Guest guest Posted September 26, 2004 Report Share Posted September 26, 2004 Thanks for your post, Theresa...I have been meaning to post the same thing...I am almost 34 weeks and not sure what I am feeling. Am on bedrest for BP problems and monitored pretty carefully and when the docs ask about BH, I am not sure either... Hopefully some of our wise and more experienced friends here can help! All the best, > I don't know if anyone can clarify things for me, but any input is > welcomed. > Aside from little cervical cramps with my son (7 yrs ago) I don't > believe I ever had BH contractions with him. > I am having different feelings with this baby, especially at night. > I've read up on BH's via the internet and asked friends but the > descriptions are very vague saying that they are just little > contractions getting ready for the real thing, or that your uterus > and tummy gets hard. > Can those of you that have BH's try describing them a little more in > detail? > My feelings are more like a muscle pull or strain. When they come > on, it's hard to turn to the other side...almost like I'm going to > pull a muscle if I don't do it real slow and easy. I've placed my > hand on my belly and it doesn't feel tightened. It almost feels like > someone is pulling my side muscles both the ribs and my hip. > Does this sound like Braxton Hicks? > I also read how it's not uncomfortable - well these certainly are! > > Thanks > in Detroit > 32 wks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 26, 2004 Report Share Posted September 26, 2004 Braxton Hicks are described to me as being not NEARLY as painful as real ones (by mothers who have had both of course), they come and go in irregularity. With Braxton Hicks they aren't every 2-5 mintes, lasting about 1 minute and are intense that you can't speak through one. They are milder. Many contractions are caused by DEHYDRATION, so lie down, on your left side, drink alot of water (unless you are on fluid restriction for some reason or are having high BP problems). ALso, hot soaks in the tub or shower will help stop BH ctx. IF you live in an area where you can walk, go walking. Walk, walk, walk, walk, if they are true labor ctx, they won't stop, but rather they would intensify. (of course, if you are over 26 weeks-28 weeks and are considered high risk, don't TRY to start ctx). Many times moms come in and they say they are contracting. We'll hook them to the monitor, watch them for 2-4 hours, check their cervix when they get there, watch the number of ctx they have then check their cervix again. If there are no cervical changes, we send them home (or if they are nearly due- we'll send them to the mall to get in some serious walking!) Hope that your contractions are stopped by the rest, fluids, warm soaks and lying on left side. Sheila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 26, 2004 Report Share Posted September 26, 2004 I " m sorry . I didn't tell you what they feel like. I had BH ctx from week 26 til I delivered at week 36, and I contracted every 6 minutes. It got to where if I DIDNT contract I got worried. My cervical length on vag US never changed so they called me " BH's " > Can those of you that have BH's try describing them a little more in > detail? <<==== to me, it felt like the baby was balling up into a little round ball, then he would relax. He balled up every 6 minutes for one minute, then rested. Thats how it felt to me. When you feel your belly and it isn't tight, then it probably isn't a contraction. At some point (point varies for many women), you may experience " ovarian ligament stretching " and that sounds more like what you are having. I had this pain up and down both sides of my abdomen. Of course, working on L & D, I told every OB, and Resident who happened by what symptom I was having that shift and they all kinda started laughing at me. lol > My feelings are more like a muscle pull or strain. When they come > on, it's hard to turn to the other side...almost like I'm going to > pull a muscle if I don't do it real slow and easy. I've placed my > hand on my belly and it doesn't feel tightened. It almost feels like someone is pulling my side muscles both the ribs and my hip. > Does this sound like Braxton Hicks? <==no, uterine ligament stretching to me Be certain to mention them to your OB provider but try some warm soaks. No matter what is *ailing* you, warm soaks while pregnant should make you feel better. Sheila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 26, 2004 Report Share Posted September 26, 2004 Hi I think these sound just like what was described as " round ligament pain " to me. This is my fourth pregnancy and I have had the symptoms you are describing in all of them. When I have talked to my docs about them in the past they have always called them round ligament pain. they are caused by the stretching of these ligaments in your abdomen. They can be pretty bad, take your breath away, and are common when turning or rolling in bed. Also, they are common when coughing or sneezing, which has been a bother for me this time around as I seem to have exaggerated allergy symptoms with this pregnancy. I was told to try to move very slowly when turning and rolling and to try and brace my stomach for coughs or sneezes of course all these things are not always possible. Good luck. Gerri 36 weeks Boston, Massachusetts ........> My feelings are more like a muscle pull or strain. When they come > on, it's hard to turn to the other side...almost like I'm going to > pull a muscle if I don't do it real slow and easy. I've placed my > hand on my belly and it doesn't feel tightened. It almost feels like > someone is pulling my side muscles both the ribs and my hip. > Does this sound like Braxton Hicks? > I also read how it's not uncomfortable - well these certainly are! > > Thanks > in Detroit > 32 wks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 26, 2004 Report Share Posted September 26, 2004 , Just me again, forgot to mention in my previous post that, of course you should ALWAYS mention any pain you are having to your doc. Sorry to pipe back in, I just didnt want that to go unsaid even though you seem to have the same symptoms as me. I also have Braxton-Hicks but they are very different. They feel like a tightening of your uterus, especially the top portion. They tend not to be brought on by any particular position or movement, like with round ligament pain. Sometimes, you can be lying down and look at your belly and SEE that you are having a Braxton'Hick contraction before you ever notice it because your tummy tends to tighten so much that it almost rises up and sticks out more. As was already mentioned there are no patterns to BH contractions. I had a few the other night that were much more painful than I have had during this pregnancy, but I have gone through labor before and they just didnt progress to the intensity of regular labor pains, so I didnt panic. Again good luck, Gerri .....> My feelings are more like a muscle pull or strain. When they come > on, it's hard to turn to the other side...almost like I'm going to > pull a muscle if I don't do it real slow and easy. I've placed my > hand on my belly and it doesn't feel tightened. It almost feels like > someone is pulling my side muscles both the ribs and my hip. > Does this sound like Braxton Hicks? > I also read how it's not uncomfortable - well these certainly are! > > Thanks > in Detroit > 32 wks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 26, 2004 Report Share Posted September 26, 2004 " ovarian ligament stretching " = " round ligament pain " depending on whether you are in Ky or WV. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 26, 2004 Report Share Posted September 26, 2004 > I don't know if anyone can clarify things for me, but any input is > welcomed. > Aside from little cervical cramps with my son (7 yrs ago) I don't > believe I ever had BH contractions with him. > I am having different feelings with this baby, especially at night. > I've read up on BH's via the internet and asked friends but the > descriptions are very vague saying that they are just little > contractions getting ready for the real thing, or that your uterus > and tummy gets hard. > Can those of you that have BH's try describing them a little more in > detail? > My feelings are more like a muscle pull or strain. When they come > on, it's hard to turn to the other side...almost like I'm going to > pull a muscle if I don't do it real slow and easy. I've placed my > hand on my belly and it doesn't feel tightened. It almost feels like > someone is pulling my side muscles both the ribs and my hip. > Does this sound like Braxton Hicks? > I also read how it's not uncomfortable - well these certainly are! > > Thanks > in Detroit > 32 wks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 26, 2004 Report Share Posted September 26, 2004 from a nursing standpoint, losing your plug is no big deal. If you aren't having other accompanying symptoms and dilating (reg ctx, cervix dilating, water breaks etc), losing your plus is no big deal, so save yourself a trip to the ER or L & D, cause they'd just send you back (again, unless you were having other symptoms). Sheila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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