What do contractions feel like?

ashtonsuzanne · November 2011

FTM here....

This question is obviously for those with outside babies or those already moms.

How would you describe contractions?

superned · November 2011

I think everyone is different, to an extent.

For me, in early labor they felt just like menstrual cramps. I actually had some PMS cramps the other night and jokingly asked DH to time them because they felt so much like contractions. : )

As things progressed, they started feeling like the worst cramps you could possibly imagine. I have endo and have dealt with some debilitating cramps, but these were even worse.

During transition, I felt like my entire middle was being squeezed in a vice.

I know people describe them as "coming in waves" and I think that's fairly accurate. They weren't gentle like waves, but they had a beginning, a middle, and an end for the most part.

sschwege · November 2011

As you will see women feel them differently. But for me it felt like my stomach was getting tighter and tighter until it peaked and then started to loosen and then totally disappeared. Also while I was having contractions I had lower back pain.

haleymay18 · November 2011

It felt like someone was squeezing my guts and then let go. It was like horrid pain then complete relief. I knew my labor was progressing into transition when the time between contractions felt less relaxing.

JLG95 · November 2011

It felt like food poisoning to me. Abdominal cramps that came in waves with diarrhea and vomiting. The only subtle difference is that I had lower back pain as well.

Tigerlilym15 · November 2011

Everyone is definitely different. I thought it was helpful to know what they could feel like so I wasn't surprised in labor. For me they felt like strong period cramps. Most people describe getting a break between contractions but for me the pain never went away. It got stronger and faded some but it was hard for me to tell when contractions started and stopped because the pain was constantly there. As I progressed the pain was more intense and there was a lot of pressure.

julyjennifer · November 2011

it's hard to remember exactly, but I'd say it was like a tightening of my uterus combined with a dull pelvic ache like menstrual cramps.

Nechie122 · November 2011

They felt a lot like Braxton-Hicks, especially in the beginning -- the way your whole midsection tightens and it almost takes your breath away. The contractions were not only more painful but the pain radiated to my back and hips.

They do build like a wave; my contractions would start low like a menstrual cramp and the pain would radiate up and back.

They basically just got stronger and stronger and stronger.

katcarls · November 2011

Mine started out like period or diarrhea cramps that came and went. As they got stronger there was a distinct wave pattern. Intense is the only thing I can think of for when they get bad, I'm not sure how else to describe them. I felt everything in the front too, no back pain at all.

shellpep3 · November 2011

Veerrrry intense cramps.

shellpep3 · November 2011

Verrrry intense cramps.

mikah.george · November 2011

For me it was like being VERY constipated & your colon cramping up in pain.

As a first time mom, you should always call your Dr's 24 hour nurse line if you ever feel like you are in labor. Everyone has different feelings & each child feels different too. My first was just kind of an annoying pain until my water broke. The second had me on the floor with each one.

I'd say, when you're in labor, you'll know, but sometimes you really don't know. SO make sure you call & time them!!

moxie9 · November 2011

I felt my contractions in my thighs--it was like a horrible burning sensation as though I were running up a mountain. From my understanding, this is relatively rare (my midwife has only had a few other women complain about this in the 400+ births she's attended). Maybe it was because of my cervix still being "back" or the baby putting pressure on some nerves or some associated pain? I'm not sure, but the only thing that gave me relief was counter pressure (SO would squeeze my hips during the contractions and all the pain/discomfort would go away).

MawrtyrB · November 2011

I'm not sure that I could describe it. You spent 40 weeks thinking about it and analyzing every cramp. With DD, had a completely normal night. Woke up at 5:30 am and said "Owww and oh so that's what it feels like" By the second one I was waking up DH. When I did the induction with the twins it started as cramps and just escalated.

I think being squeezed in a vice is a pretty good metaphor. It's something completely different than your everyday stuff.

MadameFancyPants · November 2011

I had back labor so I didn't feel anything in my belly.

It was a constant dull achey feeling in my lower back. The contractions came in waves that felt like someone grabbed the base of my spine and shook it really fast.

As things progressed the dull ache turned into Satan's fiery pitchfork that was constant.