Braxton Hicks - First Pregnancy - did you get them??

[CornishFirstTimer22]

Hi Guys,

Just a couple of quick questions about Braxton Hicks...

Did you get them in your first pregnancy? (I heard they're more common in subsequent pregnancies)

And if you did, when did they start? What were they like?

I just ask as I'm 27 weeks and don't think I've had any yet? Just curious as I don't know if I will, or what they'd be like if I did haha :-)

Thanks!

I did.

They started, fairly gently at 19 weeks and got gradually worse until I had him (though at the strongest they just required me to take it easy until it passed, like bad period pain but not anything like a constructive contraction!).

Not one! My waters broke at 36+4 and I decided my very real contractions were Braxton Hicks as I was determined to get her to wait until 37 weeks! She didn't listen to me and was born the next day (things haven't changed much since then!)

Don't worry if you don't get them and good luck!

Good to hear not everyone gets them - 32+4 here and I'm not sure I've had any. I get the occasional tightening feeling but there are so many weird feelings over the last few months (especially with baby kicking and turning now it's getting bigger) that I have no idea what is what. All I know is nothing painful has happened.
Will be interested to see how many others have / haven't felt them as I feel a bit of a freak for not having felt any.

I'm in my first preg now (35wks) been getting them for a couple of months but to be honest I ddin't really know thats what they were at first as it kind of felt the same as the baby moving and stretching out.

Even now they just make me a bit breathless so unless I'm sat down they are easy to miss.

I am nearly 34wks, and I have never had one, or maybe I did if like purplemurple1 I think its the baby stretching!

I still can't work out if I'm having them or not... am 31+6 and although I'm pretty sure I had one a few weeks ago halfway through a nap (woken up doubled up in cramp pain), I haven't had any more like that since - well not quite like that, but today for example (as has happened a couple of times previously) my bump is rock hard and it's making it tricky to breathe properly... but it's been like that for most of the day. Is that a series of Braxton Hicks or am I just having a tight bump day?!

I had them for quite a while during my first pregnancy. However there was a clear distinction between them and real contractions.

I had them from about 26 weeks, frequently, and was still having them at 40 weeks - by then they were mimicking regular contractions in duration and repetition, but not intensity. They were weird but not painful.

I hardly knew anyone else who had them so much, but I had quite a fast and easy labour so I think they helped to prime my body for the real thing.

Plenty of time for you though

I had them from round 26 weeks. I remember they started immediately after having sex once and then I had them from then on. Felt like the baby was being shrink wrapped! Felt painless but a bit weird, and nothing like actual birthing contractions.

I also can't decide if I'm having them or not! I keep thinking it's too early as only 24 weeks but occasionally my bump goes mega tight for about 30 seconds - it's really weird!

It's not painful or anything just a bit odd!

I certainly never had any. I was induced eventually 2 weeks late, and I swear if I wasn't DS would still be in there.