Braxton Hicks

I've been having Braxton Hicks contractions since I hit the 7th month of my pregnancy. I wasn't really concerned about it at first because I've had them during my previous two pregnancies and I knew they were normal. However, I did note that they came earlier and stronger this time around. With Zoe and Ziya, I started feeling the Braxton Hicks only about a month before I gave birth. I researched about it and found out that it's common for women who've had prior pregnancies to start feeling the Braxton Hicks earlier during their next pregnancies. So, there's nothing to worry about, right?

Well, apparently, there could be a reason to worry. According to my OB-Gyne, if the contractions are too strong and too long, it could lead to pre-term labor and so I have to be very careful in monitoring them. That's exactly what I've been doing the past couple of months. Actually, during my last visit to the doctor, she already prescribed me to take Duvadilan to help with the contractions and avoid pre-term labor, especially since I will be going out-of-town this weekend and it will be a long drive. I'm taking the medicine twice a day now and it usually helps but last night was just crazy.

I went to bed at around 11:30 p.m. and I could feel Ziggy squirming around in my tummy. I didn't think much of it because I'm used to him being rowdy in my belly every night around midnight. However, last night, aside from him just squirming, the Braxton Hicks came and went every now and then, to the point that it already felt a bit painful. I began to worry that I might end up going to labor already and I'm not even on my 36th week yet. I was able to sleep, though, I kept waking up every hour or so because the contractions kept coming and going. Needless to say, I didn't really get to sleep well last night. But the good thing was when I woke up this morning, the painful contractions were gone and I just went about my day the normal way. Hopefully, they won't come back that painful and that long within the next few days. They can come back next week, when it's already safe for me to give birth.