Question about labor and contractions!

What do contractions feel like? I'm so afraid I'm not going to even know I'm in labor despite everyone saying I will know.

Are they more like menstrual cramps (I get these on and off currently) or like gas or a sharp stabbing pain? I have no idea what I should expect. That and will they be very painful from the beginning or do they start off very mild?

Re: Question about labor and contractions!

You will know.

They are so different than reg crampiness because they have a very definate ....start, peak, stop.

I woke up from a dead sleep and said to myself... "oh so this is what a contraction is"

Re: Question about labor and contractions!

They start off very mild in the beginning-you could be contracting now and not even know it!

Obviously, as time passes, they become stronger and feel like INTENSE menstrual cramps.

At least this is how I remember it!

Re: Question about labor and contractions!

Someone had told me while I was pregnant that labor contractions were like the WORST diarrhea cramps you have EVER had, except they come and go. It actually made me comforted because I was like... ok, I can deal with that... it's not pleasant, but it's manageable!

For me, I had the worst backache ever the day I went into labor. I didn't realize it was contractions until I started feeling horrible back pain and it was accompanied by an unbelieable need to run to the bathroom and pee... and noticed that it was exactly every 10 minutes this was happening. After the first few, it became completely obvious that they were labor contractions (plus I was losing my mucus plug in huge chunks).

I had had contractions that were somewhat painful earlier in my pregnancy, but they just petered out. When it was true labor, they just kept on coming. The first few hours, they really stayed between 8 & 14 minutes apart but by the time I got to the hospital (3 hours into it since I had my bloody show, I wanted to be at the hospital once I saw blood), they were 6 minutes apart.

Do you know about the stages of labor? In our L&D class they gave us a sheet that talked about how long each stage lasts, how much of that time you're usually having a contraction, and actually calculated the average number of minutes you're actually in pain during labor. It really was way less than it seems like. But there is a "break" between the stages for most women where you actually aren't in pain and can kinda recover. But by then you'll be in the hospital and nearly ready to start pushing. You won't miss it, though. Promise.

Re: Question about labor and contractions!

Trust me, you WILL know!

I was afraid at first that I wouldnt be able to tell the difference between contractions and cramps. Everytime I had a cramp I would call my mom and be like "i think this is it" She always said to me, are you able to move still? If so its not contractiions.

For me, they started when I first woke up. Very faint, but painful. I went to breakfast, and then called my dr. She said to wait it out. I went grocery shopping, to the sprint store, walked the boardwalk at the beach. all while having contractions. They stopped me dead in my tracks and i had to keel over. Finally at 7pm I went to the hospital, by then, they were soooooooooooooo painful!

Again, You WILL ABSOLUTELY KNOW!

Re: Question about labor and contractions!

Well, you might not know at first. I had back contractions, and I thought it was just a backache cuz I had to poop. I slept though the firwst few hours, until they were close enough i couldn't get back again. It was a really bad backache and moving around didn't do much good - bending over helped a bit. But once it gets going, longer and stronger it's easier to catch on! there was no way i could do much during them, but they never got so bad that i couldn't talk through them (might have gotten the epi before that point though).

I never had regular contractions, only when I pushed they were wrapping around my side. So YMMV, I guess it depends on what you have.

Re: Question about labor and contractions!

im with you girl, im so afraid i wont know. And everytime I feel terrible im like this is it...but then it isn't consistant...

Re: Question about labor and contractions!

Re: Question about labor and contractions!

I promise you will know. I know you think you wont, but you will know!

Re: Question about labor and contractions!

I know everyone says you will know but I was in preterm labor and had NO IDEA. I was having contraction 7 minutes apart and felt something but no pain so I didnt think anything of it.
What you will feel for sure is a lot of pressure and tensing of the belly. So if you dont feel real pain.. monitor how many time you belly tenses up (thats a contraction)

Although the docs said that the fact that i wasnt feeling pain during my contractions isn't "normal" anything is possible.

I think u will be fine though.. Im excited for you.. ur almost there!!

Re: Question about labor and contractions!

Posted by KevinNKristin8-15-08

Posted by MrsW2010

im with you girl, im so afraid i wont know. And everytime I feel terrible im like this is it...but then it isn't consistant...

This is the same thing that's happening to me. I'll get cramps but it's never consistent!

Re: Question about labor and contractions!

Tightness in the belly. My belly got real hard and then soft, repeat. After awhile pain started setting in. I remember being SOOOOOO excited I was finally having them, then when they admitted me, I started freaking out, lol.

Can't believe this will be my last pregnancy

Re: Question about labor and contractions!

As annoying as this sounds labor is different for everyone. I started with back labor which felt like really intense period cramps but moved down my butt and around to the front of my pelvic area. If you have a history of ovarian cysts the pain was very similar to those.

The tell tale sign of labor is that contractions will become repetitive. Hate to tell you this but you may experience minor contractions for a couple days or weeks before true labor starts. But when it does start you will know.

HTH!

Re: Question about labor and contractions!

Take a small hand towel.

Twist it like your wringing water out of it.

Thate exactly what your stomach feels like.

Re: Question about labor and contractions!

Good Post. I am having some of the same concers.

Re: Question about labor and contractions!

I thought i wouldnt know either but trust me YOU WILL KNOW im not one to lie ...they are not fun

but you will get thru it and your little one will be here shortly

Re: Question about labor and contractions!

I was thinking the same thing before I had DD but when I felt my first contraction, I just knew it wasn't the normal cramping. It wasn't unbearable, but it made me open my eyes from sleeping like what was that?! And then it came again. I just knew it was different.

Re: Question about labor and contractions!

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh you will know!!!!