What do contractions feel like?

Emilie - posted on 02/28/2010

I had bad pains in my back with both my kids, I felt like I was having bad menstral cramps and my belly would get really hard and tight.

Emily - posted on 02/28/2010

mine felt like the worst cramps of my life and they were all in my back!!! when i was actually in labor i didnt really feel any tightening but when i had braxton hicks it just felt like tightening no cramps....

Jody - posted on 02/28/2010

mine felt like horriable gas!

Peita - posted on 02/28/2010

You will remember when the contractions start lol!! It sounds like the tightening you are having is Braxton Hicks contractions and they are normal!! I forgot about the pain after each baby ( I have 3), but once the contractions started, I was like 'WHY AM I DOING THIS AGAIN' lol! It is a pain that you forget after time, don't stress, you will soon forget again! I had drug free labours and I still forgot about the pain!! Good Luck!

Nancy - posted on 02/28/2010

don't know if you took pain meds for the first birth... but try it drug free this time. i guarantee that you won't forget what contractions feel like again!!!
ps: they hurt! but the feeling of getting through the pain to deliver a baby is worth it, and if you can go medication-free, you'll know forevermore that you can do anything!

Rachel - posted on 02/28/2010

what i had is exactly what you have explained, like i had a rubber band on my diaphragm so under my ribs and it was gettin pulled tighter and tighter, its more an uncomfort than a pain.

Lara - posted on 02/28/2010

I'm currently due any day with Kiddo #3 and often wonder the same thing! (Now, what did they feel like again? Is this what they felt like? Am I off my rocker or is this just gas?)



My first I remember feeling like I had to have a BM all the time. That feeling of pressure on your pelvic floor... that's what her labor contractions felt like.



My second was just a consistant tightening of my lower abdomin. Only later did it turn into lower back pain when she came thru the birth cannal "sunny side up". Again, not really painful, just pressure and noticable tightening.



This one I've been having b-h contractions for a week, culminating in the past 48 hours of noticable tightening in my lower back and abdomin every 8-10 minutes. Is it labor? Ah, we'll see!



But I would say it's contractions, be them productive "true" labor or simply b-h.

Linda - posted on 02/28/2010

both of my pregnancies have been completely different and that goes for giving birth as well..... with Layla that was the tipe of contractions I had, just the tightening of the stomach and pressure (no pain) and Kyara boy oh boy!!! I thought I was going to die......

Emily - posted on 02/28/2010

Like the worst menstrual cramps ever.... times 10!

Karen - posted on 02/28/2010

my labour was all im my back but it just felt like muscle cramps in my lower back

Alexandria - posted on 02/28/2010

For me it felt like really bad gas. It wasn't until the gas pain was so bad that I was pushing against stuff that I realized I was in labor. The tummy tightening and releasing is a sure sign of contractions.

Stevie - posted on 02/28/2010

ive only had one child with real contractions cuz my first was born with out them lol with my first born i was having really bad cramps and no tightening but with my second i could feel tightening and cramps and more and more pressure as i dialated maybe you should call your dr or hospital if you are farly on time with the contractions

Katt - posted on 02/28/2010

It felt like cramps from hell for me!! When they started getting really bad I could feel my belly tighten a lot with bad bad bad cramps lol