What is the difference between real contractions and braxton?

Question

How do I know when its the real thing? I have been having a lot of stomach pains, low back pains and abdominal pains. I am 35 weeks pregnant with my first baby.

Answer 1

real contractions will not stop after you get up and move around like walk....braxton hicks contractions will stop after you begin moving around!!!

i think also your real contractions are more intense than the braxton hicks contractions!!!

im 36 weeks pregnant with my first too and im nervous and have lots of questions too!!

well hope ive made since to you...good luck and congrats to you!!!

Answer 2

First off, you should talk to your doctor, because people on Yahoo sometimes give very bad advice. Braxton Hicks contractions can be extremely painful, and they can be very regular sometimes, too, so the answerers that say otherwise are misleading. It's true that BH contractions are contractions that "aren't doing anything" as far as labor goes, except for getting you ready. If you are having any symptoms that you feel aren't right, call your doctor and/or go get checked. You won't always "know". With my first labor, my mom talked me into going to the hospital to get checked. I wasn't even having contractions, but I was "nesting" like crazy and my back hurt- that was it. I had a baby four hours later. With my second baby, I went to the hospital because I had pressure so bad it was painful, but again, no contractions. I didn't think I was in labor, I just knew the pressure feeling wasn't right. That labor lasted three hours. So that's why you won't always "just know", sometimes you just need to get checked. Good luck~

Answer 3

Honestly, there isn't a difference except that "real" contractions end with a baby. Braxton Hicks are what many doctors call contractions that aren't going anywhere yet. These contractions strengthen the muscles and can very slowly get the body ready for labor. They feel the same as real contractions (sometimes, sometimes they are worse). If your contractions (BH or otherwise) are timely, frequent and don't go away when you change positions (usually when you lay down) then go in. Good luck

Answer 4

Braxton Hicks are contractions that get you ready for labor. They will not make you dilate and they are generally not painful. Sometimes they might be painful, but the ones I had were not. They will also not be regular.

I had TONS of Braxton Hicks will both my pregnancies. Sometimes they were regular and sometimes they were not. They were never painful, however. I never dilated either.

I heard someone say that with Braxton Hicks, sometimes you won't feel your entire belly get hard. I don't know how true that is, but I never experienced that.

Best to get checked by your dr if you are having a lot of contractions, even if they aren't regular. Better safe than sorry.

Answer 5

The difference is the pain! braxon hicks cont. are very light compared to the real thing.
I went to the hospital three times with my first one and all three trips were false labor! lol
I finally gave up and decided when he came he came.
I feel asleep at like 6 in the evening and woke up at 2 in the morning with the worst pain i ever had saying somethings wrong with the baby. My husband shot up and said are you sure and I shot up with my contraction and ran around the house like I had stubbed my toe. Saying ouch,ouch ouch the whole time on my tippy toes!
I told my husband I was in labor and he told me to shut up he wasn't taking me again to the hospital again!
I called my mom and we talked for about 30 mins and she informed me I still had a long tome because my cont. were so far apart and she was right I did not have him until the next day at 6 in the morn.
Here is the weird thing I lost my mucus cord right after I got off the phone with my mother and it was gross! So don't freak out when that happens OK?
Good luck! and you will know!!!!!!

Answer 6

Everyone says you will know the difference. But when having first baby, how do you know. Real contractions keep coming, usually irregularly at first and then more regular and WAY MORE PAINFUL. You might even get a vaginal discharge, that looks like blood. If they keep happening and don't stop - you are on your way. Good luck !

Answer 7

My Doc told me you'll know when it's the real thing because of the amount of pain.

Have your pains been coming and going or have they been constant??

I'm sure you have an appt. coming up soon? I would note the pains you are experiencing and time them, etc. just so that when you do see the dr. next- you have detailed accounts of what you are experiencing and the doc can go over it with you.

35 weeks is fairly early, the doc will probably check to see if you have dilated, etc. Once you mention the pains.??

Answer 8

braxton hicks contractions are irregular . real contractions come on a regular basis (every 10 min, 5 min,etc) and they also increase in the intensity and how long the last ( 30 sec, 1 min, etc) thats y most doctors say call me when they are 5 minutes apart for an hour..at least thats what my doctor told me when i was pregnant with my first hope this helps u

Answer 9

http://www.justmommies.com/articles/braxton_hicks_contractions.shtml

Check out that website. It might helpful. Braxton Hick's contractions will usually go away with position change or something like that. Real contractions won't go away no matter what and they get stronger.

Answer 10

Braxton Hicks are nowhere as strong as the real thing. Sounds as though your time is near.