How long did you have braxton hicks for before the baby came?

[Moniksca]

This is baby #3 for us and I never had them with the first two. My water broke for the first, and I had very subtle contractions 10 min apart and had the baby 2 hrs later for our second.

Yesterday, I had these braxton hicks contractions all. day. long. From 2pm to 6am, every 20min to 2hrs. I'm 35 weeks and seriously thought baby was going to show up by now. This is throwing me all off.

Can this go on all month? I just had one a half hour ago, and for whoever says they aren't painful, they have been a hell of a lot more than just uncomfortable.

[Soror]

#3, Weeks~

[ErinE]

All of my last trimester, strong enough to wake me up at night. So much fun! I ended up with a scheduled c-section anyways...

[Veritaserum]

Prodromal labor with all five babies. Shortest bout was 3.5 days. Longest was ~3 weeks. I handled it by staying hydrated, taking warm baths, and accepting that my body just needs a warm-up before the main show.

 

:grouphug:

 

ETA: Braxton-Hicks came pretty much the whole third trimester. Prodromal labor is more intense and can get regular.

Edited December 3, 2011 by Veritaserum

[Heather in OK]

Third pregnancy always does something to throw mamas for a loop. ;)

 

Usually in subsequent pregnancies women notice them earlier. Part from just knowing what they feel like and part from the uterus toning itself.

 

They can have a slight pattern to them and may be pretty uncomfortable. Some women (myself included) have some in the late third trimester that are enough to make them stop and breathe through.

 

Staying hydrated (water...not juice or milk) can help lessen them for some women. You need 1/2 your body weight in ounces daily. Getting even slightly dehydrated can cause the uterine muscles to get testy. ;)

 

That kind of prodromal labor can last several weeks. You could have this and deliver early or go past your EDD.

 

Since you are not term yet just keep an eye on if they increase in intensity or begin having a definite pattern for more than a couple of hours.

 

True labor won't be so disorganized (having cntx every 20 min to 2 hrs is not an organized pattern) and most women just have a sense that something is different.

[Crazyderiver]

#1, #2, and #3.......weeks! And they weren't completely do-nothings either. I was at 3-4cm with all three of my kiddos for weeks as well.

[wapiti]

months...no joke

 

Same here. Months. At least half the pregnancy.

[LizzyBee]

This is baby #3 for us and I never had them with the first two. My water broke for the first, and I had very subtle contractions 10 min apart and had the baby 2 hrs later for our second.

Yesterday, I had these braxton hicks contractions all. day. long. From 2pm to 6am, every 20min to 2hrs. I'm 35 weeks and seriously thought baby was going to show up by now. This is throwing me all off.

Can this go on all month? I just had one a half hour ago, and for whoever says they aren't painful, they have been a hell of a lot more than just uncomfortable.

 

BH contractions started at 4 mos with my 1st child. When my ob dr told me I might start having them and described them, I was like, "Oh, that's what that is. I'm already having them." They never became regular pre-labor contractions because I had HELLP syndrome and was induced a couple weeks early.

 

With my 2nd, I don't remember when they started, but at 30 wks, they became regular. I was put on turbutilene (sp?) until 36 wks to prevent labor, but I continued having regular contractions anyway. She was born at 38 weeks, so 8 weeks of regular contractions that at times were pretty intense. I had to go to the hospital to get them stopped a few times, and then after all that, the baby didn't come until 38 wks! It was very draining for both me and dh.

 

I don't remember when they started with my 3rd, but again, they never became regular because I had HELLP syndrome again and was induced early.

 

Keep us posted on your progress!

Edited December 3, 2011 by LizzyBee

[Abeth78]

3-4 weeks with baby number two... we will see this time. I thought baby #2 was going to come any moment as well... for 3 weeks UGH!

[Mommyof4ks]

months...no joke

 

:iagree: They started at 18 weeks with my middle child.

[Wendi]

I remember having them at 7 months with ds. Not as frequently as what you're experiencing, though. More sporadic.

