How to tell if you are having contractions or Braxton Hicks

Both types can make the abdomen tighten and may cause discomfort, so a single episode cannot distinguish them. Braxton Hicks often start and stop without a clear rhythm. Labour contractions generally keep returning, become more demanding, and may spread from the back to the front or feel like strong menstrual cramps. People experience labour differently, and cervical change cannot be judged by sensation alone.

Write down when each tightening begins, how long it lasts, and the time until the next one begins. Rest on your side, drink water, and change position while observing whether the pattern fades. Keep track of fluid leakage, bleeding, pain, and fetal movement as well. Call your maternity unit for advice rather than waiting for certainty; they can use your pregnancy stage and symptoms to guide the next step.

Seek prompt maternity advice for contractions that become regular, fluid leaking, vaginal bleeding, pelvic pressure, persistent backache, or reduced fetal movement. If you are before full term, regular tightenings with these symptoms may indicate preterm labour. Use emergency services for severe pain, heavy bleeding, fainting, or a rapid decline in your condition.

Ask how long to monitor at home, what contraction pattern should prompt travel, how to respond to suspected waters breaking, and which contact is available outside normal clinic hours.