33 weeks constant Braxton Hicks

[dinosaur17]

I’ve been having BH since about 14 weeks, 3rd baby. I’ve had a few people tell me the more babies the worse BH! I’ve always noticed they were worse first thing when I hadn’t drunk anything overnight, so I’m very conscious that I drink at least 2 litres a day, so I’m not dehydrated.

Anyway yesterday I started having irregular but constant braxton hicks. For about 10 hours lasting 1-3 mins each every 5-20 mins. Constantly needing a wee and having frequent bowel movements. Went up to the assessment unit for monitoring, was definitely having some tightening episodes on the monitor but they were brief.
Had the swab test to detect a protein I think which should indicate if you’re likely to go into labour the next 2 weeks. All fine so came home. I’m working from home but resting as much as possible.

Today the BH are continuing as is the constant peeing. Has anyone had this or the test and actually turned out to be in slow labour?

Hi @dinosaur17 I could have written this myself! In fact I sort of did over on the childbirth board a few days ago (thread title Exhausted and Confused! .. I'm not sure how to link).

Absolutely no words of advice I'm afraid as I am still having them and still nothing has progressed. I'm 35+1 today.

My bump has really dropped this morning but other than that, no changes. Hopefully we'll both figure out what's going soon! x

@JBCG I’m sorry you’re going through this as well, but it’s nice to know I’m not alone!

I hope you get some answers soon. It’s very frustrating isn’t it. I can cope with the odd one but don’t want to miss anything obvious and would like to keep him in a bit longer. I’m struggling to cope with the thought of a prem baby and homeschooling my older ones!

Just so odd that they’re continuing and nothings happening!

Also noticed that I’ve read nipple stimulation can induce labour, OH has brushed past me twice today (I’m not convinced accidentally 😂) and both times it’s caused a contraction

Hi dinosaur
Really good you got checked and all was ok. They may have mentioned these things at your check up but make sure you’re well hydrated. Being dehydrated can encourage the uterus to contract. Concentrated irons can also irritate the bladder leading to increased urge to wee.

Also did you get a mid stream test of your urine? A uti can sometimes present as you have described.

Otherwise just continue as the unit advised and rest where possible!

Xx

Urine not irons sorry!

@babypeach Definitely not dehydrated. Ive been having them on and off for months and noticed at about 16 weeks they were worse when I’d not been drinking enough. I drink at least 2-2.5 litres of plain water and have a fruit tea so I don’t think it’s that.

I’ll give the midwife another call, they didn’t check my urine last night but did have it checked Tuesday and it was ok so I might ask them to check again x

Hi, I am expecting my third too and went in for monitoring at 34 weeks. They could see i was having regular tightening's too, some of which i couldn't even feel. I'm 36 weeks now and have days like you where i get them very regular but not consistent and apparently its our bodies preparing and practicing, which can only be a good thing!

If they are coupled with period type cramps and /or back ache it could be the start of things but again I've had this for the past two days and although baby is 3/5 engaged I've not had any other signs as yet.

@Ariana87 oh hopefully baby doesn’t keep you waiting once you reach full term!

Maybe you’re right and our bodies and super prepared!

I’ve had backache with almost all my tightenings and they’re sort of all over my bump but feel like they start low down. But still not painful just uncomfortable. I’ve given up timing them because they’re no closer together and nothing else is happening.

I’ve called the GP to drop a sample off in the morning to rule out UTI in case.

@dinosaur17 good idea just to rule it out. You definitely want baby to be in a little while longer yet! I never had braxton hicks with my previous two so it’s all new to me this time around. I’m hoping we will both know when it’s the real thing having done it twice before but it does get you nervous when it goes into your back and low down!

Midwife did say to me yesterday she doesn’t think it will be too much longer as she seemed surprised baby is engaged already but he was at 33 weeks too when I went for monitoring 🤷🏻‍♀️

Hope your result is all clear and it’s just baby getting ready for the weeks ahead

Hey ladies, I’m 34+6 and having the exact same thing, I’ve been having them since Friday. I think it is just our bodies getting prepared. But then I had my last daughter 6.5 years ago so I kinda feel like a first time mum all over again 😅 I find them worse in the morning and the cramps in my back are pretty intense, but then they subside by lunch time. I’m just hoping it means he’ll either between 37 weeks and his due date and not late like his sister 😬

@Ariana87 @KB13
I do hope they’re all on time/acceptably early!
I don’t think it’s a UTI but may as well check, things have calmed down a little, they don’t seem to be as often, probably every 30/40 mins, but ongoing. Back pain is still persistent though!

