True Labor Contractions Vs. Braxton Hicks

Updated on August 19, 2010
M.J. asks from Saint Paul, MN
5 answers

Ladies please help me figure this one out because I just don't know what I am feeling. I am a few days shy of being 35 weeks along with my second baby and have had sone pre-term labor for the last few weeks. I was put on some medication to stop the labor and aid the contractions but was told I would be getting off them in a week so I started to wean myself today. I am having some very painful stabbing pains in my lower abdomen almost right on top of my pubic bone. When I get up and walk they slow down but my right top side of my pubic bone aches. I don't feel any pain in the back just like someone is taking a knife to my stomach. I had an appointment with my Ob yesterday and he checked me and as I have been for the past 4 weeks I am only 50% effaced and not dilated and the baby's head is down but not fixed yet. I can feel the baby moving as I feel the pain so am I feeling her jabbing me with her head?? Am I feeling braxton hicks? Am I feeling true labor contractions?? I never had any of this with the first and just am not sure.

P.S. Its like I can feel her movements at the top of my pubic bone right now. No bleeding or leakage.

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D.C.

answers from Dallas on

Call your doctor and let them know whats going on. I hope they suggest you go in and get monitored for a little while just to see, for sure, what's going on. Alot can change in one day.

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D.R.

answers from New York on

doesnt really sound like bh to me, i had them for weeks, more like a really hard tightening of my belly, centered more on top right than anywhere else. but that was me. standing up and moving a little helped to ease it, kind of loosen it a bit, but not stop it, just made it more comfortable. but honestly at this point, especially considering your history with pre term labor, i would be getting checked out asap just to be safe. best of luck :)

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P.M.

answers from Great Falls on

From my experience, Braxton Hicks are just tightening of the abdominal muscles. A true contraction feels like a menstrual cramp starting from the back, and working its way forward to your tummy. I know that sounds a little cliche, but that's how it was with me.

Did you have the pain before your OB appointment yesterday? If so, did you bring it up and ask the doc?

It could very well be your baby as well, since baby is head down and moving around. I had a ton of pain with my second for a few weeks before she decided to arrive. It was in the lower abodmen, right in the pelvic region, and it felt like someone was poking me repeatedly to the point I would cry. I couldn't sleep for several weeks. At my last OB appointment, I was going to tell my OB to induce because I was in so much pain.

I'm not sure if any of that helped you. I hope you find an answer. There are some wise mommies on this site!

Sincerely,
Tricia
www.mamas2mamas.com

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T.S.

answers from Sacramento on

Sounds your muscles and ligaments are finally giving up :-) Unless your whole tummy's getting hard it doesn't sound like contractions, and if baby is still able to float around through them I doubt they're doing much to move labor along.

I had a super easy pregnancy with my son until right at the last month. Then I had sciatica and pubic symphasis (sp?)... I actually think maybe that's what's going on... it's when your pubic bone actually separated along the seam at the end of pregnancy.

Drink plenty of fluid (dehydration makes those kind of muscular things much more painful) and do what feels good (if sitting helps, sit. if standing helps, stand).

J.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

well it might just be braxton hicks contractions or it might be that u blessing is on the way to shine..now if you feel alot of pressure down there and u feel your baby just on one side then u might want to call ur doctore..and also keep track of the time see how long has the pain gone for.. :)

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