Braxton Hicks?

Hi! Hoping someone can offer some advice / reassurance.

I’m 18 weeks. I’ve started to feel my abdominal hardening below by belly button - which I assume is my uterus because I can feel the shape quite clearly when it gets hard. It’s short lived - less than a minute - and just ever so marginally uncomfortable. I’m guessing it’s Braxton hicks contractions? So nothing to worry about.

But, I am having them quite often - this is now the third time in the last hour and before that too. Is that too often for 18 weeks?

Im a bit of a worrier and don’t really want to keep calling up the midwife at every panic 🤦‍♀️

Any one any experience of this / advice?

thank you!

[DreamingOfTwo79]

Hello! Congratulations on your pregnancy! Please don't be shy to contact the midwives whenever you need reassurance, they'd rather you call them once too often. In my successful pregnancy with my son I had frequent Braxton Hicks from about 20 weeks, exactly like you described. The midwives used to reassure me that this was perfectly normal and the uterus just practicing. One common side effect of early onset Braxton Hicks is a comparably fast labour plus you may only realise you're in labour once you're actually already in established labour. From the time I noticed the first contraction until my son was born it was just under six hours. The midwives will be able to examine you and make sure everything is as it should be until you're 20 weeks when you can present to MDAU. Wishing you all the best for your pregnancy! X

[Hidden]

Sounds to me like early BH like you say, I haven't had a single one at 35 weeks and yet another of my NCT class had them at 19 weeks. I would however contact your midwife, even if you worry the main thing you have to constantly have is 'don't have any regrets' in your head.. imagine how much better you will feel once you have had some reassurance, and if there was anything a bit odd they could help sort it xx

[Lolalules]

hi this is my first pregnancy and I’ve also had them quite regularly from about 22 weeks (now 28wks). Midwives confirmed likely BH and said not to worry but to monitor and if they get longer or are accompanied by other symptoms to let them know. I think sometimes it’s also when baby is sitting lower and it presses in that area x

[AuroraXen]

How are you doing Lovely? I've had some issues with this myself this week (though with the added stress of being in Berlin, sigh...)

On Wednesday (at 24 weeks plus 4 days) I just started getting lots of achiness around the bump, achy and sore lower back, bump feeling very full and swollen and hot. Told myself it would just be from all the growth lately (bump suddenly seems huge) but the achy feeling was kind of getting stronger, even with lying flat, and felt like aches started coming in waves a bit. I got pretty worked up and upset, as this is all new to me, and ummed and ahhed all evening as to whether to go to a hospital here. I was worried in case I was going to go into early labour or something, as even if i know rationally that's unlikely I also know it happens and if people ignore it, it can have terrible outcomes. So I ended up getting checked out in the local MAU, and all seemed to be ok 🙏

They reckoned it was probably Braxton-Hicks. I still feel a bit worse for wear, to be honest, nothing like it was, but getting occasional aches and started with back pain for the first time. I was feeling so well too! 😂

I hope you're ok xx

[Hidden]

Hi, I also had loads of Braxton hicks from really early on just like you! Midwife wasn’t concerned and they continued throughout the pregnancy. She advised me to keep well hydrated as sometimes they get worse if you are dehydrated but nothing to worry about if painless. Also got loads of baby hiccups later on too🤣

[Hidden]

thanks everyone - I did end up contacting the EPU as the cramping/ contractions got worse during the night. Wonderful support by the midwife there. They had me in and checked the baby (all ok) and kept me for observation (I actually managed some rest finally after all the worry). Told it was indeed BH and that it was normal around now to feel them, but to call if I was worried, passed discharge or they became more/ worse.

So so grateful for the NHS and the wonderful midwives I’ve encountered 💕

Thank you all for your replies - I read them even though didn’t reply straight away. Very reassuring. Thank you.