hi everyone
I am really pleased that this horrible virus seems to have gone - at least I've stopped coughing so much and feel like I have more energy, although both my boys are still quite snotty.
We had a lovely Easter as it was ds1's birthday on Easter Monday. So we spent Sunday with dp's family and then stayed in the house all Monday and the boys had a great time playing with all the new presents.
Braxton Hicks feel like a tightening all across your tummy and it will go very hard for a few moments. Later on in pregnancy, especially if you're lying down in the bath or something, you can really see the shape of your belly changing. It's not too early to get them, so you might be having Braxton Hicks, but both 'period pains' and aching in your lower back may just be to do with your uterus getting heavier and your other muscles, and ligaments, having to adapt. I suppose this stage is when we should be thinking more about good posture and optimum foetal positioning and stuff like that.
There's a fairly good article about protecting your back and pelvis here on babycentre: www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/fitness/protectingbackandpelvis/
Incidentally though, women are often told that Braxton Hicks are not like normal contractions and that when you are really in labour you will know the difference. But both times with me, the contractions early on in labour felt just the same as the Braxton Hicks I'd been having for weeks. Conversely, sometimes the Braxton Hicks really started to hurt me, even in the weeks before I was in labour, and I found it helped to use the breathing techniques I had been taught at ante-natal classes.
Braxton Hicks are meant to be one of the ways your uterus prepares for labour, and I had two fairly quick labours, so it's worth seeing them in a positive light even if they do hurt!
Oh, I didn't mean to do such a long message! Better go and fetch the boys from school now. Best wishes to everyone.