What do contractions feel like?

Question

Okay, so instead of researching online some more; I figured I'd ask the mamas who have actually gone through it..
What do/did contractions feel like, especially when they're just starting out? 
Period pains? Pinching? Lots of pelvic pressure? Do they feel similar to Braxton Hicks?

Answer

The beginning of labor to me felt like pressure/painful tightening in my abdomen.  It wasnt so bad though. Once labor started to progress the pain becomes more immense. Not anything like period cramps. Your stomach and back feels like its painfully being squeezed for a minute or so, then it stops and you’re fine until the next one hits. By the end of labor when youre about 9 cm it honestly feels like there’s no way you can go on. Well at least for me since i had no epidural or pain medicine. The contractions are coming back to back with hardly any break and you feel the baby making its way lower. Then when you’re crowning and having contractions it feels like your body is being ripped in two. But as soon as that babies shoulders are out you just feel relief. So yeah nothing really like a period lol, i hate when people say that.

Answer

I couldn't tell the difference between Braxton hicks and the real thing.  That being said it felt like period cramps

Answer

A quick and painful tightening of the lower abdomen that lasts a number of seconds and then stops and consistently repeats.

Answer

Mine felt like period cramps. As they progressed they felt like worse and worse period cramps, but still that same general feeling. Nothing like Braxton Hicks, which is just a tightening.

Answer

Yep cramps in lower back and pelvis...feels like you need to poop and dull ache for a while in early stages of labour. The contractions themselves just gutter punch you with cramps. Ergh...if there was no baby at the end nobody would do it twice.

Answer

Mine started feeling like period cramping that came in waves.

Answer

My Braxton Hicks were in the front like my belly would cramp up and get hard. But actual labor was in my back

Answer

It was like really bad period cramps in my back

What do contractions feel like?

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