Can Braxton Hicks contractions occur in the second trimester?

Question

I am 14 weeks 2 days pregnant, and just a few times in this past week, I have felt a slight cramp in my abdomen, followed by the sensation that I was tightening up or that my abdomen was getting hard. I researched Braxton Hicks online, and it sounds similar, but I thought those only occured later in pregnancy? Is it common for BH contractions to occur in the early second trimester? Could they be a problem if they are happening so early?

Answer 1

you can get them that early. i started getting them around 18 weeks, but its not uncommon or unheard of to get them that early.

just monitor how close they are and make sure you don't have 4 within an hour or that they don't cause too much pain and discomfort.

common causes of braxton hicks, especially that early, are dehydration and stress. make sure you take a load off and lay down for a couple hours every day with your feet up and drink plenty of fluids.

i've been getting BH since 18 weeks, like i said, and they're just now becoming uncomfortable. before i hardly noticed except for when i'd touch my stomach and notice my uterus was hard. now i can feel when it tightens and sometimes it's a bit uncomfortable to sit in certain positions because of it (i'm 26 1/2 weeks now).

so just keep an eye on when you get them. good luck to you and i'm sure everything is fine!

Answer 2

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RE:
Can Braxton Hicks contractions occur in the second trimester?
I am 14 weeks 2 days pregnant, and just a few times in this past week, I have felt a slight cramp in my abdomen, followed by the sensation that I was tightening up or that my abdomen was getting hard. I researched Braxton Hicks online, and it sounds similar, but I thought those only occured later...

Answer 3

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Miss Kim ! Braxton Hicks contractions can begin as early as the second trimester, however they are most common in the third trimester. The muscles of your uterus tighten for approximately 30 to 60 seconds or as long as 2 minutes. Braxton Hicks are also called “practice contractions” because they will prepare you for the real thing and you can practice the breathing exercises you are learning in your childbirth classes. Braxton Hicks are described as: * Irregular in intensity * Infrequent * Unpredictable * Non-rhythmic * More uncomfortable than painful * They do not increase in intensity, or frequency * They taper off and then disappear altogether If your contractions are easing up in any way, they are most likely Braxton Hicks. To know more about the braxton hicks and real contractions visit the source site yourself

Answer 4

Your uterus contracts consistently throughout your entire pregnancy. Most women just don't feel the contractions until later in the game. It is possible that you are feeling normal contractions at your stage, but you should still contact your doctor and make them aware of what is happening.

The other possibility is that you may be experiencing round ligament pain. This type of pain occurs from your uterus stretching throughout your pregnancy. These pains tend to be more sharp/regular/persistant than braxton hicks (speaking from personal experience). But these are normal to feel as well.

If you feel the pain again, doctors recommend that you lay down on your left side (best blood flow to the baby), drink some water (dehydration can cause cramping) and relax for an hour. Contact your doctor if the pain does not subside.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Technically, Braxton Hicks contractions happen all the time, even when you're not pregnant. You just cant feel them until your uterus starts getting full and stretched out.
I have never heard of being able to feel them this early, but what your describing does sound like them. I would discuss this with your doctor or midwife and see if they see a cause for concern. Maybe you're just more in touch with your body than most women are and can feel slight changes more easily. Or maybe there is a risk. I would lean towards the first option, if I had to guess, but I'm not a doctor.

Answer 6

I had braxton hicks starting at the beginning of my 2nd trimester with all 3 of my babies.

Answer 7

It sounds normal to me. With my first pregnancy, I was three months along before I felt Braxton Hicks. With the later pregnancies, I first noticed them at 8 weeks.

Answer 8

This is nothing to worry about. They can come this early in pregnancy, though many women just don't really notice them at this point... I sure did. They can happen because of strenuous activity (or certain movements like bending), stress, dehydration or having sex. Mention them to your doctor at your next appointment, because he knows your history and risks better than we do, but unless you are having more than 4-6 contractions in an hour, you should have nothing to worry about! I started to feel them at about 15 weeks in my first pregnancy and at about 16 weeks in my second. They will get more frequent, and if they do go lay down on your left side and sip some water. Lots of luck with your pregnancy!

Answer 9

I was about 13 weeks along with my 3rd child when my BH started, and then they continued through the rest of my pregnancy, and I still went on to deliver almost 2 weeks late...my doctor did not seem at all concerned, however he did have me monitoring them to make sure I wasn't getting more than I believe it was 4 or 5 in a single hour...relax, take it easy, and don't stress over it unless they get progressively worse. I would recommend mentioning them to your doctor at your next visit though. Good luck and congrats

Answer 10

It seems like you're a little early to be experiencing Braxton Hicks, so I might mention it to my doc if I were you. However, if you have had more than one child, you will experience BH a lot sooner than you did with any previous pregnancies. I think with my 4th, I was having BH at 5 months.