Extremely painful tightening

[lampshade50]

Hello, just wondering if anyone in very late pregnancy - 38 weeks plus has experienced very painful tightening cramps that come and go ? Especially triggered by moving around? So painful that you need to catch a breath/ sit down and hold your bump? Is that Braxton Hicks ? I just don't get it because it says Braxton Hicks are not painful ? To me it sounds like Braxton Hicks getting stronger and stronger!

How often are they? Sounds like it could be labour...

My Brixton Hicks were painful, especially when my baby was back to back .

Same as PP my BH were painful as baby was back to back.

I went home from work many times thinking it was the start of labour.

Anyone that tells you BH can't be painful is lying.

Time them and keep a record. I had about 3 false starts of regular contractions that does off before labour actually ensued.

Sounds like labour to me x

Sound like labour- good luck x

You guys think ? Really ? But it really does go away when I lie down/ rest. I'll definitely keep an eye on it. I've been having it for a while but this evening it's got a lot worse. I bet in the morning it will be gone. I'll time it. But the pains don't last long. Thanks so much all !

I think my baby is back to back ! So that could also explain it !

I knew mine was labour when the pain got me out of bed. I had to squat on the floor. They started off about 20 mins apart at about 4am. Then by 7.30 they were 8 mins apart.

If they go when you lay down chances are it's BH. Have you got an app you can time them?

If your baby is back to back (they didn't tell me mine was until I was 9.5cm and had been in labour for 34 hours ) then your lower back is going to be under alot of pressure with contractions. I found holding a towel tight around my hips helped loads. Especially in the car on the way to hospital!!

Good luck to you.

@Snowflake9 yeah the fact that they seem linked to moving around makes me think they're BH. Also when I pee and just kind of sit there for a bit after, it gets really painful too. So I'm worried it's a UTI. It doesn't burn when I pee but almost from moving on and off the loo somehow. Weird. I do have an app and will start to time them ! Thank you !

No problem. I was convinced I had started labour so many times. When I actually was in labour my DH laughed and went to leave to go to work. Then I had an almighty contraction and he just stared at me. In the doorway, lunchbox in hand. 😂😂

Bless him. He didn't quite know what to do with himself. So he did what most men do, get stuck into some home DIY.

Sounds as though your baby is pressing on your bladder. That's probably the sensation you are feeling. There is so much pressure down there.

Sounds like labour to me but I never had BH.

Sounds like labour to me also.

Going for a wee set off a contraction each time...

I'm the exact same! Been having what feels like contractions every now and then since Monday evening and they always seem to get worse in the evenings, but seem to die down a lot when I go to bed. Midwife has said she thinks my baby's back to back aswell! So I'm guessing it's because of that too. Hope everything goes well for you X

@tired1245 really ! Maybe having the baby back to back really does make BH really, really painful- GREAT ! I feel completely fine this morning. I'm sure once I get my day going and go to the supermarket or move around a bit- this is going to start again. It's definitely getting a lot stronger, so hopefully that's a sign I'm progressing towards labour 🙏 good luck to you as well ! I just need to get this baby out. I'm feeling so anxious and suffocating under the weight of the baby.