How Would YOU Describe a Braxton Hicks Contraction??

The one thing with Braxton Hicks is that they let up and never build to anything stronger. Getting up, moving around, getting something to drink, taking a shower helped them feel better.
With my second and third I felt them more than with my first.
My Braxton Hicks seems to "roll" more while my labor contractions were a lot more "punchy" if that makes since. With real labor, even when I didn't realize I was in it yet, I could never find a comfortable way to be or sit. I was constantly shifting.

BH contractions felt like a tightening of my entire belly. I had no pain with them. I actually did not have pain during labor either until my water broke then I had horrible back labor. Very painful!!

I never had any Braxton Hicks contractions.
Once my contractions started they progressed to full labor.
Drink plenty of water - being dehydrated can make contractions worse.
Walk and move around.
If they are BH they will go away - if you're in labor they will keep coming.
You should probably call your Dr and get checked out.
Better to go in and find out it's nothing to worry about than try to ride it out and then find it's too late to do anything about it.

BH just tightening. Not painful.

I had lots of BH with all three pregnancies. The BH felt like a tightening up of my belly. It wasn't painful, just uncomfortable. I could go about my business and talk through them. They were more of an annoyance than anything else.

My doula gave me the best way to tell the difference. She said tap your finger on your chin, nose, and forehead. A hard labor contraction, your belly will feel as hard as your forehead. Early labor your belly will feel as hard as your nose. Braxton Hicks or false labor feels as hard as your chin. That helped me, hope it helps you too!

same for me - braxton hicks were super uncomfortable, my ENTIRE stomach from top down to pelvic area got tight and it "hurt" but more just really uncomfortable. and a braxton hicks contraction could last like 10-15 minutes of tightness. real contracts were a shooting pain very low. and only lasted about 2 minutes or so.

Just a tightening or hardening of the abdomen is about right. Though later in my pregnancy I would get them a lot and they started being more uncomfortable - I wouldn't say painful, but kind of like you feel your period coming on before you actually start cramping.

You can always check you your doctor and make sure you are not experiencing preterm labor - but from what I hear with subsequent babies both BH and post-partum contractions tend to get more painful.

Well, with my daughter. I went into labor because of dehydration, those hurt, I thought I was in trouble. Went to the hospital and they stopped them.

When I went into labor when they went and had my C-sect.. they did not hurt, but they were coming at a contstant pattern.

B-hicks- my understanding is if you change your activitiy.. Get up if laying down or sit down if moving and they stop.. that is what they were. If they keep going no matter what the change.. it coudl be labor.

Good luck

Like JC, my Braxton Hicks were like a tightening of my belly. Not painful or crampy in anyway.

Call your OB.

Hmmm, kind of menstrual cramp with a squeeze at the end? And mine would get worse over the course of 20 minutes or so, then better. I had contractions pretty regularly from 34 to 42 weeks with my second, sometimes for hours after week 38. Could have sworn that kid would come early or on time, but not so much! With my first, I don't remember having anything I would call a contraction until my (premature for me at 39 weeks) induction started. I think the big tip off is when they get worse, but not better. My doula told me to start timing them if I couldn't walk or talk when I had one :)