painless contractions at 18 wks... mw says maybe mc... completely terrified

[2ndDestiny]

Any stories / similar experiences that carried on with a healthy pregnancy?

Baby still has heartbeat and was moving over night. No bleeding or anything. I've had a few of these painless tightenings over the past week. I only called the mw this a.m. because I had 3 in about half an hour very late last night, then woke up in middle of night having another one. None this a.m.

Am booked in at day assessment unit later this a.m. but mw says there might not be much they can do...

Just hoping there are some positive stories out there... I really thought these were just early braxton hicks!

Are you sure that your midwife didn't mean there is not much you can do about stopping the tightening??? I would have thought that these are just Braxton Hicks. I wouldn't have thought that this was the first symptoms of miscarriage. Fingers crossed xxxx

Me too, I thought Braxton Hicks were normal/harmless - but she said it's too early for BH and has truly terrified me. She said that they can't stop a mc, it was only when I said I thought later mc's could be managed more like pre-term labour and sometimes prevented that she said well yes, we can sometimes stop the contractions... Now that she has said that I'm a complete wreck and can't think straight... Hoping someone else will come along and tell me they had BH this early and all was fine

I suggest you take a urine sample to be checked.

I hope it works out okay.

I hope that all goes well.
I had painless BH at about 20w with my first and went overdue in the end.
Did she check your cervix to see if you were dilating? That would obviously be more of an indicator?

It isn't too early for braxton hicks at all, please try not to worry. I had them from that early with all 3 of my children, and all the time until birth too. I had lots and lots and it was normal. I had other problems but not related to the, completely normal, braxton hicks.

I can't believe she told you that it isn't normal! Relax, don't worry. They will monitor baby when you go in and I hope you'll be reassured. If they start to hurt or become more often and last longer then go straight in but you said they are painless which is very good.

I've had BH with both pregnancies all the way through. First noticed/identified them about 20 weeks with first one, but they were probably happening before that, and about 16 weeks with this one. No one ever suggested to me it might be a sign of miscarriage.

I found that they were worse or more frequent if I hadn't drunk enough or if I was doing too much. They do sometimes come in runs like that. And yes, sometimes they've been quite painful too, again more so if I haven't drunk enough.

I definitely had BH from about 19/20 weeks with my first pregnancy, and it really felt like I was having one at about 10/11 weeks this time round, I only noticed because of my experience with DD. All was fine at my 12 week scan a couple of weeks ago. Try not to worry, get things checked out if it will put your mind at rest.

Mine got, I wouldn't say painful, uncomfortable nearer the end and very, very tight but not so much early on. They were very strong though.

I've read that BHs do start from very early on but most people don't start feeling them until the third trimester. I think if anything was wrong you'd be likely to be in pain.

I bet its either BH or a UTI. gOOD LUCK AT assessment unit.

Not to early for Braxton Hicks. I had them from before 20 weeks in my first pregnancy, I actually thought it was the baby moving I could feel, but it was BH....

Try not to worry. Hope all ok.. xx

I had Braxton Hicks at 16/17weeks with my second, especially after sex

Another one here with BH from that time

I would have thought the start of a miscarriage would have been painful?

I had BH at that time with 3rd pregnancy. 2nd pregnancy ended in miscarriage at 19 weeks. They think the baby had died at about 16 weeks. Around that time I had about 30 mins of what felt like painful period cramps but then they stopped. So in my experience, miscarriage would feel painful (and even painful cramps are fairly normal at times in pregnancy!). Am sure nothing to worry about at all. xxx

I also had BHs from early on in both pregnancies. They've been quite uncomfortable in this (my 2nd) pg - the midwife has never ever suggested to me that it is unusual! Having had a mc, although much earlier than 18 weeks, I can say that the cramps associated with that were painful like a bad period cramp.

Hope you get some reassurance very soon,
Z x

Sounds like your MW wants sacking!! I cant believe someone would be so cruel, knowing that us preggers ladies are super paranoid anyway!
I didn't have BH until later with my first but this time round I've noticed these painless tightenings since about 20 weeks, but I wouldn't even think to worry as I would just presume its BH?
Like others have said Im not sure painless tightenings are a symptom of mc?
Really hope the epu give you some kind reassurance, really sounds like you need it. Good luck

Thanks so much to all of you for your stories/support/encouragement.

wishingchair, I'm so sorry for your loss. I've had an early mc before (and it was much more painful) but thought I was finally out of the woods this time... but I guess you never are risk free

Well I have spent most of the day at the day assessment unit, where the staff were sooo much more helpful than that midwife I spoke to this morning. Luckily she is not 'my' midwife, just one of the community midwives who answered the phone. Luckily for her as I think I would throttle her if I got my hands on her! I've come to the conclusion that casually telling me I might be having a late mc without even having seen/assessed me was really inappropriate. She even said to 'just go and see my gp' as there was 'nothing they could do anyway' - only when I argued (and started crying hysterically) did another midwife come to the phone and tell me to come in to be checked.

They took it quite seriously and checked absolutely everything (urine, internal exam, vaginal swab, the lot) and they think everything is ok right now, but I'm to go back if I get more than just the odd random contraction, or if they become painful. Also had an appt to have my cervix measured and it is 27cm and closed which the dr was happy with. Baby's hb was normal and s/he has been kicking me a fair bit. Even the Dr insisted that I'm not allowed to call these painless tightenings BH, but there is no alternative vocab/explanation for them, and I'm sure that's what they are!!??

Both the midwife and the doctor are talking crap. I'm just amazed that some medical professionals seem to be unaware of the most basic medical facts about their specific area of expertise!!!

I felt braxton hicks from about 16 weeks with my DD, and felt them throughout the pregnancy (was induced at 40 weeks). This time round I'm also at 18 weeks and have been feeling them for a couple of weeks. Hasn't even occurred to me to mention them to anyone! This babycentre article mentions women feeling them from 16 weeks, with reference to relevant medical study.

www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/antenatalhealth/physicalhealth/braxtonhicks/?_reques tid=2234236