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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Can anyone remember how long the regular evening Braxton Hicks/baby engaging etc goes on for before labour kicks off?

14 replies

bronya · 30/09/2014 06:20

I seem to remember a week or two, but not sure. I remember getting all excited last time, but it definitely lasted a while before anything else happened. Am not enjoying every evening with BH, cramps and a bowling ball between my legs, but at least it's a sign that something is happening!

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13Stitches · 30/09/2014 06:35

I had at least 20 weeks of BHs! Sorry!

devoncreamtea · 30/09/2014 08:34

Interested to hear more - I'm in the twingey camp too - none of my dc so far have been early so not REALLY expecting anything imminent....but hopeful!!

bronya · 30/09/2014 12:14

13Stitches yikes! Thankfully that's not possible for me - 37 weeks now, so at most 5 to go!! Would love this baby not to be late (like the last one was) but not too hopeful!

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devoncreamtea · 30/09/2014 13:23

has anyone else had a bit of 'plug' go? pretty sure I just did...somehow I have birth amnesia and can't remember what happened and in which order/how fast last time!!

2madboys · 30/09/2014 13:24

With my DS2 I spent a night in hospital at 34 weeks with suspected early labour. It stopped around midnight, but I had braxton hicks every evening from then until he was born at 39 weeks!

Allisgood1 · 30/09/2014 13:27

It was a week before going into labour that the bh went from a irregular painless tightening to more frequent and a tiny but painful tightening. If that helps...

bronya · 30/09/2014 19:05

That does help Allisgood1. I had 'period pains' all last night (made trying to sleep interesting!) and they started again at 4pm today. I know it's not too long now, but remember it being more than a few days!!!

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ohthegoats · 30/09/2014 21:05

I'm over 40 weeks now - have had various degrees of period pains for about 2 weeks in what I'd say are a 'proper' way. Couple of quite bad nights with them + BH.

Before that though I had low level period pain for ages. Certainly all the way up to about week 20. I wonder if I just have an achey uterus, so I'm not getting too excited about current period pain feelings.

DinoSnores · 30/09/2014 22:36

Weeks and weeks. I've been having regular painful contractions if every evenings for about 3-4 weeks. I'm now 40+2.

RubyGoat · 30/09/2014 22:42

I had BH from the first trimester. Got more frequent & stronger, with more repeats on each episode, as time went on. Then I had BH every hour or two, from 37 weeks. However it was very obvious when labour started, very different.

VeryLittleGravitasIndeed · 30/09/2014 22:43

I didn't really get braxton hicks in any kind of observable pattern. I did have very noticeable (and painful) pre-labour for 6 days before going into established labour though! DD didn't have her head at the right angle. She still likes to ponder things for a whole before committing Hmm

VeryLittleGravitasIndeed · 30/09/2014 22:43

*while Blush

SingSongSlummy · 30/09/2014 22:49

I remember having nearly 3 weeks of BH with DD2. It would start around 7pm every evening (just after DH had headed out to work) and stop when I went to bed! Must have been doing something though as birth was nice and quick when it eventually happened!

MrsBungle · 30/09/2014 22:51

My daily strong braxton hicks started around 32 weeks. So about 9 weeks for me.

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