nuhahyearlyLaunch pricing - Get £50 off!nuhahyearlyThe key difference between Braxton Hicks and real contractions is the pattern. Real labour contractions are regular, get progressively stronger and closer together, and continue no matter what you do. Braxton Hicks are irregular practice tightenings that stop when you change position, walk around, or drink water. If your contractions come every 5 minutes, last at least 1 minute, and keep going for an hour, contact your maternity unit. If you are less than 37 weeks or your waters break, call straight away.
Braxton Hicks contractions are irregular practice tightenings that ease when you move, rest, or drink water. Real labour contractions follow a pattern, getting stronger, longer, and closer together over time, and they do not stop regardless of what you do. The simplest test is to time six contractions in a row: if the gaps are getting shorter and the intensity is building, labour is likely starting.
Understanding these differences matters because most parents will experience Braxton Hicks at some point during pregnancy, and knowing what to look for saves unnecessary worry while making sure you recognise the real thing when it arrives.
| Feature | Braxton Hicks | Real contractions |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern | Irregular, no predictable rhythm | Regular intervals that get closer together |
| Intensity | Stays about the same each time | Progressively stronger with each contraction |
| Duration | 30 to 60 seconds, stays consistent | Lengthen from 30 seconds to 60-90 seconds |
| Pain location | Tightening across the front of your bump | Starts in lower back, wraps around to the front |
| Response to rest or movement | Often stop when you walk, rest, or hydrate | Continue regardless of what you do |
| Pain level | Usually painless tightening, sometimes uncomfortable | Period-like cramping that builds in waves |
| Cervical change | No dilation or effacement | Gradual dilation and effacement of the cervix |
| When they start | From the second trimester, commonly week 28+ | Typically after 37 weeks (term) |
Braxton Hicks contractions are your uterus practising for labour. Named after the English doctor John Braxton Hicks, who first described them in 1872, they are tightenings of the uterine muscle that can start as early as the second trimester. Most parents notice them from around week 28 onwards, though some feel them earlier, particularly in subsequent pregnancies.
Most parents describe Braxton Hicks as a tightening or hardening across the front of the abdomen. Your bump may feel firm for 30 to 60 seconds, then soften again. They are usually painless, though they can become uncomfortable in later pregnancy, especially towards the evening. Unlike real contractions, you can usually talk and move normally throughout one.
Braxton Hicks tend to happen more often when you are active, dehydrated, have a full bladder, or after sex. They are also more common in the evening after a busy day. Dehydration is one of the most common triggers, so keeping your water intake up can help reduce how often they occur.
Braxton Hicks can begin as early as the second trimester, from around 16 weeks, but most parents start feeling them regularly from week 28. If this is your second or subsequent pregnancy, you may notice them earlier and more frequently. They tend to become more noticeable in the third trimester as your uterus grows and practises more frequently.
Real contractions typically begin as a deep, aching sensation in your lower back or abdomen, similar to strong period cramps. The key difference from Braxton Hicks is the progressive pattern: real contractions come at regular intervals that get closer together, and each one feels longer and more intense than the last. Many parents describe the feeling as a wave, building to a peak and then easing off.
In early labour, contractions might come every 15 to 20 minutes and last about 30 seconds. As labour progresses, they typically move to every 3 to 5 minutes, lasting 60 to 90 seconds. The pain often starts in the lower back and wraps around to the front, unlike Braxton Hicks which tend to stay at the front of the bump.
During the latent phase (early labour), contractions may be irregular and mild, which is why they can be confused with strong Braxton Hicks. The difference becomes clearer over hours as they settle into a rhythm. During active labour, contractions become unmistakable, coming every 3 to 4 minutes, lasting about a minute, and strong enough that you need to pause and focus through them. By the transition phase, contractions may be every 2 minutes and last 60 to 90 seconds.
The most reliable method is to time your contractions for an hour. Write down when each one starts, how long it lasts, and the gap between them. If you see the intervals getting shorter and the duration getting longer, those are real contractions. If the timing is all over the place, they are almost certainly Braxton Hicks.
You can also try the movement test: change position, take a warm bath, or drink a large glass of water. Braxton Hicks will usually ease or stop entirely. Real contractions will keep coming regardless.
Nuhah's free contraction timer tracks timing, duration, and intervals automatically, making it easy to spot the pattern without doing the maths yourself.
If you are being monitored with a CTG (cardiotocography) machine at hospital, both Braxton Hicks and real contractions will show as peaks on the tocodynamometer trace. The difference is in the pattern. Braxton Hicks appear as isolated, irregular peaks with no consistent spacing. Real labour contractions show as regular, evenly spaced peaks that gradually increase in height (intensity) and frequency. Your midwife will look at the overall trace pattern rather than individual peaks to determine whether labour has started.
