Cramps or braxton hicks at 16 weeks?

[Anonymous]

I'm 16 weeks pregnant with my second child and I have been experiencing what I think is braxton hicks contractions already. I notice them mostly in the evenings, particularly after I've been moderately active during the day. "Active" is generous term, since I'm on a no-exercise pregnancy due to high risk issues. Sometimes, the cramps are fleeting, and other times they seem to last an hour or more - like a constant cramping in my lower pelvis. I even feel these little twinges in my cervix when these have been going on. I did not have anything like this during my first pregnancy. I had braxton hicks, but not until late in the 2nd trimester. I'm very well hydrated. I'm almost sure it's not round ligament pain because it's localized in the center of the pelvis rather than around the edges. I mentioned it to my doctor at my last appointment and she said it's "normal" to feel more braxton hicks in a second pregnancy. However, my cramps have been going on for at least 2 hours tonight and I'm kind of freaked out. Has anyone else experienced this? Is there a reason to be more concerned? My last pregnancy ended badly, so I'm more of a worrier this time around. I'd love some reassurance.

[Anonymous]

Really, no one has experienced this?

[Anonymous]

I feel this too, no idea if it's round ligament pain or BH, but I am not a worrier, so I haven't thought about it that much. It gets quite painful sometimes and for that split second I think something is wrong. But then it goes away and I forget all about it. I am in the "no news is good news boat" though, and I respect you being a little more concerned this time around. All I can add is that I feel the same thing and sometimes it stops for days and then come back stronger than ever. I'm 20 weeks, second pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

Drink more water. Like a ton of water. You may be dehydrated. In my second pregnancy, I started getting BH at the end of the day, then they just kept coming earlier and earlier in the day until I had them all day long. Was treated for dehydration, even though I felt like I had been drinking plenty of water and put on modified bed rest for a few weeks. This stopped happening as often as the pregnancy progressed and baby came out fine and the BH got better, but it was stressful. I can't remember how much they wanted me to drink, but I think it was like 1.5-2 gallons a day.

Hope you feel better!

[Anonymous]

Hey just FYI this happened to my neighbor, and it turns out she had a bladder infection, so maybe at your next apt have your dr test for that

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the responses. To the PP who was treated for dehydration, how far along were you in the pregnancy? Had not thought about the bladder infection possibility - I'll ask my doctor. Thanks, everyone.

[Anonymous]

I've had BH with both of my pregnancies starting around 18 weeks both times. Right now at 20 weeks I'm having them 2-3 times/hr in the evening and less frequently during the day. During my first pregnancy when I told the OB about the BH they tested me for a bladder infection (negative) and then just told me to drink more. I did, but it never helped. Like the PP above and I'm not worried, especially since I had the exact same experience with pregnancy #1, but I totally understand your concerns. GL and keep us posted about what your OB suggests!

[Anonymous]

PP here...I think the dehydration diagnosis came with 8 weeks to go. I can't remember if the BH started before or after 20 weeks, but I know they came way earlier than in my previous pregnancy. Every time I mentioned it, my OBs said it was normal to have more contractions in subsequent pregnancies b/c the muscles in your uterus had been stretched out, etc. They also told me to eat a banana a day and drink Gatorade, and that I should take it easy, which was difficult with a toddler and a full time job. I didn't go into actual labor until after 40 weeks, and, really the OBs kept telling me not to worry, but it was definitely a stressful time.

If it seems to you like they're getting worse, tell someone! And, be sure to rest and take care of yourself. I had a few NSTs during this time and a BPP near the end that made me feel better. And, the baby was fine. Just my body was worn out.

Hope you feel better!

[Anonymous]

PP again, now that think about it some more, I would get BH and tightening across my abdomen whenever I exercised, even just waking, early in my pregnancy. Then, I was getting them for a few hours a day starting at dinner time and they wouldn't stop until I went to bed at night. Over time, they started earlier and earlier in the day.

Hope this helps!

[Anonymous]

I started to have BH contractions around 16 weeks 2nd time around too. With my first I did not have them until 25 weeks. I was freaked out too and nothing really helped. I drank tons of water, did not exercise much. After two weeks I just got used to them. They were generally more frequent than last time all the way through my 2nd and 3rd trimester. I'm about 37 weeks now and sometimes the contractions get a little painful and also with cramps. But they never get more frequent or more painful so I know it's not "real" labor yet but it sure felt like it.

[Anonymous]

I am in my 2nd pregnancy and started getting BH contractions around the beginning of my 2nd trimester. I am now in my third trimester and they are constant (about 2-3 an hour, with some hours being 5-6). They don't go away with sitting down and hydrating. (I am sitting all day at work and downing bottles of water, and I have them while I'm doing this.) My first pregnancy went full term (BH contractions started well into 3rd trimester then), and they are not painful or crampy at all -- just a sensation of tightening around my abdomen and a little bit of discomfort/have to catch my breath -- so my OB doesn't seem to be worried. Once in a while I get stressed about them, but then they seem to go away. If I didn't have a normal pregnancy last time around I'd be more worried.

[Anonymous]

I am 16.5 weeks now and start having cramps. My doctor told me that it might be caused by dehydration. You are supposed to have a gallon of water a day.

My symptoms got so much better after I start caring a water bottle with me everywhere.

[Anonymous]

I am 16 weeks and have had contractions, bh, since 14 weeks. Thought they were just weird squeezing cramps. Had the amniocentesis done today and came to find out its was bh. This is my 6th pregnacy and hopefully baby number 4. All three of my other full term pregnacies I never had this happen until early third trimester. Though I was far more active and thinner too. If that changes anything. I'm now only 160lbs and still rather active. But after my procedure these contraction have been relentless and often pretty painful in my back expecially. And feels like someone is sitting on my diagram making it slightly hard to breath. I'm concerned due to the pain and the fact these contractions seem to be every 15 minutes. But don't want to waste a trip to the hospital, having to wake all my kids and drag them with me because it's just me. So, is this normalish? I mean, has this happened to someone before?

[Anonymous]

I am an FTM and started having BH at 16 weeks. They were not particularly regular, but got worse when I was very active, had a full bladder or was dehydrated. Never hurts to ask your OB - I did ask mine and she said that as long as they weren't getting more frequent/regular and I wasn't dilating, she wasn't worried. I'm currently just over 38 weeks.