Are contractions obvious?

TDM

Had my 30 week appt today and babies are doing well; Baby A still measuring behind just a bit.   Estimated 2 lb, 15 oz & 3lb, 5 oz respectively.

My cervix went from around 4 cm four weeks ago to around 2.5 today, so my peri wanted me to do an NST which was no problem.  It was my first one...a new experience...lol.

I sat there maybe 30-45 minutes and didn't show any activity till the end when I had a contraction.  When the attendant asked me if I felt anything, I said no - I was surprised to hear that I'd had one. 

Dr wasn't worried but now I'm wondering....how obvious are contractions...will I realize I'm having them when it's the "real thing"...?  I'm just curious and they have me a little freaked out (just slightly)

I'd appreciate any feedback/thoughts.  TIA... 

RunnerGirl17

I had the same experience at my first NST when the nurse told me I had a contraction and I thought, "Really?!  I didn't feel anything..."  I found that it was helpful to have my husband there a few times and to have him tell me, "you just had one" and then I started putting a label to the physical sensation.  Previously, I had just thought that that sensation was the babies moving in some uncomfortable position, turns out they were moving, but it's because I was contracting.  Chances are, your contraction was a minor one and not one that progressed labor.  I've been having those since 32 weeks and can kind of feel them, but they're fairly short, not painful (more of a discomfort than a pain), don't come regularly, etc.  I found that it gets easier to recognize a contraction as you get farther along.

kimarino13

I had one small contraction during my first NST.  I knew I was having it because I could feel my belly hardening up against the contraction box thing. 

jacobandcrystal

I've always been pretty aware of my contractions.  A lot of the time with braxton hicks I would actually get a weird feeling (not pain) in my chest first, and then feel the contractions. 

Like pp said, they will get more obvious the further along you are.  With the twins my braxton hicks actually became somewhat painful compared with my singleton boys.  My doctor thought I was in labor about a week before my induction because I was having BH's every few minutes on my NST. You'll know when they're real though once they are regular and increase in intensity.  Hard to explain but you'll know it when it happens!

lgurian

they told me i was having them for weeks before i felt them, i was always saying 'if you say so'. the first time i felt them was the day i went into labor. and even then i was like 'oh i finally felt that' then they sent me to the hospital for monitering and ta-da i was having babies. dont worry, when its for real you will know because they progress and get worse and worse and closer together (at least thats what happened to me)