Stupid question alert!

CinemaGoddess

So what do "real" contractions feel like?

The last day or two I've had some crampy-like pains in my girly bits (Which I will continue to call "girly bits" until I'm in my grave, TYVM.).  They don't seem to be timeable and it's pretty centralized to my mid-uterine to lower pelvic area.  They're more annoying than painful. 

(I have a drs. appointment in the morning so I'm not planning on calling today unless they get worse or more frequent.)

Are these contractions or is my body just messing with me?  Dr. Google is no help whatsoever.   

J+MS

The ones that I have been feeling start in my back, wrap around and then spread up my uterus. It's achy in the back but sharp in the front... I don't know if that's how it is for everyone but I could definitely tell what it was without a doubt.

FancyFeet10

When I had to go to L&D after a car accident and realized I was having "real" contractions, they almost felt like a wave rolling over my whole abdomen.  Plus, I could see it on the monitor.  They felt completely different than the crampy type feelings.

I get those crampy type pains every single day, but they never show up when I have an NST. 

hewinked

All I ever felt with DD was cramps.  Just like you said, more annoying than painful.  Those were contractions for me.  This time around, I've been having cramping since the beginning, been to L&D three times, and was never having contractions.  Yeah, I'm no help.    I would just keep an eye on them and if they increase or become timeable, go in.  If not, you should be alright to wait til your appointment tomorrow.  Just trust your instinct if they change and you feel like something's not right. 

Mt2G1012

Well, then I'm stupid too.  I was just wondering this the other day.  I've been having BH for 2 months now and in the last 2 weeks some of them a really painful.  I've been to L&D twice before and was never having real contrax.  They aren't timeable or anything, but I get at least 15 to 20 in a day and about 1/2 are painful.  I know everyone says you just know when you go in to labor, but what about having random contrax?  I assume it isn't a big deal unless they are timeable?

saturdaynightdoubletree

I think it's different for everyone.. even with pregnancy #2, I do not feel contractions and/or am not able to decipher them from cramps and the baby rolling around. My belly is always super hard, so throw that advice out the window too. Just tell your doctor you think you've been feeling them, they do an NST, and just pay attention to the monitor and when you see a contraction try to remember what it feels like.

kg_08

Mine felt just like menstrual cramps, but worse, and of course would come and go as the contractions would start and stop. I also had the pain radiating to my back, but I had back labor so I'm not sure if it's like that for everybody.

If they're not timeable I'd say it's not real yet. When my labor started I could definitely tell when they started, and were 2-4 minutes apart.

Kitiara5512

I have had the crampy ones that mix with the lightening crotch, and those showed up on the external monitor when I was at the hospital on Sunday. They apparently werent enough to count for jackshit (sorry, still pissy about that) but they were contractions, or at least BHs that went on for two days.

Kitiara5512

saturdaynightdoubletree:

I think it's different for everyone.. even with pregnancy #2, I do not feel contractions and/or am not able to decipher them from cramps and the baby rolling around. My belly is always super hard, so throw that advice out the window too. Just tell your doctor you think you've been feeling them, they do an NST, and just pay attention to the monitor and when you see a contraction try to remember what it feels like.

This, but on my first, and yes a lot like LO moving around or period cramps.

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longingtoholdher2010

I have also been having the cramping right in the bikini line area and slight cramping in my lower back as well but I also was wondering if these are contractions. I don't know if they are or not but they are more annoying/uncomfortable than painful.