How do you know it’s braxton hicks?

[AmberM223]

So i’m 26 weeks pregnant and today just felt off, i didn’t sleep well last night anyway and i suffer with HG - but particularly feel ‘not myself’ today. For the last few hours i have had like all i can describe as the start of what ‘period pain’ feels like for me? I get period pain quite serve it’s debilitating actually so i know what the ‘start’ feels like. All around the bottom of my back and front of my belly? I googled it and it just says braxton hicks? Is this what it could be? I never had them or anything like it with my first so i’m just wondering, i know you don’t have to do anything for it i’m just intrigued to know if that’s what this is 😵‍💫😵‍💫

It could be!

Does your bump get really hard?

You say you've had them for the last few hours, have they lasted for hours? Braxton hicks should be for a few seconds/ maybe a minute tops then go away.
If it's ache or pain in your back that's lasting a while I would give your midwife a call to double check.

I have them frequently, feels like my bump gets really hard all over, sometimes with tenderness at the bottom of my bump. I find it helps if I move into a different position to make them go away. First few times were a lot more uncomfortable than they are now, I had to just sit/lie still until they passed.

For me braxton hicks were a physical tightening of my stomach, they were never painful as such but at times took my breath away because they were sore. They never felt like period pain.

Ahh okay thanks both for your responses, i didn’t notice if my bump was hard. And no sorry i wasn’t clear, i noticed it every so often for the last few hours, like i walked to the bathroom and it was really strong, but got to the bathroom and it died off so i thought hmm! That’s what made me google. I’ll see the next time i have the pain if my belly hardens and if i’m still having the pain later tonight just might give my MAC unit a call, it was a lot in my lower back too not just my bump! xx

It's worth checking with the unit just to set your mind at rest but yes does sound like it. They're not meant to be painful but mine were, especially when I was dehydrated. They can pop you on a monitor to be sure either way.

My MW said if you lie down and they stop, it's BH. But yes do call your MW team if you're worried!

It does sound like BH.

For me, my entire bump goes really hard and I feel crampy and uncomfortable around the bottom of my bump and lower back. Generally I can move around/adjust position and it subsides. It's uncomfortable but not really painful.

Contractions are painful. They increase in intensity and frequency and don't go away when you move around.

There is also round ligament pain which can feel like you're getting stabbed and stretched, and lightning crotch which is like electric shocks.

I'm 38+3 now and there are so many aches and pains, especially in the third trimester

I ended up in triage twice with mine and put on codine so they can definitely be painful! My bump would go super tight too. The second time I thought I was in early labour

The best thing to do it’s get checked though to be sure