What do contractions feel like?

Question

I'm not pregnant or ttc, I'm just curious to know if they feel like period cramps but ten times worse.

Answer

Okay.. Picture this... Its like your uterus begins to tighten on the top and work its way down contracting all the way down... Its like a roll from top to bottom... They start off pretty mild like bad period cramps and as labor progresses they become more intense... Don't let anyone tell you they don't hurt. They hurt a lot. But in the beginning you get recovery time in between contractions until you are in the final stages in which it is seconds in between contractions. They are the worst because your body is doing everything it can to push that baby out. You just have to breathe through the pain and trust in your child birth classes/doctors/mom/doula. Any one or anything that can help you focus. People have different pain tolerances so medication sometimes is required. I labored for 20 hrs, no pain meds until the end. I was induced,(contractions are significantly worse when you add pitocin, like 5 times worse than regular labor. People who haven't had it won't understand) due to my BP being high. After 20 hours and no progression, they sent me to get a c section.. Turns out the reason the were so much worse is my daughter was stuck high up. (Cord rapped around her neck 3 times) so my uterus was working overtime.. I won't lie. Worst pain I have ever felt was labor. But every woman is different. Every pain tolerance is different. You do what is right for you and baby. That's what a mama does :-)

Answer

I guess it depends on who you ask.
I don't feel contractions until right before the birth, and even then it more of a uncomfortable cramping feeling but not painful in the least.

Answer

It's like bad cramps but you get little breaks between them so it's not like your in constant pain the whole time. It's bare able and can be done the whole way without pain killers. It does get pretty intense near the end because they give you less of a break.

Answer

My mum described them as period cramps but a thousand times worse. On my worst period ever I was literally writhing in the floor in pain praying to pass out for an hour straight, couldn't stop crying or screaming, painkillers, massage and hot pad weren't working, I had hot and cold flushes and just wanted to rip my insides out to stop the pain. Eventually I vomited and the pain toned down to something more bearable but my mum and her best friend (who also has kids) were both on the verge of calling an ambulance and words can't describe how awful it was. They were telling me later that I looked like they felt during contractions so joked that giving birth wouldn't be much worse but honestly it just put me off the idea hahah. I think it's the same muscles but just a lot more intense for contractions.

Answer

My mom said it felt like someone put a rubber band around her abdomen and then put a stick underneath that an kept turning and tightening it, then letting go, and going further te next time

Answer

Like hell. I had the worst contractions with my son. The ripping And pushing him out actually felt good compared to the contractions haha

What do contractions feel like?

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