Seahorse, what are you doing to my insides? All night long a dull ache, tummy rumbles, low grade contractions and an unpleasant, uneasiness to my sleep. Its like a weird menstrual cramp has struck me and will not let up. In fact, I just could not, for the very first time during this pregnancy, get comfortable. My night was long and sore, I barely slept, notwithstanding that big fluffy pillow wedged between my legs and another crammed beneath my lumbering belly to support its weight on our bed. Never before was I made so aware of my heaving, heavy pregnant body; I felt awkward and restlessness.
Could this be the tell tale signs of Braxton Hicks?
All of my mummy friends have spoken about these faux uterine contractions which manifest at various times throughout a woman’s pregnancy. Some gals feel them early on – 20 weeks along, say, and others, like me, after 35 weeks gestation. And bang on 35 weeks, I came face to face with the dreaded Braxton Hicks. In truth, I thought I would be able to bypass this chapter of pregnancy, considering just how magical my very own has been to date.
It was two lovely mummy girlfriends – Michelle and Erin – over lunch, who quite by happenchance asked me whether I have felt these contractions as yet. “Oh no; not at all; I have had the most pleasant of runs with this pregnancy; all sweetness and light; no discomposure or unease. O no; Seahorse has been a wonderful companion inside of me…”
And then, bang on midnight – the Braxton Hicks…
John Braxton Hicks, an English doctor first described them in 1872; kind of like a period pain. Unlike true labor, during this so-called false labor the contractions don’t grow consistently longer, stronger, and closer together. They are just dull and very much present. As for me, I am still feeling uncomfortable and uneasy, as Seahorse bucks and throws little bony knees into my ribs. Ribs ache, belly aches, stomach aches and now ‘down below’ really aches. A new chapter of pregnancy has just begun.
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