How do I know when I am in real labor?

In a due date group of over 800 expecting women this is a question we see over and over again even from experienced Moms. It is natural to worry about the coming of a new little one specially before full term. With fewer and fewer hospitals delivering women it can be vital to know as soon as possible of the tightening driving you to distraction is really labor or just practice because the hospital could be an hour or more away for some of us unlucky ones. First thing to know is the difference between Braxton Hicks Contractions and Labor Contractions.

  What are Braxton Hicks Contractions?

Keeping in mind I am not a medical professional, just a mother looking forward to her 7th birth, let me explain my understanding. So often I here from women who have days and weeks of BH insisting it is weeks of early labor. It is practice labor, not early labor, and no need to stress or give others anxiety. Braxton Hicks are tightening contractions that help tone and get the uterus ready. For many they don’t hurt, some don’t feel them at all, and for some of us they are darn right annoying. They can come in waves, though normally not every regular, don’t tend to get close together and don’t open the cervix.

    Real Labor Contractions

These contractions start out annoying, they are very timable, and get closer together. Real labor opens the cervix! Unlike Braxton Hicks, nothing much seems to effect these contractions, you get them laying down, walking, sitting, ect. They get stronger but don’t tend to last more than a minute. If your getting sharp pains, even ones that seem like you could time them, but last longer than a minute you very well could be dealing with GAS. GAS has tricked many women into going into the hospital and getting very embarrassed. Of course it is always better to go and be wrong than not go!

   Tip to figure out if it is real labor:

Braxton Hicks and Gas both tend to get better if not stop hurting in a warm bath. While real contractions might hurt less and might slow down water doesn’t make real labor stop! So my advice always seems the same when women ask if she is in real labor or just Braxton Hicks: Get in the tub! This is advice I take myself because I have had some fairly convincing braxton hicks!