I am 24 weeks and I have been reading in my books that I could start having Braxton HIcks contractions and that they are painless and are just helping your uterus practice for the upcoming birth. Well my question is this weekend I have been having my stomach get hard and it does hurt. It makes my stomach feel like it has a huge cramp or charlie horse and I was just wondering if any of you women had these and if that is what it might be. Thanks a bunch!
2007-01-28 16:45:20 · 13 answers · asked by 1st time momma 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
Just to let you know, they happened yesterday and have not happened at all today. They started when I got up after a nap and after walking around at the mall and such they went away. It happened again when I was sitting at home after dinner and stopped when I laid down for bed.
2007-01-28 16:57:30 · update #1
yea. my braxton hicks always hurt and still do. they got worse over time too. try laying on your side and drink lots of water. congrates.
due in 5 days.
2007-01-28 16:49:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Well Braxton Hicks do hurt! My first baby I never really had them enough to hurt me so I wasn't sure what they were like but that was definitely not the case with my second son. When I hit about 30 weeks I started getting these pains and have already given birth I swore they were real labor pains but I thought I was just worrying too much but they continued until about my 35th week when the pain got so horrible I couldn't take it anymore.I rushed to the hospital and got hooked up to the machines I was having contractions 3 minutes apart then 2 minutes apart for 5 hours but since I had not dilated they sent me home. I thought I would never get no sleep.I hurt so bad! I tried everything I could to get him to come early but he didn't. I hurt for 5 weeks with nothing I could do but take Tylenol but if you have ever had a baby you know that does not help contractions at all. So I am not trying to scare you but just be ready for anything! I hope you stop hurting and have a painless 16 weeks! Good Luck and CONGRATS on the baby!
2007-01-28 16:59:45 · answer #2 · answered by oliphantheather 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Braxton Hicks Contractions are as you say the body's way of practising. But I have to tell you that personally, I did not even notice my body doing this until I was closer to delivery, around 33 or 34 weeks at the earliest.
With my second (and hardest) pregnancy, I went into early labor and did not even realize it until I went for my regularly scheduled appointment. They stuck me in the hospital for the day with an IV and the contractions stopped and then they let me go home.
You should call your doctor immediately if the contractions continue or become regular, like every 30 minutes for example. As you may have read about the Braxton Hicks contractions, if you are resting when they occur, getting up and moving around should stop them. Same thing if you are moving around when they happen, stopping and sitting down and resting should stop them. If not, it's time to call your doc or even just go to the emergency room.
2007-01-28 16:53:58 · answer #3 · answered by Pixie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My Braxton Hicks Contractions used to hurt, too. It sounds like they are Braxton Hicks. I used to get them when I would walk or be active...........kind of the opposite of what you were describing. The ones I experienced hurt my stomach area but did not push the baby down so didn't hurt on the cervix. Don't know why they say they are painless. Pain is relative. I'm convinced.
2007-01-28 17:02:30 · answer #4 · answered by mylittlecrocus 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am 32 weeks and sometimes mine really hurt too (been having them since about 24-25 weeks). Actually they happen so often at times that I have been treated for preterm labor a couple of times and several times with my last pregnancy. Call your doctor or go to the hospital if they happen more than 5 an hour. Otherwise, they will tell you to lie on your left side and drink lots of water and then empty your bladder. Dehydration can cause them. Good luck!
2007-01-28 17:13:45 · answer #5 · answered by E 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had one of those at 20 weeks. I woke up in the middle of the night and all of a sudden, I felt my stomach tightening - like from the bottom to the top, and getting hard like you said. I thought, "Oh my God, my body is killing the baby!" Then it stopped. That was the only one I had. Then I fell back asleep. I asked my dr. the next day and she said it was B-H. Strangely, though, when I really did go into labor at 39.5 weeks, it didn't feel a bit like that. It felt like menstrual cramps! Anyway, good luck!!!
2007-01-28 16:57:23 · answer #6 · answered by lovelylinguist 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Braxton Hicks contractions can hurt quite a bit. It sounds like you had some, but double check with your doc, just to be safe. :)
2007-01-28 16:49:06 · answer #7 · answered by been_there_done_that 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They could still be regular braxton hicks, but if they are painful, you should bring it up to your doctor. If they sound like preterm labor, call your doctor right away and see if you should be heading to the hospital now. here are a couple links to info on preterm labor:
http://www.justmommies.com/articles/preterm_labor.shtml
http://www.todaysparent.com/pregnancybirth/pregnancy/article.jsp?content=6414&page=1
2007-01-28 16:55:11 · answer #8 · answered by Cyndi Storm 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just make sure you report these contractions to your doctor; more than likely, they are Braxton Hicks.
2007-01-28 16:52:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
What you are experiencing sounds like braxtion hicks. I asked my doctor several weeks ago to describe them and she said that my stomach will tighten and then release to prepare for delivery. She told me not to worry unless I could time them and they became very regular.
2007-01-28 16:50:45 · answer #10 · answered by Sakora 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