What do contractions feel like?!

melissals · August 2015

I feel clueless when it comes to how labor contractions should feel. I'm 39 weeks and sometimes I feel like it's gas, sometimes I feel my stomach tighten and feel like a huge bruise. Should I feel pain in my vagina? I'm so nervous I'm gonna end up giving birth at home because I won't know when to go to the hospital. FTM obviously! :-/

chelseajeanene · August 2015

I'm right there with you, I have no idea either

alexsandrag · August 2015

My water broke first and I was not in any pain there. But when the pain started it felt like gas pain mixed with cramps, but really bad cramps. It was in my lower abdominal and a little bit of pain in my lady parts. Don't feel bad, I am pregnant with my second and some of the gas pain I have feels like I am having contractions lol. But go by your instincts and just go to L&D, the worst that could happen is they send you home. Good Luck and I hope this helped.

knowmeinadifferentlight · August 2015

It can vary from person to person, but only a very small percentage of people never end up knowing or experiencing anything, so chances are that you'll definitely know.
For my last pregnancy, it started as a dull lower backache that nagged me. Then the back ache got more intense and came in waves and would wrap around towards my front during the waves and felt like pretty hefty period cramps. Once I realized these waves kept coming, I timed them and it was hospital time. :-)
My MIL only ever experienced the back pain with all three of her children. My mom experienced no back pains to speak of but the intense cramping in waves. It seems everyone is different but one thing that is consistent is that your symptoms become timeable. Hope that helps ease your mind! Again, I can't imagine how rare it is statistically for a woman to not have contractions / not experience any pain or symptoms. You'll know. :-)

ETA: Just for info comparison purposes, me and my MIL and mom never experienced our waters breaking on our own before contractions. It was always helped along at the hospital.

thinkpink101 · August 2015

I'm one of those rare people who really doesn't feel much until my water breaks. I had felt crampy (not horribly so) for a couple of weeks but NSTs did not pick up a single contraction even though I had gotten to 5cm. I got to 7cm before they broke my water, still feeling nothing but some mild cramps, but the contractions were coming every 2-4 minutes according to the monitor. Once the water was broken my contractions started really hurting. It felt like super super intense menstrual cramps that radiated from the front of my abdomen to my back, lasting maybe a minute each time. They would take my breath away.

GoodyCobb · August 2015

I was wondering the same thing. I asked my doctor today, she said that it feels like a belt tightening around your stomach and then goes away. And then comes back. She said for a lot of women it starts in the back and wraps around to the front. I hope that analogy helps you.

melissals · August 2015

I've been having stomach cramps all day but I guess I'm just waiting for that horrible breath taking pain to head to the hospital! Thank you so much for your comments!

Nikki12414 · August 2015

I was wondering the same thing. I had an appointment with my midwife on Thursday. I was "2.5cm but easily stretched to 3" and she didn't say how much effaced. She did say she was touching his head. Lol. I also lost part of my mucus plug (and pieces of it since) when I got home. I haven't felt anything painful at all though. As far as I know all I've felt is Braxton Hicks so I'm not sure what to time before going to the hospital.

picariellol · August 2015

I agree that it is different for all and we all have a different threshold for pain. I will tell you, I take a narcotic for my cramps because they are crippling every month. I would be out of work if I didn't. So I always thought labor will be a breeze, I'm used to this. Well, my water broke first then I dialeted only 2 centimeters at which point I was throwing up and fainting in the l&d room. But when that sweet baby came, none of it mattered. Here I am, doing it again and I know, first hand, every ounce of pain is worth it. You will know the difference between cramping and contractions. I can't wait for you to feel the overwhelming love you feel within milliseconds of giving birth.

v1wwo · August 2015

As I'm reading this my back is beginning to hurt lol.

louiser210591 · August 2015

I've been saying exactly the same lol my midwife even said if the pain comes regular in your Lower back to ring the hospital because it can be a sign of labour and I thought to myself there's me only worrying about pains in my abdomen lol I think I get more pains in my back than my tummy and so I'm focusing on all pain. Been having back pains on and off since yesterday but nothing regular

kanga915 · August 2015

Like PP have said, everyone is different. My contractions were in my lower belly only and felt like a tightening and a period cramp. A lot of women describe them as a rush or a wave because they do kind of roll in and out. Mine were not very painful (I could always breathe and move throughout).

