https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:09:54 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ftm-guidance-on-contractions#post-2272915 Tue, 25 Aug 2015 14:29:58 +0000 Mrs D 2272915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had random waves of contraction like feelings during the last 4ish weeks of my first pregnancy. Everyone always told me "when you're in labor you WILL KNOW" and I always worried they werent right and I would miss the signs.</p> <p>When I woke up at 1am having the real deal I was like "holy shit - they were right...this IS IT".</p> <p>Definitely track them as pp mentioned - it may put you at ease. Sounds like BH and some mild back labor. Could mean its tonight or could mean 2 weeks! The joy of childbirth! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ftm-guidance-on-contractions#post-2272886 Tue, 25 Aug 2015 14:11:06 +0000 LauraBear 2272886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've had the same type of crampy Braxton Hicks contractions for the last two weeks. I'm 39 weeks 4 days right now and when I went into the midwife for a cervical check last Friday, the crampy BHs had progressed me to 4cm. The contractions got down to 5 minutes apart on Saturday so I went to the hospital just in case, even though I wasn't in much pain. I had progressed to a 5cm but after a couple of hours, nothing so I elected to go home. Still waiting now! I'm able to sleep for the most part - they wake me up every couple of hours but then I can go back to sleep. Was told by midwife and nurse last week that labor was imminent but they were wrong :silly: Baby is posterior so it's likely just prodromal labor and may still be a few days. Trying to be patient! But like everyone says, the real contraction will be really painful so you'll know what to look for - right now, if they won't let me sleep at all, then I know they are the real deal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ftm-guidance-on-contractions#post-2272463 Tue, 25 Aug 2015 09:12:11 +0000 wonderstruck 2272463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The tightening/rock hard sensation is BH. Annoying, but not harmful. From your symptoms I'd probably say you're going to have a baby sometime in the next couple of weeks :silly:</p> <p>When it's labor, you'll know. Maybe not right away, but it will become obvious as the pain increases and happens more frequently. There will be no confusion over whether or not it's the real deal once you're in active labor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ftm-guidance-on-contractions#post-2272211 Tue, 25 Aug 2015 05:07:02 +0000 buttermilk 2272211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PrincessBaby: that's just how mine started too! Waves of period cramps very mild but timetable and not too painful. They fizzled out after a few hours around noon but I sensed labor was imminent. We went about our day and came home late at 11pm. Had sex and within the hour I was in labor. Started as an awful back pain and then started coming in waves and I realized they were contractions. I had back labor but she came out anterior anyway! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ftm-guidance-on-contractions#post-2272208 Tue, 25 Aug 2015 04:32:47 +0000 PrincessBaby 2272208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sounds like BH. When I had contractions, they started out as vague period cramps that came and went, but in a pattern where I noticed that they were coming and going regularly. And it wasn't long at all before my "Is this maybe IT?" turned into "THIS IS DEFINITELY IT!!!!!" My labor was super fast though for my second, and my first I was induced with a very early epi, so I didn't really feel them that first time. The second time I had wondered if I would be able to identify contractions/that labor was starting and holy crap! Was I able to identify it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ftm-guidance-on-contractions#post-2272199 Tue, 25 Aug 2015 02:53:08 +0000 ldh112 2272199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had the same tightening/rock hard feeling after about 38 weeks and as I neared her arrival (41 weeks exactly), I had it more frequently, even waking from it in the middle of the night. My midwife described the tightening as practice/early labor. As my due date came and went, I was very disappointed needless to say. The day before she was born, it became more like a rhythmic cramp that I could time (it stayed at about 10 minutes apart and after several hours, 5 minutes apart- go time!). If its remaining close together, call your provider/on call doctor if you want some guidance- my guess is it's not true labor just yet but all I have is my experience to go off of :) hang in there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ftm-guidance-on-contractions#post-2272195 Tue, 25 Aug 2015 01:53:54 +0000 turquoisemama 2272195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me, BH was just what you described...intense tightening and my belly got rock hard. Sometimes they felt painful but nothing too bad. I had them all through my second and third trimester. I never went into labor on my own and had to be induced at 41+4 but was already 4cm when I went in. What I felt must have been doing something! I would guess that since you haven't felt them before, it might be the start of early labor. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ftm-guidance-on-contractions#post-2272186 Tue, 25 Aug 2015 00:25:52 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2272186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I get the poking out, tightening feeling a lot since the second trimester. The back thing sounds la bit like back labor but when something is really happening it will probably hurt a lot. I don't even really remember contractions in the front, but I remember back labor pains. I actually had very intense back labor every 2-4 mins contractions and still went home from the hospital for another 24 hours and came back with still irregular contractions but in so much pain and my tolerance was exhausted and it turned out I had made a lot of progress and was 8cm. I thought it was really confusing. But I can definitely say if you're still just "uncomfortable" they could be contractions but for now I wouldn't quite count on active labor anytime soon. Hope you get the birth you want, good luck! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ftm-guidance-on-contractions#post-2272183 Mon, 24 Aug 2015 23:59:06 +0000 Mrs.Someone 2272183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When something poked out for me, it turned out to be baby butt! He was stretching my belly as far as it could go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ftm-guidance-on-contractions#post-2272173 Mon, 24 Aug 2015 23:04:07 +0000 Nutella 2272173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like early labour but this could mean it goes on for days! I had what you're describing for about 12 hours before the 'tightening' started ramping up and becoming more intense. I didn't feel anything in my back, was all lower down &amp; period crampy like. Maybe call your hospital and let them know? And use a contraction timer too so you notice when they start getting closer together. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ftm-guidance-on-contractions#post-2272169 Mon, 24 Aug 2015 22:52:56 +0000 cfmartin 2272169@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi! I'm a FTM and 38w2d. For the past few weeks I've randomly had these tightenings of my abdomen, where it pokes out and is rock hard. I was thinking this was just my baby moving around. I've read so much that now I think they might be BH or contractions. They aren't really painful, but uncomfortable. Tonight they have been occurring about 5 minutes apart for 15-40 seconds for the past 40 minutes. I have had a dull back ache off and on all day as well, which definitely feels different than this tightening. </p> <p>I always thought BH and contractions were more period like cramps &amp; my cramps have always been in he low back and much more painful. so obviously I'm so confused and don't know if something is happening or it's nothing. I'd appreciate any guidance on specific distinctions bw movement, BH and the real deal. I feel so clueless! :/ </p> <p>Thank you!! </p>