Braxton Hicks..... question about them...

I've been getting Braxton Hicks for a few weeks now where my belly goes hard all of a sudden and it feels quite tight and sometimes uncomfortable, then it passes. So i know that when this happens I'm getting a BH and that it's my body preparing for labour by doing it's thing over the next few weeks.....

Throughout my pregnancy on and off I've also sometimes experienced mild period type pains in my abdomen..... sometimes it's a bit sore..... then it passes..... is this Braxton Hicks aswell? OR just my uterus stretching??

TIA :D

Does it happen at the same time as the tightenings? How long do the pains last for?

:bump: - I'm interested to hear what others say about this also - I get the same pains that you're talking about but can't be sure that they are the norm - kwim?? surely we're not the only 2!! :o

No they happen at different times.... when i'm having a BH i don't get mild period pain, that usually happens at a different time altogether.... :dunno: dunno.... it is probably just my uterus stretching huh?

I'm not worried about it I just would like to hear if others get it too and what it would be? is it a different TYPE of BH perhaps i wonder? lol its been happening for weeks and it's not painful at all...

ren i have exactly the same thing!! random period pain, id say its normal, it doense concern me at this stage!

I've been getting braxton hicks for about 2 months now ( they have always been just mild tightening with an overwhelming feeling of shortness of breath) but now (last 2 weeks) I get the tightening sensation and "period pain" like cramps in my lower abdomen. I just assumed its my body getting ready for the big day :)

Random period type pains down in your pelvic area are really normal, often they'll come on when you're walking, lifting toddlers or been overdoing things a bit. As long as there is no regularity about them they're nothing to stress about ;)

It may just be your uterus stretching the ligaments. The hormone relaxin should be kicking in around about this time, so that could explain it.

Ren I have put a couple of posts in with the BH as well. Dr said yesterday that its ok, but because I said I have been having heaps he is checking my cervix has not been affected when I go for my scan next week to check Bumps kidneys. But I haven't really had the period type pain as you described. I get a dull ache and then moments later I pass wind and the ache is gone so I am putting that down to wind. The thing is there is not a lot of room in there now and wind can get trapped anywhere and worse still take a while to work its way out, so may be that could also be the cause for you...

Renstar.. I had the EXACT same thing in the last trimester of my pregnancy.. i would get the tightening- no pian at all (sorry- one day there was- the tightening lasted for like half an hour- and bubs was moving at the same time- hurt like hell) and then suddenly at different times i would get this mild-intense period pain- i would get it first thing in the morning to start with- then as i got closer to the end- i got it more often during the day aswell- but as i said never at the same time... UNTIL the night i went into labour- :dance: Thats what made me think i was in labour- coz suddenly after all these weeks of getting both of these feelings seperatley- getting them at the same time was a sign to me that it might be time to call the hospital!! Lucky i did!! It was about 6:30pm when they started together and i got to hospital at about 10pm and went into active labour at about 5am- i had a csection due to previously having one and just being too chicken to go for my wanted VBAC!!

Good luck and enjoy these niggles- they last FOR ages before they become real and i think you will just "know" when its the real thing!!! Until then its your body doing everything it can to prepare!!! :)

Thanks girls for your posts. Glad others have had them too i figured it was pretty common.

I've been watching birth stories on foxtel and i've noticed a few of the women said they were in labour as they had like period pains so i guess it's just my body gearing up for the BIG day..... :D

It only happens now and then and randomly and never hurts. if it was painful i'd probably head to the hospital!!

Renstar i got AF/period pain first thing this morning and then it just went away, had me a little concerned cause that is how DS's labour started and he was a few weeks early. But been fine all day!

I had the same pains, and my doctor and a midwife said it was just my ligaments and muscles stretching. It's annoying though, especially when it gets really painful and you rush to the hospital only to be told to go home.

Me too...I've been getting both pains...the tightening pains and the period type pains...at seperate times. Right now it's more period type pains, hence the 2 am post...painful enough to wake me up and not let me sleep. Don't remember having this with DS.

I had AF type pains at times during my pregnancy. When it was pre labour it gradually got worse over the day & I had a show that went throughout the day.

I get both those pains also - currently at 41 weeks. I also have pain in my groin area, I'm guessing this is the baby trying to put his head in my pelvis (he still isn't engaged)