WDDCH · August 2015

To me they feel like a tightening. As labor progresses that tightening gets stronger and takes all of your focus. You can't walk or talk through them. You may feel a sharp pain in your cervix as it dilates and baby moves down on it. You will feel pressure, mostly on your rectum, as though you need to go poop. That usually means baby is LOW and you better get to wherever you're birthing, regardless of how painful, just to be safe!

Watch some labor videos on YouTube. If you find yourself moaning uncontrollably through the pain, unable to focus or walk or talk like the women in those videos then you're most likely in real labor.

Edited a misspelling

TabulaRasa25 · August 2015

Yep, no idea, which is a little disconcerting, as I have a medically necessary c-section scheduled. So if I go into labor earlier than that date, I need to get my butt in gear, because a vaginal birth isn't in the cards. Fortunately, I'm about 3 miles from my birthing center.

I've had BH contractions since about week 25 or so, as well as sharp gas pain and round ligament pain most of the pregnancy. I've spent most of my time for months, now, feeling tightening and aches. The baby is high (he's breech), so pressure down low isn't a thing or necessarily going to be a big thing.

ktbkitten · August 2015

Worst menstrual crap EVER! At least for me. Everyone is different. If it makes you feel any better I am a STM and I wonder about things like that. My pain tolerance is so much higher after having my first I wonder if I'll ignore the pains and wait too long or if I'll over analyze everything and go way to early again. My hope is to not go as early because I would rather labor at home. Good luck, but I'm sure instinct will tell you when your ready.

TabulaRasa25 · August 2015

I don't get menstrual cramps, per se. I get backaches when I have my period, but that's it. So the menstrual cramp thing hasn't been a good indicator, either.

jabeauty90 · August 2015

Both my other pregnancies were aided with pitocin so I have only felt those kind of contractions. Very painful all over my stomach, pelvis, hips and lower back.
I've had really bad cramps all day yesterday and today so far. It's like I have food poisoning but I don't have any symptoms other than, tmi, loose stools all day. I tried laying down, walking and a shower but they're still constant. I think my body is just worn out from BH.

jen83mn · August 2015

I have the same worry. 38 weeks now, and when my mom went into labor with both my brother and I, she had no idea she was having contractions. The doctor told her the morning of she was having contractions and she couldn't feel a thing. Went about her day, went to bed at 9 p.m. and still didn't feel a thing, then woke up at midnight with intense contractions close together and headed to the hospital. We were born less than 4 hours later. So I'm on heightened alert just in case I take after her! Her water also didn't break until she was at the hospital in labor.

mel0601 · August 2015

With my son All my labour was in my pelvis. Whereas a close friend of mine had back labour!! The way I remember describing it was as if two people were grabbing on to a hip bone each and pulling them in either direction! Brutal!
Also remember the "waves" analogy!
You. Will. Know. lol

Rachelsbaby · August 2015

You will start to feel menstural type cramps and they progressively get worse. Use the 5-1-1 rule head to hospital.

beckygoetz93 · August 2015

Mine were just lower abdomen menstrual like cramping that radiated into my legs. You will know when it comes and goes and gets more intense. It's hard to tell early on but they get more powerful and they create a pattern. I kept telling my midwife I thought I should go to the hospital and she kept telling me to wait. She eventually said go ahead if you think you should but I think you could wait longer. I got to the hospital and was dialated to an 8 lol glad I went when I felt I should just trust your instincts they'll kick in:)

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