[*krista*]

I woke up around 3:00 a.m. on Saturday morning with cramps. They felt like menstrual cramps and I could feel them in my entire pelvis and a bit in my back. It was a constant pain, not something that came and went. It was strong enough to wake me up. It lasted about 30 to 45 minutes.

Anyone ever experience something like this? Have any idea what it was? It really scared us. I think I'm fine now but I'm just curious if it was any cause for concern. I haven't had any problems since and baby is moving around just like normal. It is the first time I've experienced any pain like that related to the pregnancy.

[~*sierra*~]

maybe it was braxton hicks? wish i had better advice for you sweetie. i'm glad it passed.

[bittersweet]

I've had those a handful of times as well....especially when dehydrated. It seems to help if I drink a couple glasses of water and lay down. I usually get them at night when I'm sleeping too. Now I drink a big glass of water before bed (double-edged sword, i know)..plus i keep some by my bed too. They havent happened since I've done that.

[*krista*]

I was a bit dehydrated this weekend so maybe that was it! We were super busy this weekend traveling for a wedding so I didn't drink nearly as much water as I usually do.

Did you ever mention it to your doc? What did he/she say?

[szczepanski]

If I don't drink enough water, I get super dehydrated. That probably has a lot to do with it....I too drink a big glass of water before bed and that has helped a ton.

I didn't mention it because water and laying on my left side made them go away, which is all my midwife would have told me to try.

I do know that if I get braxton hicks AFTER drinking water and laying on my left side and I'm getting more than 4 in an hour or there is some regularity to it then I have to call in.

[*krista*]

Was it Braxton Hicks? I thought BH came in waves like regular contractions, just not as strong?

Thanks for all your help ladies!

[szczepanski]

I haven't had them in waves. I will generally just get one or two and that is that. I get them when I haven't had enough water that day or, my personal favorite, when Nolan is super active and irritates my uterus enough to make it spaz out.

Also, they aren't supposed to be painful - braxton hicks is just a tightening of the uterus. You can feel your entire belly get super hard for a few seconds (for me, 20-30 seconds) and it is super uncomfortable but definitely not menstrual cramp like or painful.

I would at least mention it at your next appointment!

[Mars]

It seems odd to be a BH but that's the only thing I can think off especially since you were slightly dehydrated. Keep that fluid intake up.

I had something very similar when I didn't drink enough water for a few days. Try increasing your water intake before bed, and anytime you wake up of course. I bet that is the culprit.

[bittersweet]

Originally Posted by *krista*

I was a bit dehydrated this weekend so maybe that was it! We were super busy this weekend traveling for a wedding so I didn't drink nearly as much water as I usually do.

Did you ever mention it to your doc? What did he/she say?

I never mentioned it since it went away with water and rest. I also assumed it was not BH since it was a contant, lingering, generalized pain. I haven't had any BH here yet...but I've imagined them to be like a tightening...and to only last a couple minutes then go away.

[Chelnae6]

Heather you drink water before bed? Thats what I try to avoid doing b/c I'll wake up twice as much to pee lol.

Its probably round ligament pain due to lack of water. I know one way to lessen round ligament pain is to drink penty of water b/c it gives your muscles and such a chance to expand comfortably.

[Angelaosaurus-rex]

Its pretty normal to have weird aches and pains during pregnancy. It could have been your belly growing. I had bad pains that my doctor said were just my tummy expanding. Or when was the last time you pooped?? I had awful poopy pains while pregnant.

[sara~b]

I would give your doc a call to be safe. I had a UTI with Gem around 27 weeks. I was wandering around the mall and all of the sudden I had what felt like a massive period cramp that wouldn't go away. It about doubled me over in the middle of the mall. I went to the ER and they found my UTI and put me on IV antibiotics overnight and gave me a dose of Terbutaline to stop the cramps. I wasn't in labor because I wasn't thinning or dilating but the cramps were bad enough to be picked up on the contraction monitors. I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't gone in. Be safe and call! KUP!

[Trannyfromtheuk]

My 1st thought was maybe you had slept funny and the baby had moved and got comftable on a nerve or something??

[*krista*]

Thanks for all of the opinions and advice! I think I will we calling the doc, or at the very least discuss it at my next appointment.

[HippieLove]

Oh jee girl I have no idea I hope everythings ok though

[~*Bethy*~]

I get BH that I have to breath through once in a while. but ditto what everyone else said, and drink more water!!