What did your initial contractions feel like?

Mrs.Ram

Obviously, it's different for each person, but I'm just curious to hear other people's experiences to get an idea of what to expect.

Agrippa

I was induced, but I think that they had a really light touch with the pitocin, because I didn't have much trouble with the contractions for a really long time.

They felt a lot like AF cramps.  The earliest ones were like light AF cramps--very low, needle-like pains with some squeezing.  I have pretty bad AF cramps though, so it might have been different for other people.  I never felt anything in my back or at the top of my belly.

Again, I was induced though, so someone who had a natural delivery might have more insight. 

rubride

For me it felt like cramping and that I needed to go to the bathroom...really bad

emack

I was induced but came into the hospital having regular contractions. Those felt just like a tightening - no real pain to speak of. The cervadil-induced contractions (never even made it to the pitocin) had pain attached. To be honest, I never really knew if I was having real contractions or not prior to the hospital until I was hooked up to the monitor. I kept second guessing myself!

You're getting so close!!! Good luck! 

spiffyone

rubride:

For me it felt like cramping and that I needed to go to the bathroom...really bad

this!  luckily for me my friend told me about this so i was clued in.

claraj

Like menstrual cramps.

suecadence

Like really strong menstrual cramps, but higher up on my abdomen.

mchopard

I had nothing but back labor...so it felt like muscle spasms in my back

Artslvr

spiffyone:

rubride:

For me it felt like cramping and that I needed to go to the bathroom...really bad

this!  luckily for me my friend told me about this so i was clued in.

Me too - not to be too TMI - but it felt like I needed to go #2 really badly.  Plus I had back pain.