https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 13 May 2026 14:46:31 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-braxton-hicks-good#post-2110619 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 15:09:45 +0000 MapleMoose 2110619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a ton of painless and painful BH contractions with both pregnancies. I was induced with zero signs of labor progressing on its own the first time, and I went into a crazy fast labor the second time. Who knows! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-braxton-hicks-good#post-2110607 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 15:01:19 +0000 mfa_lady 2110607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had MAYBE one BH contraction (never was sure, since it never happened again) and had a natural, 7 hour labor. I did okay without them, but it still makes sense that they would help at least a bit! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-braxton-hicks-good#post-2110565 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 14:31:20 +0000 SeptMomma12 2110565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@turkeylurkey: I started having them at 14 weeks this time and am holding strong at almost 31 weeks. My doctor said some people's bodies just like to contract. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-braxton-hicks-good#post-2110342 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 12:14:40 +0000 turkeylurkey 2110342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had them with the first pregnancy. I was dilated to 3cm 3 weeks before my due date. Then went to 4cm when I was finally admitted. My water broke so they had to admit me. And since I was already at a 4 they went ahead and put me on the list for the epi.<br /> This pregnancy I'm 25 weeks along and started having them only when I've been pushing something. For example, the grocery cart or stroller. Once I stop and relax for a few minutes it will subside. Kind of scares me at this stage. If I was around 30 weeks I'd feel better about having them. Still wouldn't be full-term but very close. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-braxton-hicks-good#post-2110340 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 12:13:32 +0000 snowjewelz 2110340@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had them.. I don't know how often compared to others.. But I was induced at 39 weeks due to GD so I don't really know what purpose they serve besides besides showing me what contractions feel like! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-braxton-hicks-good#post-2110313 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 11:59:42 +0000 charlotte 2110313@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had them ALL the TIME and then my water broke at 39 wks and I was a 6 when I went in. So just in my experience they were helpful! Perhaps just a coincidence though. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-braxton-hicks-good#post-2110312 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 11:59:29 +0000 Torchwood 2110312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was told irritable uterus last time too (wound up with never fewer than 5 an hour, and if I was on my feet at all they would drop to as little as two minutes apart), and my midwives weren't worried. 19 weeks now, and it looks like it's going to be the same this time. They actually started in the first tri, which I didn't know was possible!</p> <p>My experience with labor was far from normal, but I responded too well to the procedure. They had to have me take pills to stop contractions the day before my induction, and they had to immediately drop my pitocin to the lowest setting because contractions were so close together. I don't remember because of the drugs, but DH said it all took around an hour. I feel like the BH's did help make me labor fast. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-braxton-hicks-good#post-2110310 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 11:58:46 +0000 Mrs. Lovejoy 2110310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: haha! The pain for me is so different between BH and regular contractions! But, I can understand the concept.. :silly: </p> <p>@SeptMomma12: haha, I did have a bunch last pregnancy and progressed fairly quickly as well - so who knows the correlation. Yeah, too bad they wouldn't affect your pelvis or son's size.. boo :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-braxton-hicks-good#post-2110298 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 11:54:09 +0000 Happygal 2110298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom tried to convince me they were a very good thing b/c they gave you a chance to really explore the pain and try to use methods to deal with them.</p> <p>I was not really convinced! The strong ones freaked me out. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-braxton-hicks-good#post-2110280 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 11:45:08 +0000 SeptMomma12 2110280@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think mine helped dilate me faster when I did go into labor. I went from 1 to 10 pretty quickly, especially for a first time mom. Unfortunately they didn't help my son fit through my pelvis and I ended up with a c-section anyway :sad: </p> <p>I do have a friend though who gets a ton of them like I do and her four kids have basically fallen out once she's gone into labor. She definitely thinks it's the one benefit of having to deal with a ton of BH.</p> <p>@Banana330: Irritable uterus is also what I've been told. They put me on bed rest for it last time, but this time they are willing to just do regular cervical measurements to make sure the contractions aren't doing anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-braxton-hicks-good#post-2110238 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 11:28:05 +0000 Banana330 2110238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lovejoy: I get them at every movement especially things like stairs, but on the weekend I had them for 45 seconds, every three minutes for 45 min. Then they went away. I have the same hope as you, that they will help come delivery time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-braxton-hicks-good#post-2110224 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 11:21:50 +0000 Mrs. Lovejoy 2110224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Banana330: Sometimes I wonder if that's the case for me too! It's especially worse after I workout. I pushed it a bit hard this weekend and had a lot more than normal (definitely the max 4-6/hour). So, I was just being hopeful it was doing something good for me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-braxton-hicks-good#post-2110176 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 11:05:00 +0000 Banana330 2110176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been having tons since 20 weeks, but they are getting worse since 33 weeks. I'm hoping they will help, but not sure. My midwife just says I have an irritable uterus. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-braxton-hicks-good#post-2110165 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 11:01:26 +0000 Mrs. Coral 2110165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had tons of BH and was dilated 1 cm at 41 weeks. I had a 40+ hour labor, was 4 cm when admitted after ~28 hours of labor. I pushed for 2 hours. </p> <p>That being said, everyone is SO different. AND, maybe if I didn't have a those BH I would have been clamped tightly shut and needed to be induced. Who knows!!</p> <p>Best of luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-braxton-hicks-good#post-2110152 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 10:56:38 +0000 Peasinapod 2110152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think mine helped dialate me. So I was a three before labour even started. And I did have a relatively easy labour and delivery after having a ton of Braxton hicks.</p> <p> (less than 20 min pushing, went into labour 5 days before my due date, 11 hours from water breaking to baby arrival, 6 hrs active labour). </p> <p>But I have nothing to compare it to. So who knows if any of it is related. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-braxton-hicks-good#post-2110142 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 10:51:36 +0000 Mrs. Lovejoy 2110142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Curious what you think/know...Is there any significant benefit to Braxton Hicks? I thought I've heard that they are preparing your body for labor. Well, I've had TONS since about 18 weeks (this is my second pregnancy), so I think I'm getting this false hope that this labor is just going to be smooooth runnings - and hey maybe early? Maybe I'm dreaming here though... :silly: </p>