I am 32 weeks pregnant with my 2nd baby and having some Braxton Hicks contractions, I believe. They are very irregular, but can get fairly painful. Has anyone else experienced this? I was just in to see my OB-GYN yesterday and she didn't seem to think anything was abnormal. I've heard the Braxton-Hicks can hurt, but I've never experienced that myself so it just makes me nervous. In the past two days I've also developed a very painful spot in my lower, right back that feels like I'm internally bruised.
Can anyone shed any light? Thanks!
yes, it does all sound very normal. the BH can be painful. the back pain could be from the way the baby is laying. i recall with my daughter, she would lay in a way where it felt like a pinched nerve, very painful and tingly.
This sounds very normal to me. I had Braxton Hicks much worse with my second child. Truthfully, I don't really remember having them with my first until right at the end, but even then, my second was much worse. Everytime I had an appt. I complained to my doctor and swore that he had the wrong due date b/c there was no way hurting that bad was normal. I too had the lower back pain that pursisted until I finally called my doctor and said I wanted to be seen about it. Of course nothing was wrong and he sent me home from work for a day and told me to just sleep! I did and the pain finally went away. I think my body was just trying to tell me to slow down and get some rest. I can't promise that the pain will get better, but just think of the wonderful outcome you will receive in November. Good luck!
I have had painful braxton hicks and most likely they are just braxton hicks. But EVERYTIME you get them time them. It could easily turn into true labor. I had painful braxton hicks with both of my kids and I kept a very close eye on them b/c I ended up in the hospital with true preterm labor way too early with both of them (around 30-33 weeks). And my kids still came 4 weeks - 5 weeks early. Not saying that yours will, but 32 weeks is still way early. Just time them... when you start to get them drink a 1-2 glasses of water and lay on your side and if they go away then you're fine, but if they worsen or become regular you know to get to the doctor.
As of the internal bruise i'm not sure I didn't experience that!
Hope this helps
I am a midwife. I will suggest to clients to first ensure that they are hydrated and decrease stress which can both trigger contractions. A supplement of Calcium Magnesium (2:1 ratio) can be taken daily as a smooth muscle relaxer. Liquid Calcium Magnesium is even better absorbed if you feel you need something more effective. One shot glass full per day should be adequate. An occasional glass of wine and relaxation can also help, and will not harm the baby.
K.-
I feel your pain!!! I am also pregnant w/ my 2nd due in a few weeks. I remember having some Braxton Hicks very late in my 1st pregnancy, but not really painful ones. This time around has been much different. I started feeling VERY painful BH pretty early on. My Dr also said everything is completely normal. He told me that it is quite common to feel more painful contractions in subsedquent pregnancies. Good luck!
-A.
mine were very painful. i had to get up and walk around every few minutes. drinking a lot of water helped me too.
Hi, this is normal with your second and so on. Pregnancy can be be stressful on your back. I also got and still get adjusted. Try using heat or cold compresses. If you worried just go get checked again or call you doctor and tell him about your back.
Take Care of Yourself
jo
Yes I too am 32 weeks and 5 days. Last night the Braxton Hicks I am sure was going to take me out for two hours I was in alot of pain with pressure in my lower pelvic area. I went to the bathroom alot, I tried to change postions but nothing seemed to ease them.I was on the verge of going to the hosptial so about 12:30am they subsided. Nevertheless, I went in and it seems that I have have dialated about 1 cm. I also heard that this can happen when the baby is getting into the birthing postion.
Boy that sounds familiar! I'm 31 weeks and have been having a variety of Braxton-Hicks and pelvic pain for a few weeks now. I even went to hospital at one point cuz I thought I may be in pre-term labor!
But what I've learned since then is that Braxton-Hicks happen more frequently and more severe when I need to do one of two things: 1-drink more water, or 2-rest and get off my feet. It's nature's lovely way to make us slow down.
The pelvic pain/lower back pain is another way nature tells me I'm missing something. Unfortunately for me, I get extremely sharp pelvic pain (ligament pain) and low back pain when I sit too long. Like for more than 10 min. in the car, or at the computer. Then when I get up, I can barely walk and it'll continue until I've walked around awhile.
so between resting with my legs up, sipping water constantly, but not sitting too long, I feel exhausted all the time! Up, down, up down....it's not funny! The only time I feel truly OK is when I recline almost to flat on my couch recliner. That way my feet are up, but I'm not sitting. In fact, I've gotten to the point where its most comfortable to sleep there. (the baby seems to like it when I lay on ONLY my LEFT side...Ugh!)
They say I can induce as early as 38 weeks...It can't come soon enough!
Hope that helps!-A.
K.,
Im almost 37 weeks pregnant and Iv had every pain possible with this baby. I think its Gods way of telling us to stop after two.
Good Luck
If you've been to your doctor and she's assuring you that you're NOT in labor, then everything should be fine.
I had Braxton Hicks contractions with my daughter and ended up with pressure in my back as well (although not as sore as it sounds like you have). Based on a late ultrasound (a few days before I was induced), I'm guessing it was due to her being a bit oddly positioned. I know with a second they talk about effacing and dropping happening a bit sooner, so maybe your baby is just starting to push on your spine?
The best thing I found out for both the Braxton Hicks and when I started into some early contractions was water. I had one bad episode where I went into the hospital worried I was going into labor probably around 30ish weeks (of course, being a first child, I also know a bit better now ;)). They had me fill up on water and gave me a small dose of medication to make the contractions stop and I was told that being dehydrated can bring them on. After that, whenever I would start feeling my stomach start to tense up or a pain start up, I'd drink a full glass of water (or more) and it usually alleviated the problem.
Good luck!
