Let's talk contractions

BLT20051 · May 2013

What do they feel like?

I'm convinced I had three last night. It started out like a cramp, my stomach got hard all over(I thought he had repositioned but he hadn't) and then it was almost like a sharp pain with the cramp that radiated across the bottom of my bump. It made me kind of jump, once I may have said ow out loud and it took my breath away. They were not close together or timeable or anything so I kind of ignored it.

What say you? Random sharp pain? RLP pain? My son jabbing me with an elbow? Contraction?

jaymiegerard · May 2013

When your whole stomach tightens that's supposedly a braxton hicks contraction. Labor contractions happen lower and feel like intense period cramps.

I have been having low, period-like cramps for weeks now though, so I'm slightly confused about it.

Sounds like you had a BHC, followed by your LO being like "WTH?" and stretching out or jabbing. :-)

BLT20051 · May 2013

jaymiegerard:

When your whole stomach tightens that's supposedly a braxton hicks contraction. Labor contractions happen lower and feel like intense period cramps.

I have been having low, period-like cramps for weeks now though, so I'm slightly confused about it.

Sounds like you had a BHC, followed by your LO being like "WTH?" and stretching out or jabbing. :-)

See, my BH feel just like period cramps. If they harden my whole stomach then I never noticed. Pregnancy is so effing weird man.

MrsPhenomenal · May 2013

BH. I have them all day at work. Some last longer than others and sum more painful than others. I jus stop and sit and try to deal. But the further alonh I get the more often they come. But yep mines feel just the way your descriping it. Good Luck with those

MrsKatieW · May 2013

Sounds like contractions to me. I had some last night too, but mine were timeable. 10 minutes apart for 30 seconds each for 2 hours. I think I drank a gallon of water in those 2 hours.

RedCherry1109 · May 2013

My BH(or what I think they are) make my stomach really hard and take my breath away. I had a few contractions with DS2 right before they took me back for my C-Section and the only thing I felt was tingling(SP?) in my pelvic area.

BLT20051 · May 2013

See these were SO different than the BH I normally have. Ugh. I quit pregnancy. Lol.

CocoMcGee · May 2013

I also got the "You'll know" comment from my doctor. Thanks to those for sharing the description. The only time I've noticed a BH is if I just happen to put my hand on my stomach when it's occurring and noticing that my stomach is hard.

FordFalcor · May 2013

Baconlettucetomato:
See these were SO different than the BH I normally have. Ugh. I quit pregnancy. Lol.

But BH ARE contractions. The only difference is that the real deal labor contractions will dilate you.

I do find it amazing that you've never noticed your belly harden during them. I get them so bad it feels like my body is in a vice grip I'm just sure Wyatt's poor head is being squished.

LaBellaVida · May 2013

Contractions start out like a light period cramp, that comes and goes, along with hardening of your uterus. You may not notice your uterus getting hard, and only notice a small period like cramp.

Sounds like you have a few contractions. As far as full labor you will just know when that happens. They feel like the worst period cramps you have ever had, again they come and go- so you get a small break in-between. The pain is so intense that you can't even think, talk, or move.

My BH I don't feel any period like cramps. I only feel my uterus getting really hard. I have to stop what I am doing in order for them to pass.

JANCANDANCE · May 2013

Sounds like BH. Did it take your breath away for a moment? When the real deal nitty gritty contractions hit YOU WILL know! It's different for everyone but the real ones usually have back pain associated with them.

courty625 · May 2013

I'm confused about this too. I started having what I thought were BH bc my stomach would get hard but was painless. In the past few weeks, the period like cramps have started and I have to stop what I'm doing, but they aren't that bad so I didn't think they were real contractions. My friends/ dr always says "oh you'll know" and ask how they feel, and when I describe them they say "yea that's a contraction". What the heck?!?

BLT20051 · May 2013

kari5186:
I've been having a lot of contractions lately. BH, though. My entire belly gets hard and I feel this insane amount of pressure, but at the same time get period like cramps down low. Some of them have literally brought me to my knees. But, it's exciting!

Exciting but freaking annoying! I hate not knowing what is what.

Like I just got a period like cramp, my stomach didn't harden and it was uncomfortable but not painful. I would think that's a BH since it didn't hurt and nothing to be concerned about. WTF?

Mufflerlove · May 2013

Bacon+lettuce+tomato:
kari5186:
I've been having a lot of contractions lately.  BH, though.  My entire belly gets hard and I feel this insane amount of pressure, but at the same time get period like cramps down low.  Some of them have literally brought me to my knees.  But, it's exciting!

Exciting but freaking annoying! I hate not knowing what is what.

 

Like I just got a period like cramp, my stomach didn't harden and it was uncomfortable but not painful. I would think that's a BH since it didn't hurt and nothing to be concerned about. WTF?

That's what mine always feel like

Nix55 · May 2013

I just had my first set of contractions two nights ago. The doctor said they were probably brought on by the stomach bug I have and were probably not labor contractions, but they still caused me to dilate. They lasted for 5 hours, were timetable, but not consistent. It felt like the pain you feel when you have to go 2 really bad/intense period cramp for 10ish seconds.

skio · May 2013

Not sure what that could've been, but I would guess a BH getting stronger or maybe just baby repositioning?

My contractions with DD felt like strong menstrual cramps, all achy like. Not sharp, not take my breath away bad. And they came in surge like waves...I would feel it coming, it would intensity, then would ebb. I had no back labor so it was all front/pelvic area.

