I'm 36 weeks and 1 day....when do you normally experience braxton hicks ( as I have yet to)? And what exactly do they feel like? Do they feel like a big cramp?
2007-06-04 09:47:14 · 12 answers · asked by fromthecabbagepatch 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
You should start feeling them any time soon. It's just your body limbering up for the real thing.
They are completely painless, although sometimes a bit uncomfortable, and they used to stop me in my tracks! Basically the bump would tighten up and go rock hard to the touch. This would last several seconds, then ease off and disappear.
They would happen pretty randomly, but more often if I was exerting myself. Once I was carrying some shopping bags home and got a Braxton Hicks which made me put my bags down and hold my bump. This made passers by come rushing over thinking I was going into labour!
It's not unpleasant. I think I remember some mothers who never had them, but I think most do at some stage. You'll know the difference when the real ones start, though. The real ones hurt, and these don't.
Good luck!
2007-06-04 09:57:18 · answer #1 · answered by helly 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have braxton hicks occasionally and they don't usually hurt. Sometimes I go to rub my baby and realize that I am having a Braxton-Hicks because my muscles of my uterus are hard, but it goes away within a few seconds. I have had a couple that twinged a little or were uncomfortable, but weren't very painful. So you could be having Braxton Hicks without realizing it. My doctor says a lot of first time moms don't ever realize or notice Braxton-Hicks.
What I have experienced since about 36 weeks is a feeling of crampiness like I am about to start my period. It's cramping, but with no real beginning or ending to time if that makes sense. The doctor says that is uterine irritability and not the same thing as Braxton-Hicks. It is just a sign that my uterus is starting to get organized and get things going, but they aren't true contractions.
2007-06-04 09:56:33 · answer #2 · answered by Melissa H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I started getting Braxton hicks when i was 23/24 weeks pregnant with my now 2week old little girl. For me they were generally painless, they made the whole of my belly go rock solid and it just felt a bit odd! I used to get them all the time and at one point when i was 24weeks pregnant i actually thought i was going into labor so went to the hospital but was sent home again and was told i might of had a irratated uterus which sets Braxton hicks off even more...but even after getting these small contractions on a regular basis my daughter was still born at 39+2days gestation so they arn't really a sign of labor being close as far as i'm concerned. The only time they are is when they start getting painful, and thats mostly in the last few weeks of pregnancy. Good luck to you and congrats :) x
2016-05-21 04:05:08 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Im not sure there is an exact time they begin- definitely something that is different for everyone, im 3 days over my due date now and I haven't had braxton hicks or anything my whole pregnancy. My sister in law started having them from her first month.
2007-06-04 09:52:27 · answer #4 · answered by Christina B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes they feel like a cramp. Mine were very slight but enough to feel uncomfortable. Then again some people don't get any. From 36 to 38 weeks they start. They sometimes mimic labour pains slightly. good luck with your baby just remember to relax. all the best.
2007-06-04 09:54:29 · answer #5 · answered by pandabearpandabear 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not everybody has braxton hicks and no biggie if you dont
i had them for several weeks and they felt my daughter was moving around mooning me
i started feeling them at 36 weeks and delivered at 38 weeks 6 days
2007-06-04 09:59:12 · answer #6 · answered by squeaker 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't say that they feel like a big cramp. To me, it just felt like something was tightening around my tummy for a few seconds, then it went away. I was feeling them from about week thirty onwards.
2007-06-04 09:50:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure if I ever really had them. Sometimes i would get a feeling that felt like the baby was stretchign out or something...and I think those may have been BH. So dont worry if you dont really ever notice them.
2007-06-04 09:57:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
sometimes they feel like a big cramp and sometimes it feels like the baby is balling up they start at different times for different people
2007-06-04 09:51:56 · answer #9 · answered by third times a charm 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
with my son i remember feeling them around 20 weeks for the first time..
2007-06-04 09:51:58 · answer #10 · answered by volc0mchiick 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