I've been getting braxton hicks the past two days... "regular" for a while, then they taper off... like BH's do. BUT, they are getting more and more uncomfortable; I actually find them taking my breath away sometimes, which for me is normal BHs. No big deal. I'm just surprised this is happening *THIS* soon. With Eliya, *THIS* kind of thing happened connnnstantly after week 33? 34? I kept feeling this "false alarm" stuff. I *knew* it wasn't REAL labor, but it was just regular enough to make me wonder.

Tara... other gals who have had more than the typical two-three children... do you find that by number five or six (or more) that the braxton hicks start sooner and are more intense? Am I in for a long haul of serious discomfort and minor concern (I'd call it more awareness than concern)?

I've gained some new "aches and pains" this week that have me a TAD worried.. not about pre-term labor, but just about a serious injury. It's hard to talk about it without including TMI, so I'll just skip that and leave it as a "nerve" pain that has me worried it might prevent me from actually WALKING in a few more months. Ugh.

Anyway. Things are getting interesting and I'm trying to stay positive and upbeat about it. But, just thinking about being imobile for up to three months is kind of scary to me. :: snort:: Anyway....

ALSO: I know the ligaments around the sides of your belly are a pretty typical pain spot... but do you gals find that your ligaments UNDER your belly hurt? I've been getting this charlie horse type pain underneath my belly... above my pelvic bone. MAAAAN it hurts and about makes me cry. And I'm one tough chick... ya know? Anyway... just curious if that's a common complaint. :)

OUCH, just be careful Jen. With my daughter (#5) I felt her way down low for quite a while, dr. recommended one of those belly belts when I was 4 months prego (never used it). That was in Jan, she was due in late may early June. I always felt her sooo low, the brax hicks really bad. Though with each pregnancy after the first BH came earlier and earlier as you know. By number 5 I was in serious pain and concern by week 25.

Anyway Mandy came in March at week 30 with my water leaking. Not trying to scare you, just saying if something seems off, see your midwife. Don't panic just be watchful as I know you are being. And I am not trying to scare you either, just saying don't just take it as nothing either.

The dr's were going to send me home when I said my water was leaking, I begged the on call ob to be certain, they took a second look and I was, I was persistent though (BTW I hate young know it all dr's but that is besides the point lol).

Keep us posted sweetie, hugs. Also it all can be normal, again just saying be watchful.

I understand what you're trying to say, Renee~ ::hugs:: Eliya was always my "low" baby, putting tremendous strain on my pelvic floor and cervix... but she stayed in until 42+ weeks. Weird, I know, I figured she would early because of how LOW she seemed. This is definitely different from her pregnancy in that my braxton hicks are so uncomfortable for being *THIS* early. I don't yet have that "this is labor not BHs" feeling, which is why I'm not pushing my appointment up. I go back on Wednesday, and I'll be bringing all this up to them. I *thought* I had a "leak" the other day, but I never had anything else happen that made me think it was actually amniotic fluid... but, again, this is stuff I'll bring up.

Ultimately, I'm *NOT* worried. GOD is in control here, and even if Wy came tomorrow, God knew it would happen, so... all I can do is be mindful of what's going on, try to take it easy (as that's really what I *FEEL* like doing anyway), and then report my complaints to the midwife.

And I agree about the young know-it-all doctors too. They have tried my patience so much that I have written off hospitals... thus I'm going to a birth center. Midwives typically are just so much more understanding, sympathetic, and give personal attention... instead of mass treatment. I love my midwives~ Thanks Renee for your thoughts~ You're such a sweetheart~

ALSO: I know the ligaments around the sides of your belly are a pretty typical pain spot... but do you gals find that your ligaments UNDER your belly hurt? I've been getting this charlie horse type pain underneath my belly... above my pelvic bone. MAAAAN it hurts and about makes me cry. And I'm one tough chick... ya know? Anyway... just curious if that's a common complaint. :)

I've had this sort of pain, this time around. almost like my abdominal wall was tearing. All of ellie's movements really hurt me. I think it's because I was just pregnant *like you* and my uterun wall and ab muscles never fully recovered or repaired itself. so everything is pretty much thinner. and like you, I have a high pain tolerance but this pregnancy and all the pain I've endured has done me in.

It kind of makes me scared about labor pains this time around.


As far as nerve damage, are there positions you could get in to help move the baby or relieve the pain?
I'm praying for you Jen. big hugs.

As far as nerve damage, are there positions you could get in to help move the baby or relieve the pain?
I'm praying for you Jen. big hugs.

This nerve pain was actually done by me plopping on the floor, over and over, and over and over... and over. Ugh. I don't support myself properly when plopping down to change Li and such... I think it's finally caught up with me... throw in picking up heavy children, moving heavy furniture, yadda yadda yadda... and now I have a strain. Ugh. BUT, this too shall pass... sometime... somehow... somewhere........

*And that's a good point about the babes being so close to together. Everybody else is at LEAST two years apart... and Li will only be about 18 months when Wyatt comes... so they are *MUCH* closer than is typical for me. Thanks for pointing that out, it really puts it into perspective for me, as i honestly just hadn't thought of *that*. My midwife told me that because I have so many children that things will probably just get more and more painful. :-/ at least she was honest...... :)

Jen, praying for comfort for you ((((HUGS)))))
I was teasing Rachel telling her you ladies are carring SUPER BABIES INSIDE that's why all the pain :-D

I have to say I didn't experience ligament pain last time around but this time I get it on the sides AND underneath, sharp, shooting, sudden, OUCH! And then it lingers and slowly wears off. [whatwacko] Then again I was really spoiled with my last pregnancy so this one feels completely wonky in every way!