Is it braxton hicks or labour?

Question

I’m 39 weeks & 2 days. 
In the last 3 days I have had stomach tightening consistently every 10-15 minutes. I loss my mucus plug yesterday morning. So is it labour or is it braxton hicks? I called the birth suite they say labour is painful. But can I expect to be in labour 2-3 days? What are people’s experiences?

Answer

I wouldn’t say for sure that it’s labor but I can say for sure that labor isn’t always painful. I was having contractions every 7 minutes but they felt like extremely mild period cramps. My midwife had checked me that night (planned homebirth) and we concluded I wasn’t in labor. My cervix was still posterior, 50% effaced, and 3 cm dilated. I went to bed and woke up at 6 am with slightly more painful contractions. Called my midwife, she came back to my home, boom I was completely effaced and 9 cm dilated. Real pain didn’t start until the fetal ejection reflex kicked in and she was born shortly thereafter.

Answer

My contractions felt like Braxton hicks but I knew I was in labor bc I felt them in my butt

Is it braxton hicks or labour?

Let’s Glow

Glow is here for you on your path to pregnancy

25+ million

4.8 stars

20+

Getting Pregnant

Pregnancy

1st Year (Baby & You)

Baby Products