What does Braxton Hicks feel like?

Question

Also when do people usually start feeling these.

Answer 1

Not everyone gets them, but I did. More so for the first pregnancy. It feels like your entire bump goes rock hard. There is no pain at all, just a tightening, and when you press on the bump it is completely hard. It lasts a few seconds, then subsides.

I started getting them around 7 or 8 months, if I remember right. Sometimes they would feel intense, but not unpleasant. It certainly doesn't feel anything like real contractions - when they come, you know about it!

Answer 2

During the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, you may notice episodes when your belly tightens and becomes firm to the touch, then relaxes. These are episodes of tightening (contraction) of the uterine muscles called Braxton Hicks contractions. These normal contractions may be hardly noticeable or may be strong enough to make you stop what you are doing.

Considered "practice contractions" for the uterus.
Braxton Hicks contractions can begin as early as the 20th week of pregnancy, although most often they start between the 28th and 30th week.

Braxton Hicks contractions are usually infrequent in midpregnancy. However, they can be more frequent during the ninth month, sometimes occurring as often as every 10 to 20 minutes. Braxton Hicks contractions usually occur less than 4 to 6 times per hour.

Braxton Hicks contractions:

Usually disappear during exercise or activity (unlike true labor pains, which continue or increase if you move around).
Are more noticeable during rest.
It may be difficult to tell the difference between Braxton Hicks contractions and true labor. If there is any doubt, consult your health professional.

Answer 3

They really just feel like tightening of your belly. You can feel them with your hand, simply by feeling your belly every now and then and it will feel hard, like a flexed muscle. In the beginning they are usually painless, toward the end of the pregnancy they can seem to take your breath away (since it feels like your uterus is in your lungs, so when it "flexes" it sort of moves up into your ribs). They are "practice" contractions, toning your uterus for birth. Some women don't notice them, while others notice them very early on. Mine always started at about 18 weeks (and most of my labor/dilating felt the same, virutally painless). Other women don't notice Braxton Hicks contractions until they are about to be in labor.

Answer 4

Picture your uterus as a giant muscle flexing (which is what it's doing... practicing for the big day). They may last anywhere from seconds to minutes. They are usually only uncomfortable but can be slightly painful sometimes. This is usually why its hard to tell if you're in real labor or false labor.

Generally, you start getting them around 20 weeks though you probably dont notice them. They are recognized sooner by women who have had children before. They get stronger the farther along you are. They last up until the big day.

Some women dont get them at all.

Answer 5

I had braxton hicks at about 30 weeks or so and it felt like period cramps that come and go

Answer 6

u can get braxton hic. as soon as 15 weeks, that's what happened with my first pregnancy. my doctor told me if you don't take in 8 to 12 glasses of fluid a day then you'll get them faster. its one of the ways your body is letting you know to drink, drink, and drink. what does it feel like well you feel your tummy getting hard as a rock later in the pregnancy you can even see your tummy getting hard during braxton hicks.

Answer 7

I get them as early as 20 weeks. Your uterus will tighten up and then release after 30 seconds - few minutes.

Sometimes, being active can either start them or stop them. I would always get them when I started walking around a lot, or when I was really stressed out.

They might get a little painful in the third trimester.

Answer 8

I describe them as the tightening and release of the stomach, muscles, which is actually what real contractions feel like. You will probably start experiencing these fake contractions around week 34 & beyond.

Answer 9

contractions but not as severe, I started at about 36 weeks

Answer 10

Tightening of the belly! you will literally feel your stomach tighten, you can even feel it outside of your abdomen. Mine didn't hurt, I got them around 32 weeks