Braxton Hicks: so when they say "painless"...

[Jacksmybaby]

... they are having a laugh, right?

This is DC2 for me so before you say "you just wait" I do know very well that they're not in the same league as real contractions, but still... ow!

Am I just a wuss?

They can be painful, they are also worse if you are dehydrated or have a urinary tract infection, so get yourself checked out.

mine are worse if i have been walking alot, shopping etc.

but they do bloody hurt sometimes. i had to find a seat in the museum earlier this week as they were so bad.

so no your not being a wuss imo

yes, I find the painless description to be misleading. Worried me last time.

had BH for 3 days solid, was convinced I was having baby in middle of Asda. Painless!?! - They LIE!!!! :o

With ds2 my BH for the last month were so strong that I thought I was going into labour every evening. I had to sit down during them.

The good news is that labour was fast and easy (when it finally happened!) and mw told me strong bh can help tone the uterus and make labour more efficient.

Glad it's not just me!

belgo interesting re UTIs as have had a string of these throughout this pg.

I find them more annoying and painful than actual labour (35 weeks with DC3). They just seem so pointless and uncomfortable.

Hmmm i have had BH so severe i thought they were labour for weeks.

Then i didn't realise i WAS in labour as they felt the same. Have a mate who did the same thing.

My waters broke and i thought 'Oh HANG on a minute'

Poor you.

Def dehydration and a UTI can make them worse, even trigger early labour. Get checked asap.

Totally painless so far! Not a single twinge.

Mine are ususally pretty painless but after a good session of rumpy pumpy this morning, my goodness, they weren't. Not good when you're wandering around B&Q!

I found them very painful, even had to breathe through some of them. Plus I start getting them from about 24 weeks, but even then I have long labours so they are obviously not much cop at toning up my uterus!

With DD3 I was exhausted at strong BH would wake me up from about 3am from about 35 weeks, then would be awake for the rest of the day (and do a full day's work). Everyone kept telling me that it was shortening my "proper" labour which would be "a walk in the park" as I was having so many BH. Shame is was 14 hours then.

Yes, very painful, particularly if doing something physical at the time! By physical, by the way, I mean walking or bending down - it doesn't get much more energetic than that at the moment.

Im 36+5 and been having them since 30 wks, I agree with everyone there bloody painful. When they started at 30 wks they were just uncomfortable but since I hit the 34 mark they have been getting stronger and I've even ended up being monitored in hospital. Sometimes they are that strong that I feel like labour has started and this is my second. x

I'm 37 weeks with DC1 and have literally just had the 1. Is this bad? Does this mean that my uterus won't "know" what to do?

No, cardamom, I had none with DD - if fact, I thought I had BH when I was actually in labour (37 weeks). And my labour was absolutely fine (12-14 hrs, gas&air only). Hoping for the same this time

Thanks BV! The books and MWs and everything always go on about how BH is one of the ways your body "gets ready" for the Big Day so I got a bit worried. Good luck to you for this time .

I first started having them at 29 weeks but they were regular and very painful until about 35 weeks. Since then (I'm now 37+2) they've become far less frequent and generally less painful.
Should I read anything into that?

Last pregnancy mine were painless but made me feel very odd. I'd first be aware I was having one when my heartrate raced. And then I'd reach down - hard as rock!

This time round, they are a bit painful but not like a contraction - more like it makes my hard bump feel bruised. Mind you, I'm only 24 weeks, plenty of time for more pain...

I had on and off painless cramp that I assumed were BH since about 20 weeks, but in the last week or so I've started getting much more painful diarrhoea type cramp.

Spoke to my midwife and she said its nothing to worry about but i didnt ask for details. Its proper painful and i cant do anything when its happening. What do you guys reckon??? It happens maybe 4-5 times a day

LG&T, is your mate a MNetter? I was going to say 'that happened to a friend of mine' and I think we may be talking about the same person

Hehe Sue No wasn't talking about her but oyu are right!

im 37wks, with my 4th and i only have to move or stand, and i get braxtons, my mw said the kids you have, the more painful they become, my tummy goes hard and my back hurts, they are coming constant,im getting induced on the 13th, cos of complications, i cant wait, sleep and not a need to pee loads in the night xx

dont beleive them, they do hurt, and have you doubled up xx