"Real Contractions" ... anyone else getting them? What do they feel like?

saladflambe · March 2016

I've had braxton hicks contractions since week 13 - they feel, for me, like my uterus turns into a bowling ball...and the discomfort is like if I've been sucking in my stomach for too long and need to release it but can't. This past week, I started noticing that, especially at night...and especially if I get super upset and sob my butt off (long story), I was getting what I thought was movement -- it felt like someone taking their hands on either side of my uterus and twisting handfuls of muscle and holding...then it would release. They even began getting painful. But I thought it was movement... or something... Well, I just got back from my midwife and learned that those are, in fact, legitimate contractions. Now I have to go in if I get 6 or more in an hour.

In any case... has anyone else gotten real contractions? Or non first-time moms who've had them before... what did they feel like for you?
I know everyone describes them differently.

wamam027 · March 2016

I've had them a handful of times for no good reason. In fact, one time I was lying in bed on my left hand side relaxing and I got three pretty uncomfortable contractions about 10 mins apart. It felt like a bad stomach cramp when I've got diarrhea to be completely honest. They only last about 30-45 seconds but there's a definite difference between those and the BH contractions I've had. My ob said now is around the time this all starts to happen and told me to call if I've had 5 or more in an hour, which I haven't had more than 3 in an hour, thank God. Way too early for that!

gamommyx3 · March 2016

Mine feel like stabbing or shooting period-like pains. I didn't realize they were contractions at first until I was hooked up to the monitor.

hellogoodbye2 · March 2016

BH's & real contractions were totally different for me...they HURT! I had to stop what I was going, stop talking, and breath through them. Except during labor, I only felt real contractions with my 1st pregnancy in weeks 38-40...I still had to be induced.

saladflambe · March 2016

hellogoodbye2 said:

BH's & real contractions were totally different for me...they HURT! I had to stop what I was going, stop talking, and breath through them. Except during labor, I only felt real contractions with my 1st pregnancy in weeks 38-40...I still had to be induced.

Oh yes these felt very different than BH -- but they only like just began to hurt after a while... but my mom said it was like that for her as well, so, I guess early contractions can be like that. I wasn't in active labor, but the contractions were different than BH.

2.red.heads · March 2016

I never had contractions or Braxton Hicks w/baby #1 or #2 but with these twins I have been having them a lot. My Dr said it's normal because my uterus is just so stretched out. For me they feel like my stomach turns into a rock hard bowling ball. They're not comfortable but not bad at all. They can happen at any time - relaxing on the couch, up moving around...........

I am just looking for bloody show if I'm feeling 'weird' that day and have been having sporadic contractions.

AnastasiaBeaverhausen09 · March 2016

ncm0328 said:

I've had them a handful of times for no good reason. In fact, one time I was lying in bed on my left hand side relaxing and I got three pretty uncomfortable contractions about 10 mins apart. It felt like a bad stomach cramp when I've got diarrhea to be completely honest. They only last about 30-45 seconds but there's a definite difference between those and the BH contractions I've had. My ob said now is around the time this all starts to happen and told me to call if I've had 5 or more in an hour, which I haven't had more than 3 in an hour, thank God. Way too early for that!

Ok this is crazy because I've had diarrhea cramps with no diarrhea and I thought to myself "are those contractions?" I brought it up to my doctor and he said they could be or they could be just GI cramping. I'm glad someone else described them as diarrhea cramps because I'd be the girl sitting at home thinking I'm about to poop when I'm really in labor

jenl1681 · March 2016

For me real contrax feel like someone is twisting every muscle in my stomach into a tiny, tiny ball for about a minute, then a release. They hurt, you have to stop moving from the pain, you can't/don't want to talk during them, and then when baby is moving down during all of this you can add the extra sensation that you feel like you are going to poop all over yourself.

With my other two I never had BH and in fact labor with my first came on really slowly. I had consistent timeable contrax, that weren't that painful and I kept thinking, I got this! No big deal! Yeah, I was totally wrong, they got closer together and became much more painful.

Bluejay3030 · March 2016

ncm0328 said:

I've had them a handful of times for no good reason. In fact, one time I was lying in bed on my left hand side relaxing and I got three pretty uncomfortable contractions about 10 mins apart. It felt like a bad stomach cramp when I've got diarrhea to be completely honest. They only last about 30-45 seconds but there's a definite difference between those and the BH contractions I've had. My ob said now is around the time this all starts to happen and told me to call if I've had 5 or more in an hour, which I haven't had more than 3 in an hour, thank God. Way too early for that!

This is how they feel to me, too.

helleebellee · March 2016

I've been having real contractions for weeks. I have several a day, now. Probably more real contractions than BHs. For me, everything gets really tight, tons of pressure, pain, and breathing is difficult.

kbrands7 · March 2016

I haven't had any true contractions yet this time, but last time it felt like someone was wrenching the muscles in my back and then around to the front of my stomach. I had that same cold-sweat feeling that comes with bad GI cramps like PPs described.

lionstigersbears · March 2016

My understanding is that what differentiates BH and "real contractions" is whether they create cervical change. It makes sense in my mind, since as most have shared, they feel different! I have BH a couple of weeks ago that HURT...and ive done this without an epidural before so I'm not being drama. My midwife explained that they "shouldn't" hurt but they can and its more likely with subsequent pregnancies.

DutchLucyLu · March 2016

AnastasiaBeaverhausen09 said:

I'm glad someone else described them as diarrhea cramps because I'd be the girl sitting at home thinking I'm about to poop when I'm really in labor

The lady from my L&D class said that if you ever feel like you're about to poop while in labour, that probably means you're fully dilated and ready to push.

