Pre labour- braxton hicks

[stacey83]

This is my second pregnancy i am 37 weeks, and with my first son i had him at 34 weeks. So this is the part of my pregnancy i havent experienced before! And its very uncomfortable! My baby isnt real big but he is fighting for room. Im getting very very sharp pains in my pelvis and feeling on and off crampy for the past 5 days which im guessing is the braxton hicks.

Now my question; is the sharp pains normal? and im guessing its his head engaging more and more into my pelvis. It's just so painful at times!! Does anyone else feel like this?

[Alan]

Hi Stacey
My guess is that the pain you are having is caused by a slight movement of your pubic bone. During late pregnancy your body releases a hormone called relaxin. This hormone causes all your ligaments and joints to loosen in preparation for birth. There is a joint in the centre of your pubic bone that normally does not move however, under the influence of relaxin this joint becomes lose and as this joint has no cartilage to protect the ends, when this joint moves it causes pain.

[Snacks]

Yes, I found after 37 weeks this last time I felt more twinges and pains than the rest of the pregnancy. Sometimes I'd get what felt like 'knocks' on my cervix - quite uncomfy! And loads of BH's this last pregnancy too, from as early as 21 weeks.
If the pains you're describing are what Alan suggested, to do with your pelvis moving about, and it gets too painful, you can see a physio and borrow/hire a special belt that gives your pelvis more stability.