BH and Contractions - how do you tell the difference?

[nicoleE]

I know that obviously contractions will become regular, increase in their intensity and get closer together but Im 38 weeks this week and finding that every little niggle or pain Im noting the time incase the pain becomes regular...

Im not sure if i have felt BHs at all but for the last week or two I have had the odd cramping pain at various locations over my belly such as low down, near my belly button or in my side. Also over the last couple of days I have started feeling period type pain (sickly slight crampy feeling) low down, something I have not had before with this pregnancy, its not all the time though, probably 3 times in 48 hrs.


How did your real contractions compare to your Braxton Hicks? Did you know straight away that it was different or did you eventually realise that the pains you were experiancing (thinking they were BHs) were getting regular and were infact contractions?

:confused:

[stellarella]

It wasn't obvious to me and they built up gradually over about 12 hours until I got my first painful contraction which signalled the start of established labour.

I guess the difference for me was that they were painful. My BH were never ever painful. There was a very intense tightening sensation but no pain. The real contractions were in my lower abdomen and my cervix and were identical to period pain where as braxton hicks tightened on the top of my tummy with no sensation in my cervix.

[Grace3]

Period like pain is how my labour started.

BH, I just had tightening of the tummy

[stellarella]

Oh just thought i'd add that you are probably having pre-labour contractions which can go on for weeks. I started having them at about 38 weeks and my bub wasnt born til 42 weeks. I would get them in sets, they could go on for a while then they would go away for a few days...and so on and so forth.

I think thats why I didnt know when early labour had started as I was just having another set of pre-labour contractions and that my baby would never come out. :rolleyes:

[muls]

That was a great question to ask nicoleE, because I was just about to post the same question. I am 37wks pregnant and have been feeling period like pain for 2 days now and I was wondering what was going on - I'm 4/5 engaged as well so I'm told so I hope it's starting. Hopefully my little man comes early - I can't wait to meet him!

:yelclap:

[nicoleE]

Thanks for the replies Ladies :wave:


Oh just thought i'd add that you are probably having pre-labour contractions which can go on for weeks. I started having them at about 38 weeks and my bub wasnt born til 42 weeks. I would get them in sets, they could go on for a while then they would go away for a few days...and so on and so forth.

Im thinking you might be right. Today for about 6 hours on and off I had sharp pains in the lower half of my abdomen, at times they were less than 10 minutes apart but I figured that when a few of them skipped their 10 minute time slot that it mustnt be the real thing! :laughing: They were quite painful though.
In the past week I have begun getting allot of sharp pains, back pain and period pain so Im assuming it is just all starting up! (which it should be!)

Will run it all past my Ob in our appointment this week to.

Thanks again.

Good luck to you to Muls!

[muls]

I am very similar to you Nicole. I have been getting them in patches and I'm just so eager for it to start. I have been getting the pains throughout the day and the night. I have been getting the lower back pain too.
Fingers crossed it begins soon for both of us.
Thanks Nicole - and good luck to you too!!!!

:fingerscrossed: