What do contractions feel like?

[soexcited]

I'm forever hearing you will know when they start. But what do early contractions feel like?

 

[mrs_tommo22]

iNTERESTING QUESTIONS!!! sorry bout caps!

Some women will tell you they fee like period pains steadily increasing, others say they fee like just tighnings in the bump or low back area.

But most agree on that as they increrase they no longer feel like BH, and get more painful and longer and stronger.

 

[soexcited]

Thanks for your reply. I have never had BH so cannot compair.

 

[mrs_tommo22]

Just feels like your bump goes hard asnd its uncomfortable, i never had them in my last pregnancy either.

 

[mrs_tommo22]

But contractions can also start off as backache or pain low in the pelvis, so have a bath and move about and if they increse over the day your prob in labour.

 

[lmarszall]

I'm not sure if i've had any braxton hicks. Sometimes my bump goes hard but if feel more like baby moving and bit of him sticking out. But who knows, could be BH.

Lau
x

 

[little*red]

I'm forever hearing you will know when they start.

argh i hated whe people said that because even when it did start i was still questioning whether i was in labour or not. It took me ages to phone the hospital and ask fo advise.

Id say contactions start off feeling like mild period pains that get stronger and stronger. You feel the pain starting and then it gets sorer and sorer until it peaks and then the pain subsides. it should last for about 40sec-1min

hope that helps

 

[leckershell]

I wondered this too as the other night while I was away for the weekend in Devon, I got BH, but they didn't stop and I couldn't get to sleep through the pain, and was worrying they were the actual contractions and thats why they'd been carrying on for hours..

Luckily I managed to get to sleep and when I woke up the pains were gone, but still, how would you know?!

 

[Hellokitty]

I felt my contraction as a pain low down is my pelvis, like I could actually feel my cervix being stretched. I didn't feel anything in the top of my bump...

 

[Sherry]

With my first they just came thick and fast. I didnt really get the build up stage, they were just really bad lower back pains that came round to my bump as sharp, shooting pains. I got them every 2 mins right from the start which I thought was really unfair lol. Everyone is different though so it's a tough one to answer.

 

[Vickyleigh]

I'm not sure if i've had any braxton hicks. Sometimes my bump goes hard but if feel more like baby moving and bit of him sticking out. But who knows, could be BH.

Lau
x

That's exactly the same as me. I don't know if I've had BH because I'd probably just think it was the baby moving or sticking out.

 

[enn]

With my first they just came thick and fast. I didnt really get the build up stage, they were just really bad lower back pains that came round to my bump as sharp, shooting pains. I got them every 2 mins right from the start which I thought was really unfair lol. Everyone is different though so it's a tough one to answer.

ive had some of those already and ive had some pains lower down like in the womans thing sort of area but where baby would come out, maybe my bodys getting ready a few weeks ago had those sharp pains and recently.

 

[soexcited]

Thanks everyone, so it can be a number of things then.

 

[Vicki & Nathan]

i dont even think ive had braxton hicks i havnt felt anything yet

 

[mrs_tommo22]

After all the birth stories w have all read on here everyone is diferent! I personally labour different to what i expected!
I thought cintractions were just in your bump, i didnt know you could have them in your back due to the way the baby is laying

 

[*saulino*]

Hi

For me it was different i knew i was in labour because my waters broke then i was induced and to be honest i cant really remember exactly what they feel like. I didnt get BH with my first pregnancy either but do with this one
Katrina

 

[Sammystar]

My midwife told me I'd know it was real if I couldn't talk through the pain. It's true. You simply have to stop what you're doing and breathe through it, talking is impossible. That's how I knew......

Good luck!

 

[neeko_1]

i've only had BH

but i wish i did know what contractions did feel like

 

[Sammystar]

You'll know, believe me! They take your breath away!

 

[little*red]

My midwife told me I'd know it was real if I couldn't talk through the pain. It's true. You simply have to stop what you're doing and breathe through it, talking is impossible. That's how I knew......

Good luck!

Yeah agree 100% by this stage you know it defo is labour. but before when the contractions were milder i was still unsure.