Braxton Hicks? What do they actually feel like?

[ChineapplePunk]

The reason I ask is that I am currently 38 weeks and don't 'think" I've had any Brax Hicks, twinges, pains, etc, during this entire pregnancy (apart from a very brief period of little shooting pains down below weeks ago) . Not a sausage! And it's making me fear that I am in for the long haul and will probably be induced. I know this isn't based in logic, but that's how I feel nonetheless.

Anyhoo, my stomach goes rock solid every now and again and then gradually softens up. There is no pain or discomfort involved. Could these sensations be classed as Braxton Hicks?

Yes, that could very well be BH or it could even be contractions. If it happens again time them and if they are irregular its usually BH .

I haven't established a pattern to them yet, so yes, i think they're quite irregular. Wouldn't it be great if all contractions were just like that? :)

I'm 37+4 and have the same possibly non logical thoughts as you. My tummy also goes really hard but there's no pattern at all and only happens every few days, it doesn't hurt and isn't particularly noticeable. It's actually bugging me that I havnt had a twinge as like u it's got me thinking I will end up being induced which I really really don't want. Iv started my eviction plan today ate a nice big pineapple & am sipping raspberry tea as we speak! DP is back from the Army at the weekend so then the sex can start (will figure out quite how at a later date) also decided I'm going to live off curry & spicy food from Friday .

For both our sakes let's hope a lack of BH & twinges mean absolutely nothing in relation to when the babies will arrive!

Your tummy going hard sounds exactly like a BH contraction. Mine always feel like someone's put a blood pressure cuff around my abdomen and is inflating it - not painful, though it makes me catch my breath a bit.

I wasn't aware of any for my first 2dcs and they came before their due dates. This pregnancy I have felt loads of tightenings and now at 35 weeks they do take my breath away sometimes!

I only noticed BH for about half a day before labour started with DD at 40+1. Currently 39+2 with dc2 and have been getting them for well over a week now. I vaguely remember reading that its common to notice/get more and earlier in 2nd and subsequent pregnancies. Suspect like most pg/birth things though it is all just very random and varied between women.

I don't remember having braxton hicks with my first, I thought it was because it was 13 yrs ago and my memory sometimes doesn't stretch that far, but it looks like maybe I didn't get them in the painful way that a lot of you guys do. Ds was born on his due date.

I've had (sometimes painful) BH since 22 weeks! They make the surface of my bump very hard. Now I'm nearly 38 weeks and am also getting hot flushes at the same time!

A friend of mine never experience BH at all - in fact she thought she was just having BH contractions when actually it was labour, and had her baby about 5 hours later. Baby was a week early.