My last two pregnancies I was in and out of hospital many times in the last 12 weeks due to thinking braxton hicks were real contractions (and my first three pregnancies ended in prem labour, so we didn't want to take any chances). They felt so similar, that with my last pregnancy I didn't realise I was in actual labour until the contractions were 2 minutes apart for 40 minutes, then by the time I got to hospital I was ready to push!
I remember reading somewhere about contractions starting up the top of the fundus and BH the bottom - or the other way around, I can't remember. Can anyone shed some light?

Also, BH started at 16 weeks this time. They only come once or twice a day (I'm now 21 weeks), but are painful enough to make me stop and sit down. Did anyone else experience this? And if so, how do you deal with that?

Thanks,
Kristy

Here's a website real quick, to get you started~

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

Here's another that goes into more detail~

http://www.pregnancy-info.net/braxton_hicks.html

By the way- Welcome and congrats on your pregnancy! :)

Thankyou.
I found what I was looking for (concerning where on fundus you feel bh etc) in my pregnancy book - I hadn't checked out the labour section.
Turns out labour contractions start at the top of the fundus and work their way down (at the very beginning of true labour that is), whereas the Braxton Hicks start at the bottom of the fundus.
[thumbsup]

That is interesting. I wonder if I will notice the difference when real labour starts. I have been having tons of BH and I can feel them start at the bottom and move up my belly. Mine are not really painful, but if I am having one at night sitting down I wait til it is gone to get up.

Congrtulations on your baby :-D

One important thing to remember when getting strong/frequent bh... is you might be somewhat dehydrated. Drink lots of water.
I'm also at the point where I feel the tightening when I go for walks and stuff like that- but they don't take my breath away.
d:)

o' wow...this is helpful. rachel has been having the same feelings, i told her it's to early for "bh" what do i know :( i did tell her if they were "bh" then it's just getting her ready for the real deal, she's said they hurt now....not sure if i can handle the REAL DEAL [whatwacko]

BH start earlier with each subsequent pregnancy. For me it was:
Preg 1: 32 weeks
Preg 2: (gave birth at 23weeks, never got BH)
Preg 3: 30 weeks
Preg 4: 28 weeks
Preg 5 (this preg): 16 weeks!

yeah, it's been earlier and earlier for me too~ I actually like Braxton Hicks... I always feel like it's a unique and interesting feeling... and AWESOME to me that God created our bodies to automatically "prepare" for childbirth~

They've been hitting my dd alot :(
Monday she goes to doctor...I hope he tells her it's very normal! You know sometimes she actually need to stop what she's doing to hold herself.

Let me know what her doctor says. Mine have been getting stronger (although still only a couple times a day), and I often have to stop what I'm doing and breathe to get through it. Not as bad as labour pains, but definitely not exactly comfortable!

4sure!! I'll keep you posted :-D

A couple nights ago my Braxton Hicks were starting to become painful and closer together, plus I was leaking alot of fluid. So I went staright to hospital. They checked the fluid and found it wasn't amniotic fluid - Praise God, and they did a urine test which showed 3+ Lueccosites (not sure how to spell), protein, blood, and that I was dehydrated. Turned out I had a bladder infection that had gone to my kidneys. As I had had no burning when passing urine, I didn't know I had an infection. I had been going to the toilet more but assumed it was because of the pregnancy, and so I had stopped drinking so much - which ofcourse caused the dehydration causing the strong Braxton Hicks! The pain ofcourse turned out to be from the bladder infection!
Anyway, am now on antibiotics, probiotics, and cranberry juice, and should feel better in the next couple days. The doctor said if I had left it any longer I could have gone into preterm labour! Praise God I didn't!
Kristy

So glad you are ok and that they caught things in time!