Braxton Hicks, and I'm only 20 weeks! WTF?!

[Anonymous]

I have been having sensations that my uterus is tightening for the last 2-3 weeks. It usually only lasts for 20 seconds or so, but sometimes it's uncomfortable. My sister says these are Braxton-Hicks contractions, which shocks me since I was only 18 wks when they started. Anyone else have these?!

[Anonymous]

Mine started around then too.

[Anonymous]

I did with #1. Felt the first BH sometime around 15/16 weeks, and then had tons of them throughout the pregnancy. Good news was they seemed to prep my body for labor, and when it finally arrived (at 40w1d), I pretty much went straight into active labor and had a (relatively) short labor of 7 hours total (waking up to the first 'maybe this is it? contraction until the baby was born).

I'm now 13 weeks with #2, and *may* have felt my first BH, though I'm not positive. But I'm expecting them to start up in the near future.

[Anonymous]

I also started having Braxton Hicks at 13-14 weeks with #2. I had a ton of them with #1 as well but not until more like 28 weeks. Like the pp, I think they helped prepare my body and I had a 7 hour labor with #1.

[Anonymous]

This is baby #2 for me and my BH started up this past week (20 weeks). I was shocked because I don't remember them until about 30 weeks with #1. My friends have all said this is totally normal -- am hoping it is actually prepping my body for labor because my son just did not want to come out and I'd appreciate not being pregnant for 42 weeks this time around ...

[Anonymous]

My BH started very, very early too. My midwife said it's normal and nothing to worry about.

[Anonymous]

Just remember that if they start getting to be more regular - like 20 minutes apart or closer -- then you need to call your doctor.

[Anonymous]

Mine started around 20 weeks, but I found with these I can really curb them by drinking a lot of water. I had a bunch around 20 weeks and since then, I've been extra vigilant w/ the water, and have had very few since then (now 30 weeks).

[Anonymous]

I had BH early in my first pregnancy and now notice them at 19 weeks into my second. My doctor told me that the uterus contracts to varying degrees (weak, strong, short, long, etc.) from time to time throughout pregnancy, but most women don't feel it until their uterus begins to get big and stick out, and some will barely notice it until they are ready to go into labor.

[Anonymous]

I don't think that it's that unusual to get them that early. And like previous posters have said, I've heard that they help prep the body for real labor.

[Anonymous]

Ask your doctor at your next appointment and if they become regular CALL IMMEDIATELY. Despite what people say, BH can cause cervical changes. My 11 weeks of hospital bedrest proved this.