how did your labor contractions feel?

artroyer · May 2014

With my first, my contractions were painful and clenched my entire belly. I'm just wondering if they can feel differently... right now I'm having waves of period-like cramps that stretch to my back a bit. Every 3 minutes and lasting a minute. That's the same interval/length as my labor started with my first. It's been about an hour, and I just showered to see off they would fade away since I've had so many do that the last few weeks. Not fading, but not super strong yet. I was dilated 3cm last week Tuesday and told my cervix was super flimsy (will dilate easily I guess) for 37 weeks. I'm a bit paranoid that things will progress quickly this time so I'm debating calling or not.

So anyways... what did your contractions feel like? STMs- did they feel the same or different for you?

haylo33 · May 2014

I would call. Sounds like labor. I'm a FTM but that sounds exactly like what my midwife said to watch for

momo214 · May 2014

I just had my baby. At 35 weeks I went in with the stomach tightening contractions. They eventually subsided and we were on baby watch until this weekend when we had her. During my for real labor my contractions were not stomach tightening. They were very low and period-like. Very much in my hips. So while I'm only a FTM I can say for me I had two different types of contractions.

awc1986 · May 2014

Mine were how you described. Period like cramps with back pain up to a minute long. I went in when they were 3 mins apart and had my waters broken, as I'd been in early/slow labor for 30 hrs. She arrived less than 4 hrs later. So, yeah. I'd call if I were you.

artroyer · May 2014

Thanks ladies. Just called. I was able to go back to sleep for an hour. I'm waiting on a call back now. My hesitation is that they aren't super strong like with my first... but they are regular at least.

gutsysneakers · May 2014

How do you know when it's a contraction versus cramping? I started cramping yesterday around 2pm and they still hadn't gone away when I went to sleep around midnight. I woke up and no more cramps...this has happened a few times over the past week...but I guess - if the cramping is constant (like those dull, achy menstrual cramps), what am I looking for?

Lild09 · May 2014

I get so confused too! I've had plenty of cramping and I'm sure a few were real contractions but nothing came out of it. From what I understand they will be consistent, come at regular intervals and get stronger and closer together. My midwife also said real contractions you'll want to stand up move around naturally but cramps your more bound to just lay around and grumble basically!

artroyer · May 2014

False alarm... left the hospital disappointed, but at least I know she'll be here in the next couple weeks!

daisy.ramirez · May 2014

Not that this may be common but it was my experience. I started with period-like cramps (somewhat manageable) for a few hours. I was able to take naps (because I wouldn't say I was completely sleeping). Got up went to work while they were a little stronger because my doctor told me that it was just my body getting ready but would probably last for a week. Then they went from period-like to waves of terror on my lower back. Called but labor and delivery said it was my body adjusting. Decided to go get checked because of some bleeding, arrived at the hospital dilated at 9.5.

I should have known I was in labor but I always expected having abdominal tightening, not back.

awc1986 · May 2014

I was out picking up my prescription at the pharmacy when I was in early labor. I'd been having contractions 10 mins apart for about 6 hours at that point and was still just doing my thing. It didn't get unbearable until an hour before they broke my waters.

Mr. & Mrs. Woodtick · May 2014

With DS1 they felt like period like cramps or like I needed to take a bowel movement. This time my whole stomach tightened and they wrapped around to my back. I didn't know that they could feel differently with each pregnancy.

giggler25 · May 2014

Jcrewgirl85 said:

How do you know when it's a contraction versus cramping? I started cramping yesterday around 2pm and they still hadn't gone away when I went to sleep around midnight. I woke up and no more cramps...this has happened a few times over the past week...but I guess - if the cramping is constant (like those dull, achy menstrual cramps), what am I looking for?

This is exactly my question. I keep getting those period-like achy feelings at night. But it's just constant for a few hours, not coming and going. Then in the day they're gone again! This has been happening for like over a week already. My OB said today that since I'm 80% effaced and 1 cm dilated with baby's head at Station 0 that I *must* be having contractions that I can't feel. Great.... just what a FTM wants to hear. I'm scared I won't know when it's time to go to the hospital!

artroyer · May 2014

Well at the hospital I had constant cramp pains and contractions that I couldn't feel. Before that, I had waves of crampy pains. I think that cramps are normal, but if they get intense that's when to be worried. If your pains are stopping, then it's nothing. They did tell me to time the belly hardening and not the waves of pain, which I had been doing. With my first, the pain and contractions went together so I just figured that the pain is what to time... guess not!

jcf2133 · May 2014

That's how my labor started on Saturday. I too wasn't clear if they were contractions. Met the time requirements and felt like cramps plus lower back pain. By the time I believed myself and called, the back pain was unbearable. Ah, back labor... Let's hope future babies don't ever provide me that experience again!

RedInLove · May 2014

I started with a 20min but not painful BH. Then started with cramping ctx, timed them for about an hour and they were about 30-60 seconds long, 1:30-4:00 min apart. I also had some blood, so I started getting ready to go in.

sparklingdiamond · May 2014

Mine were in the lower part of my belly and felt like an intense cramp and then my whole belly would get hard. The cramping got stronger as the contractions got stronger.

deanna1313 · May 2014

I told my dr yesterday that I have been having what feels like period cramps off and on these last two weeks and she said that's great. She said my body is getting ready and practicing for the real thing. Yay!
Not sure if they will feel the same, but I'm happy that they're happening and hopefully it will be the real thing soon!

Want a personalized experience?

how did your labor contractions feel?

Re: how did your labor contractions feel?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards