What do Braxton Hicks feel like?

[Mayanbob]

Hello! I'm term today! And second most popular question next to 'have you had a baby yet' is "have you had any Braxton Hicks??"

I don't bloody know! I don't think so. Would I definitely know?

My bump is quite taught anyway. Not sure how I identify further tightening.

Aggghhh! I don't understand!!! Have i really not had any? am i going to be pregnant forever? And I'm tired and

I didn't feel them at all at first - just noticed the bump was a bit more round and solid... over the last couple of weeks I've started to feel them more and I would say it's a bit like the way your tummy feels when you've been laughing too much - you know when you literally laugh so hard it hurts?

Now, it's similar, but I'm getting them with any sort of exercise, so leaving work and walking back to the station, they start and gradually I get a stitch over about 5 mins, not sure if that's true braxton hicks pain, or a stitch as a result of braxton hicks?

One thing I can definately say is I've had nothing lower down, ie. no period type pains, it's always right at the top of my bump - so I'm hoping I'll know the difference.

Not sure if that actually helps though!

ps. I actually had a little contraction during my 20 week scan, didn't feel a thing, she just pointed it out on the screen, freaked me right out, but she said it's really common and pretty much everyone has them, only some people feel them

For me, my whole belly tenses up and gets really hard to the touch. It's not sore, just uncomfortable. It usually stops if I change position. 25+4 :)

YY to bump going hard and a general sense of tightening. They aren't (shouldn't be) painful.

I've been having what I assume are Braxton hicks where my bump goes hard along with slight cramping which feels like a mild period pain. I'm 36 weeks. It's not regular enough to be labour, just had it a few times a day for 5 mins or so.

Thank you! I may have had a couple, but not a regular occurrence.

Bugger

Im the same as pinkapple upthread. But I've been having them since around 20 weeks - am 36 weeks with 4th baby. Sometimes I have to stop what I'm doing and breathe through them lately but its all ok - had them early and strong in the 3 previous pregnancies too but still went past term with 2 of them.

Midwife unconcerned when she felt a BH earlier this week when listening to heartbeat and checking position of myvvery active baby.

From ready what others have said I'm not sure i am getting braxtons. What I thought they were, get tingling sensation across belly n in groin/high leg area feels like a period pain.havent felt any tightening or anything 😖 is this normal? X

Some people don't feel them at all. I've been having mine since around week 26 (now 32+6). My stomach really tightens and when it's bad, it feels like being winded. I always have to walk around until they die down again.

I never had any with my DS and he can at 38weeks so don't worry.

My NCT lady said often women just mistake them for the baby turning, the only simple way to tell the difference is that with BH your whole bump should be firm to touch. Until she said this I didn't realise I have been having them from about 28 weeks!