What is lightening crotch? And how do I know if I have Braxton Hicks (and it’s not just baby’s position)?

Question

I know this sounds stupid but I’m almost 35 weeks and have heard the term ‘lightening crotch’ but have no idea what it is or what it feels like?
I know BH feels like a tightening in your tummy, but mine often feels tight when baby moves position and pushes out. How do I know the difference between baby’s position making me feel tight or BH? 
Sorry if it sounds dumb! I’m a FTM so this is all new to me!

Answer

Braxton Hicks for me we’re just my tummy tightening, and I would feel pressure. Not painful in any way, just a little uncomfortable.
As for lightning crotch, that shit is no joke 😂 once baby drops a bit and starts hitting against your cervix/nerves it’s like a sudden sharp pain, almost like an electric shock. I had it from 34 weeks with my daughter as she was very big and also descended early.

Answer

So lightning crotch is sharp almost stabbing like pain in your pelvic region. If you didn’t have it, I’m soooo happy for you. It’s painful 
Now, the BH contractions.. most of the time when you’ve felt baby “ball up” it “change positions” it’s most likely a BH. So this late in your pregnancy, baby moves a lot, but they don’t typically change positions or roll very often. Most FTMs think it’s baby moving positions and such, but it’s typical BH because they don’t know what they’re actually feeling and haven’t experienced it before. I’ll be completely honest, with my first I didn’t have the BH until about 34-36 weeks. At the time, I also thought it was baby. Now after feeling it with my second and third, I know that that’s what most of those were. When your belly gets round and tightened up, a feels like everything swells a bit, making you slightly uncomfortable, that’s a BH. As I said, at this point in pregnancy, baby doesn’t move positions much, and baby turning head down is usually a gradual event that happens over the course of time.

What is lightening crotch? And how do I know if I have Braxton Hicks (and it’s not just baby’s position)?

Let's Glow!

The Top Baby Tracker App: Embrace New Beginnings with Tender Care

The Top Fertility Tracker App: Your Path to Achieving Pregnancy

The Top Pregnancy App: Nurturing Your Journey to Motherhood

The Top Period Tracker for Empowering Your Menstrual Health Journey