BH- when should I be paying more attention to what I think are still most likely BH?

some silly questions from a first timer.....

I know I should just ask my midwife but I just want to get the opinion of you lovely ladies before I completely embarrass myself... :redface:
History is... im 34+4 and lost a larger bit of my plug on Monday and have continued to lose little bits through the week...

today I have bad a particularly bad day of braxton hicks, they started at around 5am, and carried through every 20 mins until 11
30am they where strong enough to make me pause and breathe through. at 11.30 I had 2 that were milder (carried on talking etc as normal and half hour apart. They then fell back into 20mins apart until about 6pm when I had 4 over 2 hours in a similar pattern as my morning "break". They never got closer together except over 1-2 contractions when climbing stairs, walking around shopping etc, when they were aboit 15 minutes apart. At the moment they are sporadic again- I havent been timing but my guess is still 20-30 mins apart, some mild and some a bit stronger. To me it seems odd, ive only ever had clusters of 5-6 at a time, perhaps 2-3 times a day, this seems really full on.
I dont know if this is normal progression as pregnancy advances or I should be talking to midwives... I just dont want to look like a complete idiot :help:
(at the moment my plan is to ride it out tonight given they dont get closer and call in tomorrow if it continues)

TIA :)

Hi hun, I can only go off my own experiences so please don't take my word as gospel. My BHs were never regular like yours ... I only ever had some tightenings across my tummy and never for long or with the intensity you're describing. Other BB ladies may have had BH experiences more similar to yours though.

TBH, my advice would be to contact your midwife. There's no way you'll look like an idiot - especially if you haven't birthed before. It's all new to you, and our bodies and babies are all different when it comes down to labour. Your midwife is a birthing expert and can more accurately tell you what's likely going on.

Good luck :)

Hello.
I had alot of BH in the last fourish weeks. Sometimes they would be regular for an hour but never consistent for a whole day. If it were me I would speak with my midwife for sure - especially as your only 34+ and losing plug. Never be scared of asking any question - there is never a silly question :)

To me it seems like its more than BH, sounds very similar to my experiences with pre term labour. Speak to your midwife as they can check what is happening and stop it from progressing any further if need be. My first was born at 34 weeks as I didn't realize it was labour starting but with my second pregnancy and third pregnancy I knew the signs and was able to get to 37 and 39 +5.

I would mention it too. As Black_Rose has mentioned it could be a sign that you might need to slow down a bit as preterm labour can sneak up on you (as i found out lol!). i too was losing quite a bit of plug and movement would set off a round of BHs etc. but resting would have them at least slow down until one night after a particulary busy day i went into labour at 33w6d. I was put on strict bedrest and stayed that way until i was safe to birth at home (which would also of meant that baby was a healthy gestation).

Take care and worth a phone-call. that way they can record that down for you and remember to check you next time you see them (unless they want you to come in earlier!).

Thanks ladies :)
I didnt end up calling the birth centre, it all seemed to fizzle out over night. The BH are still there today but are no where nwar as often or regular. We has a super busy/stressful day yesterday but DH and I both woke up with horrible colds today, so it could have been due to either of those lol. Rhe only big change today is that bub is definitely engaged, he has dropped so far down, and I can breathe again lol. As long as I dont have any other signs I plan on riding it out until tuesday morning when I have my antenatal appointment. I just feel silly calling them... ive already called twice over the past 3 weeks, once for a small bleed and then the plug on Monday only to be told that it was normal/fine and not to worry.

Glad to hear things have settled down a bit, although sorry to hear you have a horrible cold.

For my two cents, don't ever feel silly to call your midwife or hospital, hun. That is what they are there for. Pregnancies and births come in all shapes and sizes. Knowledge is power, so you should feel free to ask questions etc at any stage and time of your pregnancy or birth.

Hope your cold goes away soon xx

I am glad that everything has settled down for you. Please don't ever feel bad for calling them, they really would rather you call than not especially when its pre-term,

I hope everything goes smoothly for you for the next few weeks

Cazz, I have had BH for ages now and the last 2 weeks they have got quite strong. I usually have to stop what I am doing and breath through it. If I am walking it is very uncomfortable and I can't continue to walk. I get them every day and I usually don't go more than an hour or two without one. I also had a very stressful day a few weeks back and was having them every 5 minutes for about an hour, I was really scared. But I tried to relax and calm myself down and they lessened soon after.
I asked my OB about this and he said it was just a normal part of pregnancy, but try not to over do it. My feeling is I am definitely over doing it, I know this.

I hope they aren't a sign of anything to worry about and bub stays put.

Don't ever feel silly about asking your midwife questions, that's what she/he's there for.

