This is my 2nd pregnancy. With my first I never had Braxton Hicks contractions. I've had a few off and on with this pregnancy, but nothing like today. Can Braxton Hicks last ALL day? I woke up at 5:30 with pain. It has been on and off the entire day today. It hasn't increased in intensity, but it just bothers me that they haven't gone away. Thanks for any advice!!
BTW I am almost 30 weeks.
I have had them off and on from about week 20, but they haven't lasted all day. My NP said they can be a sign of dehydration and told me to drink 2 glasses of water and lay down to rest for awhile.
This happened with my second as well. I had Braxton Hicks on and off for the entire last trimester and daily for the last two weeks. In the last two weeks I'd contract for an hour or so irregularly than stop for a couple of hours and then they'd start up again. As long as they're not getting more intense in pain level and continue to start and stop, it is probably Braxton Hicks. I'd call your doc to make sure they are aware of this and see if they want you to do anything special. All the posts mention good things to try. I know how annoying this can be the more days it goes on! Good luck with everything!
Hi am the mom of 5 and also a birth doula. I would probably call my doc this morning and get checked for a bladder infection first off. It could be nothing more than that. It could also be that you need to drink more water....try that first and see if they stop. Change positions...if laying down, get up. If you are up and going, lay down and lay on your left side. If they continue, it could just be the braxton hicks you were talking about. They do get more painful with each pregnancy and they do not get more intense or closer together and they are not consistant. IF you are having consistant contractions and they do not go away, i would call and get checked to make sure. Chances are highly likely they are nothing but always error on the side of caution. Get checked and make sure. :)
Blessings!!
G. Christenson CD (DONA)
Labor of Love Labor Support Services
Sure, they can come and go (or not) at any time for any length of time. The easiest way to figure out if they are labor is to drink a huge glass of water then take a warm bath and sip on a glass of red wine. If they get stronger or closer together, call your baby catcher, if not, it's BH.
Good Luck:)
Yes they can. Mine did, especially with my last pregnancy.
I never had any contractions prior to the "real thing" with my first, but had Braxton Hicks often with my second. Just advanced warning of how different everything is each time around I guess! I would probably at least alert your doc though. Make sure they don't want to see you and so they know you're having them.
I was also worried with my second thinking, how will I know when it's the real thing? But I did. Something just felt different.
Best wishes!!
I would say call your OB doctor, and ask for their opinion. I can't tell you the number of women who come to the hospital in labor, too far along to stop, who ignored pain they had all day. If the pain woke you up, it has to be strong. Your doctor gets paid to answer all of your questions, no matter what they are, any time of day or night. Call him or her.
R.
It is possible to have practice contractions for many weeks before anything really happens. Unless you have truly weird pain or any kind of water/blood, etc from the vagina, I would expect you are experiencing braxton hicks. Mention it to your Dr on the next visit.
It you feel uncomfortable, call the nurse, better to be safe than freaked out!
I would highly recommend just calling your OB/GYN's office to be safe. The worst thing they are going to tell you is that it is just BH, and you have nothing to worry about. What if it's not? I'd rather let them be the ones to make the judgment.
You are so close to the end, I'd hate to have it be something more serious. My 2nd pregnancy was so much different than my first.
With my second, they told me 3 times that my water hadn't broken when I called - they finally got tired of me and had me to go the hospital to put my anxiety to rest. Sure enough, it had, and I had a slow leak and needed to be immediately admitted.
I would agree with the prior poster. I just had my son (third pregnancy) and had braxton hicks since wk 28. However, the day before I delivered I woke up with contractions that lasted all day long and eventually sent me to the hospital that night. They were mild to moderate in strength and lasted all day long, but they were not close in time, so I didn't call my doc or go to the hospital. I figured it was labor...but didn't see the need to run in yet (I was full-term). In any case, considering you are not even 30wks yet, you should really get it checked out. It could be pre-term labor in which you must be followed closely. I wish you all the best...
Yes, I had contractions for several days before both of my daughters were born. Since you are only at 30 weeks, you might want to notify your dr. just to be sure. The good thing is that if you have them alot, it could make your hard labor much quicker!
Good luck!
yes, it's possible. i had braxton-hicks the whole 3rd trimester with my second pregnancy (well, on and off of course). you'll know when the real ones kick in. you've been through it before :) if there's no bleeding, the baby hasn't dropped, or other warning signs of impending labor, don't stress it. it's just the joys of pregnancy... :)
