What do contractions feel like for you?

Question

First time mom and not really sure what to expect! Never even had a Braxton hick.

Answer

Braxton Hicks for me feel like a period cramp. When I am having true labor contractions I won’t be able to talk through them and they become consistent in timing. My doctor always says when you have a contraction every 5 minutes that lasts 1 minute for an hour it’s time to
call labor and delivery. But this isn’t my first baby so it may come faster. I think with my first she told me to wait until they were 3 minutes apart.

Answer

With my first son my stomach would get tight/hard and I would get a really strong urge to pee. I didn’t even know that it was contractions until I had to get monitored and they said “you are having contractions, do you feel them!?” 🤦🏼‍♀️ when I got induced it was very similar they just lasted longer and started to get slightly more intense. I found them annoying more than anything

Answer

In my first pregnancy my Braxton Hicks and the first 5cm of labor felt like period cramps, just all over the belly at once, they just got more intense. With baby #2 Braxton Hicks feel like my entire belly just tightens up, it’s not painful at all just extremely uncomfortable!

Answer

When you’re in labor - horrible period cramps.

Answer

BH for me are a tightness in my stomach/uterus like my belly gets a hard. Somewhat painful but not too bad but it feels like more of the whole bump or somewhat upper part plus sides. It goes away not too long after it starts. Contractions for me have always started in my lower back around my kidneys like bad period cramps and are intense then wrap around like a belt to my lower abdomen. I have a feeling of needing to pass bowels and it’s quiet painful. Those become more intense and I cannot move or get out of bed. They will pass but will return stronger and intense. If you are standing you can’t move and just want to yell “ahhh” or clench your teeth. 
But I will say everyone feels them different!
Hope this helps ☺️