Early labor contractions vs Braxton Hicks?

When contractions first start and are consistently 20 minutes apart, how mild are they? Do they feel like Braxton Hicks, or are they stronger? I'm really confused what I should be looking for. For about an hour and a half I was having consistent 20 minute apart contractions that felt mostly like BHs, some a little stronger like menstrual cramps. But they've now fizzled out. If those were BHs, that's the most consistent they've ever been.

Background... this is my second pregnancy but with my first, my contractions didn't start until several hours after my water broke and they were EXCRUCIATING. So I don't know if that was due to losing amniotic fluid or if that's what's considered normal for first contractions.

With this one, my second, I started having fairly consistant contractions on Tuesday and went into active labor on Friday morning.  I had no idea how to tell when labor began except that the contractions were getting closer to one another and a little stronger - like menstrual cramps.  The more I read, and based on my own experience, the so called practice contractions are actually early labor contractions.  They are working on shortening your cervix.  Use lots of internal EPO to soften up and when your baby's lungs are producing sufficient levels of suffacant B, you will go into active labor.  Just roll with it and enjoy the last moments, hours days, of your pregnancy.  When they're out, they're permanently out!  ;)

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Thanks, ladies. This is the first I've been able to get on this board since I posted this! Still having spurts of major BHs, been going on since Thursday. Hopefully the real deal starts soon... kind of annoying. And I just feel crampy after days of this many BHs.

Only just managed to get on here and yey plum! I hope this is the real deal for you! Keep us posted!