Don't feel silly. I got checked a number of times and everything was normal/fine. All it cost me was a bit of time. If you are not sure, it is better to make the call or go in and just talk to someone than leave it and be concerned or have something happen. I'm glad things have settled, try to take time to rest if you can.

Hi ladies, you were all right..... we are now threatened preterm. Bub is >4/5 engaged and cervix is open and thinning :( Im now on bedrest and watch for any further changes. They wont be delaying labour- but will give steroids. I really didnt think that this actually anything going on- thoufht I was being paranoid lol

rest rest rest. It is hard to do that :hug:

In my case it meant not even getting up for showers or cups of tea! but if you can keep bubs in there for another week you will most likely be able to bring them home with you with no worries. I am surprised they are giving steriods though...at the RWH here in melbs when i presented at 33w6d they told me that they wouldnt.

Rest up, I didn't have steroids either. I hope you can keep the baby baking a bit longer each day helps.

Rest up darl. Send someone out to get lots of snacks and some DVD series.

Just lazing around home.... bed=couch for me- im trying to avoid the stairs... they seem to set me off... im surprised at the steriod thing :-/ they wonr administer unless it looks like im progressing... I think it might be because they dont deliver ar my hospital before 34 weeks? They just transfer to the royal womens because its so close. Im just so disappointed that we might miss out on our water birth... I need bubba to stay put for at least 2 weeks so we can stay in the birth centre!

stairs are used in early labour to get things going...so avoid those lol!

Rest up Caz! Actually, I'm a little paranoid myself now. No plug loss for me, but BH start from when I wake up and happen all day, every day. Especially when I am walking/moving around. I hope you can still have the water birth you plan for :)

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Hi ladies, you were all right..... we are now threatened preterm. Bub is >4/5 engaged and cervix is open and thinning :( Im now on bedrest and watch for any further changes. They wont be delaying labour- but will give steroids. I really didnt think that this actually anything going on- thoufht I was being paranoid lol

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Rest up and take it easy hun xx

Thinking of you , rest and take it easy xxx

How's it going ? X

Just came across this thread. Hope everything has slowed down for you and bub will keep cooking for a couple more weeks and you can be at the birth centre.

Re the steroids, I'm pretty sure they need to be administered close to delivery. They're not a once off thing. If they administered it now, and you didn't birth within a certain time, they'd need to administer them again (if that makes sense).

There'll be lots of support here if bub does make an early entrance.. plenty of prem mums here. Hope all is well.

Steroids are usually given 24 hours apart for 2 doses then weekly until either term OR birth.

a babe at 34/5 weeks currently has pretty good outcomes especially if it has had steroids :)

good luck and fingers crossed for you

looks like we will be heading up to the hospital tonight. Contractions are 15mins apart at rest, I only have to stand up for them to get more frequent though :( The birth Centre is closed tonight so I wont even have a midwife I know :( Im only going to stay for a check and steroids though.... we are only a km from the hospital so if it comes to it , I want to labour ar home if I cant be in the birth centre.
... its starting to get real :(

Wishing you all the best Caz, hope they can slow it down. Thinking of you x

Not sure they'd want you to labour at home with a prem, but I hope it all goes well for you. You're at an ok gestation, bub will just need to mature a little before going home.

I think when I had steroids the doses were 12hrs apart but I didn't get the second dose cos bub arrived!

Thinking of you caz , keep us updated ..

Thinking of you hope everything goes ok.

Thinking of you, hope they can slow things down for you and bubs stays put for another couple of weeks. x

Wishing you all the best. I'd like to hear how you get on too, when you find a moment to update us. Thinking of you xx

I would also like to hear how your doing, when and if you can.

Wishing you and your baby the very best. Hoping they can keep bubs baking for a while longer.

Thinking of you hope you and bubba are safe.

Hope your both doing ok xx

hi lovely ladies!
We are back at home on very strict bed rest. Dilation had progessed only a little, around 2-3 now. We didn't end up with steroids- they just tried using a sedative and painkillers to try to slow it/ let me sleep. It seems to have backed off again, the contractions are alot milder and nearly half hour apart this morning after only having 2-3 wake me in the night. Hopefully we can string it out another week... they said if I get to 36 weeks they will let me labour in the birth centre tubs etc but need to transfer to delivery suite (50m down the hall) for delivery.

Great news. Feet up! And hang in there a bit longer bubby!

Thanks for updating caz :) that's great news , rest rest rest :) x

That's great. Wishing you the best ' crossing fingers for another week of baking at least.

Great news!! Hope you have some company and/or a good book to keep you occupied on bed rest! Will keep my fingers crossed for bubs staying tucked up inside for another week x

Glad to hear you're back home. Hope bubba stays put for another week so you can go to the birth centre :)

That's great news Caz :)