Good afternoon ladies,

I've got a few questions about BH contractions. I know it's difficult to describe sensations like them, but how do you know if you're having them? What do they feel like?

I really don't think I've had any yet. There have been a few times when I've been walking around and feel "heavy" pressure down low. I wasn't sure if that was just "Peanut" pressing downward or if that was a contraction.

Any information that you can share would be appreciated. I've only got six more weeks to go, and I'm feeling really nervous now (from not knowing what to expect). God has blessed us with this precious little girl; I know that He will be with us through labor and delivery too. Thanks again!

Megan

03/06/98 - Married DH

BH feels like a "tightening"
It should not be painful..just can be unconfortable. Your whole belly area gets tight..kinda bunched up.

I want to add that you should not be getting more than 4 an hour. If they get bothersome, drink lots of water, take warm shower & rest. If they can be timed AND you are getting more than 4 an hour....you need to give DR/MW a call. they may want to check your cervix.

yeah, ditto. your entire baby belly gets hard and feels different when you push on it with your hand/fingers. I didn't have any with my first, but tons with my 2nd...probably for the whole 2nd half of the pregnancy! I didn't realize I was in labor with the 2nd pregnancy because I'd had so many BH!

I think the *tightening* feeling around your belly is a great way to describe BHs.

You can feel a sensation. It starts out then your tummy gets tighter, tighter, tighter, then a "release" feeling.

It's an amazing sensation. I didn't notice any *pain* with mine.

I remember in my first pregnancy not really knowing what they felt like - I don't think I was able to identify them as such until after ds was born and I had experienced labour contractions to compare with. I did experience a sensation that I would describe to others as "it feels like there is a brick sitting inside my belly creating pressure everywhere". lol. But yeah, generally it is a tightening that makes your belly feel hard all over. I would agree that most of the time they are not painful, just uncomfortable, but with my 2nd pregnancy I did experience some that I would describe as painful. In that case, I did go into the dr's to get checked out where they confirmed that despite the pain, they were just BH. (Certainly if you experience pain of any kind you should get it checked out.) HTH