This is a dumb question but...

Re: This is a dumb question but...

• shiway member

  January 2014

  Well they feel different to different people but sometimes they start by feeling like menstral cramps and can include a low back ache. They will just get more and more intense and spread to more and more of your uterus. For others it might be different

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• ktpaladino member

  January 2014

  Different for everyone. Mine were horrible sharp pains in my rectum, and a pressure like the baby was trying to come out of my butt. It wasn't until I was at about 4-5 cm that they started feeling like menstrual cramps...but so severe that it consumed my entire body.

  

   

   

  

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• winterbaby1123 member

  January 2014

  Thanks for the info. I'm having a really bad cramping pain (it kind of feels like a Charlie-horse) in my right side groin area. And it's been coming and going about every 5 minutes. Someone told me it could be contractions

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• Soap1 member

  January 2014

  winterbaby1123 said:

  Thanks for the info. I'm having a really bad cramping pain (it kind of feels like a Charlie-horse) in my right side groin area. And it's been coming and going about every 5 minutes. Someone told me it could be contractions

  If it's localized in one area, it is probably not contractions.  It is probably round ligament pain.
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  

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• torneen member

  January 2014

  It's kind of like describing an earthquake... you don't know until you experience it.  But once you do... you know!  Previous posters are right though, it is different for everyone.  For me it was like a tightening all over my belly, kind of like I was involuntarily flexing my stomach muscles.  Very consistent and coming at regular intervals.  It didn't really get painful until I was dilated at 4cm.  Then I wanted the drugs!  LOL! <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

  

   

  

   

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• PrimRoseMama member

  January 2014

  For me they felt like menstrual cramps from hell combined with rock-hard tightening of my belly/uterus. Some describe them as diarrhea type pains or back ache. It all depends. Everyone is different.
  
  It's been my experience that if you have to ask,"is this a real contraction?" Then it most likely is not.

  
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• SuperMom17 member

  January 2014

  Mark me down for the worst menstrual cramps of my life/horrendous diarrhea stomach ache. You will know when it happens - agree that it sounds like round ligament pain.

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• hbrooks88974 member

  January 2014

  Thanks for the question! I'm a FTM also and I have been having menstrual like cramps for days and days now. I wouldn't think these were contractions. I also have cramp like feelings in my groin area that keep coming and going. I thought a contraction would involve tightening of the abdomen that was painful (unlike BH contractions...I have those constantly also). I just hope I KNOW IT when I feel it because I would hate to be one of the ladies who ends up having her baby at home because it's too late. 

  
  

  Good luck to you!!!! ))

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• Tess024 member

  January 2014

  With the way they have been described, it's amazing that people do this more than once, lol!
  

   
  
  

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• RedPeppah member

  January 2014

  Well, BH and the real thing were much different for me of course, but here goes my description: My BH can be mild or stronger. At times they feel like my pelvis is squeezing into a tiny ball. Sometimes they have a slight pain to them and give my butthole a twinge (yeah, ugh). The real thing were the same tightening with lots of pain.

  Pregnant with #3, after thee, three's complete!!

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• Millie1984 member

  January 2014

  For me, they were similar to menstrual cramps but felt throughout my entire abdomen, not just lower down.  They are also timbale- they begin, remain and return with regularity.  I agree with @Prim - you'll know.   

  After 1.5 years TTC, IUI #2= BFP 12/2/12

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  "And the dream that you dare to dream really do come true"
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• Verimyrkky member

  January 2014

  I'm not sure what's really going on and I've read a bunch of descriptions about what contractions feel like.  I started having menstrual like cramps about midnight and it kept happening about once an hour.  Since this morning, it's been once every 10-20 minutes.  I also think I've been losing my mucus plug since midnight.  I was at 40 weeks yesterday.

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• shaunessa member

  January 2014

  ktpaladino said:

  Different for everyone. Mine were horrible sharp pains in my rectum, and a pressure like the baby was trying to come out of my butt. It wasn't until I was at about 4-5 cm that they started feeling like menstrual cramps...but so severe that it consumed my entire body.

  lol, really?  Thats crazy!  Ugh, so nervous and scared...5 weeks to go!

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• mommyginab member

  January 2014

  Verimyrkky said:

  I'm not sure what's really going on and I've read a bunch of descriptions about what contractions feel like.  I started having menstrual like cramps about midnight and it kept happening about once an hour.  Since this morning, it's been once every 10-20 minutes.  I also think I've been losing my mucus plug since midnight.  I was at 40 weeks yesterday.

  Hope that you're not reading this and on your way to the hospital! Congratulations &  lots of luck! Sounds like labor to me. coming from a mom of almost 4.

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