What do Braxton-Hicks feel like?

[mibarra]

Mine feel like contractions without pain. It's tightening, like flexing a muscle but involuntary. Maybe uncomfortable like when you're pants are too tight. But not the level I would classify as painful. My 'real' contractions were much more painful and strong.

[rottenapple]

I had them like crazy with both kiddos, they were never painful but my whole bump would get really tight and hard for like 10-15 seconds, then relax. To me they were the most annoying thing EVER! I am on my feet all day at work, so at night they would just drive me crazy- hope that helps you mama!

[alyxmegan]

My hypnobabies teach said hers felt like the baby was stretching.
I liked what se said about them too. She said its like your uterus is working out. And who would you bet on to win a race, someone who has been training or someone who didn't train until the day of the race!

[Ellasundies]

With my second BH felt like I was just tightening my belly muscles. With my third I couldn't tell the difference between them and regular contractions. I kept thinking I was just remembering 'real' contractions wrong and that I would realize the difference once I was in active labor. Nope! Still couldn't tell the difference between BH, prodromal labor or real labor. I ended up having to teach myself how to check my cervix and the only way I knew I was in real labor was that I could completely feel baby head and no cervix.

[EmilytheStrange]

Mine are never painful. They're just tightenings. I usually feel them because they compress my bladder.

I can't compare them to regular labor contractions as I had back labor. But I highly doubt real contractions are anything like the braxton hicks that I get.

and, for the record, my BH were all in the front even though every single one of my labor contractions was in my back. I don't think they're related. I think they're individual things caused by 2 different scenarios.