Frequency of Braxton Hicks

[MrsDarcy]

Hi All,

So I plan to call tomorrow if this hasn't gone away, but I thought I'd ask tonight...

I seem to remember hearing/reading that, with Braxton Hicks, one should be concerned if there was an increase in frequency of the contractions.  Like, X in an hour kind of frequency.  I can't recall how many, nor can I find anything specific online.

This afternoon I was cleaning (nothing crazy) and was moving around a lot, and they started.  Nothing at all painful, just the all-over-the-belly tightening (which is how they seem to happen to me).  So, I laid down on the couch and drank a bunch of water and relaxed for a while and they stopped.  After that, whenever I'd get up and do anything they'd come back, but if I laid down again they'd stop.

I'm not concerned at all it's "real" contractions, but I just seem to remember there's some sort of frequency thing I'm supposed to be aware of.

I'm 27 weeks.  No other symptoms.

Thanks!

[MrsAggie]

I don't know about BH frequency limits but are they consistent or more irritability? 95% of the time that a woman comes in with early contractions, L&D hydrates them and sends them home after some monitoring since its typically from dehydration or overdoing it. All that to say, keep drinking lots of fluids, rest, and keep track of any contractions.

[mannah]

I don't remember a specific number/hr or anything either, just that they shouldn't get closer and closer and start to hurt. Sorry. Not helpful :/ I think the frequency just varies depending in activity level, hydration, your body etc.

[MrsDarcy]

May 4, 2014 21:29:29 GMT -5 MrsAggie said:

I don't know about BH frequency limits but are they consistent or more irritability? 95% of the time that a woman comes in with early contractions, L&D hydrates them and sends them home after some monitoring since its typically from dehydration or overdoing it. All that to say, keep drinking lots of fluids, rest, and keep track of any contractions.

Since they go away when I lay down, I suppose they're just irritability. And once I lay down they go away. It's just when I get up again they come back. I drank like 40 oz of water after it happened and rested for a while, and continued to drink lots of water throughout the evening. I was doing a lot of bending and stuff, so maybe the old ute just didn't like that. Thanks for your assessment, and I'll call my OB if they continue tomorrow.

[curbsideprophet]

I would not be too concerned since they stop when you hydrate/relax/change positions.

If you were doing all those things and still having 5-6 an hour then I might call.

[statlerwaldorf]

I'm supposed to call if it's more than 6 in an hour and they do not change in frequency or stop by drinking water or laying down (or walking around if I was already laying down). I get them a lot from overdoing it, but my doctor didn't seem that concerned. But it can never hurt to give your doctor a call.

[MrsDarcy]

Thanks, everyone!

[blushing]

Hope you don't mind me jumping in here to ask a question, but I had what I am sure are Braxton Hicks on Friday. I thought it was too early as I was only 20 weeks on Friday, but my stomach kept going hard. How early did you all start with your BH's? I could swear last time it only started in my third trimester.

[MrsDarcy]

May 4, 2014 22:12:16 GMT -5 blushing said:

Hope you don't mind me jumping in here to ask a question, but I had what I am sure are Braxton Hicks on Friday. I thought it was too early as I was only 20 weeks on Friday, but my stomach kept going hard. How early did you all start with your BH's? I could swear last time it only started in my third trimester.

My doctor asked at my last appointment if I had been having them, and I was 24 weeks, so I guess 20 weeks isn't too early. Could be a second pregnancy thing. Though, I think they're common to start in the second trimester.

[mannah]

May 4, 2014 22:12:16 GMT -5 blushing said:

Hope you don't mind me jumping in here to ask a question, but I had what I am sure are Braxton Hicks on Friday. I thought it was too early as I was only 20 weeks on Friday, but my stomach kept going hard. How early did you all start with your BH's? I could swear last time it only started in my third trimester.

I think they technically start extremely early in the first tri but we can't usually feel them until the second. I felt some around 15-17 weeks and my MW said that was nornal. There's a big range of normal, but I thought it was cool that it's actually practicing contracting from so early on.

[curbsideprophet]

I don't think 20 weeks is too early. I also think you can feel them sooner with additional pregnancies.

[bowies]

We just covered this in my childbirth class! The midwife who is teaching it said that if you're having more than 4/hour and they don't change if you lay down and hydrate, then you should call your doctor.

[nessness]

My google search says to call if you have more than four in an hour:

www.babycenter.com/0_braxton-hicks-contractions_156.bc