Difference between braxton hicks & early labor contractions?

[roses25]

What is the difference between braxton hicks & early labor contractions? Is it still the tightening of the stomach, but they just last longer and come more often? Do they feel different?

Carolyn

[lotus.blossom]

I seem to have forgotten the answer to that question myself!! I am constantly analyzing my BH's. Was that one kinda pinchy? Kinda menstrually?



First time around I had a sudden 6 hour bout of "false labor" which was unmistakable. Came on hard and then fizzled out. A week later I started off with some really mild 15 minute apart contractions before bedtime which woke me up a couple hours later and were really uncomfortable like the false labor ones so thats how I know it was "for real" (because they didn't taper off they got stronger)

[~Katie~]

IMO, BH's don't hurt. They feel like a tightening sensation. If they can be regularly timed, it could be due to over-exertion or dehydration. Real contractions were unmistakable, they hurt and came at 8-10 minute intervals early on and gradually picked up in intensity and duration. BH's also feel like an all-over tightening, while real contractions started out low with a cramping sensation and swept around to my back with lots of pressure.

[mamayarn]

Heh, usually BH don't hurt but they can. And usually regular contractions do hurt, but they might not. The definitive difference is if they are dilating the cervix, which you don't really know at the time. Usually, regular contractions don't go away if you move around, take a bath, take a shower, drink a bunch of water, etc. They just keep on coming, getting closer together, longer, and stronger, until you have a baby. And then you know for sure how long you were laboring.

[PTmorgan]

I knew all the textbook answers to the signs of labor, but wasn't prepared for such "outside of normal" labor presentation with DS.

DS was born 11 days after my EDD. I'd been taking LOTS of Braxton-Hicks daily since 26 weeks. For the last week, I'd have 4-6 hours of regular very strong BH every 6 minutes. Some were so strong I'd be bent over, gasping for breath. Still, they just felt like BH, and I didn't think I was really in labor. It felt like my body was organizing and practicing.

The day I did go into labor, I had BH every 6 minutes for 9 hours. DH and I DTD, then went to sleep. Fifteen minutes later massively crampy contractions kicked in every 2 minutes lasting 1 minute. OK, now I'm in labor! I had to use all my Bradley training to maintain relaxation and control over the pain. There was no gradual build-up of intensity or frequency. It stayed this way for over 24 hours while I labored at home. (Labor was cut short when DS went into distress - had 2 knots in cord and ended in C-section.) I wonder how long my labor would have been if it hadn't been surgically interrupted!

So, I've considered BH as a practice run, so to speak. Organizing with regular contractions just made me think my body was trying out, getting ready. When the actual contractions started they were completely different - lower, crampy, responding to my tension/relaxation somewhat. Even so, although these contractions were real, I still sensed that I had a long way to go.

[CookAMH]

Thinking I'm having some more mild ctx in the last hour - tight/uncomfortable in lower back (almost like rear hips), comes and goes, vaginal pressure, tight under front of uterus. Also come cervical pinching. Kinda like constipated feelings but I've been pretty loose these days. Not counting at all at the moment.

[essnce629]

For me, the only difference between BH's and early labor is nothing really! When I had my son I had regular contractions that felt just like BH's for 8 hours. They were the tightening feeling, but weren't "painful" at all-- annoying yes, noticeable yes, and even felt in my back, but not painful. I never had to stop and breathe through them or change my activity or anything. I spent all those 8 hours talking on the phone, being online, and getting stuff ready. Even when they were a minute and a half apart and lasting a minute long they still felt like BH's. I kept waiting to get to the point where I "couldn't walk or talk through them." The only thing that made me think I was in early labor was that I started having blood show. Finally, at 6:15am I had my first "painful" contraction where I definately couldn't walk or talk though it. That was the start of transition for me as I had all the classic transition signs immediately following-- I got the shakes, started vomited, took off all my clothes. My son was born 55 minutes later! So for me, I figure I'll know I'm in labor again when I hit transition (especially since I've already been having non-stop contractions 3-13 minutes apart for 9 weeks now)!

[Sadie Lake]

Oh Latia... I'm so envious of your last labor! That's what I'm mentally preparing myself for this time with Hypnobabies... hoping for just "pressure and tightening" then baby born!

Sadie