Hey .Kezia! It's getting close for me, too! Some doctors say 37wks is fullterm, others say 38wks! My doctor said that if I were to go into labor after 35wks, though, they wouldn't do anything to stop it. I'll be 36wks on .Monday! I hear ya on the stretchmarks. Mine are sooo painful. Braxton hicks are just your body's "practice" contractions. They aren't strong enough to get your baby out, they're just your body's way of getting ready for the real thing! They're really irregular. Real contractions I think would be a *lot* more intense & painful, & they'd be regular. I'm afraid I won't know the difference, but I think it's a fear that every pregnant woman gets. In all reality, .I'm more than sure .I'll know damn sure when I go into labor for real, lol.

*lol* yeah I am sure they will be a lot worse!!! It feels like these last few weeks are never going to end, I am sooo ready to pop him out and see what he looks like, no matter how bad its gonna hurt. I didn't even get a stretch mark until 2 weeks ago. I have a few on my tummy, a few between my legs that I just discovered *ugh*, and my butt has some. I am so going to have to figure out how to put pics up on here so when they finally come out we can both see what the little men look like. Anyway, I will be praying for ya, and who knows we might be in labor around the same time, so at least you know ur not alone *lol*

When the real contractions come you'll know!! For me they were certainly different than the braxton hicks, and I got really bad braxton hicks!

Braxton hicks can be uncomfortable, but not painful. Real contractions, well we all know those are painful!

Good luck with everything!! I had my baby at 38 weeks (was supposed to be induced but they never quite did it all the way) my doc considered 38 weeks to be full term, but he was comfortable taking my baby out at 36weeks if he really needed to (he was a bit concerned)

Relax;- this sounds like your first pregnancy? Average ist stage labour 4-8 hrs, baby is not going to just pop out, in order for contractions to be effective they need to be regular which eventually unfortunately means painful , please don't be tempted to do anything to hurry baby out you sound impatient that's normal just remember that delivery is always better for baby at full-term, babies liver and lungs need to mature to have the best possible chance, sleep try eating and drinking smaller amounts but more often, not to close to bedtime, avoid stimulants such as caffeine alcohol, try sleeping on your rhs with a small pillow under your bump, itchy skin eat oily fish and have a warm bath with a generous dollop of baby oil in it , with best wishes to you and your baby.

Alcohol...I dont think she would be drinking it right now

Thanks everyone for the advice!!!

oh my god will you ever know the difference!!! There is no confusing the real v.S. Bh! And I know its uncomfortable but a baby is better off being isnide you the full 40 weeks if possible and yes 37 weeks is considered full term.