What do contractions feel like?

Question

I am not trying to sound stupid or anything but I am 26 weeks and beleive that I might be having BH contractions. But i dont know what they feel like.

Answer 1

Mine didn't hurt it was just like a tight feeling in my uterus and it hardened but only slightly, my heartbeat sped up slightly also.

Don't worry i came up with some of the craziest questions when i was pregnant don't ever worry about if you think you sound stupid chances are you aren't the only one who wonders :)

Answer 2

A true contraction is a muscle tightening that usually starts at the top part of the abdomen and slowly works it way down towards the pelvic area. Your belly will feel hard to touch during a contraction.

A real contraction will have some effects on the uterus opening , whereas Braxten Hicks {sp?} will not. The only way to know for sure is an internal exam by your GYN doc.

I had premature labor with both of my kids. I was on a modified bed rest from about 20 weeks on.{I was able to walk downstairs to lay on the couch for the day!}

Answer 3

Contractions are what the muscles in the abdomen do, contract. That said, they can feel very different. Sometimes, they are just a tightening around the middle, sometimes there is a cramp-like pain in the area. It can like menstrual cramps or like a charlie horse. Braxton Hicks can sometimes feel just like proper labor cramps or sometimes they feel like a general ache in the lower back that seems to go away when you move around. It is really hard to know what's going on in there and you will spend the rest of your pregnancy checking (daily) for contractions. I'm not kidding, you will stop and just try to feel if your uterus is contracting for just a minute or two every day. To know if your uterus is really contracting, drink a large glass of water and lie down on your left side. Place your hand on your belly (you may have to push a little if you are a big woman) and feel for the contraction. Your uterus will harden and push back against your hand a little. Now that I've told you that, you will swear you are going into labor every other day...lol. Drinking lots of water and stretching and moving around will keep you more comfortable as the pregnancy progresses. You will not mistake real labor for Braxton Hicks, you won't miss it, I promise.

Answer 4

BH feel like a tightening of your stomach (uterus). They are usually felt mostly in the front. Real labor contractions feel more like period cramps that steadily get worse and they are also felt more in your back and come around to the front. BH never establish a regular pattern and may go away with a change of activity or movement. Real labor contactions get longer, stronger, and closer together over time (also more painful LOL). Hope this helps ya!

Answer 5

Yes, it is possible to start having Braxton Hicks contractions at 6 months (I did with 3 of mine). These "Warm up" contractions have a habit of feeling different to differnt people. Generally its a tightening sensation in your middle. It can be slightly painful or just uncomfortable. Some women only notice their belly gets harder for a few seconds and don't actually feel anything. They can become more intense the further along you are. (and they probabely will). As for actual labor contractions those are generally VERY painful and to me feel like someone is twisting my insides very violently. You won't get to the point where you have the sensation that you need to have a bowel movement (as stated above) until your body is ready to push. Remember when in doubt, call you doctor/midwife, that is what your are paying them for :) Good luck!!

Answer 6

When I have BH contractions my belly gets hard and tightens up, it gets a little difficult to breathe, and it sort of feels like you just did 300 sit ups. My tummy doesn't get sore, just "aches" a little. You will know what real contractions feel like. In addition to what I described above there will be "falling to your knees" PAIN.

Answer 7

BH contractions are usually painless and they feel like a tightening feeling.

Answer 8

congrats first of all 2nd dont wanna scare you buy have you ever had t go to do number 2 and had to really wait something like that but 3 times worse but every women is different my sis felt mild cramps but the ***** had the baby in 2 hours

Answer 9

by no means do you sound stupid... how many of us sat up feeling our tummies asking ourselves "is that a contraction? no, no.. wait... it was baby.. wait.. that MUST be one" lol.... no... you sound like a 1st time-mommy-to-be! :)

braxton hicks contractions are different feeling to everyone.. they can even vary in feeling pregnancy to pregnancy! how annoying does that sound... lol... but? there are some things that can help you to figure it out..... one is does your tummy get rock hard in any place... some feel the whole thing get hard.. some just one tiny little spot.... that is one reason your dr has probably told you if you feel any contractions (or think you do) sit back... legs up if possible and relax.... not just to slow/stop them if it is labor... but so you can get a feel for what they are.... some women feel them as "cramps"... another as a back pain and that is all... very low back... center... me? umm.. seven pregnancies.. six beautiful babies... I felt mine mostly like a ballon inside blowing up... but also at the same time, tightening... and just to confuse the issue more? at the same time.. somehow also like period cramps.... it was tough to recognize that (cramps description) the first pregnancy.... after that, my naive self finally caught on... duh.... uterus contractions... equal period... and baby?! lol... the uterus is just a whole lot bigger... so the cramps are more defined.... blocks of wave in... contract.. wave out (receding...) contraction down.... I got warm even a hot feeling radiating at times with some of them... on the wave in...

some people and books say contractions "real" ones start at top and move down.. mine started in my belly... really they start in the back bottom and go up, around at the same time.. but I did not feel them until they were low front and rising up my belly and back....I bring this up, because I thought something was wrong with me.. this is how my braxton hicks AND active labor was... so I asked my dr... fifteen yrs ago... and no.. he said that each woman is going to feel them and have them differently.. and usually women feel their hicks the same as they feel their active ones.. only one does not cause "pain" or baby to come out... .. braxton hicks and "doing something" contractions always make my entire uterus rock hard, the same... that is the biggest way of knowing contraction vs. anything else.. baby can push and make the uterus feel hard? but not like this... yours will be unique to you in some aspects... just relax and listen to your body... almost like getting to know the different feelings really...

for some braxton hicks do not hurt at all... mine did... all the friends, family I know.. they did... maybe because they just seem to go on and on, so we get more sensitive? or maybe we start out more sensitive? do not know... it wasn't the type of pain where I wanted to crawl out of my skin... or "end it now" but the more there were.. the longer in the day they lasted.. the more it wore me down.... just put your feet up and relax with some juice.. rub your belly and talk to the little one if you can.... if yours ever starts to bug you.....


I did learn some things with having so many pregnancies... I am not an expert like some women who just "breeze" thru it...lol.... but I learned that when you are closer to the end of forty weeks those braxton hicks are more than just "practice" for each we all labor differently you have heard I am sure... some it is days... some hours... some painful, some not as much.... for me? (and my sister) it lasted weeks... no, no.. do not get worried.. what I mean is what dr used to call false labor and prelabor/latent labor... all the early stuff some women never notice... I do... and so what I thought were "just practice" turned out for me to be the actual labor... I include this only because those braxton hicks can start to get to be frsutrating... especially at the end.... and I don't want anyone to feel that frustration.. that feeling that they will forever practice.. and never get to be in labor.... it is a good time, now and later to practice relaxation/breathing too... if you feel the need.. or want to....
good luck god bless

Answer 10

they normally start in the back and come around the waist ,they feel different to different people,if in doubt call the doctor and get checked out. Good Luck To You