@KB13 I know what you mean! My youngest is 10 so I feel like I’ve got no idea what I’m doing! My older 2 were both late as well. I’m dreading going over, I’ve really struggled this pregnancy since about 29 weeks and the thought of an extra 2 weeks is exhausting! X

@dinosaur17 I’ve been exactly the same. My other 2 pregnancies seemed so easy compared to this one. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve cried because he’s wedged his feet under my ribs and I’m in so much pain and I can’t for the life of me remember when I last had a decent nights sleep. I just keep reminding myself that once he’s here it will be a distant memory and will have all been worth it. I’m just getting incredibly impatient now as well which isn’t helping 🙈

@KB13 exhausting isn’t it. I want him to stay cooking a bit longer obviously, especially with everything going on and having my older ones at home. But I’m feeling very impatient like you.

I know what you mean, I spent a fortune on some fruit tea to help me relax before bed, think I finally got to sleep about 1am 🤣🤣 useless!

It’s nice to know it’s not just me 😅 I’m having one of those days where I really need copious amounts of coffee to survive the day, which obviously I can’t which is just making me want to cry 😅 and on top of that we are having internet issues so the kids can’t get on to their homeschooling. I might just sack the day off and go back to bed 🙈

Absolutely not, I’ve had my one allocated latte 😂 I’m shattered but get into bed and can’t sleep all night!

Oh it’s a bit of a nightmare isn’t it. Just trying to remember that we’re all safe at home when I’m considering launching one of the laptops out of the window!

Another here with an age gap. My youngest is nearly 11 so basically feel like a FTM again. Have been sat trying to do equations with my 13 year old....what a disaster 😩 going back to bed sounds like a great idea!

@Ariana87 Oh don’t, I can’t even do the youngest ones maths work never mind the oldest 😂

Complete disaster!

Starting to wonder if all my braxton hicks are just baby trying to turn himself the right way round?!? He was still head up a few days ago and doesn’t appear to have got the hang of it 😂

I had them from 20 weeks onwards and she still hadn't arrived at 42 weeks. She was in an awkward position, oblique posterior I think it's called and never engaged. Second baby.

@alwaysonadiet1 did you have a section? I’m sure he’s in an awkward position, he was head up and his back against my right side when the midwife checked. He seems to just flip side to side rather than turn the right way up x

Yes elective because first baby was posterior too and I had an emergency c section after induction at 42 weeks. Don't let me alarm you though there's plenty of time for yours to move around. Mine stayed in the same position from about 35 weeks onwards. The BH weren't a problem though.

@alwaysonadiet1 Oh don’t worry! I’ve not bothered writing my birth preferences down because I’d happily go down any route at the minute!

@dinosaur17 😂 maths is so hard!

No idea, every time I’ve gone to the midwife I’ve expected her to say baby is transverse as he feels across the whole stomach and it’s surprised me when said head down. I don’t know how anyone can tell which way baby is

I wouldn’t worry too much as pp said you have time for baby to turn. The previous babies have stretched our stomachs so much they have lots of room to do somersaults lol

I had constant BH from early on in my pregnancy also! Around the same time and had them every day I think!
A couple of days before I gave birth I did get them constant where my stomach was solid and hardly any gaps of them. I really dunno if that was relating to my labour or it was just a coincidence but they were the same BH I'd had throughout , painless, but more often.

Can someone tell me what Braxton hicks actually feel like? I get a weird feeling like tightening across the middle of my bump sometimes and it feels hard and I wondered if that was it but my bump often feels hard and I'm not sure if it's just the baby's back I'm feeling with some rolling movements. It doesn't hurt at all and first happened at about 17 weeks. So hard to know what's going on in there!

Hopefully he’ll turn round, I’m seeing midwife again in 2 weeks so we’ll see. I’ve got a plan in my head if he doesn’t turn so I’m not too worried either way! I have no idea how they work out what way up they are 😂

@jdy123 it’s funny how they get into a sort of pattern isn’t it!

@BlueberryPancake21 Mine feel a bit like mild period pain with a bit of back ache in my lower back but my bump just goes super tight and looks smaller almost. They don’t hurt but just uncomfortable x