Dumb question-Difference between BH and "real" contractions?

KEfam5 · January 2014

I know this is a dumb question, but I've been wondering do any of you STMs or moms with outside babies think that BH feel different that contractions during labor? With DD I never had BH, just went into labor one day. Do we just define BH as contractions that aren't regular? I've been contracting off and on since about 1 am, which as I recall was how labor started with DD. Please don't flame me, I'm not asking if you think I'm in labor just if there is any marked difference between BH and the real thing I could be looking for.

ababymaybe · January 2014

My BH never hurt, just are an uncomfortable tightening. They also tend to be one sided for me (usually my left side). With real contractions, they were painful, on both sides, and lower down. Very different for me, I knew real labor right away after months of constant BH.

TheBorg7of9 · January 2014

If they are bh you can still walk and talk. If they are bh, they get better when you sit down relax and drink water.

runnergrl6675 · January 2014

For me, BH were nothing more than a tightening feeling. My contractions (even early ones) hurt and felt "deep". I definitely could tell a difference between the two and there was no question when the real ones came along.

LMCB12 · January 2014

With me BH feel just like a tightening all over. With real contractions I feel them down low, sometimes radiating to my back and it feels more like an intense period cramp than a tightening.

peanutmuse · January 2014

TheBorg7of9 said:

If they are bh you can still walk and talk. If they are bh, they get better when you sit down relax and drink water.

@TheBorg7of9 -- this last part isn't necessarily true. I have had plenty of BHs (that show up on fetal monitors, FYI) for hours and hours at a time in the hospital, while resting in a bed and hooked up to an IV and/or drinking plenty of water. Heck, I am always well hydrated. I am definitely not the norm when it comes to BHs by any stretch of the imagination, but mine will sometimes go away if I get up and walk around or amplify if I'm sitting and resting. Just throwing that out there.

I think the walking & talking thing is going to be the key thing for me. Because so far I can walk and talk (albeit with some effort) during my contractions. (ETA: that, and I'm assuming the real ones will be more painful. Although I have had some mildly painful BHs, I'm guessing the real ones will be more painful.)

mrsjenni · January 2014

I'm not flaming at all, all I can say is that you will KNOW the difference. If you're like "whoa, that fucking hurt" then count that as a "real" contraction. Once they get stronger and closer together where you are unable to walk/talk through them, then homegirl you're in labor.

km_md · January 2014

peanutmuse said:

TheBorg7of9 said:

If they are bh you can still walk and talk. If they are bh, they get better when you sit down relax and drink water.

@TheBorg7of9 -- this last part isn't necessarily true. I have had plenty of BHs (that show up on fetal monitors, FYI) for hours and hours at a time in the hospital, while resting in a bed and hooked up to an IV and/or drinking plenty of water. Heck, I am always well hydrated. I am definitely not the norm when it comes to BHs by any stretch of the imagination, but mine will sometimes go away if I get up and walk around or amplify if I'm sitting and resting. Just throwing that out there.

I think the walking & talking thing is going to be the key thing for me. Because so far I can walk and talk (albeit with some effort) during my contractions. (ETA: that, and I'm assuming the real ones will be more painful. Although I have had some mildly painful BHs, I'm guessing the real ones will be more painful.)

I agree with Peanut here. I have been having BH's for quite a while now, and one night I was having them every few minutes and they didn't go away when I laid down or drank water, or got up and walked around, which is why we ended up going to the hospital. And they did show up on the monitor at the hospital as well. Mine are just more of a tightening and uncomfortable feeling and don't actually hurt, so I was able to walk and talk through them.

KEfam5 · January 2014

Thanks for the feedback. I guess we'll see where it goes. They felt real but have slowed down. Time will tell.

peanutmuse · January 2014

mrsjenni said:

I'm not flaming at all, all I can say is that you will KNOW the difference. If you're like "whoa, that fucking hurt" then count that as a "real" contraction. Once they get stronger and closer together where you are unable to walk/talk through them, then homegirl you're in labor.

Yup, I've been banking on this the whole time, @mrsjenni. I'm sure that I'll know the difference. But then again, with all of the shit going on with my innards, it's also entirely possible that I'll be like "hmm, what was that. Oh whoops, there's a baby."

Ok, not really. But it's an entertaining thought anyway, haha. But I do have a friend who thought she was constipated and ended up birthing her baby in the hallway outside of her bathroom, with her husband on the phone with 9-1-1. And another friend who had her baby in her pants on the way to the hospital. I don't think I'm going to be lucky enough to have a quick and/or easy labor, though!

peanutmuse · January 2014

KaitiMac said:
@peanutmuse That's both scary and hilarious all at the same time. Did she think she had just pooped her pants, or did she know it was the baby? I'm so dense I'd probably just think I shit myself.

@KaitiMac -- oh no, that one knew she was in labor. She was home alone and called her sister in a panic because her boyfriend was on his way to work. This was 10+ years ago, so he might not have had a cell phone. She just couldn't get to the hospital in time. The one who had the baby at her house was the one who didn't know she was in labor until Niagara Falls escaped from her vag and the baby's head started sticking out.

slmille4 · January 2014

BH for me was just tightening, pre labor felt like period cramps, real labor felt like someone was stabbing my in my back with a knife and twisting.

KEfam5 · January 2014

@simile4 So sorry you had back labor! I'm desperately hoping to avoid that this time.

mrsjenni · January 2014

Honestly, I've never gone into labor on my own (3 inductions, baby!) so I really only know pitocin contractions. Which CLEARLY there is a difference there. With my first induction I remember thinking "WHY DID I EVER THINK I WOULDN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE $#%&^#" in the middle of labor and my second epi request. But I almost feel like a FTM with the "hmm, should I go in to L&D? Is this real?" type thoughts you get as you approach your EDD. But I'll know.

Siblynika · January 2014

I've only had pitocin induced contractions but that's what I'm banking on to differentiate between the two. With BH it's more of a mild to a more intense, uncomfortable pain. Contractions are more like- holy shit that hurts- except you'll only be able to say some garbled form of that phrase during one.

Laurenlavay · January 2014

So glad someone asked this! I've been wondering the same thing.

mj0413 · January 2014

I think it's different for everyone. Which is terrifying. I know of plenty of people that didn't get "OMG that hurts" contractions, my mom included, so I think you just have to listen to your body and if it seems different, call in!

BuckeyeMommy4 · January 2014

I had back labor with all 4 of mine. I knew they were real when I felt them in my back and couldn't walk/talk and didn't want anyone to touch or talk to me. I also am not one that breathes very well during contractions. I hold my breath and squeeze the bed rails.