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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Braxton Hicks, what do they feel like?

19 replies

Pannacotta · 26/04/2007 22:53

Sorry for slightly silly question, but I didn't have any BH first time round.
Today I had what I presume must be BH but wanted to ask if anyone can describe the sensation/s to me, as wasn't sure if it was the start of labour or just false alarm... (got my poor DH worried thats for sure!!)
(Am 37 weeks.)

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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SlightlyMadSky · 26/04/2007 22:58

For me my bump went really tight. If I touched it the surface would feel hard like a rock. They were never painful for me at all.

SlightlyMadSky · 26/04/2007 22:59

Oh and I think they are more common in subsequent pregnancies

Original poster

Pannacotta · 26/04/2007 23:06

Whats an orgasm?! Have forgotten!!!
Is bit odd as I didn't BH were meant to hurt but coudld hardly walk today it was so painful, so perhaps babba is on the way...

OP posts:

SlightlyMadSky · 26/04/2007 23:09

Well at 37wks could well be heading that way....

MKG · 26/04/2007 23:19

I didn't have any BH with my first pregnancy, but in this one I get a lot. My bump feels hard as a rock, and sometimes I lose my breath a little. Try changing positions and they should go away.

Twinmummyx2 · 27/04/2007 15:33

Mine did get more painful in the final weeks....definately a tight bump. I found the ache started at the top of my bump and worked down and out through the top of the legs if that makes sense. I never got any with my twin pregnancies but did with all my singletons.

GOod luck!!.

powder28 · 27/04/2007 15:40

Mine were so uncomfortable with ds2 I thought I was in labour. I went to the hospital and when the midwife examined me she said I was definitely in labour and would I like her to pop my waters.
Anyway, I declined, and im glad I did because I spent a really uncomfortable night in the hospital and in the morning another midwife examined me and she said I wasnt in labour at all!

Im glad the other mw didnt pop my waters!!

megandsoph · 27/04/2007 15:42

To me it feels like someone is squishing my bump into a tight ball and it sometimes takes my breath away litrally as if I have been winded.

Original poster

Pannacotta · 27/04/2007 15:49

mmm thanks for all replies, now am not so sure but think it must be painful BH as no signs of progress, unless it is "prelabour" which I read about somewhere, more common in second or later pregnancies I think...

OP posts:

Mrsjaffabiffa · 27/04/2007 16:20

Pannacotta, they are more common in subsequent pregnancys for sure. I am also 37 weeks with no.3 and they have been fairly apparent over the last few weeks. They are worse if I've been busy and if I'm crouched down on the floor for something I always get one when I stand up. There should be NO pain, but they can definately feel uncomfortable, I find if baby is on the move whilst I have one thats the time it makes me say OW!

Come and join us on the due in May Ante-natal thread, we are gas bags but it may be good to see the pain, sufferings and joys of others in the same stage of their pregnancy, and we love a newbie.

Original poster

Pannacotta · 27/04/2007 20:01

Thanks MrsJB, will see you there!

OP posts:

foxybrown · 27/04/2007 20:03

my first time for BH, despite it being 4th pg! I get them when I've been overdoing it, so do take it easy, and also I've read that dehydration can also cause it.

Original poster

Pannacotta · 27/04/2007 20:16

oh thats interesting, as had my first after traipsing round town and then carrying some heavy bags on way to collect DS and prob hadnt been drinking enough either, will have more water!

OP posts:

ShowOfHands · 27/04/2007 20:23

Pannacotta- I only have painful BHs if I've done too much and forgotten to drink enough. Tight tummy, really uncomfortable and definitely enough to take your breath away.

We'd love to see you over on the due in May as MrsJB says. We're all completely normal (apart from MrsJB who lives in a chateau in a foreign land) .

foxybrown · 27/04/2007 20:28

and they DO hurt! enough to stop me in my tracks and wait for it to pass. but they do feel different to 'normal' contractions.

Mrsjaffabiffa · 27/04/2007 21:15

SOH has no braxton's she is not having a baby she is having a gingerbread girl.

AlittleworstforwareUpsadaisy · 27/04/2007 21:16

a sit up and holding it there for a seco or two without actually doing the sit up iyswim

Twinmummyx2 · 28/04/2007 07:07

I found mine def hurt. and they felt exactly the same as my eventual labour pains (but obviously they got a LOT worse).

Everyones different!

bumperlicious · 28/04/2007 08:45

I don't know if I've been getting these either. I've been getting really uncomfortable pains in the afternoon - makes me feel really winded, and bump feels hard in places but I assumed it was the baby getting in a really awkward position and stretching me to much. Seem to last longer than a few minutes, and are higher up than I expected BH to be.

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