It’s cliche, but trust me you will know. They will form a pattern, so if you think they are real start timing them and see if they are regular. Mine also started as rhythmic cramps instead of the tightening I felt with BH.
DD1: June '16 DD2: March ‘19 :::: Married since 2011 :::: USN Wife ::::
For me BH were uncomfortable tightness in my belly and they could take my breath away, but they never really hurt and were never regular. Contractions on the other hand woke me up out of a dead sleep from pain and continued on a mostly regular pattern. I also get cramping without the tightening of the belly. So for me BH=Tightening w/o pain Cramps=pain w/o tightening Contractions= Pain w/ tightening
Started TTC Nov. 2011
1st clomid cycle June 2012- No response :: HSG August 2012- Left tube blocked, right tube clear :: 2nd clomid cycle Aug. 2012 BFN :: 3rd clomid cycle Sept. 2012 :: BFP Sept 30th :: DS born 6/15/13 :: BFP #2 7/29/14 M/C 8/5/14 :: BFP#3 10/20/14 DD born 7/1/2015 :: Applied to be surrogate April '17 :: Transferred 1 Embryo for IFs Dec. '17 :: Surro Babe born 9/11/18 :: Started 2nd Journey May '19 :: Transferred 1 Embryo for new IFs 9/24/19 :: HB 138 at 6w6d
Re: Braxton hicks vs real contractions how can you tell?
Started TTC Nov. 2011
1st clomid cycle June 2012- No response :: HSG August 2012- Left tube blocked, right tube clear :: 2nd clomid cycle Aug. 2012 BFN :: 3rd clomid cycle Sept. 2012 :: BFP Sept 30th :: DS born 6/15/13 :: BFP #2 7/29/14 M/C 8/5/14 :: BFP#3 10/20/14 DD born 7/1/2015 :: Applied to be surrogate April '17 :: Transferred 1 Embryo for IFs Dec. '17 :: Surro Babe born 9/11/18 :: Started 2nd Journey May '19 :: Transferred 1 Embryo for new IFs 9/24/19 :: HB 138 at 6w6d