Irritable uterus?

4 replies

missrose0110 · 17/09/2021 07:42

Has anyone else experienced this? I'm 33 weeks pregnant and last night I was having tightenings every 2.5 mins that lasted 30 seconds ish. Wasn't super super painful, but felt like the start of labour (this is baby number 2 so I've experienced labour before).

Sent to labour ward where they acknowledged I was having tightenings, as shown by the machine but my cervix is closed and they did a swab to test for preterm labour, which was inconclusive.

Put it down to an "irritable uterus" and told me to rest.

Didn't know irritable uterus was a thing, I've heard of braxton Hicks, but not this. Has anyone else experienced this?

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MinaPop · 17/09/2021 09:21

I've heard of it. Nobody's diagnosed me with it, but I've had tightenings since the first trimester in all my pregnancies. I guess I have it too. They are like Braxton Hicks but you're not supposed to get them from as early as 8 weeks onwards 😆

Later in pregnancy they start to get more painful for me, rather than just weird and uncomfortable like the earlier ones. But they don't mean labour is coming, for me personally.
Sorry that doesn't help much, but sometimes just good knowing you're not the only one!

Ozanj · 17/09/2021 09:23

@missrose0110

Sent to labour ward where they acknowledged I was having tightenings, as shown by the machine but my cervix is closed and they did a swab to test for preterm labour, which was inconclusive.

Put it down to an "irritable uterus" and told me to rest.

Didn't know irritable uterus was a thing, I've heard of braxton Hicks, but not this. Has anyone else experienced this?

Yes I had this. Do you have pcos or ivf? Apparently there’s a link between it and high prolactin / synthetic progesterone. My tightenings started around 16 weeks and I bled a bit too in the early days.

BaaBaaEmily · 17/09/2021 11:21

I had this in my first two pregnancies, and assuming I'll get it again. I didn't realise at first but at all my midwife appointments my midwife could feel my uterus contracting, and it was only once pointed out I realised it was happening frequently. I think it's just your body preparing for how it'll act in labour eventually (as a side note, both my labours were very quick - not sure if there's a link!)

Original poster

missrose0110 · 18/09/2021 08:32

@Ozanj no I don't have PCOS or IVF, but that is interesting that there is a link!

@MinaPop yes it's good to know you're not the only one isn't it! I never had a single braxton Hicks or anything in my previous pregnancy so I was surprised to be having rhythmic contractions. I thought it was the real deal!

@BaaBaaEmily hopefully it means I will have a quick labour this time around 🤞 I was 37 hours last time! That's interesting that the midwife could feel it, but you couldn't.

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