Do braxton hicks hurt in late pregnancy?

[otterbaby]

Just about 40 weeks here - I've had braxton hicks since about 20 weeks and they've just been the normal tightening of my bump.

I've been having really painful BH for the last few days - it feels like a really deep, intense period cramp. They're not regular, but I do get them throughout the day and more so at night.

Is this a sign of early labour contractions or do BH tend to get more painful in late pregnancy as standard? Still haven't lost my waters or my plug so I'm not sure if it's wishful thinking.

Mine got like that 3 days before I gave birth. Looking back it was probably very early labour. Hopefully you’ll have a baby in arms in the next few days!

I was wondering this too, I am almost 36 weeks and have been getting them on and off for weeks but they are so strong and uncomfortable. I hope you don't have to wait too much longer

What do BH feel like could I ask? I'm 35 weeks and don't know if I've experienced them yet.

@DragonLegs ooo you've gotten my hopes up now 😂

@MJS2020 me too, not much longer for you either!

@bcccc if you'd had them you would probably know - my bump basically goes as hard as a rock (and sometimes a bit of a funny shape). Not painful, but a little uncomfortable at times. But these ones properly hurt!

I’m also wondering the same. I’m 36 weeks and my stomach keeps going rock hard, it’s not painful as such but quite uncomfortable around where the baby is

I think I may have experienced this - I went to get up and it was like everything came to the front of my belly and went really hard. I also feel suffocated af don't know if this is normal but

How are they today? Have they eased off or getting stronger?

@DragonLegs thanks for asking! They were very strong last night - coming about every 7 minutes but tailed off early morning. Midwife has suggested I'm in the latent phase of early labour so just hoping things start to ramp up soon 😊

So exciting! You're going to be holding your little baby soon 👶💞

@bcccc aw I really hope so! Just lost my first little bit of plug so all positives here 😌

Very exciting! Hope all is going well x

Sounds like you’re well on your way but some women have a long latent phase or prodromal labour. With both of mine, but particularly DC2, I had regular painful BH contractions for the last 2 weeks, including many nights with me going to bed with regular contractions and thinking I’d have a baby by morning. When real labour started I started to feel that the contractions were actually moving down across my uterus, presumably to work on the cervix