Braxton Hicks or A Resaon to Worry

[blondecat]

I am approaching 6 month of pregnancy.

Having read the books I know I may be getting the BH
practice runs at some point soon. But my sister when pregnant at my age ended up in hospital and told to stay flat for the rest of her pregnancy after getting what sounded like BH contractions. Apparently her cervix started opening at 6 months.

So how do we distinguish between BH - normal and not to worry about
and
something requiring a check from a doctor - it was only on examining her that they found that she had a problem?

I don't want to come across all paranoid and bother my ob-gen or search for a doc for no reason while on my baby-moon!

Thanks

bump - i'd like to know this too.xxx

If you have any doubts at all contact your midwife she will be well used to questions like this. If you don't have any other cramping etc can be quite normal to have BH at this stage but check it out to out your mind at ease good luck x

Braxton Hicks do not open the cervix as far as I know. It sounds like what your sister had was actually the start of premature labour, but because she had it checked they were able to control it. It's understandable that this makes you worried.

I've had Braxton Hicks since really early this pregnancy and they are painless. You just feel the uterus tighten and go hard, it can be uncomfortable, but it doesn't hurt or cause backache, etc. Labour contractions are supposed to cause pain. However they say if you have 6 or more BH in an hour, go in and get checked. it's not necessarily a problem (I regularly have more than this and all is fine so far at 30+ wks), but the advice is to get checked just in case. Sassie is right, anything you are worried about, just get it checked, even if it means being back and forth to the hospital, better to be safe than sorry and once you know everything's ok you will feel more relaxed.

Typically braxton hicks do not hurt. I often think they do and can be quite uncomfortable then I go into labour and realise...oh no they didnt hurt

Seriously though if you are worried speak to your midwife. Braxton hicks are like a very strong tightening which can be uncomfortable as everything is squeezed - contractions typically hurt like strong period pains.

I guess that's my doctor going on speed dial then.

Oh well bet he's used to this