what do contractions and braxton hicks feel like?

[beckymcfc]

Hi all, I'm 38 weeks on Friday and starting to get majorly impatient and uncomfortable. I've been feeling a few almost like shooting pains as the little one moves around during the evening really low down, feels like from my bladder to my doo dar. Just wondering if these could be bh or maybe just the head engaging?

completely remember the impatient feeling, it's horrible! At this stage it could be a number of things but IME bhs are tightenings of the uterus, practice contractions. They can be painful but not as much as contractions. It sounds as if your lo is pressing down and maybe engaging, they get into all sorts of funny positions! If you have any concerns at all then see your mw and good luck

Oh, and in answer to your question, sorry, with bhs I could feel my whole bump going hard then softening again and with ctx, well, they were very painful as well as the tightening sensation but it's different for every woman!

I can remember my bh being much higher up than I expected. The top of my bump (above my navel) went really hard, as though the baby was literally trying to elbow its way out :)

I had very strong BH (not painful) but very hard. bump goes solid, then relaxes.

I had then coming regularly, to which i thought it would lead to contractions.. turned out that tey just made my body get ready in the best possible way, I started getting them around 18weeks ish with DD, and they just get stronger... and when i was due i had them regular, then the day before i had DD they were like every 5 mins. but didnt amount to anything (just good practice)

Then the next day I had very slight backache, came out of know where, then my labour progressed very quickly and my only opinion really in telling the difference (especially gearing up to est. labour) is that you wont be able to talk! I found that i just had to ZONE in, not talk. just breathe. and walk about. but this is my opinion of course.

Good luck :)

I can honestly say for my first time, the pain isnt nice and it does hurt, not as bad as i imagined though, & once you hold that baby The pain....its gone.

Currently 22 weeks prg with DC2!