what do contractions actually feel like?

Question

im 38 wks and my first pregnancy i have had the brixton hicks but im not quite sure how the real ones feel like i have had a dull back ache off and on all day but not sure if that is a contraction or not i have been walking around most of the day and somtimes get a sever pain in my abdomin. im not quite sure how to time these either. please help me and thanx for ur answers

Answer 1

Okay Victoria. Brace yourself. Your having contractions. Take it from a mom of three who never took any kind of drugs that includes intervenes drugs and the epidural. My first labor was also a back labor. My lower back would hurt off and on for a couple of days also. Then it would hurt in the belly once or twice. Finally when I went to the bathroom and I saw my mucus plug on the toilet paper I called my ob/gyn. He told me to come in for a check-up and sure enough I was 4 centimeters dilated. As soon as the pain from one ends start timing it with a second hand watch. When the next one starts, stop timing. That's how far apart they are. However sometimes with back labor they feel continuous. It's better that you call your doctor right away. Good luck!

Answer 2

A full term pregnancy is consider anything from 2 weeks before to 2 weeks after your due date, so you are certainly in your window. Braxton hicks contractions are just another fancy name for false labor. Braxton hicks are your uterus's way of exercising to get ready for the work of birth, when you get in that 4 week window, they just change the name to false labor since it could be the real thing. Contractions are felt either very low in the front or low in the back (you would prefer the front as back labor is very painful and has to do with the position of the baby). In true labor, the contractions will get longer, stronger and closer together as time passes. Time them from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next, this is how far apart they are. This time will get shorter as your labor progresses. The contractions will also last longer, sometimes up to 1 1/2 minutes towards the end. Usually about the time they are 5 minutes apart, it's time to head for the hospital if you don't live far away (in which case leave earlier). Good luck and next time, take childbirth classes they help a LOT.

Answer 3

When I was pregnant, the Braxton Hicks contractions (I felt these ones off and on since my 4th month), felt like my stomach muscles were tightening up involuntarily, then when I was in labor the first set of contractions felt like severe gas pains but you couldn't fart to relieve the pressure. But the ones that really hurt the worse was the pushing pains, which felt like you had to poop but you had to "hold it in" until the doctor tells you that you are dialated to 10 and you can push when your body tells you too. Honestly I never felt the ones in my lower back. And the breathing thing is ALL NATURAL!! When you are having a contraction, it hurts so bad to breathe in that you can only take short breaths, which makes you breathe rapidly. I found out that taking those breathing classes is a waste of time because your body makes you take the short breaths anyway. And just remember, if you can't stand the pain there is always DRUGS that can help such as an epidural. But with an epidural, you lose the feeling in your legs for a while.

Answer 4

Dull back pain off and on is back labor. It could just be false labor, but they both feel the same. The only way to really tell is to wait an hour or so laying on your side and see if it stops. If it don't, then get checked out because you could possibly be in active labor. However if it stops while resting, then it is Braxton Hicks, but if the pain lightens up but still comes off and on, then go to the doctor, but make sure you time them while you are resting that way you know how far apart they are, and if they get closer together then its go time! Good Luck and Congrats!

Answer 5

I am telling you only how it felt for me- I'm sure different women feel different things. I had back labor, so I had severe pain in my back and abdomen. Each contraction lasted for at least 30 seconds. If you put your hand on your belly, you can feel it get hard while having a contraction and then gets softer afterwards.

It sounds to me like you may be in early labor. Try to relax, put your feet up, and start timing your pains. Of course, if you want to hurry labor along, walking will help. Just remember to keep track of how far apart your contractions are. Don't be suprised if the pain just goes away- it could very well still be false labor.

Congratulations!

Answer 6

To go into labor at 38 weeks is not abnormal.

Have you lost your plug? When I had my son I lost my plug the day before I went into labor. (the plug is a mucus discharge from your vagina and your first indication that your child is preparing to arrive)

Second, backache is a popular indication of labor. They call it back labor. :-) I had back labor and every month I get a wonderful reminder.

Start timing these "contractions" and eat very light. If you are in the early stages of labor your digestive system is already shutting down in preparation of birth.

It could be that you are dehydrated. How much water have you had to drink today? If it's not much then go ahead and chug a couple of glasses down.

relax, take a hot bath and enjoy the last few moments of being an incubator.

Congratulations and let me know is it a boy or a girl???

Answer 7

The best way I could explain how my contractions felt is that they were kind of likr period pain only worse, I also had pain in my lower back which gradually got worse as labour progressed. The actual contractions do feel a bit like the Braxton Hicks contractions, just more intense and the come at regular intervals which the time in between getting shorter. In terms of timing, next time you get one just take note of what time it is then take note of what time the next one is and so forth. Good Luck.

Answer 8

It's going to be different for every woman. Note the abdominal pains, how often they occur and how long the pain lasts. Some women have intense pain, for others it's less. Call your doctor if you're concerned.

As far as what they feel like at the beginning, it's somewhere between menstrual cramps and cramps you get from bad diarrhea.

Answer 9

Contractions feel like menstrual cramps times 1000! I didn't have back labor, but the ones I had in front were very painful and lasted for about 30 seconds at first and then longer as my labor progressed.

Answer 10

When i was in labour, it was like a crampy ripping feeling that would tighten and then go away, and then when it was time to have the baby,It was like this incredible urge to go to the bathroom and not the one that rhymes whith 3, yeah you got it on and off but you don't really have too, it just feels like that. I believe you time it from when it starts to when you feel a new one coming on. you'll get a cramp it will lighten up and then you will get another one almost immediately,

Hope this help