Braxton Hicks Contractions?

[{sarah}]

Does it mean anything for labour?? I didn't get any with Zander, but I just had three in a row - my belly went hard for about 10 seconds about 2 minutes apart three times. It's all stopped & bub is going crazy now! So yeah I wondered if it makes a difference to when I will go in labour (should I be concerned) or if it helps etc...

[mrsmac]

I didn't have any with Jess but tonnes with Erin and Riley. I don't know whether it made any difference although Erin has been my only non-induction (and on her due date too!!)
Good luck anyway hun.

[Trish]

Sarah, I don't find that BH have anything to do with my labour. They are caused by increased levels of estrogen and don't cause the cervix to dilate at all. I started having them from very early with both Tehya and Abbey, like around 15 weeks or so. Are you drinking RLT ?? If so and you find that you are having too many BH you can cut back on it.

At this stage in your pregnancy though they are totally normal and just what you want to be feeling.

Bub will move around more after a BH the same as they do with real contractions. It all goes very snug for them in there. Almost like a cuddle for them

WooHoo only 9 more weeks for you

[{sarah}]

Nup no RL Tea here just yet, I'm waiting for that and EPO until around 35 weeks, so just over 3 weeks to go.....

My biggest problem is that I had an entirely back labour with Zander so have no idea what the actual contractions in the belly feel like

[Alan]

Hi Sarah
BH contractions are not an indicator that labour will start. However they are thought to be preparing your body for labour. As others have said it is normal for your baby to be more active after BH contractions.
You can start RLT at any time from now if you wish to but it would be a good idea to hold off on the EPO until after 34 weeks.

[blue daisy]

Hi Sarah

BH are simply the uterus contracting and relaxing without cervical dilation

they are great as they provide your uterus and your baby with plenty of O2 and means your uterus is 'training' for your labor

and its great you are aware of them...practice positions, breathing and visualistations for the real thing

many women are not aware of BH with first pregnancies, but they can be felt as early as 14-16wks with subsequent pregnancies (due to loss of muscle tone and an increased awareness of our body in pregnancy)

when you first go into labor and get some cervical action it may feel a bit like a tingling or a little pinch on your cervix, and remember as the uterus does not feel pain it will just feel like tightening, it is the sensations of the cervix opening that you feel

I had a posterior labor with Finn, and it was hot and sharp and all in the back
with Jay it was all low and internal and the contractions where merely waves that accompanied the intensity of the cervix opening

EPO does not have any proven improvements in labor and birth outcomes. I think I posted somewhere a while ago a research article that actually indicated increased infection rates for the baby

how exciting, not too long to go and you will get to meet your beautiful baby

x

[MantaRay]

I think you notice them more with second pgs Sarah. I certainly did. I had really painful ones with Tom, in fact a few times I actually started timing them they were so strong. Tom was early and a fast labour, but I don't know how much the BH had to do with that, I suspect it was unrelated. But you never know, they could help you have an easier and quicker labour. And I was worried about knowing when it was real labour, but when the time came, I knew!

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

I had a false labour with my bub at 34 weeks, which turned out to be BH. The midwife said that Aurelia was moving around so much, it was causing my uterus to contract. That was a month before I gave birth, so yeah, it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with labour. The best thing to do if you have them is wait and see what happens rather than go to hospital (which was really exPs idea, I suspected it was BH and wanted to stay home lol), because if it's real labour, you'll find out soon enough!

[danniellabella]

I had BH everyday for about a week and a half before Jacinta was born. The only day I didn't have any was the day before my waters broke.