When you have real contractions, you'll know it. Real contractions come at regular intervals and become increasingly more intense. Braxton hicks go away and are irregular in timing.
time the pains, if they come in intervals, like every 3 minutes or every 15 minutes or so, then theya re contractions, but if they don't come in intervals for example you get pain, then two minutes later another pain, then 5 minutes later another one, then 1 minute later another one, then 9 minutes later another one, then these are Braxton hicks,.... I hope I helped
Real contractions feel different for ppl, but most commonly they feel like period cramps. If you happen to start feeling slight cramping that comes and goes, just pull out a timer and time them. If they get worse and the time between them is regular they are probably real contractions.