false contractions

[renodebbie3]

Hi everyone!

I have a question for those of you on second or later pregnancies. I have been experiencing lots of painless contractions (braxton hicks) for about the last 10 days. I am only 33 weeks along and my Dr says not to worry unless I have more than 6 per hour (I have had more than 6 per hour a few times). He says these types of contactions are more common in later pregnancies but they are usually not productive. Any one else experiencing these contractions?

Thanks,

 

[MSJ]

Hi,
I'm on my fifth pregnancy. And I feel like I'm having fewer Braxton Hicks than usual. I see my OB on thursday, and I will ask her what might be going on. Anyway, I wouldn't worry about them. Mostly I think they are the body's way of strengthening and preparing the uterus for labor. Labor contractions are painful and progressively get more intense and painful as time goes on (atleast for me).

Take care,
Maggie

 

[Janick]

This is my second pregnancy and have been having these since week 14, although they have been very frequent since last week (I'm in my 20th week right now), and are brought upon sometimes only with slight physical exertion (like walking up a flight of stairs or brisk walking).

I had these also during my first pregnancy and some of them were actually true contractions, as my cervix started dilating as soon as 18 weeks. I was often having them more then 6 per hour though.

If you do have them frequently, what I learned is that drinking about 16 oz of water and laying on your left side usually stops them or at the very least will decrease the frequency. This is usually a sign that you need to rest and rehydrate. If they are true contractions (and hence true labor), this maneuver will not stop them or decrease frequency, and you should get to the doctor ASAP.

 

[briee]

I too have braxton contractions from early on, about the 2-3 month, I begin feeling them. I can't begin to tell you what they put me through the first pregnancy. I had many, many of them. Like for one 8 hour period I had them like clockwork, every 2 minutes. They hooked me up to all the machines and called in the uterine specialists and they put me on terbutaline and bedrest which led to other drugs and a completely messed up pregnancy. With baby number two I told them that I really thought this was normal for me and instead of bedrest I did aerobics and ignored the contractions which were the same as the first time. I went three weeks over my due date and delivered normally. Now, I just ignore them although I noticed today that I had more than normal, but I was running all day so I'm sure this contributed.

I want to stress that this is just me, some women have contractions that truly DO something, but mine are all "uterine conditioning". Kind of like a Cathe workout for the uterus!! You are probably just getting ready for the big event, but as everyone else will tell you, check with your doctor just to be sure. (I personally won't tell you this - but everyone else will!! :7 :7 :7 :7 :7 ). Hope all goes well!!

Briee

 

[hopefull]

I wouldn't totally ignore these contractions. I had a real similar experience to Briee's with my last pregnancy. Did the breathine and bed rest for 4 weeks till I was full term,37 weeks, then went into labor after my ob seperated my membranes. I was developing precalmpsia so she wanted to move things along, and felt that I had been through enough. We were in the hospital 4 times before I actually gave birth with what we thought was early labor. It was very consistent, but would not progress. During these visits, I can't tell you how many of the nurses told me they had had similar experiences when they were pregnant. One of them told me that when you are older. I was 38. You are more prone to have a spastic uterus. In itself I don't think this is dangerous, but its cause can be. It can be induced by infection. This is why I wouldn't ignore this problem. StrepB can cause this condition. Most doctors check for this now, but I would make sure my doc was checking for it. You always think that doctors should know, but I just don't know sometimes if they all keep up with stuff like they should.