How do I tell the difference between braxton hicks and real labour contractions?

[mummytolily]

I'm 35 weeks pregnant and this is my first pregnancy and I'm scared because I have no idea how to tell them apart please help I can see the finishing line now

[louella13]

Mine are painful as well how I know is I keep up with them. I write the time down so i remember and keep track. also if you experience other symptoms such as pressure (I started going into premature labor at 33 weeks my biggest sign to go to the hospital was feeling pressure after I had used the restroom I knee then I needed to go) if you are unsure call your doctor or go to the hospital it'd better to be checked.  Also better safe than sorry when it comes to your baby. Hospitals understand I've been multiple times with this pregnancy  (due to premature labor several times ).

[linalinko]

Actually my Braxton hicks are painful and always have been with every pregnancy (this is my third) my doctor says it's normal and every woman's body experiences them differently. For me personally, when my real labor started, my contractions started happening really close together but that was right after my water broke. With my second, my labor started at 42 weeks and I began shaking uncontrollably and having contractions every 1 to 2 minutes apart. The only difference I noticed between Braxton hicks and real contractions was how far apart they were.

[megs1309]

Unlike true labor, Braxton Hicks contractions:

Are usually not painful
Don’t happen at regular intervals
Don’t get closer together
Don’t increase when you walk
Do not last longer as they go on
Do not feel stronger over time