BTDT - Early labor contractions - question

What do early labor contractions feel like? I keep reading about ladies saying that they were having contractions for a few days before they went into labor.

Do you mean painful contractions (like we're going to experience in full-on labor, just less intense?), or do you mean intense BH contractions where they're super uncomfortable and the pain is more menstrual-cramp-like than anything?

I'm due in 11 days so I just want to know what to be on the look out for.

Thanks!

Message edited 11/23/2009 10:43:17 AM.

Re: BTDT - Early labor contractions - question

I can only give you my experience to go off of....

I never had any BH contractions throughout my entire pregnancy (at least not ones that I could feel anyway). My whole labor process happened very fast, 4.5 hours in total. But my 'contractions' felt like just regular period cramps that would come every 10 minutes or so. Eventually they started getting stronger and stronger and coming more often, like the worst cramps you can possibly imagine. I never got that tightening feeling in my stomach, and I never had any back labor.

I know that's not exactly the answer you were looking for but I hope that helps a little.

Good luck!!

Re: BTDT - Early labor contractions - question

Similar to PP, I never had BH contractions until the day before I went into labor. It was just a tightening feeling and my belly would be really hard for a minute or so and that happened every hour to few hours. The morning I went into labor it started out as tightening with period-like cramping and got more and more intense pretty quick!

Re: BTDT - Early labor contractions - question

I had lots of BH contractions starting at about 22 weeks and then about 3 weeks before baby arrived, I had different types of cramps in addition to BH. They felt like a twisting just beneath my belly. picture a towel (muscle) just below your belly, and then twisting it as if to squeeze water out. That's exactly what it felt like for me. At first I would have 1 or 2 every few days. Then about 3 days before I went into real labor, I had those contractions for about 8 hours, and 2-5 minutes apart the whole time. Then they spaced out a bit more, and then they stopped. They were never terribly painful, but you were definitely aware of them. The next day I lost my mucus plus. 2 days later, those same contractions started up again 10-12 minutes apart. They continued like that for about 7.5-8 hours, and I thought it was false labor contractions again. But, after the 7.5-8 hours of that, instead of going away, they got closer together and stronger. I called the doc, he said that sounded like real labor and to come to the hospital, and sure enough it was.

Re: BTDT - Early labor contractions - question

I started having contractions on a Monday and DD was born on a Wednesday. They were different than BH b/c they were more painful and felt like intense period cramps. They were coming every 20-30 minutes. It took me awhile to notice that they were coming regularly and then I started timing.

I had been having BH quite often during my pregnancy with DD, so I knew the difference. BH were more tightenting of my stomach and sometimes it felt like I was losing my breath, but they were not painful at all nor did they feel like period cramps.

Re: BTDT - Early labor contractions - question

Last time menstrual type cramps began and worsened over the next 24 hours then I gave Birth...

This time been having menstrual like cramps for weeks and was told with subsequent pregnancies is totally normal...

Re: BTDT - Early labor contractions - question

Re: BTDT - Early labor contractions - question

Thanks for all the input, ladies.

It's my first pregnancy and I've been having BH contractions since about 21 weeks. Lately they're much more intense and longer than they have been (the hardness and discomfort, but no pain)

I've also been getting period-like cramps, to the point where I almost go into auto-pilot and run to the bathroom to grab a tampon! They're not incredibly strong - almost like the point before they 'break' and get really really bad, if that makes sense.

I just didn't know whether these period-like cramps are BH's or the start of the real thing.

Re: BTDT - Early labor contractions - question

Well it sounds like your body is definitely getting ready for labor... unfortunately it's impossible to know exactly when it's going to happen, but maybe soon!

Good luck!!