Question on Braxton Hicks

[MissCKitty]

Been reading the previous post on braxton hicks and other bits of online info and have a few questions. Am 26 weeks and have never felt anything that could be a braxton hicks contraction. Is this normal? What should I be expecting to feel? 'Baby Centre' said that they start happening from end of first trimester so am a bit neurotic anxious about not feeling anything.

Is this your first baby?

I never had so much as a twinge with my first baby .. nothing at all.

2nd baby had a few towards the end.

3rd baby i have them all the time.

Every pregnancy is diffrent doesnt mean anything of you dont have any honestly.

Another one here (first baby) who hasn't felt a thing. I am 33 weeks and not a sign. My mum says she never had any with all three pregnancies so I don't think it's a given that everyone has them.

I am 38 weeks and have never had one yet! Unless they're happening in my sleep. My Mum also tells me not to worry and consider myself lucky. She's a former midwife and mother of 3, so I guess she knows best.

I am 35 weeks but I would say I was only SURE I was getting them at 29 weeks and by 30 weeks mine were very painful and very regular and landed me in hospital with a premature labour scare! You will know when you have them but in my opinion dont worry if you dont feel them (only me and one other out of 10 women in the antenatal class were having them). They are a curse...well mine are anyway as they are painful for me (even though everything you read sugests otherwise). They get more and more intense the further on you are. At 26 weeks I hadnt felt them either. Good Luck.

It is baby number 1 so am not sure what am looking for really anyway. Good to know I'm not a total freak

Never had any with no1 with no2 I have been getting them from about 21 weeks on and off gradually getting more frequent now I'm moving towards the end.

Im 37 wks and Im still waiting for them to start, this is my second and dont remeber having any with first....I was in a way looking forward to getting them... :)

There is a school of thought that says that if you have lots of braxton hicks you are possibly in for a longer labour. So, if you're not having any then I'd be pleased as it could mean a nice swift labour!

I've just started getting them at 24 weeks and the midwife said that was very early!

30 weeks and not had one, also was 35 weeks with twins last pg and never had one then either. Weird isnt it.

monkey that would be nice

I had tons with my first, they were very uncomfortable (and monkey, I had a 2.5 hour labour!) and have started this time having them v frequently from 15 weeks. I suppose you worry if you have them, and worry if you don't!
I know a lot of friends who didn't experience them though, and have perfectly healthy babies!

Katster37 I had heard the opposite to what monkey said and that lots of braxton hicks means a shorter Labour as I lot of the prep work (if you like) has already been done. That would no doubt explain a very short first labour.

I don't think you should be getting them from the end of your first trimester - in fact if I did I think I'd be more worried!! First time didn't get anything till about 36 weeks and experienced my first bunch this pregnancy at 31 weeks. I don't think it's either a good thing or a bad thing if you get them, just one of those pregnancy things that some women get more of than others (bit like piles, heartburn.....oh the joys!!) Certainly nothing to worry about not having them.

I felt my first BH at 16 weeks and my midwife said that's normal - am now 37 weeks and have had them on and off all the way through. My sister didn't have any at all with her pregnancy and lots of my friends only had a few right at the end.

I read that everyone gets them from about 8 weeks but not all women feel them.

It seems there is more than one school of thought then! I was prepared to believe what I heard as I had ridiculous amounts of BH with DS and the labour went on forever.

I didn't have many at all with DS and the labour was swift and easy.

I guess to each experience is an equal and opposite one!

Monkey..I am living in hope that it works the other way, otherwise I will have had all this pain since 30 weeks for nothing..lol. I actually think it probably makes very little difference. I just wish mine were not so painful.

jjkm mine are very painful in my back now too as my babk is in my back and they cause me lower back pain but mostly dreadful hip/pelvic pain!

second baby - never ever had them. Youre not "meant" to feel them. It's not a problem if you do or dont.

hi iv just started bh contraction thread on childbirth. i never had them with ds and didnt think i was having them this time until mw couldnt examine me because i was having 1. mine are completely pain free, not even uncomfortable. its nothing to worry about if you dont get them and you may even get them but not recognise what they are.

apparently you can have them but not even feel them/know they are happening early on. They don't hurt or anything early on - you may just feel your uterus kind of go hard for a bit.

Btw, congrats jjkm!