How do you make the difference between Braxton Hicks contractions and fetal movements?

Question

I am pregnant for the first time. Its my fourth month.

Answer 1

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy/childbirth/156.html

http://uimc.discoveryhospital.com/main.php?id=3104

Here are a couple of clearly written articles about contractions that should be able to help you. Good Luck :)

Answer 2

Braxton Hicks are sporadic uterine contractions that actually start at about 6 weeks, although you won't be able to feel them that early. You probably won't start to notice them until sometime after midpregnancy, if you notice them at all (some women don't). They get their name from John Braxton Hicks, an English doctor who first described them in 1872.

As your pregnancy progresses, Braxton Hicks contractions tend to come somewhat more often, but until you get to your last few weeks, they should remain infrequent, irregular, and essentially painless. Sometimes, though, Braxton Hicks are hard to distinguish from early signs of preterm labor.

Play it safe and don't try to make the diagnosis yourself. If you haven't hit 37 weeks yet and you're having four or more contractions in an hour, or have any other signs of preterm labor, call your caregiver immediately.

By the time you're within a couple of weeks of your due date, these contractions may get more intense and more frequent, and cause some discomfort. Unlike the earlier painless and sporadic Braxton Hicks contractions that caused no obvious cervical change, these may help your cervix "ripen": gradually soften and efface, and maybe even begin to dilate a bit. This period is sometimes referred to as "pre-labor."

Call your caregiver right away if you haven't reached 37 weeks and your contractions are becoming more frequent, rhythmic, or painful, or if you have any of these possible signs of preterm labor:

• Abdominal pain, menstrual-like cramping, or more than four contractions in an hour (even if they don't hurt).

• Any vaginal bleeding or spotting.

• An increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge — if it becomes watery, mucousy, or bloody (even if it's only pink or blood-tinged).

• Increased pelvic pressure (a feeling that your baby's pushing down).

• Low back pain, especially if it's a new problem for you.


Bubbles. Butterflies. Gas. These are all words used to describe what a baby's first movements feel like to a mother.

Quickening is defined as the first time you feel your baby move. This is a long anticipated event in every pregnancy.

If you are expecting your first baby you can expect to feel your baby for the first time between 18 and 24 weeks gestation. If this is not your first baby you can expect to feel your baby a bit sooner than you felt your first. This is usually said to happen because you know what you're feeling for and your uterus is more stretched out than it was the first time around.

Even when you've been there before many women describe these first movements as differently as night and day:

Answer 3

Don't feel bad for not knowing the difference. I was 7 months pregnant and I got yelled at by my doctor because I didn't know I was have contractions, I just thought it was the baby moving. I think it is still a little early for you to be having Braxton Hicks contractions, but you never know every woman is different. That's all I can really tell you. Good Luck!

Answer 4

Braxton Hicks Contractions are sporadic uterine contractions that actually start at about 6 weeks gestation, you won't be able to feel them that early. You probably won't start to notice them until after midpregnancy, if you notice them at all (some women don't). They get their name from John Braxton Hicks, an English doctor who first described them in 1872.As your pregnancy progresses, Braxton Hicks contractions should remain infrequent, irregular, and essentially painless.Fetal movent is very different. Women have described the sensation as being like popcorn popping, a goldfish swimming around, or butterflies fluttering. You'll probably think those first gentle taps or swishes in your belly are gas or hunger pains, but once you start feeling them more regularly, you'll recognize the difference. You're more likely to feel these early movements when you're sitting or lying quietly.

Answer 5

Hi congrats on the pregnancy. I am 20 weeks along with my 2nd pregnancy and I am just starting to really feel fetal movement. It's still early so you wont feel movents very often or very strong. It will feel like a tiny spasm or a flutter in your lower abdomen. As for braxton hicks you shoudlnt get those till about the 3rd trimester. It's a tighting of your stomach with a small pain. Braxton hicks will go away after you change psotions or move around.

Answer 6

The best way for me to describe it would be that a contraction feels mostly like a bad menstrual cramp where as a fetal movement is more of a rolling or a specific kick.

Answer 7

You don't usually start feeling Braxton Hicks Contractions until your third trimester. Baby movements you start to feel in your 4th or 5th month

Answer 8

I certainly have 8 weeks left. a million. sure it drags! the 1st trimester replace into grim for me yet looked as though it might pass at as quickly as, 2d whizzed by skill of. i think of it is because of the fact there are actually not any further milestones (like 12 weeks/20 week test/24 week viability and so on), you're in basic terms watching the tip and placing out to get incredibly vast and drained. 2. sure, maximum of my yoga type are in basic terms going into third tri and we are all knackered. i think of because of the fact infant is kicking a lot or headbutting your bladder and you're too vast to be delicate, and going to the lavatory 6 circumstances a night, so which you do now stay up properly. 3. you are able to continuously experience some circulate in an afternoon, besides the fact that it is going to start to cut back after approximately 33 week as there is no area. i've got been advised that if i will not be able to count extensive sort 10 strikes in 2 hours i could call the midwife (doing the count extensive sort whilst infant many times lively, like after nutrition). you're able to try this count extensive sort each and every night and checklist the time it takes to get 10, then you definately'll word any unexpected replace and would alert the mw and then can verify the child is okay. 4. medical institution bag could be packed from approximately 34 weeks. 5. i think of all of us hassle, yet doing the kick count extensive sort can assist you to work out if something isn't superb and doubtlessly get medical care in time. 6. BH are ordinary and end in case you the two flow (once you're sitting) or relax (once you're shifting). 7. Left ingredient is meant to be extra effective yet the two ingredient is okay, in basic terms dodge the returned as that could cut back bloodflow to the child.

Answer 9

Contractions are when your belly get really hard, whereas the baby moving feels like something tickling you inside your belly.