What Did Labor Feel Like?

Question

Hey y’all! Not a FTM but I have never naturally gone into labor so I’m wondering… what did the start of labor feel like for you? I’m at risk for preterm birth so just curious what signs other than contractions to look out for. I have a history of Braxton Hicks that come in a pattern which makes determining if they are Braxton hicks or actual contractions.

Answer

picture cramps that start off like the worst period cramps of your life…and instead of subsiding they gradually get worse as the hours go on

Answer

I went early with my first at 34 weeks. I was having dreams that I was having these terrible pains in my vagina and I woke up and my body was numb. Only because I was realizing I was actually having contractions. So I got up and went to the couch and just got one of those timers on my phone and started timing them. Braxtons are usually a lot higher in your abdomen. Right now, it feels like my contractions are right under my ribs from my Braxtons (im 34 weeks tomorrow). The real thing kind of knocks yours socks off. They hurt like crazy. Braxtons are bearable. You can still walk and talk through them. Real ones really do kind of make you stop and really do hurt. That’s how I knew they were real. They were all in my vag and lower back and into my thighs. And you just have to sit there and take it. No moving or relieving yourself will help. And they are constant. They won’t spread out or go away. They will get closer and stronger. Braxtons have a mind of their own and come and go as they please.

Answer

after my water broke i didn’t contract for 4 hours , then contractions started as light waves and gradually got more intense and closer together . baby was born less than 2 hours later . i would not describe it as pain , just intense especially when i hit transition i could feel my body working to push the baby down . pushing was my favorite part , since i triggered FER i never really felt the ring of fire just a warm sensation when the head came through no burning or stinging like everyone says

Answer

I woke up that morning and noticed I was cramping, but it was rhythmic. I didn’t have any of the belly tightening that I was always told about. We started making our way towards the hospital when they were 4-5 minutes apart and we had a 1.5 hour drive. When I got to the hospital I was still walking and talking through them, they just felt like period cramps. I didn’t really believe I was in labor until I found out I was 6cm dilated and once the back labor kicked in (think of the worst backache you’ve ever had and multiply that by a million) I had no doubts.

Answer

Look into hypnobirthing it will help with the pain, for me it made natural birth the best feeling to the point it was fast and easy and I actually can’t wait to experience it again.

Answer

Wishing you the best. I promise if you look to Bridget Tyler's youtube channel all about better birthing you ll be glad you did. I had no idea what to expect w my forst and my second. ..or better I had no idea I could make labor go faster or be more mentally manageable.  - Lots of moms say it s mostly mental. I agreed by my 4th baby bc you can tell yourself " I got this." Also any amount of prenatal yoga will help. Check out Brodget tho..she s the best and also Bret Latkin s yoga channel on youtube. As for signs of labor I had none but my water broke w my forat two n no contractions followed for hrs. If this happens you wanna know the different induction methods that can get you going ao you don't have to go straight for pitocin. I've learned some hospitals push pitocin but the easiest labor I had started w -1) Folley balloon inserted into cervix
2) Misoprostil pills...whi h are 2 pulls every 4 hrs for as long as 20 or 24 hrs n then if need ve they d go e you pitocin n likely your cervix is already dilatedsome. The thing about miso that I love is y I u aren't hooked to n IV straight away like w pitocin. You get to walk around wherever..evwn outaode for 2 hrs and then you go on the bab u heartrate mo itor in your room for 2 hrs.  Some people say pitocin contractions are harder than regular but after 2 labors w pitocin n 2 without I say some  interactions without pitcin felt just just same. The difference is pitocin can have negative effects on Baby and mom and also often make women want an epidural which can slow labor down some hrs and also can make it hard for you to know what to do in the pushing stage. I ll never have another epidural bc I dis it without n felt so so empowered. There are situations where I see why I got them..like going into labor as I was getting into bed n having back labor ( which can likely be avoided w stretching before n during labor...this worked for me) . But I couldn't feel my leg and couldn't feel where to push so I had to get a vacuum assist which means a cut to the back.A great thing is the hyponbirthing apps that are super cheap w free downloads. Please check them out n if you can get a doula that knows massage and uses essential oils you ll be in great shape. Having a woman who can help you decide what to do or just reinforce what s going on ( since all women  have a moment where they think they ve reached their limit of what they wanna dea w - say the doulas- ...) n check out the Rebozo method ! Best luck

Answer

My first contraction came immediately after I heard and felt a 'snap' in my belly.
My water had broke but it didn't gush out all at once like it does for some people. It came out gradually for a long time and I had to wear big pads. 
After the snap I went to the bathroom and saw I had lost the rest of my mucus plug so I knew it was happening. Baby came 24 hours later. 
The contractions started very slow and felt no worse than a period (but I used to experience excruciating period cramps so I'd say they were more like a mild period cramp) 
The day before my labour I was very off, going to bathroom a lot and not feeling very hungry. I had a feeling labour was coming but kept it to myself cause I didn't wanna jinx it lol

Answer

Like sever severely painful period cramps

What Did Labor Feel Like?

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