what does it feel like?

Question

What do contractions fee like? Is it like a squeezing then a release or just a constant pain for a period of time??

Answer

The pain itself feels like the most intense diarrhea/ constipation pain + your worst period cramps because it consists of both sharp and dull pains. It radiates through your uterus up and around your back. 
You can feel each contraction starting and escalating up through the peak of pain then it abruptly stops until the next one starts.

One thing I wish I knew going into it is that the time between contractions Includes the length of your contraction. Sounds like common sense but it never sunk in. For example, when my contractions got down to 1 min 30 sec apart my contractions were about 60 sec long. So, the time In Between contractions was actually only 30 seconds At Most! Sometimes they came right on top of each other. 
 
That was the part that made it unmanageable for me because there was no oppportunity to catch my breath-- literally.

The entire pregnancy I didn't put that into perspective even though people explained how to time the contractions.

Going into it, the plan was to stay at home as long as possible and feel out if I needed an Epidural. I got to the hospital when my contractions were 2 minutes apart, I was 6cm dialated, and 100% effaced. I immediately asked for the Epidural because I couldn't breathe and with my pain level at it was, I felt like I wouldn't be able to actually enjoy my delivery.

As bad as the pain was, it really is do-able. As soon as the delivery is over (or the Epidural kicks in) you forget exactly how bad it was.

Honestly, the part that was even worse than the contractions was when they push on your stomach/uterus after delivery to make sure all the excess bits of lining come out. I would gladly go through a contraction every time instead of having them push every 2 hours.

Answer

Like a period cramp times like 10 million. It's not constant pain it builds, peaks, and releases. Early labor contractions are nothing (sleep if you can or rest), active labor will stop you in your tracks, but you can go on about your business once they pass, transition is like being at the beach and constantly being smothered by the waves with tiny breaks in between. I was completely in my own world during transition, completely conscious, just in my own world. Strangely, when it was time to push the haze lifted and the contractions seemed to slow down or maybe hurt less because I was actually pushing with them. I delivered my first without any pain medication and am planning the same for number 2. Remember to breathe, low moaning as strange as it is actually helps, and some gentle encouragement from your partner helps too.

Answer

Mine started like sharp back pain and wrapped around the front.  Felt very tight and got increasingly painful.

Answer

Real labor contractions are unbarable and you are in so much pain that you cant think straight.

Answer

I had back labor and have no idea what an abdominal contraction feels like. I felt nothing in front. But it felt like my back was splitting in half haha. It was horrible!

Answer

It's going to be so different for everyone. 
Mine started out as a general tight feeling across my stomach without pain. 
Then upgraded to severe cramping below my belly button all the way across from hip to hip. 
At the end of labor it was a tightening, with the cramping, but I had SEVERE pain in my groin. Almost like the worlds worst Charlie horse in my groin area 😖

Answer

For me it felt like a period cramp x100. It would start, get really intense, and then back down. Lasted about 50-60 seconds

Answer

Mine started in my back then slowly all the way round I had a traumatic labour though so my pain was worse then what it should of been 💕 contractions is just one of them u know when ur having them

Answer

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what does it feel like?

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