Braxton Hicks. Ouch!

[AnythingNotEverything]

I remember braxton hicks from my first pregnancy. Nothing to worry about, just a bit of tightening. Just your body getting prepared.

This time around, they've hit with a bang at 26 weeks, and are keeping me up at night and actually stopping me in my tracks.

Anything I can do to help? Google tells me to both drink more water and avoid having a full bladder. I'm not sure I can manage both simultaneously! It also may be a sign I need to take things a little easier.

Any suggestions? Three more months of this will be awful!

TIA

I don't think bh are supposed to be painful. No experience though, 20 weeks with my first. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will come along soon!

Sounds more like irritable uterus rather than bract in hicks.

If so then keeping well hydrated and resting as much as possible is the answer.

However it might be worth checking if you have a UTI as these can cause painful contractions too.

Hmmmmm. Should probably have a chat with the midwife in the morning then!

Thanks!

pg with DD1 and my BH started at around 20 weeks, started with just the tightening but have got progressively more uncomfortable and painful (now 35 weeks)

The pain eases with not being so dehydrated but you are right the full bladder makes them worse - as does full bowels. Try to eat lots of fibre to keep you soft and regular and pee as soon as you feel the first urges and you will hopefully find it helps

Just to update my OP - I've spoken to my community midwife today. She agreed that BH shouldn't hurt, and suggested I pop in to get my urine tested for a UTI as that can cause problems.

If it happens again, I'm to call the hospital to see if they want me to pop in for a closer look.

She also suggested that I might have been overdoing it and that I ought to take it much easier.

Fingers crossed!

Thanks for the update!