Braxton hicks that are so strong I struggle to walk. Anyone else experienced this?

[ikeaismylocal]

I'm 33 weeks pregnant with dc2 and experiencing really stron Braxton hicks, I had slight tightenings in my first pregnancy but nothing like this until the night before he was born and in hind sight I think I was in early labour then.

I walk a lot, I don't drive so I walk probably 3+ km each day, today I was uncomfortable I kept having to stop and rub my bump to try to get my tummy to relax, people were stopping me and asking if I was ok

Has anyone else had such strong Braxton hicks so early? Any tips on preventing them?

I did, I had am irritable uterus which caused them almost constantly. I could only stop them if I lay in my side. They were hideous.

When I went to the hospital the midwives hooked me up and they were at the top end of the pain threshold and they said I was in labour.

I managed to hold in until 36 weeks but had to stop working.

How long have yours been this strong for?

I think you ought to talk to your midwife tomorrow. Hey sound like very strong BH. I was definitely told that they shouldn't hurt.

I know they can be made worse by dehydration, having a full bladder (hard to find the middle ground between those two, I found), and overdoing it.

Could you rest up for a couple of days and see if they improve?

Maybe a week, I still breastfeed my toddler and they have been really strong whilst feeding for a while but it's quite recently they have started like this from just walking.

I don't work, just study, but I have a fodder to run around after so that seems like quite hard work!

Have you got heartburn, constipation or a runny bum? Any of those things tend to set me off with painful BH both pregnancies.

I do have heartburn but I had that with the last pregnancy also, I grow huge babies, this one is already over 6 pounds apparently and seemingly living mostly in my ribcage.

I'll call the midwife tomorrow, thanks for sharing your experiences

Nipple stimulation (inc breastfeeding) triggers oxytocin, which i'd guess is linked to braxton hicks, as well as being linked to real labour. But do talk to your midwife to check! She may suggest reducing the breastfeeding to reduce that stimulation, but then that would be down to your personal feeling on that too. Good luck!

Yep. Everyone keeps saying bh don't hurt but mine do. Not all of them but some are very strong and I can't walk and have to breath through them. Had them since 16 weeks but they became very strong from about 30 weeks.

Now 40+1 and midwife thinks I'll end up having to be induced. So not only are they a complete PITA but they're doing fuck all. Thanks a lot.