Hello all, I’m a first time mum and monumentally confused here!
36+3 atm and baby's head engaged and settled into pelvis last Thursday. I have been having what I assume are practice contractions/Braxton Hicks quite intensely since Friday, but they aren’t quite like what I have read about re. Braxton Hicks.
Firstly they are quite painful. Not agonising, but enough to make me gasp or stop in my tracks. They don’t improve with changing position, they just carry on until they spike and then fade. They seem to start at the top of the bump and end down at my pelvis, where the pain really spikes. They are also very irregular but each one lasts quite a long time - about 20-40 seconds. I’ve been getting a lot of period-type aches too, especially in my back.
On the other hand, they don’t spread from my back round to my front - they just seem to ripple down my belly. Also, a lot of the movement feels like it's my baby, not my muscles - though it may be both! I’ve not had any mucus show, no loss of fluid or anything - and obviously it's been going on for a few days now without getting into a regular rhythm or anything like that.
I don’t think I’m in labour, but everything I’ve read about BH vs real contractions seems to contradict my experiences. It is winding me up something chronic, because obviously I’m desperate to meet my baby and want it to be true labour!
Can anyone give me any hints as to what real contractions feel like, or alternatively whether Braxton Hicks can feel as "real" as these ones do? I’d really appreciate some guidance from those who've experienced this for real!
Thanks so much.