As part of your body’s preparation for the “big day” when you finally deliver your baby, your uterus does “practice contractions”. Think of your womb as ripening itself for the real thing.

These practice contractions or false labor are medically termed as Braxton Hicks contractions. They are similar with true labor in the sense that they are essentially both uterine contractions, but they are two very different things.

Braxton Hicks are accompanied by uterine cramping, and oftentimes mothers will feel a stretching or tightening feeling in their abdomen. However, Braxton Hicks generally go away with a change in movement or position.

Though Braxton Hicks may feel uncomfortable or a bit painful, these do not increase in pain or intensity, and do not cause cervical dilation. Hence, birth will not occur immediately after these are felt.

True labor contractions, on the other hand, start on the lower back and are felt in waves through the whole abdomen. The pain intensifies, the duration increases and the interval shortens. True labor does not stop even with a change in movement or position. Sometimes, the water bag breaks at this point.

One distinct difference of a true labor contraction in comparison to Braxton Hicks is that it causes cervical effacement and dilation, which means the cervix thins out and widens, signalling that childbirth is imminent.