Braxton Hicks

This is my third pregnancy and I am 31 weeks. I have been having consistent BH contractions for the last couple of weeks that have progressively increased over time. I know that if I have five in an hour for couple hours I need to call L&D to get checked out but is it normal to have so many BH this early? With my last pregnancy I had BH every night from about 36 weeks on that were about 10 to 5 minutes apart and lasted two hours or so until I slept. This time I am having them all day and they increase to every 10 or 15 minutes in the evening. I can't really put my feet up during the day but I do drink a ton of water and try to relax in the evening instead of clean the remaining mess in the house. I'm just nervous and wondering if this is normal in subsequent pregnancies.

 

I had alot of braxton hicks with my last pregnancy. Starting right around 16 weeks like I did with the twins. One thing I found to help was drinking a magnesium drink and alot of water (like you mentioned). I used a product called Natural Calm you mix it in boiling water, then I add some cold water. I use the raspberry kind. I would definitely mention it to your Dr. though just in case you are dilating too. I never did dilate with my twin pregnancy or the last one even though the braxton hicks were way intense compared to my other pregnancies.

 

Also here is a recent thread from the Pregnant After Twins forum:
Link

 

I've always had BH ctx with all my pregnancies from 15 weeks on. It would be quite normal for me to have more than 5 an hour, so the majority of the time I didn't take their advice to call in. The only time I did do something about it was when I was vomitting for hours at 35 weeks with the twins and knew that unless I got some hydration they had a pretty good likelihood of putting me into real labor.

You really have to know your own body. If it's not normal for you, and you can't get them to stop in spite of drinking lots of water and getting to the toilet frequently, then you probably should say something. At the very least, they could check you at your next appointment and relieve your mind that the ctx aren't actually doing anything. In spite of what all the books say, the only difference for me between BH ctx and the real deal was that the BH ctx didn't progress my cervix at all. I couldn't physically tell the difference between them otherwise. But obviously the BH ctx don't continue to intensify and get much closer together, and normally it's something that goes on for a limited duration...a few hours each evening or periodically throughout the day, but not for ten hours at a clip.

Hope they stop for you soon, regardless of being 'real' contractions or 'fake' they are totally exhausting and frustrating!

 

I'm the poster from the other thread.

I thought, I was drinking plenty of water, but after that thread I upped my intake, and low and behold, the let up.

 

Thank you all so much. I appreciate the input. I will be drinking more water and hopefully that will help. I had a Dr. appt. today and was told that my BH were normal and not to be worried about them unless they become more consistent and painful. I was starting to freak out a little

 

I have had an on-going battle with pre-term contractions/braxton hicks in both my twin pregnancy and this singlton on. With both they started around 20 weeks and got to the point of being doctor worthy at about 28 weeks. I have a doctor now that takes them seriously and has put me on nephedipine(spelling?) that I can up or lower depending on how I am doing. I had to go to L&D one night so far for shots of tribuline to kick my uterious out of the contraction cycle. The only thing I find that helps is water and rest and knowing that he checks me often so I have learned to gauge "something different about them". They are a total pain and mine since about 34 weeks are literally a pain.

I joked with the twins I was in labor for 8 weeks - turns out it will be about the same this time.

If you are worried about them and/or it makes it hard to function they say that these drugs are very safe to use in most people. They may help take the edge off. Oh - I have been told by countless nurses and 2 doctors offices that LOTS of women have these - we just keep it to ourselves!

 

I would say normal, at least for me. With both Becca and this baby, I started having consistent BH starting around 33 weeks. I mean every 3-4 minutes for my waking hours (they would stop with sleep...not lying down, but actually sleeping). Most recently it was a five days stretch with this baby. Things have been pretty quiet today, actually. Becca showed up overdue (induced with cervix not even dilated at all) so I know they are definitely just BH. MW said it's not too common, but someone do. I guess I'm just one of them. They are annoying, though.

 

It depends on you. I've been having daily BH from about 18 weeks on, but my normal is 5-10 a day, and never more then a few an hour. My midwife is aware, and I'm to call if I have more then 5 an hour. At my 21 week ultrasound my cervix was long and tightly closed. I'm not worried. I was dilated 1 cm at 29 weeks with the twins, and stayed that way until I was eventually induced at 36w5d.

But thats just me. I'm mentioned it to your doctor at your next appt to get his/her guidlines.