Conference moira::parenting_v3

    
    It is hard to explain the feeling, it can be painless or
    mildly painful. But, one sure sign of Braxton Hicks is that
    the belly hardens to a rock during the contraction and then
    it returns to normal. It can happen any time. I notice mine
    happens when the baby is moving. With my first pregnancy, I had 
    the Braxton Hicks during the last trimester, they were more
    or less painless, just a feeling of pressure. With my
    second one, I have the contractions starting around 5 months,
    they are more frequent and sometimes painful ( if I am walking,
    I have to stop and wait till the contraction goes away).
    
    
    Eva

During my first pregnancy at around 6 months I would wake up in the
middle of the night or the early morning with my stomach as hard as
a rock.  It felt as if all of my stomach muscles were tightened.  It
would last a minute or so and then go away.  I didn't find out until
later that they were Braxton Hicks contractions.

During my second pregnancy it started much earlier, and I even had
a false labor during my last week because I had so many strong Braxton
Hicks contractions.  By the way, if you think you may be having a false
labor try drinking lots of fluids.  For some reason if you are dehydrated
false contractions may start.  I was timing very strong B.H. contractions
every 20 minutes for about 3 hours, but after I drank lots of water they
went away.

    Like .2, mine also made my belly hard as a rock.  It also felt kind
    of like a bunch of hands were all pressing on it, too.  It wasn't
    painful - just odd - and would usually pass fairly quickly.
    
    - Kathryn
    

    ... but my belly was ALWAYS hard as a rock!  (One 9-month
    `Braxton-Hick'?)
    
    Leslie

    Mine HURT last time.  Bad enough to cause me to stop and try to
    remember my breathing exercizes a time or two.
    
    --bonnie

    Mine hurt too.  Like bad period pains I would say.
    I am using the breathing exercises when I get them,
    I seem to notice about 2 to 3 a day - I'm currently
    34 weeks.
    
    Cheers,
    Sarah

    
    I think I know what you mean now!  I've been getting what I assume to
    be contractions about 5/6 times a day - my stomach goes really hard,
    solid as a rock in fact, for about 30/45 seconds and I can feel
    pressure on the bladder.  It doesn't hurt at all, but the feeling of
    needing the loo desperately has been enough to stop me in my tracks. 
    Many's the time I've told my other half that I simply *must* get to a loo
    *that minute*, no matter where we are, but by the time I get there the 
    feeling has passed and the need has gone! 
    
    This has been happening for the past 2 months. I thought it was where the 
    baby had moved into such a position that it was pressing hard on my 
    bladder and the hardness of my stomach was the baby's head pushing 
    upwards!  I suppose I was very mistaken there.  This means I started 
    feeling these contractions at about 20 weeks - is that usual?
    
    Ali

I had braxton hicks for the longest time during all of my pregnancies (3).
I only found out they were contractions when I actually had labor and labor
contractions just fell like a stronger version of what I already knew.

If you are really worried, talk to your midwife or doctor, but I suppose that
as long as you don't go into active labor or start bleeding, it should be
ok.

I found that for my last pregnancy, by the time I got to the hospital with
some labor, I was 5 cm dilated!  I think all those early contractions paid
off!

Mari

    Well I am not really sure that these feelings in my abdomin are Braxton
    Hicks or not.
    
    They feel like sharp pains in the middle of my belly or the lower
    abdomin.  I do not feel any hardening of my belly though.  The pain is
    very strong sometimes and I have to stop walking and stand still untill
    they stop.  They don't last very long, but they do hurt.
    
    I am about 32 weeks along. There is no bleeding so I am not concerned.
    I do believe they are Braxton Hicks after reading this note.
    
    Has anyone else had any type of pain like this?  
    JOAN... 

<                    <<< Note 294.9 by KAOFS::J_MACDONALD >>>

I never had Braxton Hicks and it was hard enough to get my labor started
at all, but I have one piece of advice:  

	When in doubt, call your doctor.

Good luck.  Hope the reminder of your pregnancy goes beautifully.

    Carol

    .9 sounds to me like ligaments stretching, though I never had many of
    those (and not even one Braxton-"Hick"!).
    
    Leslie

    I had the same types of pains, and they ended up being (according to my
    OB) the "Ligaments" stretching/pulling.  They were more a sharp pain
    type of thing than what I had later (Braxton Hicks), and were more
    localized than BH.  
    
    Just a thought . . .

    .12 (more localized than Braxton Hicks)
    
    What do you mean by localized?  Mine are usually in the middle near
    me belly button and also directly below (a lot lower) than me belly
    button and last around 60 seconds or less.
    
    ?Does everyone get these? ?May it be because my dr.predicts a 9lb baby?
    ?Do they calm down, go away?  At what point did your BHicks begin?
    I do realize that they (BH) may never come.  But having this pain attact
    when sitting down with a bunch of friends does make things a little
    uncomfortable, expecially during bus. meetings.
    
    By the By, everything else is exciting,happy and ofcourse new.
    8 weeks more...    JOAN...

    With two kids, I've experienced Braxton Hicks, painful ligament
    stretching and serious preterm labor (see note 20).  
    
    The ligament stretching pain (which was confirmed by my OB) was 
    by far the most painful.  Not just uncomfortable, it hurt!  
    Sometimes it felt like a sharp knife had been shoved up my cervix.
    Other times it felt like my lower belly was on fire.  Many times
    when the pain hit, I would let out a yelp.  It would catch me
    totally off-guard when it hit and no matter where I was, I couldn't
    hide my discomfort.
    
    The Braxton Hicks were mildly uncomfortable and sporatic. A little 
    un-nerving because I didn't know what was going on or why.
    
    The preterm labor went on for three months.  It was not painful, 
    except on the rare occasion. After I was diagnosed, I was restricted
    to total bedrest, medication and uterine monitoring.
    
    This is not to say that all preterm labor is painless.  Backache,
    cramping, nausea, BHicks-like contractions, etc. is all common.
    Poke around note 20.* I have listed all the warning signs and
    symptoms somewhere in there.
    
    And of course, when in doubt, *always* call your doctor.
    
    Jodi-

    It could also be gas pains caused by the baby pressing hard
    against the rest of the stuff in your lower abdomen and
    interfering with the normal movement of food through the digestive
    system.
    
    I had those so bad I couldn't sleep some nights. 
    
    Eating more frequent and much smaller meals helped. 
    
    --bonnie

    I went to the Dr. yesterday and he agreed with the pain being related
    to the Streatching of the ligaments.
    
    They are preparing themselves to let the baby through.  He also said
    that they could last all the way to delivery.  
    
    I know this comment sounds out of place right after talking about pain,
    but this is really exciting (having a baby).  We have so many things 
    to be thankful for!  
    God doesn't make junk..YIPEEEE!!
    
    Joan...