Do Braxton Hicks mean an early birth?

[Ilovebean]

Hi All

I'm 32 weeks and have been experiencing Braxton Hicks for about a week now. I get a strong like period cramp first thing in the morning, then about an hour later when I'm walking to work then a few hours later, just after I've eaten breakfast.

My mum has told me to pack my hospital bag now (I have hardly anything I need for it) as she's saying this is my body showing me I'm going to be in labour very soon. Shes guessing I only have a few more weeks left. Im not due until the 5th of July.

Can anyone advise, I don't want to go into labour just yet. Baby isn't fully cooked.

No they don't.. you actually get them from the start or something you just don't feel them till later on.

Are you resting/drinking enough? I actually asked to be induced on my due date because I was plagued by them because of an irritable uterus.

No it doesn't. I worried about this when I was pregnant with DS2 as I had lots of BH from about 30 weeks but my midwife reassured me that it did not mean I was going to go into labour.

Thanks girls. I've just been to Boots to buy lots of mini toiletries in a panic that I was going to need them soon.

I'm assuming they're nothing to worry about unless I get any bleeding, or they don't stop etc.

Gamerchick - I'm drinking so much that I've actually started leaking pee. Which is gross, but if I don't drink enough water then I feel super tired.

No, it can mean absolutely nothing. I've always had loads and the earliest of my three was 8 days overdue!

No, I had them from around 30 weeks with both of mine and went overdue twice

I had them very strongly throughout my second pregnancy - DD2 was born 2 days after her due date.

However, I notice that you say you're leaking pee. Are you 100% sure that it is pee? I only ask because when I was pregnant with DD1, I thought I was leaking wee and it turned out to be amniotic fluid. I think it lasted about a week whereby I was getting the odd little trickle and I was really mortified at the time because I remember leaking onto the seat pad of a chair at my neighbour's house. I ended up staying there for ages just sat there praying it would dry before I stood up! Then my waters broke a couple of days later and it was only then that I realised it wasn't wee, but waters.

Maybe mention it to your midwife especially as you might be leaking fluid too. I had what I thought were Braxton hicks every evening for about a week. I went into hospital to be checked because I was getting more than (6?, 12? Can't remember now) an hour so they wanted to see me and tightenings were painful. Mine did end up being early labour though and DD was born at 32 weeks.

I tend to leak pee when I've drank loads of water, some days I'm unable to get lots of fluids in me due to work and I don't really leak that much. This is so gross but it certainly smells like pee.
I have a midwife appointment next week and also a scan next week as baby's kidneys had not formed properly at 20 week scan. Should I wait until then? Or go to the hospital now? I've not had any BH's since this morning, only a shooting pain in my fanjo a couple of times.

I had severe BH's from around 32 weeks - I thought I was in labour quite a few times. DS was born 10 days overdue. That was a LOOOONG 10 days!!! laughing about it now, wasn't at the time

I had them from 30 weeks with dd2. From about 33 weeks they were incredibly painful and lasting a few hours at a time.

Dd2 was born at 41+6.

I had none with dd1 or ds1 and they were both two weeks early.

If individual anecdotes are anything to go by, then unfortunately no! I had none with DC1 but have had a lot this time and am currently 8 days overdue

Not necessarily. I had an irritable uterus. Constant BHs from about 22 weeks onwards.

Gave birth on my due date.

Had none with either, one overdue induced and EMCS, 2nd came bang on EDD

Definitely check the leakage issue with your mw op.

As for bh, I had them with dd for weeks and weeks and she was 11 days late. Have been having them since about 16 weeks this time (23 weeks currently) so I don't think there's anything in that I'm afraid.