Braxton hicks or contractions?

I've been having so many braxton hicks tonight and I'm starting to wonder if they're actually contractions? How can I tell the difference? I've got a steady dull ache in my lower back that I've had all day, but no other pain. These BH/contractions are currently about 3 mins long and I've tracked 6 in 40 mins so far. Is that a normal amount? Help! I'm overthinking every little thing at the moment so I'm really not sure 😅 Currently 38+2
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Braxton hicks are fairly painless (sometimes 🤣) tightening across your belly Contractions are like period pains in your lower stomach can go round your back as well, get more intense and closer together as time goes on xx

@Phoebe thank you! these are tightenings across the belly so I guess they're BH then! Just worried me that they're so frequent

I think you'll know in the next hour or two they'll either ease off or get closer together. ☺️ I think from reading lots of people's experiences it's hard to tell otherwise! Varies so much person to person. I've been having uncomfortable braxton hicks every day for weeks now, they seem to come in clusters for me, and period type pain and lower back pain on and off for well over a week too, the amount of times I've wondered if it's the start of contractions is frustrating 😅 Hope you're doing okay x

@Saffron thank you! It's so hard to tell what's what isn't it! Fingers crossed that it comes soon for both of us x

So hard! Seems for every 'rule' there's a group of people who have had the opposite happen 😅 feels impossible to pre-empt. Fingers crossed! I feel like I'm gunna go overdue again 🤦‍♀️😂 x

The frequency isn’t frequent enough for contractions I’d say - the midwives in my trust want 4 contractions in 10 minutes for them to be considered ‘regular’ - however, I’m currently on tightening number 14 or 15 since 9:15 (so averaging around every 2.5-5 minutes) but that’s not frequent enough they’ve said🤷‍♀️xx

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