Braxton Hicks...how many is too many?

[NameOfTheNick]

As the title says really, how many Braxton hicks are too many in the space of an hour?

I think im having "too many" but don't know what to do. I was in hospital yesterday for monitoring for something unrelated to pregnancy but they did a CTG anyway just to check baby and they did mention that I had a few then but when I told the doc they weren't painful or anything he wasn't concerned.
When I got home yesterday evening I noticed that they were more frequent than normal.
Am I going to look like a hypochondriac and have to ring the midwife to get checked over again?

Hi, this might be helpful

www.babycenter.com/0_braxton-hicks-contractions_156.bc#articlesection4

Don't worry about calling, that's what they are there for!

Sorry, meant to say, the advice on that site says any more than 4 an hour if you are less than 37 weeks probably means you should call the MW or hospital

Thanks, I'll have a look at that link.

I know that's what they're there for, but I was there yesterday, and to have to potentially go back in to be strapped to a monitor for another hour for them to tell me everythings ok is just a bit embarresing!
I feel that they would have me down as a worrier and hypochondriac first time mom.

oh dear, the 4 or more an hour....ive had that many in the space of half hour yesterday evening!
I will monitor over the next half hour and see how many, and then give them a call if its still more than 4.

Thanks Elsa.

You're welcome... Hope the BHs have calmed down and that you haven't had to go in for more monitoring!

I am the same, I'm 24 weeks and keep stressing about how many is too many! I was told that if they get consistently stronger and closer together over the space of 2-3 hrs then to go in. So far mine haven't lasted that long or have been non-rhythmic (intervals of 20 mins, then 6, then 70?? For example) I haven't gone in and spent miserable hours in unforgiving hospital!

I had the same confusion "are these BH" "how many's too many" etc - from about 24 weeks or so onwards. These were painless but sometimes pretty frequent (sometimes 4 in an hour but more often 4 over a day)

I too didn't want to look a fool going into hospital (esp after a women in NCT classes recounted her high speed car drive to hospital thinking she was in labour to be told, after being strapped in, she was constipated!!!).

Gave birth at 33 weeks. The contractions in the days preceding labour occurred pretty much all the time but were irregular (i wrote down the gaps - 3mins, 20mins, 10mins etc) and were not painful to begin with.

If you are worried, please, get it checked out. I wish I had!