I didn't really experience Braxton Hick's contractions with my son so I don't know what they are like exactly. I'm 19 weeks and I've been feeling a real tightness in my belly. My belly doesn't feel particularly hard on the outside but inside it feels so tight almost all the time. It's very uncomfortable and makes it hard to catch my breath. I sometimes feel a bit tight in my chest too. What does this sound like? Braxton hicks? Cramps? Gas? Something else?
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My experience with BH is that they come and go in waves, like regular contractions, but not regular and not as painful. Mine usually went away if I drank a lot of water and rested for a bit.
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I think they vary a ton by person. I've had a ton already at 28 weeks and I had a ton last time. And my LO was born on time. Mine can last a long time and sometimes be painful. They can be random or triggered by other pressures like bladder full, gas, doing too much, etc. Now that I'm far enough along I can definitely feel the contraction push on my lungs (or something) and feel shortness of breath.
Fun times! I just go by whether I can slow them down if I take the right steps as when to worry. Go to the bathroom, lay down on your side, drink water, let the kid watch tv until it gets better!
I think if it's really constant feeling and you can't feel the hardness from the outside it might be gas?
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My Braxton hicks sound a lot like you're describing. And yes they definitely vary by person! Mine used to last soooooo long and it would be impossible to talk. I used to have to stop talking mid sentence and just wait out the "hardness" in my belly. Water definitely helped
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Sounds like BH to me. I never had them with my first LO, but started having them maybe around 23 weeks with my second. For me, they were often triggered by carrying LO1, and I really has to limit carrying him as the pregnancy went on.
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It sounds like it. Try resting for a little bit and see if it goes away. I did find that I felt it more when I was doing too much. My OB said the tightness is where they baby's back is.
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Mine starred about 19 weeks too and are triggered by things like a full bladder and doing too much. They are uncomfortable and I've noticed by tummy feels harder with them the further I've gotten along.
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Sounds like BH to me. I never had any with my first LO but with my second, they started right around 20-22 weeks and were relentless throughout the remainder of my pregnancy if I did any kind of physical exertion or didn't drink enough water. As others have said, they aren't painful per se, but they do feel like someone has your belly in a vice grip and is squeezing the air out of you. No fun, I'm sorry
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Sounds like BH to me. Mine went away with lots of water and laying on my left side. Sometimes I'd have to chug two bottles of water to make them stop, but they always did!
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I don't think I started feeling them till after 20 weeks, or maybe even later, but for me it's def a tightening feeling the last from a few to maybe 10 sec tops.
I think the shortness of breath is just the baby squishing my lungs tho
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Thanks so much everyone. I feel relieved to know that this is pretty typical. This pregnancy has been a but different and I know I am running around more with my son so it makes sense. I kind of think its a combo of BH and gas so I'm gonna try to drink more water today and avoid foods that might repeat.
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I have been getting them too. I asked my OB yesterday and she said to drink water and lay down, only to call if 4-6 in an hour
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11 comments