Bump going hard

[BiscuitLover2391]

40 weeks and never had braxton hicks. Every now and then my stomach gets really hard. It sort of feels like the baby is completing pushing out so it feels like a rock - is that normal? Also it's happening more recently so could it be a sign they are almost ready for labour?

Feel them hiccuping a lot and pushing down hard on my bladder!

Completely normal!
Sounds like your body is preparing well. Good luck!

Sounds just like braxton hicks. I had them with both of mine from about 28 weeks. If they start to get painful there's a good chance things are happening

@Jsh125 I thought BH were like mini contractions? It'll go hard for maybe 4 minutes and doesn't feel uncomfortable. I feel like it's the baby pushing out more than the muscles contracting? I really don't know.

Yep, those are classic Braxton Hicks. It does often feel like the baby pushing out but if a MW hooked you up to a monitor they'd register as B-H contractions.

They don't really mean anything with regards to labour I'm afraid - many women have them all the time for weeks and they often escalate as you get more pregnant. If they start getting notably stronger they can sometimes escalate into proper labour.

Jumping on as I've had this for a few weeks now and had no idea it was BH! 35+6 so not hopeful she's on her way but at least now I know why bump goes so hard every now and then!

Good luck OP!

yep. BH. First baby with BH - belly felt hard to touch, like a rock but wouldn't have noticed it otherwise. Now on third and BH feels like it knocks the air out of me. Your body is preparing for birth.

if a MW hooked you up to a monitor they'd register as B-H contractions.

What does this mean exactly @CmdrCressidaDuck? I've just been in MFAU on a CTG and they found me having three contractions every 10 mins, which they judged to be BH after not finding anything else happening. But they didn't register as BH contractions on the machine, both midwife and doctor thought I could be in early labour from looking at the readout.

I'm worried as I hadn't heard of BH being so regular and frequent as mine were showing!

@BiscuitLover2391 that definitely sounds like braxton hicks. They're not at all painful & bump just goes rock hard.

If it's a small patch going hard rather than whole bump then yes that's more likely to be the baby pushing outwards.

As I mentioned I had them from 28 weeks so are in no way a sign labour is imminent, it is kind of like your body practising for the real event!