Braxton Hicks or baby

[areal10]

I feel dumb for asking but how can you tell if you're having Braxton Hicks contractions or if it's the baby pushing against you? I've been having extreme pressure in my lower belly on & off for the past weeks & thought it was the baby pushing against me. It goes away after a few seconds but then I'll feel it again.

[no3ontheway]

If they have been going on for this amount if time and you haven't gone to the hospital. ...they are BH. I have had preterm labor several times now. For me...my belly gets very tight for up to a minute and a half. It is hard to concentrate if I am talking or thinking about anything else.  They sorta take over...then another one happens.  They are not evenly spaced all the time...I have very close contractions about two minutes is all I get. My doctor says more than eight of those in an hour go to l&d and they will monitor and hopefully stop them. I have been there twice with this pregnancy. .had shots both times to get them to stop..I am only 31 weeks.

[lucylovesdanx]

What about if through pregnancy braxtion hicks wernt regular at all once a week or something then im 38weeks 1day and get loads in a day (whole belly tightning it takes my breath away) but is not painful at all. What does that mean anyone ??

[EEB1219]

Real contractions can be timed.

[kerml78]

Those are braxton hicks.

[areal10]

Im 30 weeks along now.

[jjolfert]

If it's baby it's usually only tight in one spot or on one side of the belly. If your entire belly gets tight it's Braxton hicks. For me personally, when it was baby I just felt pressure on one side but with Braxton hicks I felt like my belly gained 10lbs all of the sudden. They sometimes felt like period cramps but very mild.

[Amandapants14]

How far along are you?