Braxton Hicks vs. True Labor Contractions: How to Know When It’s Go Time

Practice Contractions vs. The Real Deal: How to Tell the Difference

First, let’s clear something up, all contractions are technically “real.” The ones you feel in early or mid-pregnancy are your body’s way of practicing for the big event. These are often called Braxton Hicks contractions, and they can happen weeks (or even months) before labor begins. Think of them as your uterus doing a dress rehearsal for the main performance.

So, how do you know if you’re feeling practice contractions or true labor?

Read the post below and JOIN the newletter to get the free, printable “Braxton Hicks vs. True Contractions Guide” to hang on your fridge!

✅ Checklist: Practice Contractions (Braxton Hicks)

• Usually irregular in timing and don’t get closer together

• Often stop or ease when you change position, rest, or hydrate

• Usually felt more in the front of your belly rather than radiating to your back

• Don’t get progressively stronger over time

• Can be triggered by activity, dehydration, or even a full bladder

• Sometimes your body’s way of saying: “Slow down” or “I need something — like water, rest, or food.”

✅ Checklist: True Labor Contractions

• Come at regular intervals and get closer together

• Continue no matter what you do — walking, resting, or hydrating

• Gradually get stronger and longer

• Often start in the back and move to the front of the belly

• Increase in intensity over hours, not minutes

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