Nervous and need input

[drguruncs]

I'm 22 1/2 weeks pregnant now, and for a few days now I've been experiencing Braxton Hicks. Yesterday I was getting them more often, but nothing TOO concerning so I thought. I took it VERY easy yesterday and rested all I could. Well, after I cooked and had dinner last night, I started getting the braxton hicks again, and they've been from the bellybutton down, but then they started getting closer and closer, and then SOMEWHAT heavy... but I was still waiting for hte whole more than 4 in an hour. Then out of NOWHERE I got SHARP pains on my upper abdomen that I thought felt like gas but was shooting down to my groin. My contractions jumped from 45 minutes apart to 22 then to 16 then to 8. I thought I had to go to the bathroom but couldn't. I would feel the braxtons from the bellybutton down during the sharp pain, but at hte same time I wasn't feeling as though my hips wanted to collapse like they did with my first. I tried getting my daughter to sleep but sure enough I fell asleep first and woke up about two and a half hours later from exhaustion and dealing with that pain. I dont have the SHARP horrible pains anymore, but I'm still having the BH and now they're about 25 minutes apart.

Is it worth going into the ER or waiting till clinic hours and calling my doctor? w/ my first one, I started dilating with her at 28 weeks. Took 10 weeks however to get from 1-4 cm. But I went into labor 3 times before finally having her and they said that I'm more prone to going into earlier labor than I did with her... but the medical staff here have the uncanny ability to make you feel like an inconvenience more than anything... Im not due for my next appointment till mid-May. So any advice would be really appreciated...

[drguruncs]

updating everyone:

Ended up going to the hospital, funny thing is my OB was already there. lmao. So I explained it to her, they had me hooked up to the monitors, and after a while, gave me some tributaline. I'm not dilated, it's still sitting high, so that was definitely a plus. She's having me go back in two weeks to follow up and make sure there's no progression. I'm feeling a little loopy right now... but this is repeat business for me. I was on Tributaline for 10 weeks when I was pregnant with my daughter.
She also said I will probably need to go on bedrest. I told her as much as I would love to follow that order, it wont be happening. I have a 3 year old and my husband is the breadmaker. So she told me NO more aerobics, no more elliptical, no more extensive walks and hikes, etc. To go along the guidelines of what I'm to do when on bedrest just minus out the bed part, lol. To rest as much as possible. She was like "Bravo for working out and keeping in shape! But with everything acting up this early, basically, you will have to kick back, rest alot, and get fat."... she's a blunt person... lol. I'm VERY upset though that I can't exercise like I've been doing.... but I know it's for a good cause. They'll know in a couple weeks wether or not they're going to have to sew my cervix. As of now, no.  Hopefully it stays that way. SO very light stuff for me here on out, less of a calorie intake since I wont be doing my regular workouts anymore, and... hoping for the best!

[catlady171]

it is normal to have BH early in your later pregnancies. my dr. always told me they come earlier and strong with every pregnancy. and by the time i had my third i had BH from 4 months on. but since you have a history of early labor, i would call just to make sure everything is alright. i would think your dr. would want to keep an eye on any early contractions you have. and in the meantime you should rest.

[sewpretty]

if it's truely BH my doctor told me that if you drink water (most pre-term labor symptoms come from being dehydrated) and change activities (if you were laying down walk around and if you were up, go lay down on your left side) then they should go away.  
If they don't go away after trying that then they aren't BH and you should call the hospital and explain and see what they want you to do.

My first baby tried to be born 2 months early and I ended up sitting in the hospital for a month and he was still a month + 3 days early so it's a scary thing.  I went in because I noticed some spotting that I thought was nothing because I didn't have any pain or tightening at all.  turns out I was dialated to 3 and the hospital people spazzed out.

best of luck.

[Michele, Katy, TX]

I would call the on call doctor and see what they suggest.  If you have done this before, I wouldn't take it lightly.  Please keep us posted.