braxton hicks or worrying?

[Kif]

To begin with - sorry for starting another 'navel gazing' thread - please bear with me.

I'd appreciate advice on whether my symptoms sound like braxton hicks/ harmless niggles. I'd really rather not go to hospital with a whole load of woolly symptoms when most likely what I need is a good nights sleep.

I've been having tightenings across my bump (31 wks) today, yesterday - perhaps longer but I've really started to pay attention to them recently. They're irregular and painless. Come whether I'm lying down or walking, but I don;t seem to notice any when I'm busy.

I've also been getting sporadic 'bursts' of lower back ache (a few minutes at a time). This is worrying me more, because my first labour just felt like backache for hours. The back ache isn't at the same time as the tightenings.

I've had a 'pick and mix' of other weird things. Pains at the bottom left of bump (feels like muscle), a bit nauseous, my eyes going a bit out of focus. My blood pressure is normal - 120/70 - but gone up recently from the steady 110/60ish I've had for months.

sounds exactly like braxton hicks,which i found got stronger(and started earlier)with each pg(i am on no.5 now).
the back pain could just be everything stretching etc,or maybe the baby is in a different position to last time where it puts more strain on ur back.
the other pains in ur bump sound like stretching pains,and the blurred vision could just be tiredness,but i think u should ring ur midwife if ur worried and she can decide if she needs to see u.

Thanks, divastrop.

Interesting that you thought it got stronger with each preg. I didn't get any at all with my first baby - so that fits.

Sounds like bh's, I had them with dd from around 28 ish weeks. I found them v v v painful but obviously nothing like I experienced when in labour..!

Apparently if you can talk and walk through them they are bh's. If you can't then they are contractions. Good luck

personally(mainly because of the higher than normal bp and your eyes not focusing at times)i would just give your midwife/local unit a call....they would rather hear/see you than have you sat at home worried.....let us know how you get on

I had a bath and a v. early night, which has made me feel a lot better - it got rid of the unfocussed eyes and the back pains. Think def. baxton hicks plus a dose of being very tired.

Thanks for all advice and sympathy!