contractions...explain please

genkidesu

okay, i tried googling this, but people either don't know, or the answers just suck and don't make sense.

what does a beginning contraction feel like?

i have been getting what i call braxton hicks for quite a while now, and they are painless, and the uterus is just tightening.

but now, for the past few weeks, i get the period-like cramping ones here and there. are these also considered BH? or are they like...a step above? 

i know REAL preterm labor contractions are time-able, and get stronger and stronger. i'm just wondering about these random light cramping ones.  

just trying to figure things out. thanks! 

 

iheartnjdevils

I believe the main difference between a BH and "real" contraction are when the contractions are actually doing something (ie. your cervix starts to change). BH is just practice contractions that get your uterus ready. But these real contractions can stay irregular for weeks before you go into full labor.

CountryWild84

Good question. I want to know too, because I feel very "crampy" today.

And this is my 2nd, lol!

worldispurple

I'm so glad you asked this!  To this minute, I have no idea if I even had BH yet only  because I don't know what it feels like. 

Everyone has described it to me as my uterus tightening but without pain.  My stomach tightens but only where baby is, not the entire thing.  I mentioned this to my mw a few appts ago, and she was just there like, "it could be."

Yesterday it happened again, but I also had some cramping which led to some bathroom time.  Was that a contraction?  I didn't have any back pain, and felt better after using the bathroom.  

Someone once told me describing a contraction was kinda like trying to describe having an O.  You kinda can describe the sensation, but can't really.  You'll just know when it happens.

iheartnjdevils

To me they feel like really bad period cramps but wraps around to your lower back mixed with a gas like feeling. I do think the real distinction here is that BH does nothing to your cervix while real contractions start progressing it.

myluckypig

There really is no way to describe them.  But when you are having real contractions...you will know! So most likely if you don't know, it is not a real contraction.