This is probably a dumb question, but as a FTM, I don't know- but what does a contraction feel like vs. a braxton hicks?…

@swedishmomma, I never really had Braxton Hicks but my contractions felt like the muscles in my lower back and all the way around to my front were tightening really tight like they were squeezing themselves or something lol I didn’t feel a lot of them until I got dilated to 4 and then I only felt them for a little bit because of the epidural but they’re weren’t necessarily really painful just extremely uncomfortable if any of that makes any sense 😂

For me Braxton Hicks feel like my entire stomach is tightening to the point where it nearly takes my breath away. Sometimes it's quite uncomfortable but it has never been accompanied by pain. Whereas true contractions typically are more painful!

How you tell the difference between the 2 are real contractions hurt and usually are regular, Braxton hicks are just uncomfortable and irregular.

My Braxton Hicks were uncomfortable and irregular and also just felt like a strong pressure/cramping, my contractions actually hurt, you can feel “pain” and Braxton Hicks you dont.

I also had a naturally birth no epidural so i felt all the contractions every 30 secs, so now i know the difference and I’m able to answer questions like these.

@denisse.m thank you sooo much for the answer!!!:)

The difference is pain. 😊