Braxton Hicks.

[Wuxiapian]

When did yours start?

I'm 28+4 and have been experiencing tightenings since about 23 weeks.

I was in hospital last week for checks and told the midwife in triage. She told me it's too early to be getting Braxton Hicks.

Should I be worried?

I'm pretty sure my BHs started at around the same time as you OP. They weren't painful, it was just my bump would go rock hard for a few seconds then relax. Weird really!

Get it checked though, just to be sure.

Like Wibblypiglikesbananas - didn't get any.

my BH definitely started early - maybe around 25/ 26 weeks? And they've always been the same intensity. tummy goes really hard for 30sec - 1min and then relaxes. not painful but i have to slow down when it happens because it cuts my lung capacity. weirdly it happens more when i'm chilling on the couch. annoying because I'm now 39+2 and still have the same BH as I did 3 months ago so can't use that as a predictor of labour or anything. I want to meet this baby, but no signs :(

Mine started around 20 weeks this time with No 2. They seem to last for ages not minutes and are quite uncomfortable-tightening and hard belly. I get them most days and everyone always comments how big I'm getting when I'm having one as my bump sticks out even further!! I really am hoping they're not an indication of going into labour early as I'm having ELCS and don't want it to end up a EMCS.

I didn't get any with either of mine & had two eay births to boot!

I had them from about 20 weeks - just before I stopped getting morning sickness.

agree that if you're dehydrated they hurt more! Drink plenty of water.

I didn't notice any in first pg, although MW did during an examination at about 39 weeks. In second pg, I had them a lot, especially when hot. I remember sitting at 30-odd weeks timing them and they were every 3 mins for ages, but not painful. At 32 weeks I went into Triage with a tiny bit of bleeding, they hooked me up to a monitor and you could see DD2's hb on one graph and very regular contraction movements on another! DH was absolutely panicking. The doctor asked me if I thought they were contractions and I said no, they weren't, because they weren't painful at all. They gradually slowed down and died away and I was proved right. I'm only 10 weeks pg now but I could swear I've already had a couple!

I had loads first time round from early on. None at all second time and gave birth at the same stage of pregnancy.

With my first, none. With my second, daily from about 20 weeks. Especially in the evening. They would stop me in my tracks if I was walking not that I ever walked too fast, oh no. From about 25 weeks I was getting them all day.

At 40+2 I said to DH, "I don't think these ones are Braxton Hicks."

So, perfectly normal delivery date, perfectly normal delivery, pretty perfect DD. Your MW was talking rubbish. Hope you have a good night and good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

DD1 none.

DD2, by 22 weeks, by 30 weeks I had to stop walking for a rest at times as they were so uncomfortable. I had 'a run' of them at 40 + 1 got in the shower, got out and realised I needed to push, DD2 arrived less than 15 mins later. Clearly they were in fact contractions but no more painful than my BH!

beginnings very similar to you!

I got them with dc1 from about 20 weeks. They were so strong that I had to be told when I was in labour .

After having BH regularly and from very early on in both of my pregnancies, I would say there are all sorts of BH possible. They commonly aren't felt very early though or very painful so I think your MW was right. Some women DO have them early and painful with no risks but some go into pre-term labour as I did with first baby (31 weeks). As PTL is associated with painful, early BH I would never dismiss them. My first labour started exactly as some here describe their BH and I sat it out for two days before going to A&E, which I bitterly regret.

Ive had them since about 17 weeks. In first two pregnancies I never really noticed them however baby no 3 it has been constant and really painful. Im not sure I would recognise actual labour now as they have been so painful.
The only reason I initially knew what they were (and that it was normal) was I had one during my 20 week scan when the ultrasonographer said "ooo you are contracting, can you feel that" an I realised what the odd sensation was. Until then, Id put the funny pains down to my SPD.

Im now 37 weeks and keep getting excited when I have a bad run of them, but then the bloody things stop, and no baby has appeared yet. They are always much worse on movement and if my bladder is full. I also find that if I open my bowels, they settle down for a while. Paracetamol helps - but again that could just be helping the SPD. I find it very hard to tell the difference between the two pains at times.

Its also noticeable that they are not organised around my bump. One area of my bump seems to contract rather than say a wave of contraction over the whole bump or as other have said, one starting in lower back (although I have had that too). They are driving me crazy.

Agree with sophe29 - my BH tended to be lopsisded, so only one half or one quarter of my bump would go hard.

With DD I had them from 35 weeks, usually after I'd eaten a big meal and combined with indigestion and heartburn. They were sore enough to make me breathe through them and regular.

This time I had first BH at 20 weeks after running for a train, and have had small episodes when stressed at work on and off. Had pretty sore run of them Sunday afternoon at 29 weeks again after eating too much!

I found real contractions quite different in that they started off just as painless tightenings and then got a lot stronger and all encompassing (whole abdomen) whereas the BH felt focused on my bump, if that makes any sense?

My last pregnancy I had BH before I knew I was pregnant. As I was breastfeeding I didn't miss my period and by the time I was suspicious I was 10 weeks. I put them down to my period being due but it was quite obvious once I knew I was as they never stopped all the way through. I don't think it's ever too early, you don't say if it's your first or subsequent, subsequent pregnancies can get them earlier.

My tips are change what you're doing (if you're at rest get up and do something, if you're busy take a break) record them to see if there's a pattern, get a bath or shower. If you do all that, nothing changes and there's a recordable pattern 5 minutes apart or less then call triage.

Yes, good idea to monitor the BHs. I used to time intervals and durations once or twice a day at the same time. I went in at 30 weeks on second pg as they had got down to regular 3 minutes apart! Was fine though. I forgot to add to earlier post that I found daily magnesium supplements helped - obviously ask MW or consultant before starting them!

It's a good habit to get into and keeps you busy.

About 21 weeks. And I got them constantly from then until the day I went into labour. Round the clock, every ten minutes sometimes. First baby too.

15 weeks, triggered by any diagnosed UTI.

Once that was fixed they still continued, I had an irritable uterus. I was having them every 5-10 minutes which textbooks say is premature labour...it was just normal for me.

Hideously uncomfortable.

Thanks all for your responses.

I'm (kind of) reassured that it's normal - was just alarming for me as this is my 3rd DC and have never experienced BH before - DC1 was born at 38+5, DC2 was induced at 40+15.

After 2 days of nonstop tightenings, they've settled and I have between 5 and 10 episodes a day.

It's another 2 weeks until next MW appointment, so will see what she says.