Tightening of belly - 20 weeks

[Motherof1and2dogs]

Just wanted to see if this was normal. I had read up about braxton hicks but 20 weeks seems far too early to be having them.

I am experiencing very mild period type pains and extreme tightening of the belly to the point I feel really bloated and it goes rock hard! This is happening on a daily basis now and sometimes happens a few times a day.
Is this normal?

I am also experiencing mild nausea and a headache but not sure if this is due to a bad sleep last night.

Hard to say but it does sound like it’s braxton hicks. Your headache and nausea is just pregnancy in general

This all sounds fairly normal for pregnancy, have you had your 20 week scan yet?

@sel2223 yes, having a little girl :) all ok, growing perfectly well and no problems at all. I didn't think braxton hicks could happen so early on! It's very uncomfortable though and I struggle to breathe when it happens!
How long do you have now?! 😊 I know your a fair bit further gone than I am x

Aww congratulations.....little girl here too (only 3 weeks to go).

This is my second girl but this pregnancy has been totally different to my first. I can't remember exactly when the BH started for me but it was relatively early and I've had them for a long time.... and round ligament pain too.

This time I've also had insomnia for almost the whole pregnancy ..... and I'm still suffering with sickness now (not everyday now thankfully but still about 3 times a week). Headaches yes, cramps yes......... then the third trimester brought another selection box of 'treats' with it 😅

Do you have any appointments coming up with the midwife etc? Just so they can give a bit of reassurance

Yeah has been normal for me in my pregnancies

@sel2223 oh my god yes the insomnia! I wake up at 3am every morning and cannot get back to sleep! I read somewhere that it's your body getting ready for the lack of sleep when baby is here but not sure how true that is.

Oh I'm glad BH is normal to happen so early, I was starting to worry there was an issue. I need to call the midwife today to book my next appointment now I have had my 20 week scan, I will ask her about it on the phone just for some extra reassurance. This pregnancy has been awful from week 7 so Mumsnet has been amazing for me so far, I also have health anxiety so I am much more worried this pregnancy, I was so chill with my first but I had no problems then at all!

Congrats on your baby girl too, not long to go, you could go into labour at any second now! :) good luck and hope the birth goes well x

I had Braxton hicks from about 15 weeks with both of mine. They got a bit stronger the further along I got, never painful, just stronger. My midwife said it was normal.

Braxton Hicks started very early on in my third and fourth pregnancies, probably around 20 -23weeks. Some of them used to stop me in my tracks and were very painful. I was sure I was going to go into premature labour but made it to full term with them. I think they were just a reminder for me to slow down.