TL;DR
- Braxton Hicks are practice contractions — irregular, don't get stronger, and stop when you move or rest.
- Real contractions are progressive — they get closer together, longer, and more intense over time. They don't stop.
- The key difference is pattern. Braxton Hicks are random. Real labor contractions follow a rhythm that builds.
- If you're unsure, call your provider. That's literally what they're there for.
What Are Braxton Hicks Contractions?
Braxton Hicks are your uterus practicing for labor. They're named after John Braxton Hicks, the English doctor who first described them in 1872. They can start as early as the second trimester, but most people notice them in the third trimester.
What They Feel Like
- A tightening or squeezing of your belly
- Your abdomen may feel hard to the touch
- Usually uncomfortable but not painful
- Concentrated in the front of your abdomen
- Last 30 seconds to 2 minutes
What Triggers Them
- Dehydration
- A full bladder
- Physical activity
- After sex
- Someone touching your belly
- Baby moving a lot
How to Make Them Stop
- Drink water
- Change position (if standing, sit down; if sitting, take a walk)
- Take a warm bath
- Rest
If they stop with any of these, they're Braxton Hicks.
What Do Real Contractions Feel Like?
Real labor contractions are different, and most people describe the difference as unmistakable once they've experienced both.
What They Feel Like
- Deep, cramping pain — often described as intense period cramps
- May start in your back and wrap around to the front
- Build in intensity, peak, then release
- Increasingly painful over time
- You may not be able to talk or walk through them as they progress
The Key Features
- Regular timing — They follow a pattern. Time them.
- Getting closer together — 15 minutes apart, then 10, then 7, then 5
- Getting longer — Lasting longer with each one
- Getting stronger — Each contraction is more intense than the last
- Don't stop — No matter what you do
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Braxton Hicks | Real Contractions |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern | Irregular | Regular and predictable |
| Frequency | Don't get closer together | Get closer together over time |
| Intensity | Stay the same or weaken | Get progressively stronger |
| Duration | Vary in length | Get progressively longer |
| Location | Front of abdomen | Often start in back, wrap to front |
| Stopped by | Rest, water, position change | Nothing stops them |
| Pain level | Uncomfortable | Increasingly painful |
How to Time Contractions
When you think you might be having real contractions:
- Note when a contraction starts — When you feel the tightening begin
- Note when it ends — When the tightening fully releases
- Note when the next one starts — That's the interval
- Track for at least an hour
You're looking for a pattern: contractions that are consistently getting closer together, lasting longer, and feeling stronger.
There are apps for this, or you can use a simple timer and notes. Your support person can help track while you focus on managing the contractions.
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The Gray Area
Sometimes it's genuinely hard to tell. Here are some common confusing scenarios:
Prodromal Labor
Some people experience contractions that are regular and painful but don't progress to active labor. They might last for hours, even days, then stop. This is called prodromal labor (sometimes called "false labor," though it doesn't feel false). It's frustrating, exhausting, and real — even if it's not active labor yet. It does help prepare your cervix for the real thing.
Preterm Contractions
If you're having regular contractions before 37 weeks, call your provider regardless of whether you think they're Braxton Hicks. Preterm labor needs medical evaluation.
Back Labor
Some people experience real contractions primarily as lower back pain rather than belly tightening. If you have persistent, rhythmic lower back pain that comes in waves, time it — it could be labor.
When to Call Your Provider
Call your provider or head to the hospital if:
- Contractions follow the 5-1-1 pattern (5 minutes apart, 1 minute long, for 1 hour) — or whatever guideline your provider has given you
- Your water breaks
- Contractions are accompanied by bleeding
- You're less than 37 weeks and having regular contractions
- You just don't feel right — Your instincts matter
Don't worry about calling "too early." Providers and labor triage nurses handle these calls all day, every day. They will never be annoyed that you called to check.
The Bottom Line
Braxton Hicks are random, stay the same, and stop with rest or water. Real contractions are rhythmic, get progressively stronger, and don't stop no matter what you do. When in doubt, time them for an hour and call your provider. You'll know the difference when it matters — and if you don't, your care team will figure it out with you.
