I saw this really funny meme a while back and it read "Braxon and hicks walk into a bar and...nothing happens" and it was the REALEST THING that I have ever read..especially as a doula! 

Braxton hicks in my opinion are a huge pain the butt. Well pain in the abdomen but you know what I mean! They are faker Mc fake pants contractions that hurt and cause discomfort but decide to dip out whenever they feel like it. Rude right? So how can we tell the difference between real contractions and these imposter contractions? let me sum it up for you the best that I can.

Braxton hicks are annoying. Let's just get that out there. They tend to last for 30-60 seconds and sometimes longer but they are usually pretty short. And they are NOT consistent. You may have one then another in 20 minutes then maybe in 15 you will have another and then it may stay that way for a few hours then fizzle out. Like I said, annoying. With all three of my pregnancies I felt them once my second trimester began and it would be something as easy as cleaning the kitchen BAM Braxton hick. Squatting [not by choice I am sure] BAM Braxton hick contraction.  Annoying.

Sometimes going to sleep causes them to go away, taking a bath or doing pretty much anything relaxing will tell them to get lost. Braxton hicks are just your bodies way of preparing yourself for when they actually want to kick in and if you want to know when that will...be I can't tell you and nobody can tell you and stay off of google because only your baby knows. Annoying.

Want to know what is even more annoying? some women don't ever experience them. Lucky.

Real deal labor contractions are annoying but magnified. They sometimes can be mild to start out with causing a pattern but spaced out and are usually easy to handle. Sometimes they start out intense and just continue to be intense throughout labor until you get closer and closer to needing to push. Sometimes you just barely feel anything [I am sure this isn't common but I am sure people exist with an incredible pain tolerance]. It doesn't matter how intense it is at any point REAL DEAL LABOR will always have a consistent pattern.

Not only that as the time passes things will get closer and stronger and move and change. YOU WILL KNOW. I promise.

Sometimes you can be in full blown labor and not even know it. Stop and pay attention to your body and ALWAYS check in with your provider if you have concerns or questions about if what you are experiencing is real labor.

Again. EVERYONE is different and every labor is different so trust your gut!