I’ve started feeling Braxton-Hicks contractions quite regularly now (37+3 weeks today). They’re not really painful most of the time, the belly just gets really hard and I feel pressure from that, usually towards the top half. But sometimes there’s a bit of kind of stabbing pain; especially if the baby decides to squirm around at the same time.

I’m curious as to how real contractions feel compared to these? Is it mostly a matter of intensity and more pain? Or is there something else that those of you that have gone through it noticed was different?