How sore should Braxton Hicks be? Help!

[deegward]

I am 30 weeks tomorrow, and today have been having the mother f*** of Braxton Hicks ie stomach hardening, and really painful. Not to get too personal, have also been very loose!

Now I didn't go into natural labour with ds as he was induced due to my high blood pressure, and am starting to think are these just Braxton Hicks or what?

They last for about two or three minutes, and have been coming every two to three hours.

Help, somebody say I am just feeble and these are Braxtons', it's just I don't remember them being so painful last time

Hi deegward. I had very strong Braxton Hicks with my daughter and at times felt like they were the beginnings of labour. I also found that at times they were very regular. If you are concerned that it is labour then contact a midwife and explain to them. Are you having any other pains, such as back pain? I know that loose stools can be a sign of oncoming labour but I think you tend to be a bit looser at times in pregnancy anyway.

If its any consolation my BH were very strong but I had a very quick labour.. and I believe its because my body got ready so early!

Braxton Hicks contractions should not be very painful. You may be having pain because of a gastric upset but if they have not stopped since you posted you should be checked out at your maternity unit incase you are starting to go into labour. The other problem could be a urine infection that can cause pain like you describe, but urine infections can also trigger labour.
Hope things have settled since you posted.

Hope everything's okay - get it checked out if they get more frequent or stay as painful or worse.

I had a similar thing with ds at 27 weeks and it turned out I was in labour - very scary. Luckily my GP sent me to the hospital "just in case" (she seemed to think I should know if I was in labour), and by the time we got there they were about 7 mins apart! (All settled down and he ended up being induced a week late btw!)

Do please let us know how you are.

I beg to differ..lol..Braxhton Hicks contractions can be painful...particularly if your tummy goes very tight like mine used to and I didnt have any infections!

How are you feeling today deegward?

I am 35 weeks and suffering painful braxton hicks contractions for the last 5 weeks or so - I think it depends how you carry - I am quite small - measuring three weeks too small but baby is normal size (same with ds1) so when it tightens there is very little room and it can be quite painful and take me by surprise. i am also finding that he baby's movements (lots of them) feel far more bruising this time.

I was in hospital on a monitor at about 27 weeks as I felt the pains were regular - that showed regular bh - every half an hour but wasn't labour and they sent me home. I always think you are best getting checked out though.

Hope you are ok - let us know.

Thanks all, had a few twinges today, but went to my active birth yoga class and that seems to have helped. I liked the idea of strong Braxtons, short labour, I'm definately up for that.

Mears, can you explain why some people get Braxton Hicks and others don't?

I never had them with either pregnancy.

Braxton Hicks are a normal process of pregnancy. Women who think that they don't have them probably are just unaware of them. We all have different pain levels therefore will react differently to them. Some may be so mild they are not noticible whereas others may be pretty strong and painful. When experiencing painful Braxton Hicks for the first time, it is not always wise to assume that is what is causing the pain. It can be undiagnosed labour or infection. However, once you recognise what your body is up to it can be easier to cope with IYKWIM.