braxton hicks??

[tasha_84]

Hey guys I have read alot about braxton hicks..but just wanted to know if what im getting are bh,I work in a daycare centre and when i was working yesterday i was getting bad like stitch pains down low but only on my left hand side..i had to sit down as it was starting to hurt really bad..when i sat down for a little bit it did go away..this is the 2nd time its happened do they sound like bh contractions?? do you think, i had ceza with my first baby i didnt go into labour at all so i wouldnt know what contractions feel like

[~Trish~]

They could possibly be Braxton Hicks contractions. They generally start up at week 28 (but can happen earlier). They feel different for everyone. Mine feel like a tightening more in the centre (almost like a gentle Chinese burn). If the bottom part of your abdomen goes tight when you experience that stitch feeling, it is most likely a BH.

[~Belinda~]

Mine are exactly like Trish's but mine started at about 25 weeks...I am almost 27 weeks, it's a general tightening though.

[blue daisy]

Hey Tasha

in our 2nd, 3rd and more pregnancies you notice alot of things that were not all that obvious in your first pregnancy. Everything has been stretched and the body is a (mostly) well oiled pregnancy machine after ironing out any hiccups in the 1st pregnancy

BH actually occur as early as 16 weeks and while they are not 'painful' can still take your breath away. They are important in that the uterus is flexing its 'muscle' and this tones the uterus and makes it as fit as it can be (like us going to the gym and doing weights to tone our muscles) for labor. BH are also important as they oxygenate the uterus.

You may have an irritable uterus...which basically means if you do too much you will get runs of BH. A BH is a contraction (as the uterine muscle flexes) of sorts...a labor contraction is the uterus really working to rhythmically contract its mucsle fibres and maintain retraction (a specialised muscle fibre just for the uterus) with each wave (contraction), and as this all happening this is when the cerivx opens and dilates...

A BH will stop if you change activity...if you are standing, then laying down etc...a true labor contraction keeps coming no matter what you are doing

working in a day care centre is hard work...and perhaps your body is telling you it is time to slow down, especially if you are already a mummy as well

hope this helps

xx yogababy