contractions vs braxton hicks

[Ashleigh529]

So ud think im a first time mommy with this question but with both of my other 2 kids i Never experienced BH and had no warning signs of labor i literally woke up n the middle of the night with real painful contractions that were 3-5 min apart and both times i was n labor. This pregnancy has been so different bcus ive had BH since about 20 wks. Im 39 wks my dr hasn't checked my cervix so i have no idea if im dilated. The past few days ive been getting BH ir contractions all day but no timeable pattern just like 3 n 1 hr than ill go 2 hrs with none and than they'll be 15 min apart for 2 hrs than nothing ect. My question is how do u know the difference btween BH or real contractions?  Do u only have real contractions when ur n labor?? Is what im feeling possibly dilating me? I feel so in the dark with my body. Ive never experienced " false labor" and it's killing me not knowing if im getting close or not..... any advice on this?thus

[JRW93]

Ya, if ur having real contractions ur in labor.  And there's many different things people believe make u dilate...some people say its the pressure of the babies head and some say it's Oxitocin being released that causes u 2 dilate or nothing rlly causes it except ur body preparing 4 birth.  Personally I believe that it just happens, but I'm not a doctor so don't quote me on that one lol

[Ashleigh529]

That is so frustrating!! So the only time u have real contractions is when ur n labor right?? What dilates u than? The period cramps?

[JRW93]

Real contractions ull b able 2 time...the time between them will shorten and they'll last longer and become more intense.  With BH they aren't consistent which sounds like what ur having from what you've said.  BH don't dilate u, they just prepare ur body 4 actual labor.  My friend has had BH sine 24weeks..she's now 39weeks and not dilated