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November 2014 Moms
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can't tell between Braxton hicks contractions or real deal contractions

jcom49jcom49 member
in November 2014 Moms
can't tell between Braxton hicks contractions or real deal contractions. How do you tell the difference?
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Re: can't tell between Braxton hicks contractions or real deal contractions

  • phdprocrastinatorphdprocrastinator member
    I've been having constant BH since 34 weeks.  According to L&D, the difference is pain - but of course, you always hear stories about women who didn't realize they were in labor!

    Also, BH usually will subside if you rest and hydrate (although I've had them while resting and drinking gallons of water).  Real contractions will not.

    With DD, I had definite pain during contractions, wrapping around my lower back and stomach (I had back labor).  There was no confusion regarding what's going on.  For now, I'm waiting for pain to indicate real contractions.

    Good luck!
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  • jac409jac409 member
    The difference for me was that Braxton hicks were across the top of my stomach and felt like a tightening of my muscles. Real contractions were down much lower...more like period cramps. Even when I wasn't contracting I could barely walk. Both types were painful for me, but the real contractions kept getting more intense and painful as labor progressed. I also couldn't walk through them and I had to rock on all fours. Braxton hicks were never that intense.
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  • lesliegolemlesliegolem member
    This is my second and I am having trouble sometimes telling the difference between braxton hicks and real contractions. Sometimes my BH contractions really hurt and are timeable. Last set I had lasted several hours and got to 5-7 minutes apart. They were also pretty painful. Of course went to L and D (couldn't even walk) and they subsided after a few more hours. So with this pregnancy I'm not even going to L and D unless contractions get to like 3-4 minutes apart or I'm in such pain I'm throwing up or something lol.

    With my first BH contractions were more like just constant menstraul cramps. Supposedly with BH contractions changing position will help. But with this baby it seems I just have to wait hours until they subside. Think it depends on the person but usually drinking water or changing positions should help BH contractions.
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  • jac409jac409 member
    Oh, my doctor also told me that if you drink a bunch of water, Braxton hicks should slow down and subside. However, if you are really in labor, all that water will tend to speed things up. This was absolutely true in my case.
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  • megbanachekmegbanachek member
    lovebuggies1 said:

    I have researched everything, talked to everyone and for my body there's no help. It all feels the same and I can no longer tell the difference. Praying LO doesn't just slide out onto the floor one day because I didn't know the difference. I'm timing my BH right now. Back pain and all. But chances are it's not labor :(

    I'm in the same boat. It's been over a week of this.
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  • maple1422maple1422 member
    I can't help you, but I wanted to thank you for posting. It's good to know I'm not the only one who can't tell!
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  • kaimee27kaimee27 member
    I'm just kind of assuming/hoping I'll know the difference when the time comes.  I've been having BH since about 25 weeks-sometimes really consistently/timeable.  The past several days, I've been getting what seems like more painful/cramping BH, but nothing consistent.  I'm not sure if they just feel different because LO is getting bigger, or if maybe is the start of false labor.  Either way, I haven't had anything that makes me think true labor is anywhere near.

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  • kimberly_ann81kimberly_ann81 member
    My braxton hicks are always higher on my stomach and don't really hust.  I just feel uncomfortable.  The real deal are very low and the pain increases.  Think really bad period cramps to start with.
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  • jcom49jcom49 member
    So for anyone still following/checking up on this post; it was the real deal. Started feeling the contractions on the 9th. Same day I made the post and had my baby on the 12th at 4:04am. I didn't realize for myself that it was the real deal until the 11th when I had contractions all day long. 
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