Braxton Hicks Contractions...Third Trimester Increase?

Okay, I will be 32 weeks on Monday and I have found in the last few days that my bh contractions are increasing in frequency. My activity level is so minimal, I rest all day long, no lifting, etc.

Also, some of them are quite strong with low crampiness. I know, it sounds like impending labor, but these contractions dont fall into a pattern, one might be with pain, the next just tightening.....and then i will go for hours without even one!

As I sit here in bed, after a day of resting here, the bh contractions are noticeably more frequent and it has been going on for a few days. OH, and I also had ptl last Thursdaynight/friday morning that was stopped with a shot of terbutaline, after the contractions were in a pattern, painful and 3-4 minutes apart.

SO! Do bh contractions increase in frequency when you get closer to going into real labor??? The only other remarkable symptoms are crampy pressure every once in a while and walking is painful.

Thanks for listening....Hope you all had a nice holiday xojillian

 

I know for my pgs they definitely increased in frequency towards the end. Like you said, there was no pattern...I could have 6 in an hour and then the next hour have 3, then 5...with them being 5minutes apart, then 2, then 10...etc... no pattern at all, just frequent...usually way more than the typical "call if you have more than 4 or 5 an hour" recommendation by the ob/gyns. I would definitely mention it to your doctor at your next appt...get them to check your cervix just to make sure it's still looking fine. And of course, if they get to be more painful definitely call and get checked out asap. Crampy pressure isn't the best sign...but it can be normal too...it could just be intestines overloaded from T-day food! LOL!... or just the babies putting more pressure down there....or it could be labor.. it's hard to say.

 

Mine have definitely increased. I am not dilated at all though and my cervix is still long...so they are doing nothing to help get this show on the road. I am getting intermittent low back pain along with the BH and still nothing. I would say if they are really irregular it's nothing to worry about. Just make sure you are hydrated!!

 

I am 34 weeks today. Before I say this, let me tell you I am dilated- but this happened with contractions I didn't feel. Over the past few weeks I have noticed an increase in contractions- and I have noticed the same as you- they hurt sometimes, with low back pain and lower abdominal cramping, but do not follow into a pattern. They also seem to be very long. I am on Procardia to keep contractions at bay, but these come anyway. My doc is not concerned as long as I do not have more than 6 in an hour for two hours. I was also told by another doc to expect the contractions becuase I am having twins. So I think it would be normal. But I think you should mention it to your doc just so they can follow your cervix.

 

Thanks for the support ladies I am glad I posted my concerns......I have a regular ob appt on Monday followed directly by an appt with my peri. My peri does a cervical length u/s every two weeks (had cervical cancer about 8 years ago where I had a LEEP procedure and had a large portion of my cervix removed).

As of my last appt with my peri, my cervix has not changed at all. I will definitely be telling both doctors what is going on lately. I have over 8lbs of baby in me at this point, so my poor uterus is probably just really irritable. And I am religious about drinking my 128oz of water everyday, so hoping that helps.

Ready for this ride to be over....have been "hitting the wall" nightly lately! Thanks for your replies and support

big hugs to you all xojillian

 

Just wanted to say too that mine have definitely increased. Sometimes they hurt in my back and take my breath away. I can have like 5 or 6 in an hour and then nothing for the rest of the day, or two or three and hour all day long that barely hurt. As of two weeks ago my cervix was still at 2.5cm and closed.....I'll find out if anything has changed on Tuesday. With my DS they also increased towards the end, but these seem stronger for some reason.

I'm hitting a wall too....it's getting so hard but we are almost done!!!!!!

 

Mine have increased too. And, like you said, some are quite painful down low. I've also had an increase in mucous, so I am really looking forward to hearing what my MW has to say at our appt. this week.

