Pains

[FunkyMouse]

I'm 32 weeks pregnant and for about a week now on and off I have been getting period type pains. Sometimes they're quite bad and very uncomfortable. They're not braxton hicks because my belly doesn't go hard and they don't feel like stretching pains either.

What are they?

[natalie_1982]

Hi FM - I don't know what they are exactly, but I thought that it was something to do with the softening of the cervix and baby's head engaging. There is a post a few posts down by MountainBoo - it has "lightening" and "show" in the title I think, and you will see that lots of us have been experiencing them so I shouldn't think it is anything to worry about. I have them pretty bad at the moment, incidentally, it's my second bout today and I am 38weeks with my first x

[redcrx]

Hi FM,

a quick call to your midwife will help put your mind at ease but they could well be stretching pains, mine feel worse second time around, or babys head engaging.

Better to ask midwife though.

[FunkyMouse]

Thank you. x

[Lorrymac]

Hi Funky Mouse. i'm 39 weeks now and been getting pains like you for some weeks. I don't get much hardening of my stomach either... I spoke to my midwife and she said it was the uterus reacting to having a big baby in there. She explained that it's a muscle and reacts so when the baby moves or prods or does something it's highly likely that it's reacting by cramping or tensing which is what you could be feeling. every woman is different i guess and feels things differently but it's another possible explanation for what you could be feeling. made sense to me anyway... and yes, for weeks some of mine are quite bad and almost make you need to hold your breath!

lorraine x