When did they start? Any tips or tricks, or did you just try to ignore them?
BH contractions started in my first pregnancy around 20 weeks and were pretty much non-stop after that, every few minutes. The doctor eventually put me on bed rest from 28-36 weeks just to be safe, but LO ended up coming only 3 days before his due date. Now that I'm pregnant again, the doctor warned me they would probably start even earlier, and he was right - started this weekend at 15 weeks 
cantaloupe / 6923 posts
20 weeks first pregnancy, haven't showed up yet this time (22 weeks). Maybe you're working too hard?
grapefruit / 4110 posts
I never noticed them in my first pregnancy. This time I wake up to a hard uterus in the middle of the night occasionally. Started at 18 weeks
pear / 1849 posts
@brownie: That's when I have been noticing them too - in the middle of the night.
blogger / coconut / 8306 posts
@SeptMomma12: I had them starting around 15 weeks this last time, and went on to have prodromal labor. I don't even remember when that started - I've seriously blocked it out - but let's just say I had early labor for weeks with no progress & a planned c-section at 39 weeks.
pomegranate / 3127 posts
I could be imagining it, but I think I'm getting them around 8 weeks this time if I pick up DS one time too many It's pretty scary. When I was pregnant with DS, I never took it easy and had a very physical job, and had no problems, so this is all new to me.
I've heard drinking lots of water and staying off your feet helps. Definitely works for me.
pear / 1849 posts
@Mrs. Jump Rope: Did your doctor tell you to just ignore them?
@Mama Bird: I didn't notice the contractions until this weekend, but I did notice a lot of cramping from early on when I picked up DS too often (he's 35 lbs!). So I have been avoiding that except when completely necessary. He knows now if he wants "up" with Mommy, we have to sit on the couch and cuddle!
blogger / coconut / 8306 posts
@SeptMomma12: no, I was told to time them and count them. She usually had mealy on my side and drink two bottles of water (back to back) to see if they stopped.
They usually did. But, toward the end of my pregnancy (I want to say 32+ weeks), they turned I to real contractions and I started to dilate. They always fizzled out and never led to full blown labor, so it was literally a pain in the ass.
pear / 1849 posts
@Mama Bird: I just read somewhere that BH contractions start at 8 weeks, so you could be feeling them. My doctor said some people are just more in tune with what's happening in their body.
hostess / cantaloupe / 6486 posts
I didn't really have many with my first but I had some starting at 15 weeks this time. Several have been fairly painful but thankfully not consistent
pomegranate / 3127 posts
@SeptMomma12: that's good to know! I'm really glad you posted this - I was driving myself crazy preparing for the worst! It's a relief to know these are really only Braxton Hicks.
pineapple / 12566 posts
I never noticed them with LO1. With LO2, they started around 23 weeks or so. They would happen when I had to pick up and carry LO1 (who had a broken leg at the time). I would try to drink lots of water and lay down if I was having a lot. DD ended up being just under 3 weeks early, but I'm not sure if it was related.
pomelo / 5820 posts
Pretty sure mine started around 9 weeks. They lasted up until I delivered at 38+6! They are annoying, and nothing helped to make them go away. I did notice I would have more if I wasn't drinking enough water. I would get 8-9 in an hour and would be so worried! But, they didn't bring on labor. They also didn't change my cervical length or cause early dilation.
persimmon / 1343 posts
I actually could feel my uterus tightening/contacting from very early on, about 8 weeks when laying on my back and then 15 weeks any time. It would happen very often if I needed to use the bathroom or was walking around a lot and continued till the end. So I was very surprised to hear that some women don't feel them at all!
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
With my first started around 26 weeks but were very frequent. I had early dilation and effacement at 30 weeks (and a positive FFN) so was on strict bed rest 30-37.5weeks. I delivered 10 days early.
Second pregnancy they started at 18 weeks. They did ultrasounds of my cervix at 18, 22, 24 and 28 wks and it was long at those times. The BH didn't get frequent til around 24 weeks but by 30 weeks were happening all the time and I had some regular contractions too. No bed rest and I declined all cervical exams but did take it VERY easy from 30-35 weeks (hard to do with a toddler). Stayed off my feet as much as possible until 37. My doc instructed me to call if I had 6 or more an hour with rest. I got pretty close but never did have to call. At my 36w I was 2cm and 80% effaced. Not sure if it was all the BH or just normal professing. I'm now 37 weeks and no imminent signs of labor.
Probably more info than you wanted!
pear / 1849 posts
@winniebee: Haha. That's actually very helpful, thanks. I had the cervical ultrasounds and FFN tests (all negative) every 2 weeks from 24 weeks on with my first. Hoping to avoid those this time, especially since the near constant contractions did absolutely nothing last time (in fact they completely stopped when I got off bedrest!) but it's still so nerve-wracking to feel them, especially this early
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
@SeptMomma12: I honestly thing the cervical exam is what made my contractions worse with my first pregnancy so I said I didn't want any until 36w and my doc was fine with that! Good luck!
GOLD / papaya / 10166 posts
@SeptMomma12: I was the same way with both pregnancies, except my doctor never put me on bedrest because he said it was just how my body was preparing for the baby. It was just something annoying (when the baby was bigger) that I had to get used to.
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