Do contractions always start at the top of your bump?

[moonstorm]

I think I'm in some sort of pre-labour. Last night I had contractions about 10 minutes apart, but they stopped by the morning. (Lasted a few hours, though).

This evening, the same for just over an hour - 1o minutes apart, then a jump to 20 minutes.

The feel like a vice grip between my lower back and lower abdomen - not period pains anymore. I am more comfortable moving when it happens, although the movement does not stop them....

I've been Googling and it said BHs start at the bottom and work up, whereas the real thing starts at the top and works down... Any experiences to share???

And what are the chances of going into proper labour tonight????

No. Mine started exactly the same as yours with both DD1 and 2.

Good luck

No...mine started as an achy pain in my right thigh and then worked up to my stomach.

Good luck

Sorry forgot to add that with DD1 I had pains like that on and off throughout the day and actually had her late evening.

With DD2 It was much quicker and had her four hours after it started.

With my 3 i didn't get top of the bump cramps until later on.

Mine were definitely at the bottom, don't remember feeling anything at the top.
Good luck! :)

bottom of tummy and all through thighs. never felt them on rest of bump

Mine started at the bottom with baby #4 too.

Thanks - still having them. They feel like the real thing, but then stop . Hope it'll all kick off soon!

The difference between labour contractions and Braxton Hicks contractions is simply labour contractions efface and dilate your cervix. In order for that to happen the contractions are stronger at the top of your uterus, which pulls the rest of the uterus up. This then causes the bottom of the uterus (the cervix) to get thinner and retract, and causes the top of the uterus (the fundus) to get thicker. This is called fundal dominance.

However this is what is happening internally to the muscle, where you actually feel the contractions differs from person to person!

HTH