Contraction question????

lynlopez · May 2015

So i go to the every 2 weeks now and every time the doc asks me if i feel any contractions. I respond with a no and i ask well how do they feel. The best explanation he gave me was period like cramping. My question is am i going to be able to recognize them and hiw do they feel?

kladd7182 · May 2015

Yup, you can't miss them.

Kmommy5 · May 2015

I feel my whole uterus tighten and you may feel period crampy too. It builds, and builds.
In labor I remember thinking my uterus was tightening on outside working its way inward, and at one point it felt like my uterus was trying to come out my back.
Picture a room with all its walls closing in on you. That's what it felt like to me along with the crampiness of period.

kagingras · May 2015

The way my doctor described the difference between legit contractions and Braxton Hicks: Braxton Hick you can pinpoint an exact location of the cramp (on the right side, just below your belly button, top left of your uterus) and with contractions it is your WHOLE uterus that gets crampy.
I'm a FTM so not knowing what anything was supposed to feel like, I found this really helpful and have actually noticed a few Braxton Hicks this week.

ariejsmom · May 2015

You'll know! They are by far not something you'll miss. It's like severe menstrual cramps. If you're like me with my first it was in my back and those to me hurt so much worse!

tasharchibald · May 2015

You'll just know! I hated people giving me this answer with my first but yes you will just know. It's a very indescribable pain!

mnj05 · May 2015

Braxton Hicks should be more of a tightening whereas contractions for labor are more painful. It's such a huge difference and when you feel the real thing, you'll feel silly for even doubting your ability to know the difference.

runswithscissors86 · May 2015

For me, Braxton Hicks are barely noticeable unless I touch my stomach. During a BH my tummy is tender to the touch( similar to a bruise) and solid feeling. I didn't recognize my contractions until I had been having them for about 3 hours. It wasn't until I could discern a beginning and end that I knew that's what they were. I also remember feeling a cramp, and then a pull down, like my belly button was trying to touch my spine.

mers90 · May 2015

They feel as if someone was standing on top of your belly and pushing it down.

andreawatts1 · May 2015

For me they feel like my whole belly is tightening and it gets so hard and then after a couple seconds it's gone. I never feel cramps, which the period cramps I did have were excruciating

Ckorines · May 2015

They will stop you in your tracks. Trust me, you will know.

kate5all · May 2015

@kagingras - that description of BH contractions was very helpful. Thank you!!!

sschwege · May 2015

Yes, you will almost certainly know, but they may not match the description of other women. For me it felt nothing like cramps. It felt like an intense tightening of my abdomen, with pain that wrapped around my back, the contractions would start out small, peak then wash away. And unlike other forms of discomfort it comes and goes, so in between contractions you feel like yourself or pretty close to it.

asun123 · May 2015

If you have a high pain tolerance, like me, it's harder to tell if you're having them unlike most other ladies that can feel them easily.

rw3190 · May 2015

I'm surprised you haven't had them
It's not as bad as period cramps. The best explanation is a sudden hardening on the whole abdomen area. If it's painful you're having real contractions not Braxton hicks.

savvi · May 2015

When do you normally start getung them do you feel it like one big all over pain or in sections

Jennym2b · May 2015

rw3190 said:
I'm surprised you haven't had them
It's not as bad as period cramps. The best explanation is a sudden hardening on the whole abdomen area. If it's painful you're having real contractions not Braxton hicks.

Braxton hicks can be painful too. Especially if they are due to dehydration.

lynlopez · May 2015

Thanks ladies for the answers.

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