What does labor feel like?

dmartin726

I had a scheduled section with DD because she was breech and I never actually went into labor. I'm 30 weeks pregnant now. When I woke up I had horrible stomach pains. Almost like food poisoning cramps but I don't have food poisoning. I'm positive. I went to the bathroom a few times. But this has been ongoing since 8:30. We live 2 hours from the dr but I was heading over today anyway for an appt tomorrow. So now DH is going to just take me straight there to get looked at. We are still about 1 hr away.
When I told my mom she said to time the cramps and I thought she was nuts. I'm only 30 weeks! But she said don't be ignorant, you don't know what labor feels like. Better safe than sorry.

So my question is.. What the heck does labor feel like? I'm going to get checked regardless but now she has me thinking all sorts of stuff.

mylittlesunshine

For me it felt like one big, long and painful menstral cramp that wrapped around the front of my stomach to my back.

I remember with DD2 my water broke and I had mild contractions and once we got to the hospital they literally made it so I couldn't talk.

rosesandpetals

my early contractions felt like stomach cramps. Does your stomach get hard during the cramps? That's a sign that they're contractions.

mylittlesunshine

Also I know some places say they have to be so long and so many minutes apart. There is a website (just google "contraction timer") to see if they are consistent/getting closer together. I used that to see if it was worth making a trip to l&d near the end of my pregnancy.

caybeh

Like menstrual cramps, but worse. When I was in labor with DS, after contractions, I thought I had to go to the bathroom too. But I was in the hospital and my water already broke, so I knew I was in labor.

minerswife17

mylittlesunshine said:

For me it felt like one big, long and painful menstral cramp that wrapped around the front of my stomach to my back. I remember with DD2 my water broke and I had mild contractions and once we got to the hospital they literally made it so I couldn't talk.

This. I couldn't even say a word. All i could do was squeeze DHs hand. It's still recovering.

hayleydeee

Mine started off feeling like period cramps, and gradually became more regular. It sounds like it could be pre term labor, and it's good that you are going to get checked out. 

Ashleypixie

This may be a few hours late, but in the beginning it kind of felt like I was going to shit my pants. Sorry, tmi! But I know what you mean about food poisoning. They would come and go and since I lost my mucous plug the night before (again, sorry) I figured out it was labor. Even if you are having real contractions and not Braxton hicks, it could be false labor since you're kind of early. But keep us posted, and good luck!

notreallyirish

Hope all is going well! I would just add to what others said that I could feel contractions in my chest. My chest felt tight and it was a little harder to breathe.

Also, I asked DH about a million times in the last trimester with DS2 to feel my belly to tell me if I was contracting and sometimes it was yes, sometimes no. One time he said yes but it was a really weak contraction. I wanted to punch him in the balls. Lol.

rockyrollgirl

So, I am late to this.

At 32 weeks, I had some serious cramps that did not feel right. I called L&D and they told me to come in. They hooked me up and said it appeared I was having contractions. A doctor came in and checked me with the transvaginal u/s and showed me that DD was no where near ready to come out. It turned out that I was dehydrated and it was irritating my uterus.  They put me on fluids and sent me home.

There was a major difference with the real thing. I did not want to eat or drink. I could not sleep. I was in the bathroom pretty much all night because for some reason it gave me some relief. 

My suggestion, when that happens, is to drink a lot of water and stay off your feet to see if the cramps go away. If they do not, call L&D.

zbeesma86

I had a c section too-- but yes please keep us posted. Hope all is okay!

ToastieSimons

My early contractions were just "I have to poop" cramps.  Like when you have diarrhea.  Except, I couldn't poop.  and then it would pass.  And then it would come back.  And then it would pass.  And then I had a baby.  (there was a bit more in between there than just a few poop cramps)

blushingbride_08

Mine felt like my insides were going thru the spin cycle in a washing machine. Tightening and wringing and stinging.