Strong braxton hicks

I've been feeling Braxton Hicks for months now, but in the last few days they seem to be getting a lot worse. I've timed them and they're often about a minute long, but only 1-3 times an hour. (My OB said to call if they're 4 times an hour.)

My worry is that they're so strong, though! I feel my entire belly, top to bottom, get really tight. Almost painfully tight. It makes my pulse race a little, I start breathing heavy, and I feel like I have to sit down. I'm not stressed and I'm getting lots of rest and water. When I have a couple in a row I sit down and put my feet up for awhile, which helps. But everytime I stand up, I have another contraction.

It's starting to worry me though, because it seems so early for this. I don't remember it being like this until the 3rd trimester with DD. Is this normal for having twins?? Or should I be calling my doctor even though I'm not having 4 per hour?

 

I started getting them around week 15 but I think I have had contractions all the time - I just didn't know what they were until about week 15-16. Anyway, by now they are really strong and exactly as you describe. I was told this is normal for twins. The uterus by this point is pretty big and high and can compress your chest and make it difficult to breathe through the contraction. You should still mention it to your doctor and stick to the threshold you're given (mine is 6/hour but 4/hour is also a standard guideline).

 

I experienced the same and my doc also said very normal for twins. I'm at 35 weeks now and they really take my breath away (my doctor suggested putting your arms over your head when this happens, allowing the lungs a little more room- it really helps). I was also given the 4 in an hour rule. Good luck!

 

I too had strong ones early on in my twin pregnancy. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water and I would go ahead and call the dr anyway just to tell them that the contractions feel stronger - it never hurts to call.

 

I am same s the PP. My doc said it was normal with twins. Mine started shortly after the first trimester.

 

I get 4/hour regularly - I'd live in L&D if I had that as a limit. :lol:

That's a great tip about raising your arms over your head - I'll try it out.

Yeah, we're all different and some of us have more irritable uteruses than others. It's always good to mention it to your doctor so that your doc can get a better understanding of what your body is like.

 

Thank you for the replies! That makes me feel better, I was starting to have fears of preterm labor. And I'll definitely try the raising my arms up over my head. I'm sure as soon as I stand up from posting this I'll get a chance to try that out! At least I know it's going to be strong, from all these little workouts.

Lizzybo, maybe that's partly it, too. I know I always had a ton of BH contractions when I was pg last time, and some people don't even notice them. Maybe my uterus is just more "irritable" than a lot of people's.

 

Yep I've been having LOTS of BH. My Dr also said it's normal with twins and gave me the 6/hr rule.

 

QUOTE(Kimani @ Jun 30 2008, 05:46 PM) [snapback]853858[/snapback]
Yep I've been having LOTS of BH. My Dr also said it's normal with twins and gave me the 6/hr rule.

I've been having lots since about 15 weeks. (First felt them around 13wks.) I wasn't too worried until they began being so much stronger and more intense lately!


And I think I jinxed myself, because after posting this I had to go shopping for a little while and ended up having 8 contractions in about 90 minutes. So much for the 4 per hour rule! I just walked around too much. When I came home I sat down, ate and drank, and they've gone back to normal.

 

I had some pretty full on BH contractions and I did the couple of times up to the hospital. They took a urine sample since a UTI can also cause this. When you are pregnant you don't have the normal symptoms for a UTI. It was negative but I continued to have them FULL on. It would stop me in my tracks. I was diagnosed with "irritable uterus" I do know some U.S. doctors prescribe a drug sometimes for it, but I've yet to talk to a women were the medication actually worked. I had various pains as well... every week it was something.... hip pain, pubic sledgehammer pain, the only thing I found that worked was tylenol with codeine. I took it only when it was very difficult.

It eased up later in the pregnancy. It is scary though and don't be afraid to head to the doctors or hospital. We all get 5 practice trips to the hospital since we have 2 babies to look out for.

Heather

 

Oh wow - I'd love 5 practice trips! I only get 1 more before they put me on bed rest, and the 1 after that they said they'd hospitalize me. I had to go only once so far, for going past my threshold of 6/hour combined with cramping and back pain.