Contractions hurt - braxton hicks don't ? (Is that right)

[TanE]

Anyone around during the day to help? I've had three pains so far today which I believe are contractions as painful - one even made me cry it lasted about 1 minute right up from underneath bump. I guess I shoul dknow as third baby but never had braxton hicks before - belive they don't last too lon gor hurt too much???

I'm 38wks+5 today - just not sure. Might phone hospital later if any patten appears.

Any advice?

Braxton Hicks can hurt. It depends.
However, they don't come regularly and they won't continue for long.
If your contractions become regular and get slowly closer together they are real.
If they come at irregular intervals before stopping altogether, they are BH.
If you've only had 3 so far, you can probably wait a while, but if you want more professional advice you should call your midwife.

IME they can hurt (BH I mean). I think the only real way to tell the difference is that 'proper' contractions will keep going and get more intense and more frequent whereas BH are much more random.

I think you are right to phone if there is any pattern to them.

my BH with ds hurt much more than my actuall contractions.....so i didn't believe i was in labour...and neither did my midwife!!....i suppose 3 weeks of on off BH then mild labour contractions even though i was 6cm i'd gotten used to pain!!haha

you could be in early labour, i had a few irregular contractions with dd and then after about 2 days of twinges like what you've described i just went into labour....try ahving a long walk and a hot bath and if its labour it will come on in its own good time....

Braxton Hicks do hurt! Mine were all in my back (DD was OP) and they were not pleasant. Good idea to phone if they become regular.
Good luck!

mine hurt, but didnt last very long and didnt get stronger.

I don't know if they were BHs or contractions, but it wasn't labour as ds wasn't born for another 8 weeks...mine were very sore on and off from 32 weeks preg with ds. Less frequent with dd, but sore again. Sore enough that I'd have to walk around, bounce on my ball, breathe through the pain, sometimes I even had my TENs on.

People would nod and say "oh yes, it's just BHs", but man they were sore. I've been in and out of hospital convinced they were the real thing only for it to stop again.

Hope that helps. I found walking about and eating and drinking helped a bit.

Then again, maybe you're in labour!

Thanks everyone - pains getting more frequent and stronger although nothing like regular contractions (time wise). Have hospital appointmentn at 10am tomorrow so hopefully they can tell me what's going on useless baby beats them too it .

My second baby kept me waiting for 2.5 days with mild contractions, thought they were braxton hicks before arriving in two quick pushes!

My BH hurt like buggery, the contractions, not so much, more like period pains. NB not everyones contractions get regular, you can be 10cm dilated and still having them intermittently, sounds like in your cases it might be worth getting it checked out!

tis thread is really helpful. I am now 38+4 and since tuesday have been getting stronger more regular pains. They are now about 8 min a[art (some closer 5 min and some as long as 12 min). Also getting more painful. Havent noticed a show and dont believe my waters have gone so probably just more practice ones. 3 weeks ago i was having 4 in 10 min and labour ward thought he was coming then, had all steriod injections etc.. all tailed off although not completely and been niggling since.

No idea when to contact hopsital as dont want to go in and be told i have ages and be strapped to monitor.

Saw consultant yesterday and she believes they are mild contractions as have ripe/soft cervix and am about 3cm dilated. She did the sweep and have had a show but pain still not too bad. Have second sweep booked for Monday - hopefully baby will get it's act together and come before then

well best of luck to you both then!! its my sons 3rd birthday tomorrow and he was due xmas day 04....i kept saying he'd make it in time for xmas so i wasn't having xmas lunch in hospital and he did!! i had no early signs with him, but for 2 days i had irregular contractions with my second and then a day without then had her that night after a few big strong ones....you'll know when the times right to phone the hospital and go in...its when you can barely talk on the phone they are so regular and painful!! haha!!

hope the babies make their first xmas!!! its all exiting!!! xmas babies are fab!!! especially when they are my sons age and he's twice as exited for his birthday because he's got the house all xmassy and all exited for santa coming!!!

well best of luck to you both then!! its my sons 3rd birthday tomorrow and he was due xmas day 04....i kept saying he'd make it in time for xmas so i wasn't having xmas lunch in hospital and he did!! i had no early signs with him, but for 2 days i had irregular contractions with my second and then a day without then had her that night after a few big strong ones....you'll know when the times right to phone the hospital and go in...its when you can barely talk on the phone they are so regular and painful!! haha!!

hope the babies make their first xmas!!! its all exiting!!! xmas babies are fab!!! especially when they are my sons age and he's twice as exited for his birthday because he's got the house all xmassy and all exited for santa coming!!!