Braxton hicks - what do they feel like?

[JitterBug2]

What exactly are Braxton hicks? When do you start to feel them? Are they painful or just uncomfortable?

For me, they feel like a hardening/tightening of the uterus - not painful, but can be uncomfortable. With DS, can't remember exactly when they started but some time after 30 weeks. With DC2, have been having them since about 25 weeks and now get them all the time, several times a day (am 37+1) and can be quite uncomfortable. In particular when walking/exercising/any kind of physical effort.

BH are basically practice contractions - your uterus practising for the real thing.

The best I could describe it as is if you clench your fist really hard so that your hand is all tensed up, that is what your uterus does. They are not painful for me but a really strong one can be uncomfortable and I usually end up running to the loo afterwards desperate for a wee!

Thanks for the responses

I'd been wondering the exact same thing. I'm 33 weeks and I dont THINK I've had any yet. I'm guessing if I had had some I would know I had had them, so I don' think I have had them. I'd been wondering if not having them is a problem.

Some women never notice them and for others they can be quite uncomfortable but I think everyone gets them. For me they can be uncomfortable but not painful and I notice them 1st as my breathing changes and becomes a bit quicker, I feel the lower part of my uterus tensing up and this spreads upwards and you can see all the lumps and bumps of the baby. This can last anything up to a minute. I find I get them quite regular when I am sitting down or walking quickly.

Never noticed them at all in 1st preg. In this preg, they started around 25 weeks. Bottom of tummy goes rock hard and is a bit uncomfortable. Happens when I walk or after a wee.

EauRouge I second your wee comment. I'm 38 weeks with DC2 and have them regularly but dread them when I'm out and about because I need to wee sooo desperately!
My DH is astounded at how hard my tummy goes.

Is it like period pain? I am 38 weeks tomorrow and for last few days have been feeling sporadic period pain, usually in morning when lying in bed or in aftternoon. Then it goes away and I'm fine. I haven't looked to see if I can see lumps and bumps but will have a look next time.

I don't think they are like period pain littleyellowchicken. I think what you have sounds more like pre-labour warm ups. I would call your midwife/doctor and let them know. It can go on for a few weeks before labour kicks in with full force though. Tray a hot water bottle or a warm bath if the pain is bothering you.

I wouldn't say it's like period pain, but then whose to say yours don't feel like that?!

For me the best description is the clenched fist one.

Also because people called them practice contractions I thought it meant they would come and be a certain amount of minutes apart i.e. like a real contraction. However for me my bump stays rock hard for about 20-30 mins at a time with no gaps inbetween.

Did not have them with DS1 am 36 weeks now and was told at appointment yesterday that the tightening and hardening of my belly is braxton hicks which to me feels weird as i did not realise what they were.

Don;t know if that helps

lol