How would YOU describe a contraction?

Question

I am currently 36+5 and have not experienced any type of contractions until now (I think). I am feeling dull period like cramps in my lower abdomen that kind of radiate towards my backbone, but they are so irregular I don't know if they are BH/contractions or just my body preparing for labor? 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

Answer

So with my son they squeezed all the way around my body. It was like someone had both hands around my entire lower area and just squeezed as hard as they could. 
This time I have been having period like cramping and tightening of my belly irregularly. I have gone into the hospital and they are registering as contractions, but I’m not sure if that means they are still only Braxton Hicks or actual contractions that just aren’t real labor yet? 🤷🏼‍♀️ on Friday I was 80% effaced, 1 cm dilated, and baby was at station zero.

Answer

Braxton Hicks, are more of an uncomfortable tightening in the abdomen. They also feel like an elephant sitting on my chest lol but not painful. 
Now, as far as REAL contractions go, I just have no words. I guess it would be like a period cramp that gradually gets more painful every time it happens 🤷🏻‍♀️

Answer

My uterus will get really tight/hard and it is painful

Answer

I never had any with my first until I was in labor. This time around they are painful, even Braxton hicks can be painful but most of the time they just tightened up my cervix/belly. But real contractions for me get gradually more intense. Like one second I'm walking through it, the next I'm curled over trying to breath through it.

Answer

Mild period cramps along with a tight uterus, maybe some back pain, for the early contractions. Then like some giant it squeezing your whole belly, back and abs for the latter ones.

Answer

So I've been having period like cramps for 2 weeks now. They started as soon as my body started to dilate. Now I'm experiencing diarrhea like cramping. It's sooo much more intense. I wonder if I'm in active labor now.. I'll find out how many cm I'm dilated tomorrow. You will have 3 stages of labor and 3 stages of contractions. Everyone feels them different. But as they say menstrual like cramping is the first stage Early Labor 0-3CM
Active Labor 4-7CM and Transition stage 8-10CM

Answer

For me, with my first two kiddos they started out like real bad period cramps (but like, REAL bad). At that point I was like “oh ok, this hurts pretty good but I can deal with it.” 
Then they turned into sharp pains, like a hot knife was trying to split me apart. I was on all fours every 4-5 mins in my living room, trying to make my way to the car. We got to the hospital and I continued the “hot knife-scream-cry-shake-grab on to anything nearby and hang on for dear life” contractions until I was 8cm, at which point I was begging for an epidural. I got the epidural and had to push shortly after! Oh sweet relief! Haha! 
All I can say is from my experience, you will know when they are real. If you’re having doubts or questioning your contractions- it’s not the real deal. They will leave zero room for error in your mind when they’re real. But that’s me- everyone is different!

Answer

For me they didn’t feel like normal period cramps. It felt like someone had a vice around my pelvis/cervix. They would peak then get much less painful. This stage lasted forever! I’m having lots of contractions lately along with painful braxton hicks. Hoping my girl stays put a bit longer

Answer

Painful, tight cramps!

How would YOU describe a contraction?

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