Could people please describe what Braxton-Hicks feel like to them?

[HardCheese]

Basically, I'm not sure whether I'm having BHs or not - almost 30 weeks with my first baby. I've certainly (last three weeks or so?) had occasional sensations that could have been described as twinges or odd sensations in my bump, but they haven't all felt the same as one another, if you see what I mean, and none of them really resembles anything I've read about, feelings of bump going hard/period pains etc.

Would be very grateful for someone trying to put into words exactly what BHs feel like to them, and where in your bump/pelvis/wherever you actually feel them. Thanks.

Had three babies.,,,

Bh made my bump go hard sometimes all over sometimes just one half or whatever. Usually uncomfortable but not painful. Would pass after a few minutes.

Hope you're ok?

Thanks, NickNacks - if yours go on for minutes, then I'm certainly not having them, as my twinges pass almost immediately! I'm fine, feel perfectly well, and the baby is in a phase of ferocius activity which suggests he's auditioning for Cirque du Soleil or something.

He/she is probably just nudging you in an awkward place, sitting or pinching on a nerve maybe?

Lots of muscles and ligaments stretch so I always got lots of uncomfortable niggly pains.

My stomach would go really hard and tight, and look almost square, as the muscles tughtened

I've been having pretty strong braxton hicks since 31 weeks and now at 39 weeks.

Mine feel like something heavy falling from just under my ribs to just under my bump but quite deap in my body. The 'something heavy' doesn't hurt but more describes the sensation of the tightening moving south. I've sometimes felt a little winded by them. Recently the contractions have gone right into my foo foo!
Oh and my bump is hard throughout.

It could be braxton hicks and/or your pelvis/ligaments/cervix making the necassary changes - its all very busy down there!

Hope that helps...

Mine were exactly like nick nacks and started right at 30 weeks with my first. Not had them yet with second!

Thanks, everyone - that's most helpful. I conclude I'm not having them yet, but that they may start happening soon. Though things already feel pretty busy down there, what with the baby looping the loop and headbutting my bladder.

best way to describe mine is like my stomach is shrink wrapping baby HTH

feels like baby is pushing hard against your bump trying to get out and i get a period pain cramp that gets worse as it tightens and reduces as the tightening goes. i thought i was imagining it tbh but was monitored and saw the contractions on the machine graph thingy....

I would think
Oh I need a poo that's strange
Then bump would go rock rock hard
I would get a little breathless and find myself fidgeting before I realised
Then about two mins later I wouldn't need a poo afterall and tummy would feel soft again!
Sometimes I just got the poo feeling, other times I could hardly catch my breath
Both and Anything in between is normal!
You probably are having them!

My bump went hard, so you could feel it from the outside, mostly the lower part of it, and I'd feel quite uncomfortable, desperate for a wee, after about 30 sec, 1 -2 min max it'd pass and bump went soft again (as would the desperation for a wee!)