 

Wendi

[Myeightkiddies]

Drink! Chances are that you are dehydrated. You may feel as if you are drinking enough, but if you went into L&D right now, they'd probably put you on an IV. Well, I don't know that for a fact because I don't know you; don't want to frighten you.

 

Throughout my pregnancies, I always thought that I was well-hydrated. I would experience a lot of BH contractions throughout my third trimester (sometimes second..often second). Some of them were rather persistent and continued to strengthen, so I would go get checked. Each time I was put on an IV because I was dehydrated. Usually they had a time finding a vein due to dehydration, and I was confident that I was drinking enough.

 

I increased my fluids, and the BH contractions diminished. Each time I started getting them, I'd up my fluids just in case. Most of the time that did the trick. Sometimes BH will just happen.

 

:grouphug:

[jenangelcat]

8 months? It's normal to have braxton hicks all through the pregnancy. The hard false labor stuff? I think it was 5 weeks with the last one.

[Moniksca]

weeks/months? that's not what I wanted to hear. I will definitely up the fluids. I just feel so on edge because hubby is a truck driver so I'd have to pack up both of the kids and cab it to the hospital 20 minutes away. I want to catch things before it's too late and I end up having the baby on the side of the road.

[Starr]

I would follow Heather's advice and if they get into a regular pattern or increase in intensity then bundle up. I had these for quite sometime and finally at due date time I went into labor.

[WistfulRidge]

No BH whatsoever with DS1; 6.5 weeks of BH with DS2. Of course, my BH weren't painful at all, just a different "tightening" sensation and they did their job. I was dilated almost to a 6 before I even officially went into labor.

[*Jessica*]

Babies 1 and 2, almost none. Baby three......5 weeks worth. *hugs*

[gardenmom5]

for one of mine, BH started around 5-6 months. baby was still a week late.

[Impish]

F.O.R.E.V.E.R.

 

Just ask the members here. I whined. A. Lot.

[TrixieB]

Same here. Months. At least half the pregnancy.

Same here.

[ChristusG]

I began having braxton hicks around 20 weeks with each of my 3. And all of my babies were full term.

[Pippen]

I started around 4 1/2 months with my 2nd and 3rd. In the final two months they were very intense and would start up in regular patterns until I got off my feet and rested. All three of mine were born within a few days of my due date.

[DarlaS]

At least the last 4-5 months. And sometimes they would hurt! :tongue_smilie:

[myfatherslily]

Same here. Months. At least half the pregnancy.

 

Yep, same here for my third. I had them with all of my babies. Not drinking enough water or drinking caffeinated soda brought them on more (and harder).

[ShutterBug]

This is my second pregnancy. I'm currently 33 weeks and have been having them since the first trimester.

 

I agree with the sentiments that if they get too regular, or too close together to drink lots of water and rest a bit :) .

[ShutterBug]

Crap..just thinking about them is making me have one....right....now.....can't....breathe....okay, better now :).

[MeaganS]

I'm on baby #3, almost 20 weeks along and I've been having them for 2 weeks already. So yeah, this is going to be a long pregnancy.

[Mommy22alyns]

I had BH from 20 weeks on with Rebecca, and she was born at nearly 39 weeks!

[*Inna*]

months...no joke

:iagree:I've gotten so used to them, I didn't recognize the real thing.

[Heather in Neverland]

I had them for the last 3 months of my pregnancy. It was awful.

[littleWMN]

17 weeks with first pregnancy.

 

12 weeks with second pregnancy.

 

Yes, it got old. Was on bedrest for 6 weeks total with second. He was born at 38.5 weeks. First was born at 39 weeks. I had mild hyperemesis with first and severe hyperemesis with second and I think that aggravated them (dehydration plus frequent vomiting/heaving).

Edited December 4, 2011 by littleWMN

[mommymilkies]

I got them earlier and stronger with each kid. Strong ones from 5 months or so on with #5!

[HollyDay]

5 weeks

[Pretty in Pink]

I had them for about 6 weeks during my last pregnancy.

[missiemick]

At LEAST the last half of each of my pregnancies. Good part was that all of my deliveries were quick :001_smile: