Braxton Hicks / cramping/ lower back ache

[ErinnLouisee12]

Hey I was just curious as to what every one else's experiences are! This is my second pregnancy, but I didn't get Braxton hicks until the very end on my first and she was four days late.
This time I'm 34+5 and I've had them every day for over a week , on and off! And some are quite strong and painful, others not so much! Sometimes paracetamol gets rid and sometimes it doesn't , moving around and changing position does naff all!
I'm a bit curious as to whether anyone experienced this and their little ones came before due date or not etc!
Purely curious :) I know there's no actual way of knowing if this one will be on time late or early , but I've a lot of time on my hands now haha! Can't stop wishing this pregnancy would hurry up and be over with🙈

Heya I'm 35+4 and have been getting some pretty significant bh, especially in the night when I go to bed. It's doing my absolute head in. That along with pressure and lightening crotch.

Never had them with my first (9 days over) and although they aren't comfortable (and a little bit painful) I know they are definitely not labour.

I just keep trying to remind myself they are baby getting ready to come out and they are "useful".

Easier said than done though.

And right on cue having them now

Yeah , I've had the pressure and also stabbing pains down below! Definitely not labour but that's why I'm even more curious because every one just keeps saying it's my body getting ready , which having one child already, I knew that 😂

Definitely easier said than done, they're just rather irritating aren't they?!

I'm hoping this doesn't continue until the end otherwise I think I'll lose my mind! (Especially if this one makes a late arrival) I've not had one day with out them 😩

Oh gosh🙊 Not far off for you now though!? So fingers crossed for you that they ease off a bit!

Me too. I'm at a point now where I can't sleep. Trying to stay positive but when you're going for your 47th "ghost pee" of the night and falling asleep and dreaming about it being 38 weeks etc it's grating

My husband keeps telling me to enjoy it and embrace it as it's our last baby but that's just irritating me now lol

I've been trying to fixate on my 42 week date rather than due date as well but even that's not helping 😱

Aw I've been trying that! It's no use is it! Doesn't matter what you do you can't help but wish it away🙊Or wonder about the possibilities of them coming on time or just that little bit early!

It is hard to stay positive so close to end , especially when men don't have to go through it all and will never experience it 🙈 Mine keeps telling me to relax , but I just can't!

Plus you're scared to say anything about when you think they may arrive because, even if you haven't got a superstitious bone in your body, you're scared to jinx it

I've had 2dc and with the 2nd didn't get BH til last few weeks along with back ache etc, so presumed she was making an early appearance. She ended being 9 days late which I wasn't expecting 😡

Currently 33 weeks with no3 and been getting strong (have to stop and take deep breaths) contractions, cramps and back pain since 26 weeks - ended up in maternity unit where they said it was probably an irritable uterus. So it could be you've maybe got that? With irritable uterus contractions they are different to BH as they're usually regular (mine generally last 1 min and are 3 mins apart, stretching over 1-3 hours) and strong.

It's incredibly frustrating continuously wondering if I'm actually in early labour!

Haha! Most definitely! I think my whole family have jinxed me already! I attended my nephews christening the other weekend and there was a lot of family present and every single person who saw me said 'no way are you going another 6 weeks, he'll be here before then.'😩

Ahhh those cruel people. My mil was so confident I'll go overdue again she's booked a cruise for three weeks of my five week "window".

I know talk about getting your hopes up! Oh wow! How bad would she feel if you gave birth whilst she was away! well it'll be her loss if you give birth during her cruise 🙈 I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, hoping you don't go two weeks over! Haha.

sewingbeatshousework - oh really? I was at my local hospital when it first started as they were regular for six hours and they just sent me home with antibiotics and told me I had a UTI possibly , they sent a swab off but it's been five days, I've nearly finished the antibiotics and have not had my results still🙄 I've never heard of an irritable uterus ! so thank you !

It's very infuriating indeed!

I've had noticeable BH since 17 wks and each week they just keep getting stronger and more request in occurrence. Does my head in when I'm trying to sleep or even just walking around the office or town. MW said it's all normal.

Did give the MWs a bit of a shock though in triage the other day. Went in there for a unrelated to BH reason (all is fine btw). But they hadn't me on one of those baby heart and contraction monitors and they were surprised at how frequent and strong my BHs were haha!

I'm only 32 wks currently. Hoping baby doesn't make me wait beyond due date if these keep going like this!

(Sorry should say *they had me on)

It's worth looking up IU, tbh they didn't seem to know much at all at the maternity unit. They panicked with the strength and timings of the contractions, was hooked to monitor for over an hour then given an ultrasound and internal. Urine and swabs were sent away but I never heard anything back so presume all were fine. They also did a strip test (not sure of name) that can check for early labour which came back negative. It was left as just one of these things and must be irritated uterus, to go back if got worse etc. It was google that confirmed it for me! However apparently having an IU means the risk of pre-term labour increases by a small amount so I'm very aware of that - although midwives aren't phased in the slightest.

Bending, lifting heavyish objects & orgasms are definite triggers to set mine off. Oh and when baby moves, which is all.the.time!

Dinomania aw wow , that's a long time for them to be going! I bet it does! Glad baby is fine! Haha mine weren't too strong or frequent but I was meant to have a scan and still not heard when that will be as my belly was measuring 30wks and I was exactly 33+5 so! I hope baby doesn't make you wait either Especially as they started around 17 weeks!

Seeingbeatshousework - I will definitely look it up! Aw it's odd how strong they can be! Everything should be fine if they haven't contacted! I'll have a look on google now and see cause I've never heard of it before! Ahh well, midwives don't seem phased by much anyway where I am! Haha!