32 weeks - strange feelings. Can anyone help?

[TheHermitCrab]

Hello all,

I'm 32 weeks with my first baby, for the last few days I've been having what I can only describe as tummy ache, that radiates down to my vagina, kind of like the aches you would get when you are in the day before or the first few days of your period. If i wasn't pregnant it would be exactly the same signs as me coming onto my period.

I don't know what they are... could they be braxton hicks? I have no idea what a contraction feels like, where you feel it.. or what is normal.

Any suggestions?

(I'm seeing my midwife tonight but any aches and pains I have she usually brushes off. So I wondered if anyone else had anything similar)

Yup, sounds exactly like Braxton Hicks to me. A very accurate description of them too. You may notice that your stomach hardens as they happen.

Any doubts, speak to your MW :)

Hi OP. Sorry I missed your post yesterday. What did your midwife say?

I wouldn't want to worry you unnecessarily, but I had similar (period-type) pains as a first sign that I was about to go into preterm labour. I had also previously had Braxton Hicks, but BHs were more like a painless tightening.

It's good that you're in touch with your midwife. Please bear in mind that no medical professional can tell you whether or not period-type pains are anything to worry about if they haven't actually examined / scanned you, so, if you're concerned, please don't let anyone brush you off and don't hesitate to get a second opinion.

I hope it's nothing and just random pregnancy pains, but I thought I should let you know of my experience, just in case.

Hello,

Thank you for my replies.

My MW appointment was a farce. They missed me 2 weeks ago because the "clinic was closed" so this was my first app in 4 weeks. Inexperienced young MW (I'm 27, she can't have been older than me!) and a "nurse" I think? assisting her.

Between the two of them they got my measurement different by about 3 inches, so continued to measure me about 4 times and disagree where my uterus started, then the MW said "I'm doubting myself now, going to do it again!"

They didn't take a urine sample (despite me being in triage last week because I wet myself and didn't know why, turned out nothing but I did have thrush!)

Then the "nurse" told me how she "couldn't find the head" so the MW came back, pushed around (It hurt a lot, never hurt before!) And said "the head is in the pelvis!"

So I was like "oooh well it was transverse last time so she's moved then?" and MW was just like "yeh...."

I told her I was achey below my belly and in my vagina (especially in mornings)

...... all in all utter rubbish :( back in on the 10th Dec so I'm hoping it's someone new.

Oh and as for the stomach tightening, I've been having that for a couple of weeks.

Its particularly noticeable because I have "two bellies" I was a size 14 with chub before pregnancy and my bump never really rounded (spare tires!) but when I do tighten up, I have a properly round hard baby bump.

At the minute it's two bellies again.

and I CONSTANTLY have the urge that I need a wee :(

Think I'm looking at an early baby?

I'm 33 weeks and have very similar symptoms to you. This is my third though, and I know that for me, BH contractions were always uncomfortable and do 'pull' in the lower segment. I am finding I have to breathe through mine and also have a very low baby pressing on my bladder/into my pubic bone which is hideously uncomfortable. I am not sure my other two engaged so early - this one is really uncomfortable - but I did have similar symptoms ie painful BH (was even kept in overnight at 34 weeks in my first pregnancy in case I was going into premature labour) but the other two both stayed put until 41 weeks.

I am not a fan of the third trimester - barely slept last night due to the baby wriggling and shoving my pelvic floor - so I sympathise - even harder when you get such an inconclusive response from the midwives. That said, I think it is harder to measure fundal height when the head is very low down and it is not an exact measure, more of a guideline.

From extensive googling, I don't think early engagement means early baby (I've worried about this as apparently it's not very common in second/third pregnancies), but if contractions get very painful and close together then go in and get examined - only a VE will tell you whether your cervix is changing. I'm tempted to ask my midwife to check at my appointment next week.

Thanks for your reply!

Yep it's more the awkwardness and inconvenience that's bothering me!

I leave the house at 7am and come home at 6:30pm so I have a long uncomfortable working day (finishing on 23rd Dec!) and all my sleeping has been disturbed by pain and peeing! lol

Just wish I could be at home with my feet up!

My baby has had his head in my pelvis all the way through (also 32wks). Some days it feels like he is bouncing on it. My midwife said perfectly normal; also sign of uterus stretching at this stage of pregnancy.