Braxton Hicks Contractions: What They Feel Like and How to Tell Them from Real Labour
If you're somewhere in your second or third trimester and your bump suddenly goes tight and hard — then softens again half a minute later — you've probably just met Braxton Hicks contractions. Often called "practice contractions," they're a completely normal part of pregnancy, but they can be surprisingly confusing in the moment. Here's what they are, what they feel like, and how to tell them apart from the real thing.
What are Braxton Hicks contractions?
Braxton Hicks contractions are irregular tightenings of the uterus that can start as early as the second trimester, though most parents notice them in the third. Named after the doctor who first described them in 1872, they're sometimes described as your uterus "rehearsing" for labour — the muscle contracts briefly, but it isn't opening the cervix the way true labour contractions do.
They're common, they're harmless, and having lots of them (or none you ever notice) says nothing about how your birth will go. Some people feel them from 20 weeks; others never register a single one.
What do Braxton Hicks contractions feel like?
Most parents describe a tightening or hardening across the belly — if you put a hand on your bump mid-contraction, it can feel firm all over, almost like a flexed muscle. Unlike true labour contractions, Braxton Hicks are usually:
Irregular — they don't settle into a pattern or come closer together.
Short — typically 30 seconds to a minute.
Uncomfortable rather than painful — more pressure than pain, and the sensation stays at the front of your belly rather than wrapping around from your back.
Easy to switch off — they often fade when you change position, walk around, rest, or drink a glass of water.
What triggers them — and what helps
Braxton Hicks tend to show up more when you're dehydrated, when your bladder is full, after exercise or a busy day on your feet, and sometimes after sex. In late pregnancy they can cluster in the evening, right when you're trying to wind down.
If they're bothering you, try the classic resets: drink water, empty your bladder, change whatever you're doing (rest if you've been active, move gently if you've been sitting), and take slow, deep breaths. A warm bath can also help the muscle relax. These are good dress rehearsals for your own labour coping tools, too.
Braxton Hicks vs real labour: how to tell the difference
The simplest test is time and pattern. True labour contractions get longer, stronger and closer together, and they keep coming no matter what you do. Braxton Hicks stay random and usually ease off when you change position or hydrate. If you're keeping track on your phone at 3am and want a second opinion, an AI parenting companion like Littlest can help you make sense of what you're noticing and what questions to ask your care team — many parents find that simply logging the timing makes the pattern (or lack of one) obvious. For a full rundown of what early labour actually looks like, see our guide to the signs of labor.
When to call your midwife or doctor
Contact your care provider promptly if contractions become regular or painful before 37 weeks, if you notice bleeding or fluid leaking, if your baby's movements slow down, or if something simply feels wrong. Nobody will ever mind checking — that's what they're there for.
This article is general information only and isn't medical advice. Always speak to your midwife, doctor or maternal health nurse about your own pregnancy.
