.

[LongTailedTit]

Has anyone had painful BH? Everything I've read says they shouldn't be painful, but the last week or so I've had quite a few BH that genuinely did hurt.

I'm 28wks with DC2, and didn't have BH at all with DS1 - I thought I did once, but my waters broke the next morning and DS arrived a couple of days later at 36+0, so I'm pretty sure that was just the start of the process. DS's labour was back-to-back, and I don't remember feeling any front-of-bump contractions then just lower back pain like I was shitting an elephant, so this is all new to me.

They feel like lightning cramps across my bump, like sharp gas pains but on the surface.
If I lie on my side they fade away.
Does that sound like BH to you? I just wasn't expecting them to hurt so thought I'd pick some MN brains!

[Mogz]

I think the general rule is if they fade after taking painkillers/ having a bath then they are Braxton hicks.
And they can hurt, mine hurt like a bitch from about 20 weeks, and I have quite a decent pain threshold so I wasn't just being a wuss

[toddlewaddleflipflop]

Mmm, doesn't sound like my braxton hicks which are definitely painless contractions. Could it be round ligament pain? Pretty sure ive had these that felt like sharper pains and they disappeared when I lay down. I would talk to a midwife about it, but probably not panic either.

[LongTailedTit]

Phew! I thought maybe I was just being a wuss too! Thanks

My bump goes firm on the top too, and they're worse when I need a wee etc.
I was just worrying a bit as everyone I've spoken to insisted they don't really hurt.

Cheers Mogz!

[LongTailedTit]

Oh bog, xpost toddle! :)
I'm seeing my MW on Tuesday, I'll mention it to her then, just to check.

[LongTailedTit]

Just looked up Round Ligament Pain and I already seem to have that, been feeling pains like that since 1st trimester! They're much sharper and v deep, fortunately always very short lived tho, when I cough etc.

[toddlewaddleflipflop]

If your bump is going hard and it's worse when you need a wee then it does sound like bh after all. Glad you have midwife on Tues, but if it stops when you lie down/go to the loo, then I've been told they cant be labour contractions (I'm on the look out as have to get to hospital asap when mine starts).