Braxton Hicks VS Contractions???

[Jessica071909]

Like many of you i have been having many braxton hicks at varying times and sometimes even consistant but not painful.  My question is how will i know the difference? I know contractions will hurt a whole lot more but do they start out as the usual braxton hicks we've all been getting?  could one of the episodes be the real deal eventually? or should i just know all these times its just my body practicing??  i'm a bit confused and worried i'm missing warning signs.  Its so hard being this close to the end, all the things that can happen or go wrong. I'msuch a worry wart and just want it over so i know she is ok and with me!! anyone else feel all they do is worry and think about baby??

[newmom0508]

 I can't speak for going into spontaneous labor but when I was induced with my son and put on pitocin my contractions until I was about 4-5cm dilated felt exactly like the braxton hicks contractions I had been feeling. But everyone is different

[Bren07]

 

How can I tell the difference between Braxton Hicks and true labor contractions?

In the days or weeks before labor, Braxton Hicks contractions may intermittently become rhythmic, relatively close together, and even painful, possibly fooling you into thinking you're in labor. But unlike true labor, during this so-called false labor the contractions don't grow consistently longer, stronger, and closer together.
http://www.babycenter.com/0_braxton-hicks-contractions_156.bc

[mandyliz]

With my first, the baby made no progress at all until I was in active labor. The contractions started off as menstrual like cramps that would be consistent in time. Later in the night they got closer together and a little more painful so we went in to L&D & I was 2 cm dialated. The labor stopped so they sent me home. The next day labor started again but the contractions were more painful- I went in again when the pain got to be unbearable- at that point they were around 3 minutes apart and when we got back to L&D I was 4 CM dialated and they kept me.

[eatatmoms]

the bh contrax will start but stop after a bit. the real contrax will develop into a pattern. for example, coming once every 4 minutes, then once every 3 minutes, once every 2 minutes, once every 1 minutes, etc. you can have bh without dilating but the real contrax will open up your cervix. pain is relative. sometimes the bh hurt but sometimes they didn't. my real contrax hurt as they helped the baby's head push more on my cervix but the head on the cervix helps it dilate more. i did find yoga breathing to help me the most with the contraxs. standing in a shower with warm/hot water on your belly also helps with the pain. chomping on ice chips also helped. good luck!!