I know that labor pains worsen and change as labor progresses, but what do the first few contractions feel like? barable? crampy? will I even notice? how can you tell if it's the real thing????
2006-08-10 10:13:48 · 10 answers · asked by Jo M 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
You may not notice them if you do it may feel like a tightning around your stomach maybe some light cramping. The "bad" part of labor seems to start or have WAY more feeling to it when your water breaks. Because that is the "cushon" so to speak. Try to keep your body relaxed and all will go well. goodluck.
ALSO- When it is real labor the contractions or the cramping/tightning will continue no matter what you do and it will continue to get closer and closer together.
2006-08-10 10:20:45 · answer #1 · answered by embsmg 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most women would describe the first and early pains of labor as very mild menstrual cramps, but sometimes they are so mild it just feels like tightening or pressure.
You might also get a backache with it and sometimes the bachache sticks around between the cramps/contractions. That's how it was with mine.
You will know it's the real thing because as time passes you will notice an increase in intensity (either of the pain or the sensations you are feeling) and also frequency. But they don't always build up at a regular pattern. They still will eventually build up, though.
So basically time is the best and only way to tell. I'm 38 weeks with my third baby now and I've had a couple of episodes of contractions in the past 2 weeks but nothing came of them even though a few lasted for hours.
You really do just have to wait and see. Sometimes other symptoms will clue you in, too, like a warm feeling in your tummy, loose stools or diahrrea, musuc discharge or some bloody streaks.
2006-08-10 10:28:55 · answer #2 · answered by Veritas 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Everyone is different. Usually your first real contractions start out like regular menstrual cramps. You may not realize you are in labor until they become more intense and closer together, but you will definitely know when it's time to go to the hospital.
P.S. Some people get back labor which also starts out slow and gradually worse.
2006-08-10 10:25:11 · answer #3 · answered by matt d 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In the beginning the labor pains were not that bad for me. Mostly tightning with a little cramping. To me it was more like a sharp stabbing pain. I was perfectly comfortable though. It didn't get bad for me till my water broke or was broke by the doctor. After that it was a whole other world of hurt. Thank goodness I went really quick after my water was broke. Like 15 minutes after my water broke I dilated from 4cm to complete. Didn't even have time for an epidural or anything for pain. Of course everyone is different and tolerance to pain is different. I do however have a high tolerance to pain which helps. Once you see your baby you will forget about the pain. Good Luck.
2006-08-10 10:22:58 · answer #4 · answered by Kelli 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have had one kid and Im working on #2 now. When I started labor the first thing I felt was a big cramp then they just started getting worse and worse as the hours went on. I was in labor 3 days all together before they even considered taking me at the hospital. The 1st day wasn't so bad though just like bad period cramps, BUT they get slowly harder and harder to breathe through. If your watewr hasn't broken yet sit in a tub of warm water, it helped me. (Actually nothing Really helps, but it seemed like it).
2006-08-10 10:22:17 · answer #5 · answered by jrichardson65803 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To me, it felt like gas pains. I didn't even know they were the start of my labor until about 3 hours into it when I noticed the pains were coming regularly.
2006-08-10 10:20:59 · answer #6 · answered by thersa33 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The real contractions will be a continious time apart and start at the small of your back and the pain will move toward your abdomen.
2006-08-10 11:31:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
For me, early labour just felt a bit like I ate too much, or was a bit under the weather. Not as bad as cramps, just a bit nauseated from a swirling in my tummy.
Once you are in true labour, you don't have to ask anymore. You just know. It wasn't really painful, just more intense. Like someone pulling a tug of war, and your belly might be at the centre.
2006-08-10 10:22:01 · answer #8 · answered by Loulabelle 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i really do not know but i have had kidney stones, they hurt like total hell. some people equate the two together. i have a brain tumor and the pain is worse then k stones. the only problem i think would be the lack of pain meds.
2006-08-10 10:56:23 · answer #9 · answered by swollentoe68plusone 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may not really notice much until you start to realize that they are coming in a pretty regular pattern.
2006-08-10 10:26:13 · answer #10 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