Difference between contractions and braxton hicks

[Kimber]

If you go into the hospital, can they tell the diff between actual contractions and braxton hicks when they hook you up to monitors? Thanks.

 

[Smudgelicious]

Yes. Contractions, proper ones peak and fall and come somewhat regularly. BH are erratic, and don't look like proper contractions on the monitor. Also real proper contractions hurt like hell and BH don't usually get worse than uncomfortable !

 

[Kimber]

So is an increase in just braxton hicks (totally painless) all afternoon and this evening something to be concerned about you think?

 

[PepsiChic]

not really too much of a concern, more then 6 in 1 hour is the recommendation to go in and get checked out though, so if your having them that frequently you can be checked to ease your mind.

also contractions tend to start around the back and slowly over time get strength at the front, where as BH are normally at the front straight off.

 

[Kimber]

I feel silly, but sometimes I have a difficult time telling the difference between a braxton hicks and baby pressing out and putting a lot of pressure on my belly.

 

[pachamama]

I'm the same! Keep thinking I'm having loads of Braxton Hicks and wonder if I should be getting checked out and then I just feel my tummy, particularly when I'm standing up and really can't tell whether it's a Braxton Hicks or my tummy is just particularly tight at that moment and he's pushing his bum out...

Annoying. But I do understand.

x

 

[Kimber]

Good, glad I'm not alone! Sometimes I'm SURE it's a braxton hicks, but then it's only hard at the top of my stomach and I figure that's her bum. Otherwise the whole bump would be hard right?!

 

[EmmaM2]

I tend to feel a wave with braxton hicks that comes over my whole stomach rather than it just feeling like there is a pressure. It took a while for me to figure that out with my first though so you are not alone. I was unsure with my first whether I was having bh or contractions at the end. When I actually went into labour I realised I needn't have worried, the real deal are a completely different kettle of fish! My bh do come quite frequently though, and can increase, not necessarily random like it is often suggested but true contractions feel very different, for me, with a lot of pain in the back moving to the front where bh are just in front.

 

[roxy237]

I tend to feel a wave with braxton hicks that comes over my whole stomach rather than it just feeling like there is a pressure. It took a while for me to figure that out with my first though so you are not alone. I was unsure with my first whether I was having bh or contractions at the end. When I actually went into labour I realised I needn't have worried, the real deal are a completely different kettle of fish! My bh do come quite frequently though, and can increase, not necessarily random like it is often suggested but true contractions feel very different, for me, with a lot of pain in the back moving to the front where bh are just in front.

I would agree with this- BH feel like tightening more around the tummy whereas with real contractions you'll feel them lower down in your back too. My real contractions last time around started as period-type pains but more painful. I am getting a lot of Braxton Hicks with a bit of cramping but not painful, more annoying than anything as they press down on my bladder! I seem to get them a lot if I overdo it like picking up my daughter too much.

 

[kettle28]

I've been getting tightening of tummy since 25/26 wks (33 this wkend) thought was only when on my feet, but monitor showed they are going when I'm lying down! Was about 5 in 25 mins but only up to about 45 on the monitor)

Last 3 days though I've been getting backache and period pain, now, I'm thinking spd sort of thing as I can get the backache to go by lying down, but the period pain stays?

Could that be the bhicks changing? Not into real ones, just changing?

 

[princessatmey]

I've been getting tightening of tummy since 25/26 wks (33 this wkend) thought was only when on my feet, but monitor showed they are going when I'm lying down! Was about 5 in 25 mins but only up to about 45 on the monitor)

Last 3 days though I've been getting backache and period pain, now, I'm thinking spd sort of thing as I can get the backache to go by lying down, but the period pain stays?

Could that be the bhicks changing? Not into real ones, just changing?

hi am similar t u 33wks on sat and since 26wks been feeling off. cramping an backache etc. this last few weeks have been worse tightenngs are worse an high up on bump and it seems like theres never really much of a break. maybe its bh chaning i dunno my backache dosnt go when i do anything it goes on is own ive had tiny hills on ctg and recently little spikes or a few spikes togther like a mountain and humps lol no higher than a cm i dnt think and length upto 1cm-1.5cm. dunno wht means lol all they say is thts fine looking at baby more thn me even though i keep mentioning achesan pain grrrrr. i no babys ok moves 24/7

 

[Seity]

Have to disagree about it being BH if you only feel it in the front. I never had BH's that I noticed last pregnancy, but when I did go into labor it was only in my lower belly and all in the front. It felt like really horrible gas pain.
I say it never hurts to call and ask when you aren't sure what to do, that's what the midwives are there for.

 

[zilla]

The monitor should be able to tell the difference.
One part of it does the babys heartbeat & the other one is for contractions.
The scale goes up to 100 - anything below 20-30 is considered normal/BH & anything above is possibly a contraction.
I think!

 

[kimberleyrobx]

I barely had braxton hicks but when i did, it was about ten seconds of discomfort in my lower back and a long aching pain. i just knew when i was in labour! i woke up at 4am during a contraction and i couldnt get back to sleep. it started off uncomfortable as if i about to have a heavy period. my back ached the whole time and my contractions were every two minutes lasting 30 seconds from the start x

 

[WelshOneEmma]

Yes. Contractions, proper ones peak and fall and come somewhat regularly. BH are erratic, and don't look like proper contractions on the monitor. Also real proper contractions hurt like hell and BH don't usually get worse than uncomfortable !

I have been having "tightenings" which the hospital has pretty much inferred they were BHs and they hurt like hell.

Although reading the other comments, the way they start etc, they are contractions, but hospital wont see me.

 

[duckytwins]

Oooh, this is good information! Thanks! I was put on the monitor earlier this week when I had a significant decrease in fetal movement. I watched the monitor like a hawk to see what was going on. I would get a small "hill" on the monitor and pain and a "pushing out" feeling at the same time - BH. Now I know what it feels like at home.