Braxtons-help!

[twoboyslater]

Moms, help me! I am 22weeks with ds2 and have been in pain since waking up this morning. After speaking to a midwife in Maternity Triage on the phone, she suspects it is a case of Braxton Hicks, and has advised to leave work, get in the bath and rest, and to call back if the pain continues.
I never had any BH with Ds1 so I've no idea how to relieve the pain! Can anyone recommend any tried and tested methods of pain relief? This is driving me mental

[milkyjo]

Paracetamol too might help. I suffered from BH with DS a lot but they were never really painful just rather uncomfortable. Are they coming and going with a rock hard bump - like contractions? The way you describe it it sounds like you're in continuous pain. Follow the midwife's advice and phone back if it continues - paracetamol will probably mask the pain so maybe don't take any if you are monitoring it. You could try a hot water bottle - not too hot though, as this will be the same effect as the bath - but tbh the bath is probably the best option as the warm water will reach all the painful areas.

[Missingthemincepies]

Braxton hicks are not painful. Tight yes, uncomfortable, yes, annoying, very. Mine are strong enough that I can't walk well and have to take a few deep breaths. BUT they are not painful.
If you have pain that you need to leave work for and take paracetamol for, then please ring up and ask to be monitored. If you tell them you're worried, they will see you.
All sorts of other things the pain could be so personally I would want to be assessed either by GP or at antenatal admissions.

Hope you feel better soon.

[ExpatAl]

Yes I echo. If in pain please go in to be monitored. It's probably nothing but it's really better to be sure.

[twoboyslater]

So, i had a bath and a rest and felt a little better. But within the past 45minutes, the pain has come back.
I have just spoken to a midwife at maternity triage who was incredibly unhelpful and just made me feel like I'm being a hypochondriac.
I am very concerned about these pains as I have not experienced them before in either pregnancy, and I have this mom's intuition of 'I don't feel 100% right about this'.
I want to go to be checked, just to put my mind at ease, but the woman on the phone was so unhelpful and made me feel so stupid that I feel I will be wasting their time

[Missingthemincepies]

Almost certainly everything is fine, but they can't tell you that over the phone. Call back say you're not happy and want to come in to have the baby checked. If the mw says no, ask to speak to her supervisor. If you get nowhere then think about pitching up to a&e.
If you think something's not right then go with your gut feeling.
They should at least do a ctg, check a urine sample and be able to reassure you. At this point it's a matter of sticking to your guns and pushing. Do not take no for an answer.
Hope it settles soon OP. good luck.

[ExpatAl]

You know your own body and if you think something is wrong and the midwife is blocking you go to a&e.

[twoboyslater]

So, under DPs strict instructions, I was told to go up to triage. Within 5 minutes of being seen, they did a urine test which showed a high leukocyte count and I have an infection.
They put my worries to rest about baby, took a while to find the heartbeat, but it was there, nice and strong!

Thanks for all of your help mums!x

[Missingthemincepies]

That's good news (sort of!). At least the pain should be a bit better after a couple of days of antibiotics. Don't forget to get a sample checked after you've finished the course, to make sure it's all clear. So pleased you got the reassurance of hearing baby's heart beat.
Hope the rest of your pregnancy is uneventful.

[ExpatAl]

Brilliant news that baby is okay. Hopefully the pain will be sorted out now.