what do real contractions feel like ?

Question

ive ben having hicks for the last week and a half..i know they could go on for a long time ..so tell what the real deals feel like in comparison?..im 38 weeks

Answer 1

1) They may or may not be painful at first, but they will grow gradually more intense in a relatively short period of time.

2) They will become more regular (don't expect it to be perfect, they could be about a minute off of each other).

3) They will become more frequent.

4) They won't go away with rehydration, laying down, walking, or light alcohol (I haven't tried it, I read it in What to Expect When You're Expecting; they are talking wine or wine coolers, btw).

I've been having Braxton Hicks for a long time (since about 20weeks or so). I'm currently 30 weeks and had one episode of contractions as described. It feels a lot different from BH and can easily be timed. If you're at a computer, you can use contraction timers at http://www.contractionmaster.com or http://www.dragonsept.com/mnfiddledragon/contraction.html . Both are pretty good, though the latter is better if you are going to be surfing the net while you're timing. If you're concentrating on timing contractions, the first one does well because you don't have to click on anything once it's active, just hit the space bar. If you do move from that page to another page then you have to click on the timer to reactivate the window or it won't pick up on the spacebar as an input.

Answer 2

my braxton hicks weren't very painful - just a tighten feeling with period-like cramps. Real labor on the other hand...i couldn't walk or even talk - it was unbelievably painful. You think you're ready for it, reading everything you can and taking classes, but when the first hard one hits, know it's nothing like you expected!! Good luck! (and get an epidural!!)

Answer 3

They feel the same pretty much, some women feel real ones to be more painful but they are not always more painful. Real contractions will also be on a regular basis. If you are having 4 or more an hour you should go in to be seen.

Answer 4

i have never been pregnant but based on what my mom says, they arent as bad as TV makes it out to be. When I have my period, sometimes I get cramps so bad that I cant walk, my lower body feels like it is buzzing, the aching is so bad. Plus, I vomit and get migraines. My mom was the same way when she was younger before she had me (the first) and she said that the contractions werent as bad as those types of cramps. I personally dont think that contractions are that unbearable if those cramps are worse. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

With both my kids my contractions felt very similar to the hicks, but were always spaced evenly apart and grew stronger

Answer 6

Just like the fake ones (So called Braxton Hicks).

Answer 7

I was actually in labor for 5 hours before I called the hospital and figured out that i was probably in labor...all I had was a back ache and i thought it was because i just moved into my house and my bed was burried so i had to sleep on a futon..

Answer 8

Sharp or some people pain in the back thighs and butt. You may start feeling like you need to have a bowl movement. And you may feel a little lihgt headed.

Answer 9

well my real contractions were 5 mn. apart and they felt like really bad period cramps and also you have that feeling like you have to go to the bathroom to do number two but really it's pressure from the baby moving down ready to come out!!!

Answer 10

I had low back pain that came several minutes apart. but like cramps actually and its not limited to your abdomen. If pain quits when you lay on your left side its not labor if it increases on left side go get checked odds are it is labor even if the pain is in your back. good luck. congrats