How many B-H's are too many?

dawngloves, BSN, RN · Feb 6, 2003

Are you sure they are BHs? If you can time them at regular intervals, I don't think so.

babynurselsa, RN · Feb 6, 2003

real ctx will get closer and more intense with activity. I had Braxton Hicks cts all the time during the last several weeks but knew they were nothing. At 37 wks I thought it was the real thing contacted for a full day q5-8 min but they never got closer or more intense. Poor hubby, first fight we had was when he kept waking me up to go to the hospital. We had come home from work that am, after we both had worked all night, and e-mailed everyone that I was in labor. I kept telling him there was no way I was going in to be sent home by my co-workers.

imenid37 · Feb 6, 2003

we tell our pt's 4-6 contractions in an hour, then rest on your left side and drink water. empty your bladder first, before you rest. if you get 4-6 in the second hour, then call/come in. you should look into this. you could even be brewing a uti. let us know what happens. it's better to be wrong and feel a little foolish or embarrassed by "nothing'. although you should not feel like this, than to deliver a preemie. sorry for the flight of ideas, but are you well hydrated there in the sunshine state? (that's a real issue for us here in the summer months, right now no one wants to even venture outside) and are you on your feet a lot? 12 hour shifts? we see lots of nurses as pt's. i had ptl at 30 weeks w/ baby #1, so i know first hand. please check this out. take care!

Jolie, BSN · Feb 6, 2003

PLEASE call your doctor or midwife immediately! It is best to be seen and evaluated in order to know for sure if you're having Braxton-Hicks contractions, or the real thing.

I started having painless contractions at 25 weeks. My doctor wrote it off as B-H without evaluating me. She said that it was unusual at that early date, but since I was an OB/NICU nurse, I was probably just more aware of my body than the typical pregnant woman. Since she told me what I wanted to hear, I believed her and didn't push for an evaluation. When they persisted for awhile, I insisted on being seen (by another doctor in the group) and was already effaced and dilated. Thus began 11 weeks of bedrest, monitoring, medications and emergency trips to the hospital for MgSO4. Not fun, but well worth it when I first held my beautiful 37 week daughter.

It's not worth taking any chances, and you'll feel alot better knowing what's really going on. Take care and let us know how things progress.

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 6, 2003

I hate the term, "Braxton-Hicks" for contractions. Know why? Cause a contraction is a contraction is a contraction, period. So many feel you apply the label BH on it, and it is benign. Any repetitive contraction pattern NOT resolved by drinking a liter of water, laying down and resting should be reported to a doctor/midwife, especially in the preterm period!!!! Where I work we define this as greater than 4-6 uterine contractions per hour that do not stop. (usually about every 8-10 minutes). 4 for those at high risk for preterm labor. True, not all contractions are TRUE LABOR, but to write off all preterm uterine contractions to Braxton-Hicks phenomena can be dangerous and costly. Keep track of how often they are happening, how strong and for how long. Then,, report them unless otherwise directed by your health care provider ...and please if I had my way, we would all DROP the silly term. They are ALL contractions, period.

BeachNurse · Feb 6, 2003

Thanks, everyone! Imenid--I did just what you said in your post last night and they went away. So far I have only had a total of 3 all day. Maybe I was a little dehydrated?

Thanks for the information Deb..this is what I was thinking since my last pregnancy I had "pre-term contractions" that were painless but regular. If I cant get them to stop then I wont hesitate to call my dr.

mother/babyRN, RN · Feb 7, 2003

Get checked...Whether or not they are BH's can be determined by cervical changes..You won't know unless you get checked. Good luck!

imenid37 · Feb 7, 2003

i agree w/ everyone above. i am glad you are doing better. you should still tell your dr or cnm. they may want to do a ve or get a urine from you. also if they are more intense even if not more often, i'd let your provider know. i hope you continue to do well. just remember taking care of your baby means putting yourself first at this time in your life. take care!

mother/babyRN, RN · Feb 9, 2003

If it doesn't feel right, get it checked...You will feel better just knowing. I hope you are feeling better ASAP

BeachNurse · Feb 9, 2003

Thanks so much everyone..I am doing fine. I have had 5 or less contractions per day for the last couple of days. I am still going to mention it at my appointment this week. :)