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Success after IF
So, what do contractions feel like?
BH or the real thing? I'm worried that I will start having contractions and write them off as something else. Is this a silly worry? Will I know that THIS is a contraction?? TIA!
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Re: So, what do contractions feel like?
From what I have read contractions are a tightening of your whole stomach. I wonder the same thing, will I know the difference between Jacob moving or a contraction. If my stomach is hard in just the one spot then I assume it is Jacob. I don't think I have had any contractions yet.
After a loss at 13wks and years dealing with IF and failed treatments (3 failed IUI and 1 failed IVF), we have been blessed with DS (surprise BFP) and now his little sister (2nd round of clomid and TI) on her way.
At my birthing class the instructor said contractions are felt in the back and the front whereas BH are in the front only. She also said they're like AF cramps on steroids, at least when they get stronger. BH are also infrequent whereas real contractions are rhythmic and get stronger and closer together. She said a lot of people don't realize they're having real contractions until they notice a pattern. First-time moms can be in labor for hours before really noticing that they are, in fact, in labor.
When I was dehydrated I had some mildly painful AF-type cramping that went across my whole lower belly and back. It was obvious to me that they were mini-contractions because they were very rhythmic and painful, unlike BH. I feel pretty confident that I'll recognize the real thing when it happens. Here's hoping!
In most cases you will be able to know the difference.
My contractions felt like sever menstrual cramps that radiated up and around my lower torso. They also got increasingly worse and were timeable.
BH don't get worse and generally cannot be timed.
for me:
BH = tightness with no waves, on sides or top of belly. no pattern.
Real ones = waves of intensity, total PMS cramp feelings, or like when you have diarrhea, very low/pubic belly area, stop you from what you're doing.
When it comes down to it... I truely believe, you WILL know when they are no longer kidding around. Now stop watching "I didn't know I was pregnant" lol.
I wondered this same thing and wondered if I would just know when I was in true labor. I actually had back labor mostly so I wrote off the first few thinking that I just had back pain. When they started getting more regular and more intense though, I pretty much knew! Most people have a while to figure out whether it's the real thing so try not to worry about it though I know it's hard! It's funny, once you've had a baby it's so much easier for me to say don't worry about it because trust us - you won't "not know" for too long!
Haha! My DH flips through the channels and ALWAYS stops if this is on. And then he yells at the people and mocks them throughout the entire thing b/c he just refuses to believe that someone could not know they are pregnant!! It's a hoot!
I was wondering the same thing recently... I've had a bit of back pain in recent weeks accompanied by cramping and thought "hmm...maybe??". I've had my share of BH too. I think I'm getting pretty good at identifying them (although, like a pp mentioned, sometimes when the baby is sitting just so, my belly is hard, but it isn't a BH). Oh, and I swear I was timing BH the other day. I hope it is as obvious as most people say it is.