 

I don't know if BH increase in the last trimester, as I never made it that far. But I do know that if you are having more that 4 (some Dr's say 6) contractions BH or actual, you should call your Dr. My contrations were never really regualar, they were always all over the place. And the fact that you mentioned that you were having some lower cramping is enough to call the Dr. in and of itself. Thats what I had when I went to the hospital and they found that I was in PTL, and having contractions causing cervical dilation that I couldn't even feel. Im not saying thats whats happening with you, Its better to be safe than sorry. Good Luck!!

 

Mine have increased too. I can't say that I really have more than 4 an hour but I notice that I get really tight several times a day (maybe 8-10 times) versus like maybe 4-5 times last month and nothing prior to that.

 

QUOTE(Kyrstyn @ Nov 24 2007, 10:57 AM) [snapback]506964[/snapback]
I don't know if BH increase in the last trimester, as I never made it that far. But I do know that if you are having more that 4 (some Dr's say 6) contractions BH or actual, you should call your Dr. My contrations were never really regualar, they were always all over the place. And the fact that you mentioned that you were having some lower cramping is enough to call the Dr. in and of itself. Thats what I had when I went to the hospital and they found that I was in PTL, and having contractions causing cervical dilation that I couldn't even feel. Im not saying thats whats happening with you, Its better to be safe than sorry. Good Luck!!


If I called the doctor every time I had more than 4 an hour, I would be on the phone with my doctor all day every day!!! I've had consistently more than 4 an hour pretty much constantly since about 16 weeks pg!!! (without any cervical changes)

At this point, I only call my doctor or midwife if they follow a regular pattern and increase in frequency over 2-3 hours.

 

I just wanted to add that I have noticed an increase in BH. I get them all day long, thankfully they are random. I sometimes get 5-6 an hour then less the next. I was on hospital bedrest for a few weeks and everytime a doc visited I mentioned the painless contractions, they asked if there was any pain, bleeding, and significant discharge ( I was also having cervix checks with no change). Since I had none they were not concerned. So, I figure unless my contractions change I am still OK.
Yolanda

 

thanks guys.......nice to hear your experiences. I am still having some contractions that are painful, pinchy/crampy. I will have one in an hour that is that way, then the next 2 are just tight. I have my regular ob appt tomorrow and my peri appt back to back tomorrow afternoon.

I will report back what the peri says and if my cervix has changed. THANKFULLY, I planned well and have all my Christmas shopping done, had my family shower yesterday and my husband is finishing painting the babies nursery as we speak! SO if I go on bed rest, those stressful variables are all taken care of and I can just gestate for a few more weeks (ug).

It is so sad, I hit the wall every night......crying, uncomfortable, heartburn, contractions. This is HARD! Just a few more weeks, right????

Hope you all had a nice holiday! -jillian

 

Good timing with your OB appt tomorrow! I started having lots of contractions (easily 20-30 in 12 hours, sometimes 6-8 in one hour but then fewer...) a couple weeks ago and my OB looked at my cervical length and did an FFN. Since both were good it was reassuring but I'm still supposed to call if the frequency keeps up for a couple hours in a row. Everyone is different so be sure to tell your OB as much detail as you can. It is scary that many people don't know they're in labor--so better to be safe than sorry!!! Let us know how tomorrow goes

 

QUOTE(Jillianstwins @ Nov 25 2007, 05:34 PM) [snapback]508176[/snapback]
thanks guys.......nice to hear your experiences. I am still having some contractions that are painful, pinchy/crampy. I will have one in an hour that is that way, then the next 2 are just tight. I have my regular ob appt tomorrow and my peri appt back to back tomorrow afternoon.

I will report back what the peri says and if my cervix has changed. THANKFULLY, I planned well and have all my Christmas shopping done, had my family shower yesterday and my husband is finishing painting the babies nursery as we speak! SO if I go on bed rest, those stressful variables are all taken care of and I can just gestate for a few more weeks (ug).

It is so sad, I hit the wall every night......crying, uncomfortable, heartburn, contractions. This is HARD! Just a few more weeks, right????

Hope you all had a nice holiday! -jillian


Good luck with your appointment That is good you are getting stuff done now and out of the way. Hang in there

Dianna