What do contractions feel like?

Question

Second time mom here, but I never felt the contractions with my first one due to a scheduled c-section. I’m 26 weeks today and felt a painful tightening in my stomach yesterday - but nothing like period cramps, which is how I picture contractions. I’m worried I’ll go into labor early and not know it until I’m in real pain.

Answer

If your stomach gets tight all over and hard it’s likely Braxton Hicks ! 24 weeks and I’ve been having the same thing.

Answer

Want to add in that my midwife told me that if I had more than 6 Braxton hicks in less than an hour and that it doesn’t stop with more fluid intake that I should come in to be seen

Answer

Contractions are like really painful cramps along with belly tightness. You most likely won’t be able to talk while having one if it’s a real labor contraction and they will be more regular and closer together. That’s how you’ll know your in real labor or if they are just Braxton Hicks. 
Try to drink some water and lay on your side and see if they go away. If so, then it’s just Braxton Hicks and nothing to worry about :)

Answer

Agree with all of the other ladies. Real labor contractions feel like the absolute worst period cramps of your life, and they are an overwhelming, stop what you are doing and just bare with it type of pain. Ugh.

Answer

Take your hand and squeeze your forearm slowly and then release slowly. That’s what a contraction feels like but in your stomach. Real contractions will squeeze harder and harder, and they timing in between will get closer and closer. And when you don’t think the squeezing gets any more harder it does.

What do contractions feel like?

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