The NHS recommends using the 4-1-1 guideline as a benchmark for when to contact your maternity unit: contractions every 4 minutes, lasting at least 1 minute, continuing for at least 1 hour. Note when each contraction starts, how long it lasts, and the gap from the start of one to the start of the next.
Your midwife may adjust this guidance based on your individual circumstances. If this is not your first baby, labour often progresses faster, so you might be advised to call earlier. If you have had a previous fast labour, live far from the hospital, or have a high-risk pregnancy, discuss a personalised plan with your midwife.
Use Nuhah's contraction timer to track everything automatically and share the results with your maternity team when you call.
Contact your maternity unit straight away if any of these apply:
Your maternity team would always rather hear from you and reassure you than have you waiting at home unsure. There is no such thing as calling too early, and midwives are there to support you through exactly these moments.
Braxton Hicks do not directly trigger or turn into labour contractions. They are practice tightenings, not the start of the labour process. However, as you approach your due date, it can become harder to distinguish strong Braxton Hicks from early labour, especially during what is sometimes called prodromal labour.
Prodromal labour involves periods of contractions that feel regular and real but then fizzle out after a few hours. It can come and go for days before active labour begins, which can be exhausting and frustrating. This is a normal part of the process for many parents. The best approach is to rest when you can, stay hydrated, and time contractions if they feel different from your usual Braxton Hicks. When in doubt, call your maternity unit.
It helps to think of Braxton Hicks and labour contractions as two points on the same spectrum. Your uterus is a muscle, and like any muscle, it practises before the main event. Braxton Hicks are the warm-up. They help tone the uterine muscle and may play a role in softening the cervix in the weeks before labour begins, though they do not cause dilation on their own.
When actual labour starts, your body releases oxytocin in a sustained pattern that drives the regular, progressive contractions needed to dilate the cervix. This is fundamentally different from the sporadic tightenings of Braxton Hicks, which is why the two feel and behave so differently even though both involve the same muscle.
Braxton Hicks need no treatment, but if they are uncomfortable, these approaches can help:
Think of Braxton Hicks as dress rehearsals. They are your body's way of preparing for labour, and a sign that everything is working as it should. Many parents find that using them as an opportunity to practise breathing and relaxation techniques makes them feel more prepared and confident for the real thing.
Braxton Hicks can change as your pregnancy progresses. In the second trimester (from around week 20), they are usually mild and infrequent, and some parents do not notice them at all. By the third trimester (from week 28 onwards), they become more noticeable and frequent, especially in the evenings. In the final weeks (from week 36), Braxton Hicks can become quite strong and may be confused with early labour, which is completely normal.
If you are tracking your pregnancy week by week, keep an eye on how your Braxton Hicks change. It is a useful way to notice patterns and feel more confident about recognising the difference when the time comes.
Real contractions are regular, get progressively stronger and closer together, and do not stop when you move or rest. Braxton Hicks are irregular, stay about the same intensity, and usually stop when you change position, walk around, or drink water. Timing six contractions in a row is the most reliable way to tell.
Braxton Hicks can begin as early as the second trimester, from around 16 weeks, but most parents notice them regularly from about week 28. They become more frequent and noticeable in the third trimester, especially in the evenings.
Braxton Hicks are usually painless, though they can feel uncomfortable, especially in later pregnancy. They feel like a tightening across the front of your abdomen lasting 30 to 60 seconds. If contractions become painful and regular, contact your maternity unit.
The NHS recommends the 4-1-1 rule: contractions every 4 minutes, lasting at least 1 minute, for at least 1 hour. Also contact your maternity unit if your waters break, you have bleeding, baby's movements change, or you are less than 37 weeks pregnant with regular contractions.
On a CTG monitor, Braxton Hicks appear as isolated, irregular peaks with no consistent spacing. Real labour contractions show as regular, evenly spaced peaks that gradually increase in height and frequency. Your midwife reads the overall pattern rather than individual peaks.
Braxton Hicks do not directly trigger labour. However, as you approach your due date, strong Braxton Hicks can be hard to distinguish from early labour, especially during prodromal labour where regular-seeming contractions come and go for hours or days before active labour begins.
Braxton Hicks are typically felt as a tightening across the front of your bump. Real labour contractions usually start as an aching in the lower back that wraps around to the front of your abdomen, often described as similar to strong period cramps.
Yes, Braxton Hicks often stop or ease when you change position, rest, have a warm bath, or drink water. Real contractions continue and get stronger regardless of what you do. This is one of the most reliable ways to tell the difference.
Braxton Hicks are irregular practice tightenings that do not cause cervical dilation. Labour pains are regular, progressive contractions that get stronger, longer, and closer together, causing the cervix to dilate. Labour pains also tend to start in the lower back and are more intense.
Time your contractions for an hour. If they are getting closer together, lasting longer, and growing stronger, they are true labour contractions. If the timing is irregular and they ease when you move or hydrate, they are Braxton Hicks. When in doubt, call your maternity unit.
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