I've actually thought I was experiencing back labour for a while on Saturday. Weird lower back pains that would last about 45 seconds, then disappear again. Only lasted for about 15 minutes, though (with maybe 4 of these short pains). Other than that, just regular old BH that, yes, make my bump feel like a bowling ball, but they don't hurt.

saladflambe · March 2016

lionstigersbears said:

My understanding is that what differentiates BH and "real contractions" is whether they create cervical change. It makes sense in my mind, since as most have shared, they feel different! I have BH a couple of weeks ago that HURT...and ive done this without an epidural before so I'm not being drama. My midwife explained that they "shouldn't" hurt but they can and its more likely with subsequent pregnancies.

So, in truth, I guess I wouldn't know this since they've not done any cervical checks.
I just know that the contractions themselves have totally changed. Like they aren't anything like what they felt like before.

lalala2004 · March 2016

I honestly have no idea. I've had some crampy feelings, but since it hasn't been intermittent or lasted any amount of time, I can't be sure.

hellogoodbye2 · March 2016

With my 1st pregnancy I had a TON of BH's that increased in severity & consistency as I got further along in 3rd tri. I was checked from 35 to 40 weeks and was never dilated until 40 weeks were I was told I was barely a fingertip. I still had to be induced. For me, I think I just have a irritable uterus and/or I'm more sensitive to the contractions.

AmmyBelle · March 2016

saladflambe said:

I've had braxton hicks contractions since week 13 - they feel, for me, like my uterus turns into a bowling ball...and the discomfort is like if I've been sucking in my stomach for too long and need to release it but can't. This past week, I started noticing that, especially at night...and especially if I get super upset and sob my butt off (long story), I was getting what I thought was movement -- it felt like someone taking their hands on either side of my uterus and twisting handfuls of muscle and holding...then it would release. They even began getting painful. But I thought it was movement... or something... Well, I just got back from my midwife and learned that those are, in fact, legitimate contractions. Now I have to go in if I get 6 or more in an hour.

In any case... has anyone else gotten real contractions? Or non first-time moms who've had them before... what did they feel like for you?
I know everyone describes them differently.

Nothing to add (FTM, never had a real contraction before) but I just wanted to thank you for this description - it is exactly how my BH feels! Thanks for giving me the words!

Delitachan · April 2016

Not sure if I posted this before...thought I did...
But I was having gas/diarrhea cramps as well...however, I dismiss those as gas because each time I get the pains, they end up being farted out (sorry TMI).

LadySamLady · April 2016

Delitachan said:

Not sure if I posted this before...thought I did...
But I was having gas/diarrhea cramps as well...however, I dismiss those as gas because each time I get the pains, they end up being farted out (sorry TMI).

Hahaha! My H was asking me how I know what I'm feeling when I feel it and I had to admit that I often feel insecure and not quite sure if I'm about to fart or having a contraction.

sillyfox · April 2016

With my first, they were like period cramps, but much worse. Like ax to the belly level pain, I couldn't walk, couldn't talk, could barely breathe. Definitely easy to differentiate from BH because BH take my breath away and are annoying but are not painful.

laurenmdrn16 · April 2016

Just now, I felt this incredible pressure and pain in my lower abdomen/genital region that kind of wrapped around to my back. It happened like 3 times while I was walking around CVS and I had to stop and lean on the cart. I had been feeling the tight upper belly feeling of BH, but this was totally different. MH called during one and I couldn't talk. I am waffling between calling my OB or just resting and seeing how I feel (I have been super busy and running around like crazy lately).

ETA: Called my OB and just resting on my side, drinking fluids, and seeing if they come back.

cortney626 · April 2016

I've been having BH since week 26 (top of the uterus tightening). The last couple of weeks I've had low back pain like menstrual cramps as well as cramping in the front. Then I've had sharp shooting pains down low (not round ligament). I went to L&D after having various symptoms for awhile. Turns out I was having some minor contractions but nothing to be concerned about b/c they weren't doing anything to my cervix. It's still closed, long and thick. I have an irritable uterus apparently. But good news is LO should stay put until my c section date.

ayeshaohara · April 2016

When you guys get BH or actual contractions is it like your entire belly that you feel it in? Or just lower section. I get the occasional cramping sensation but it's always low, like period cramping and no higher than that. Just wondering because I've been cramping lots today

kp90 · April 2016

So is it normal or possible to have only one 'real' contraction and then nothing afterwards? I was laying on the couch last night but not in the most comfy position when I started getting a pain in my lower stomach, it got hard and lasted for at least a minute or so while I also felt a slight pressure but in the butt region

I could not talk and was trying to breathe my way through it while my SO kept asking what was wrong... after a few minutes the pain had completely subsided.. but for a minute I was ready to start counting! Anyone else had just a one and done type deal?

nbgmom · April 2016

Yep, that's totally normal. The real difference between "warm up contractions" and "real contractions" is if they change your cervix. If you have more than 5 in an hour, they get stronger each time, they don't change regardless of your position or activity, then give a call because your dr will likely want you to come in

kp90 · April 2016

Thank you! @nbgmom

lionstigersbears · April 2016

laurenmdrn16 said:

Just now, I felt this incredible pressure and pain in my lower abdomen/genital region that kind of wrapped around to my back. It happened like 3 times while I was walking around CVS and I had to stop and lean on the cart. I had been feeling the tight upper belly feeling of BH, but this was totally different. MH called during one and I couldn't talk. I am waffling between calling my OB or just resting and seeing how I feel (I have been super busy and running around like crazy lately).

ETA: Called my OB and just resting on my side, drinking fluids, and seeing if they come back.

This happened to me! In the end my midwives were basically like, welcome to your second pregnancy where everything is different!

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