Recognizing Contractions: Braxton Hicks vs. Real — When to Go to Hospital?

1. Braxton Hicks — from week 20 - How do they feel? Your belly gets hard but doesn't hurt. More of a "tightening" - How long? 30-60 seconds, irregular - What helps? Warm bath, position change, drinking water - When to call doctor? If they come regularly before week 36 (> 3/hour)

2. Lightening contractions — from week 36 - Baby drops lower into the pelvis - You can suddenly breathe better (less pressure on diaphragm) - But more pressure on bladder and pelvis - Light pulling in back and lower abdomen - Come and go over days

3. Labor contractions — THIS is the start - Regular! Every 5-10 minutes - Get stronger and more frequent over hours - Do NOT stop when you change position - Pain: Period-like, gets stronger in waves - Duration: 30-60 seconds, with clear pauses between

4. Pushing contractions — just before birth - Every 2-3 minutes, 60-90 seconds - Irresistible urge to push - You're in the delivery room now (hopefully)

The simplest rule of thumb:

5-1-1 Rule: Go to hospital when contractions... - come every 5 minutes - last at least 1 minute each - have been going on for 1 hour

Go immediately for: - Water breaking (with or without contractions) - Bleeding (bright red, more than spotting) - Severe, continuous abdominal pain WITHOUT breaks - Baby moves significantly less or not at all - You feel something isn't right — TRUST your instinct!

Tip for first-time mothers: Better to go once too early than once too late. Nobody at the hospital will judge you. When in doubt, call and describe.

Contraction timer: Use an app (e.g., "Contraction Timer") to track intervals and duration. This helps your midwife assess the situation too.