What do Braxton Hicks feel like?

starjumper

Morning all,

For months (am 30 weeks now) I've been getting a feeling like I'm being kicked in the foof, they go on fairly regularly and stop, I've always assumed it was the baby trying to kick the door down from the inside but it's occured to me this possibly may be Braxton Hicks, though I don't get the tightening feeling they go on about in the books, unless this is it. I've a good layer of insulation so I wonder if this is making things feel different from what I've read, I have no idea what a contraction is supposed to feel like.

What do people think, Braxton Hicks or baby kicking the door down from inside?

clairec79

I never had braxton hicks with my first (at least not that I noticed)

When you get the feeling put your hand on your abdomen, if it's tight (under the insulation) it's probably BH. Mine just goes really tight and out (it's my fourth) you can see them from the outside

SwipernoSwiping

Morning!
I'm 31 weeks with my second - and I didn't feel any BH till about 34 weeks with my first. This time the "tightenings" are a little more obvious.
Have a look at your maternity notes, is baby head down? It's entirely possible that when baby wriggles, moves and squirms about she's nutting your cervix area thus your getting very strong feelings down "there" .

Try a glass of very cold water, or a warm (not hot) bath to get baby wriggling, see if the sensation is the same.

peachyprice

It doesn't sound like braxton hicks, it sounds like baby is kicking it's leg or pushing it's arms down.

When you have braxton hicks your whole bump goes hard in a kind of wave and you can feel it tighten, even if you do have a layer of insulation! Quite a spooky sensation.

DON79

I am 38 weeks pregnant and I have been having BH's for ages - my whole bump goes hard and the skin feels tight and you can see the baby shape sticking out. Mine last upto 30 seconds sometimes - it can be uncomfortable and I have to wait until it passes before getting up or moving around.

Sounds like your baby is either kicking you or is bouncing their bottom or head off of your foof

Becles

It doesn't sound like Braxton Hicks. That's like a tightening right across your tummy.

Take care as it may be SPD. This is where the ligaments in your pelvis soften too early and the pubic bone doesn't support the bump properly. I had it with my third child and it does feel like someone has kicked you in the foof!

Mention it to the midwife next time you see her and get checked out just to be on the safe side. In the mean time, try not to put pressure on your bump by keeping your legs together as much as you can. Use stairs by putting both feet on each stair, swing your legs in and out the car like a lady and be careful pushing things like the hoover or a shopping trolley.