Are these braxton hicks or am I going mad

[Notsofast1]

I'm just about to turn 28 weeks tomorrow. 2nd pregnancy. My last baby was born at 34 weeks, no reason for it was found, my waters went spontaneously. Anyway I got woken up this morning by period pain type cramps and its lingered all day until now. They come and go just like period pains do. I didnt have any braxton hicks of any kind last time so have no idea what they actually feel like. I've done a google and everything says they come and go but the cramp seems to linger really low down in my pelvis and its lasted all day. I really don't want to waste the time of the day assessment unit if these are just braxton hicks but I don't know whether they should feel like this or not. I suppose my question is, is it normal for braxton hicks/cramps to last entire days at a time? Has anyone experienced similar? Last time I went from absolutely nothing to baby out within an hour so actual experience of labour/contractions is really just a blur!

I haven't been pregnant in 15 years but my experience of Braxton hicks was a general tightening at around 36 weeks , my DD went to full term, and it got generally more intense until labour set in. If you have had a prem baby before and are worried , I'd definitely ring the labour ward for a quick bit of advice , it's absolutely ok to do that !

For me Braxton hicks felt more like a painless tightening of my whole bump. I had them on and off from about 28 weeks. If I was stressed or tired then they were worse but never painful. Just felt like your belly is being squeezed. Might be worth speaking to triage to rule out a uti?

I had braxton hicks from around 20 weeks with my 2nd. Quite painful tightenings, like period cramps as you said, on and off for hours on end before they would just disappear. Happened almost daily

Just to add - I was always told braxton hicks didn’t hurt. With both my previous pregnancies they were always painful

I'm 33 weeks today and have been having Braxton hicks for the last couple of weeks. Lots of times per day and they are a bit painful like bad period cramps. I don't ever remember getting them this early before (baby number 5) in fact I only really remember having them with baby number 4 for the last week before she was born. I didn't notice them with the first 3 pregnancies at all.

I think yours are probably just normal braxton hicks but keep a mental note of movements etc and def get checked if you're worried.

Same as @Queenbee95 my BH were painful! They definitely felt like period pains and could go on for hours.

With your history @Notsofast1 I think it would be sensible to get checked out if they don’t settle down after making sure you are well hydrated and well rested.

Thanks so much ladies. It's so difficult to know when people say they shouldn't hurt or they come and go no more than a few times an hour etc. You think you know what to expect second time round but this pregnancy is completely different to my first and of course I have the added risk of early delivery potentially hanging over my head! I have a midwife appointment tomorrow anyway, baby is moving fine, if anything more than usual so I'll see how I go and give them a call if I cant wait until tomorrow. I really hate being a time waster and I dont have many friends who have had kids yet so it's always nice to hear from the hive mind :)