Difference between contractions and cramping

kstirton

Don't shoot me for this question please!! But I'm having constant cramping, and I've heard that is a type of contraction... but they aren't timeable when you are always feeling that cramping feeling. So - with contractions that send you to L&D, is it a cramping accompanied with an obvious tightening that comes and goes?

staugustinewedding

I'm having the same thing! I'm just waiting it out to see if they become consistent and timetable..right now they aren't consistent. Lost my MP over the last two days..hopefully things will start progressing soon!

mander82

I would assume that the cramping would be accompanied by the contraction pain that comes and goes.     I am talking out my ass here.....but I think the cramping is just in addition to contractions.    I have been getting BH contractions......so I understand the tightening feeling.....but there is no pain with them.     To me, the cramping is just like PMS cramps.  

runningmama14

Mine started as period like cramps, but were timeable from the very beginning. I really didn't feel tightening till hours after the "cramping" started. We still waiting quite awhile to go in and they didn't keep me the first time because I wasn't dilated enough.

hsilverm

STM here and still finding it hard to distinguish real ones vs BH. I have felt constant aches in my back, like my period is going to start and lots of tightening in my lower stomach the past few days. Last Tuesday when I had my 39 week appt, my OB mentioned I was having a huge contraction while he was checking baby's heart rate and I had no clue. I wad induced with Pitoson with my son (he was overdue), so I remember it starting like menstrual like cramps and then after like 2 hours, my back felt like it was on fire from the pain! I'm just kinda waiting for that intense pain again by I think the dull ones are just possibly the start of your body preparing for labor but not active labor yet.

kstirton

hsilverm I am kind of counting on that "intense" pain too ... either way, sounds like cramping is a good sign so I'll take it.

bustarmu21

Mine were lower period like cramps that started off mild, became timeable then gradually became minutes apart and severe. I never had the tightening feeling higher up across my belly. My contractions stayed low. I was in labor at home, when I went back to L&D I was 8 cm's and then 10 within a few minutes. I would just see when you are able to time these cramps your feeling bc it could very well be the start of labor. Good luck!!

oklahomamom09

I had my weekly check up today and woke up this morning with crampy period cramps low on my belly, they were timeable, bout 2-4 minutes apart. Told the dr about it and she sent me to l&d to get on the monitors. Turns out my actual contractions were every 8-9 minutes and what I was feeling was probably round ligament pain. She told me to take Tylenol, lay on a heating pad, and drink plenty of water today and if it gets worse to come back. Hope this helps!

kstirton

@chesneybrynn when you say they were timeable - would they completely go away and then come back?

oklahomamom09

@kstirton‌ yeah for a couple minutes they would go away and then come back like another cramp

marajay6

My contraction pains were very low so at first I thought it was just cramping. Then I realized that there was a pattern to them and they were timeable. I think the pain was too intense for me to really notice the tightening of my stomach, but when I really paid attention I would notice my belly getting very hard.

runningmama14

chesneybrynn said:

@kstirton‌ yeah for a couple minutes they would go away and then come back like another cramp

Same here.

kstirton

I'm now having some brown spotting and mucous-y discharge - Doctor said he did some membrane stripping at my appointment today. Is the brown color normal?

kstirton

Econosaurus said:

I had lots of cramping for a few days but nothing that I could discern a pattern or timing to. Then when I had labor cramps I put two and two together that the earlier cramping was actually mild contractions. For me the "real deal" was that cramping times 100. Kind of familiar but incredibly different at the same time, when they started up I knew the difference immediately. Hard to explain but I would say when it's show time you'll know for sure. I had to stop what I was doing and couldn't really talk or focus, they are much more consuming.

Thank you!!

mander82

kstirton said:

I'm now having some brown spotting and mucous-y discharge - Doctor said he did some membrane stripping at my appointment today. Is the brown color normal?

I believe so,  I had brown/pink tinged discharge/mucous after getting mine done on monday.  Its not as bad now, but its still slightly there.

 

smboswell1

I was induced, so nothing ever sent me to the hospital. When I had contractions after being induced, I knew they were the real thing. It is the worse period cramp you will ever have. Mine were so painful that I didn't even notice tightening.

soulcupcake

With each of my four the contractions felt a little different. They were more of a crampy sensation that came at intervals with #1 (pitocin), and with #2 (no uterine stimulants) they felt like waves of tightening/pressure that started low in the uterus and radiated to the top. With #3 they were more of the crampy type, and that also included pitocin, too.

I was induced with #4, but I'm not sure which method actually led to his birth. We attempted CO, and when it didn't kick in after 4+ hours, we used herbs. I had BH type contractions for over a week. They weren't uncomfortable and there was no pattern. I had some that day. But the contractions that immediately preceded his birth were intense cramps accompanied with pressure. I knew these were different just by their intensity and pressure.

FirstBabyDoyle

Basically a period cramp on steroids.

kstirton

FirstBabyDoyle said:

Basically a period cramp on steroids.

LOL

lovingaddi

I had awful cramping after my membrane sweep. Assumed it was normal & that my contractions would start. The cramping got stronger & I was able to time them to 4 min apart. Never felt anything in the upper part of my belly, but sure enough the cramps were contractions. Got to the hospital & I was already at a 6. GL!

staugustinewedding

kstirton said:

I'm now having some brown spotting and mucous-y discharge - Doctor said he did some membrane stripping at my appointment today. Is the brown color normal?

I have not had my membranes swept but I started having brown spotting two days ago and then I have been losing my mucus plug since last night..definitely normal.

marajay6

lovingaddi said:

I had awful cramping after my membrane sweep. Assumed it was normal & that my contractions would start. The cramping got stronger & I was able to time them to 4 min apart. Never felt anything in the upper part of my belly, but sure enough the cramps were contractions. Got to the hospital & I was already at a 6. GL!

That is pretty much the same experience I had.

kstirton

Bummer!! It's the next morning and overnight seems like the cramping went away. Boo!! Seems like that always happens. When I sleep or rest, nothing! Maybe that will be my cue for when it's the real thing!

kstirton

@budzer we should keep each other updated, sounds like we are in the same boat. I was 1cm at this appointment but nothing really at the last ... I know it can happen pretty quickly. I'd love a baby this weekend too but I have a feeling she's nice and comfy.

staugustinewedding

kstirton said:

@budzer we should keep each other updated, sounds like we are in the same boat. I was 1cm at this appointment but nothing really at the last ... I know it can happen pretty quickly. I'd love a baby this weekend too but I have a feeling she's nice and comfy.

I am in the exact situation as you and @budzer‌! Had BH all day yesterday and cramping and lower back pain...woke up today and nothing! I'm 39 weeks tomorrow. Lost my MP on Tues and Wed..I'm just really hoping things start progressing after the weekend if not before, but I know it could easily be another two weeks!

theMadRadishes

Did your doctor tell you he was sweeping your membranes? That shiz drives me crazy... Sweeping the membranes doesnt always start labor but causes bleeding and cramping. Id be so pissed...

kstirton

Anything to encourage my body to dilate I am FOR, not against. Much better than the induction I'm facing on the 24th if baby doesn't come on her own. if I can't handle a little bleeding and cramping I'm not so sure how I'd make it through labor.

:-j

theMadRadishes

Im not against sweeping. Its just common for doctors to just do it, and not tell their patients. I just feel like its curtious to tell patients whats going on and what side effects to expect.