My BH feel nothing like the real contractions felt when I went into labor with DD. My BH feel like someone is wrapping cellophane around my whole middle; intense tightening it zero pain. I didn't have that intense tightening with actual contractions...which is weird.

You nailed it, BLT...pregnancy is weird.

jlaOK · May 2013

ihearttab:
Baconlettucetomato:
See these were SO different than the BH I normally have. Ugh. I quit pregnancy. Lol.

But BH ARE contractions. The only difference is that the real deal labor contractions will dilate you. I do find it amazing that you've never noticed your belly harden during them. I get them so bad it feels like my body is in a vice grip I'm just sure Wyatt's poor head is being squished.

This. The main thing that I noticed between BH and labor contractions was that I was able to watch TV, have a conversation with DH, and just pause for a moment with BH. With labor contractions - it took all of my concentration to breathe through them and I couldn't really do anything else.

ilovemarfa · May 2013

Contractions feel like period cramps. I was induced and when they first started the pitocin they weren't very painful and they came every five minutes or so. Once labor progressed they became very intense like somebody was twisting my insides.

hst · May 2013

When I went into labor with DD my contractions started out like diarrhea cramps, I really just thought I was having diarrhea.

homebird · May 2013

Braxton hicks ARE contractions. If your belly is tightening up (pain or no pain) and feels rock hard, it's a contraction.

It's labor when the contractions repeatable, timeable, become closer together, etc. They'll start out being mild (maybe not hurting at all) and gradually turn into OMG WHO IS TRYING TO RIP OUT MY ORGANS!?!?

Is that helpful? lol.

BLT20051 · May 2013

homebird:

Braxton hicks ARE contractions. If your belly is tightening up (pain or no pain) and feels rock hard, it's a contraction.

It's labor when the contractions repeatable, timeable, become closer together, etc. They'll start out being mild (maybe not hurting at all) and gradually turn into OMG WHO IS TRYING TO RIP OUT MY ORGANS!?!?

Is that helpful? lol.

So basically, unless they're timeable it's nothing to worry about? Even if they hurt.

RosyRed87 · May 2013

Youre entire stomach tightening up into a ball and its almost debilitating is a braxton hick if you ask me. I've been getting them for a couple of months now. They are more annoying then painful. The contractions I felt during labor felt more like a pain that radiated from my stomach around to my back along with a downward pulling sensation; much different from a braxton if you ask me. My sister on the other hand didn't feel much pain during labor...I guess her true contractions felt like my braxton hicks. Everyone is different I guess.

MrsKatie07 · May 2013

42Butterflies:
Bacon+lettuce+tomato:
homebird:

Braxton hicks ARE contractions. If your belly is tightening up (pain or no pain) and feels rock hard, it's a contraction.

It's labor when the contractions repeatable, timeable, become closer together, etc. They'll start out being mild (maybe not hurting at all) and gradually turn into OMG WHO IS TRYING TO RIP OUT MY ORGANS!?!?

Is that helpful? lol.

So basically, unless they're timeable it's nothing to worry about? Even if they hurt.

Bingo! I just had this exact question for my OB this week. That was his exact reply. With DS, I never had any BH, just the "real deal" so I was a little confused too. When you are really in labor, the ones that hurt will be timeable. And it will most likely be more painful than the ones you experienced thus far.

Yes! All of this. BH can hurt and can feel like so many different things. They can tighten your whole stomach, feel like a cramp, be only down low, take your breath away. I had a couple painful ones that tightened my whole stomach, stopped me in my tracks, and took my breath away last night, but they were random and not timeable so they were BH. Same with "real" labor contractions. Some women get them only in front, some have back labor, some don't even know they're in labor because they don't feel them. When they are timeable and start dilating your cervix, that's when they are "real." I think MOST women do know when it's the real thing because they really are different and they will be regular, but there are always those rare cases you hear about people not knowing they were in labor. Until they are timeable they are most likely BH.

txaggster · May 2013

Bacon+lettuce+tomato:
jaymiegerard:

When your whole stomach tightens that's supposedly a braxton hicks contraction. Labor contractions happen lower and feel like intense period cramps.

I have been having low, period-like cramps for weeks now though, so I'm slightly confused about it.

Sounds like you had a BHC, followed by your LO being like "WTH?" and stretching out or jabbing. :-)

See, my BH feel just like period cramps. If they harden my whole stomach then I never noticed. Pregnancy is so effing weird man.

THIS! All of this! It is so dang bizarre. I had real contractions in L&D and thought I was cramping from an internal. Now I feel those off and on and think it's just BH. Everyone says we'll know when it's real...so FX! HAHA

GetItOverWith · May 2013

Lurker

As a preemie mom, I would disagree with the statement that you just "know," especially with preterm labor. I have many preemie mom friends, and, like me, many had no idea they were in labor. It can be very hard to know, especially if it's much earlier than expected and you aren't waiting for labor to start.

I agree with the statement that "real" contractions are timetable and get closer together over time. The hard part about the "was that a contraction?" question is that it's sometimes really hard to know except in hindsight.

My advice would be to take note of any possible contractions. If you just have a couple, don't worry about it. It probably doesn't matter if it's a "real" contraction, a BH contraction, or some random pain. If the feeling continues, gets closer together on frequency, or gets more painful, you might be in labor. If you're before 37 weeks, you should go to ld ASAP if they don't go away so they can try to stop labor.

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