First "braxton hicks" contractions?

[misomummy]

Hi mommas, I am FTM 21+4 days , for the first time I think I had my first braxton hicks, and the pain was so closely resembling "labour pains" I had to check into hospital to double check I wasnt having preterm labour.
bloods, cervix and baby is all okay and I got discharged. But upon googling and researching more into it it seems as though the intensity of my pain isnt the "norm" of what I experienced today, they felt like when you have a really painful period, with waves of pain in intervals whilst it slowly got worse before it got any better (pain lasting over 2 hours) and then suddenly the moment I got told that they need to check my cervix , the pain just went like that!, Not long ago before this post I did also have the same again but in a more "tightness","mild" way now, just feels like how my normal periods are (theyre very manageable), its just scary honestly and the pain this morning made me feel cold, shivering, hardly could speak and at the peak of it all I was audibly groaning in pain
I was wondering about anyone else's experiences on braxton hicks !? Can they be painful as your worst ever period ( the best way I can explain), or is it just one of those that are different for other people?, my partner was wondering if it couldve been dehydration as it died down not long after having lots of water ... but could also just be feeling more relaxed about my situation when I heard my baby's heartbeat knowing things are okay😅 is this something I should be concerned about , despite tests being normal?

They’re not meant to be painful I don’t think, could be dehydration I guess. I’ve had them really early this time started about 16 weeks and my tummy goes solid but shouldn’t hurt like period pains.

hopefully a one off for you, think I’d be inclined to get checked again if it happens again if it was me

@Panda34
Yeah thats ideally what I am thinking of doing the next time it ever happens (fingers crossed it doesnt), but for now im taking more care in drinking enough water,
I did ask the maternity ward staff what to do if i ever have it again and told me to come in, to be better safe than sorry. But they just told me its braxton hicks 🤷‍♀️

I had braxton hicks really regularly from around 20 weeks but they didn’t hurt. They were uncomfortable but I got used to them quickly and they definitely didn’t feel like labour.

I had Braxton-Hicks all the time in my first pregnancy and it was never painful. My stomach would go rock hard and you get this tightening sensation, especially if you're walking etc. But it should be painless.

I'd suggest telling your midwife or calling triage and see what they suggest.

Ah that sounds so scary, especially with the shivering and not being able to speak through it — I'm so glad you got checked and everything came back fine.
To answer your question though — yes, BH can absolutely be that painful for some people, it's honestly so unfair how much it varies person to person. Some women barely notice theirs and others describe exactly what you did, proper period-level waves that build and then just switch off. The fact that it eased with water/rest and your cervix was fine is actually a really reassuring sign — that's very BH-like behaviour even if the pain itself felt intense.
Try not to compare it to what you read online too much, everyone's pain tolerance and body's just different. If it happens again with the same intensity or doesn't ease with rest/fluids, definitely get checked again — better safe. But it sounds like your body (and baby) are doing exactly what they're meant to 💛