Braxton Hicks or contractions?

Question

Hi ladies!
It’s been 4 years since I had my son and my water broke with him and then contractions started so I’m a little anxious currently.
How do I know what’s just Braxton hicks or contractions starting up? Is it just the frequency of them that makes them contractions? For the last couple of weeks I’ve had off and on Braxton hicks, uterus and stomach would tighten but not for long and never close. Tonight I’m having way more and what feels like way closer together. When they happen I’m getting the squeezing/tightening and a ton of tailbone/butt pressure. Can these still just be Braxton hicks? 
I’ll be 35 weeks tomorrow, with my son I was 2 weeks early.

Answer

Contraction come more frequent & get longer & more intense as they come. They come back to back not hours apart. When mine first started it was like having diarrhea or constipation pain but it doesn’t stop & when you go to the bathroom you don’t have to actually do a number two but it feels like you do. At least for me that how it felt up until my baby started coming.

Answer

I had Braxton hicks a few weeks ago where my belly got tight and uncomfortable every now and they. They’d last for maybe an hour and then go away. I’ve been getting actual contractions now and they feel like period cramps, just not regular

Answer

My Braxton hicks were definitely different than contractions. I had back contractions with stomach tightening, whereas Braxton hicks were only in my stomach. So while I was in labor, each contraction was in my back which was awful. My husband did counter pressure for each and it helped tremendously!!

Braxton Hicks or contractions?

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