What do early labor contractions feel like?

Question

....other than the standard answer, "a tightening." Can anyone be very specific?

What I mean is, what do contractions in the 1st Stage of labor feel like? (Don't worry, I do not think I'm in labor... I'm just preparing.)

Also - where specifically in the lower back is the pain felt?

Answer 1

Labor contractions move from the back, or your side, around to the front of your tummy. They also move down towards your pelvis and not up towards your chest. In other words, if you have tightening and it starts in the middle of your tummy and moves to your back, it is "false labor."

Back labor is a low dull ache in the lower portion of your back, and is caused by the direction the babies head is positioned to come out. Basically it's little nose is in your back...won't hurt it during labor, and there are positions you can get in to help. Back labor is not felt alone. It comes with the standard "tummy labor."

You may also have occasional pains down your legs during labor, but again, not alone.

Your contractions will generally start further apart (esp. in a first labor) and then gradually move closer togeather. The intensity of the contraction will increase with each contraction as well.

All of this may or may not include a loss of mucas plug, or breaking of water. Either can happen at any point during your labor.

BTW, I am the Mom of five (including two birthed at home) and a doula!
Congratulations on your pregnancy!!!!

Answer 2

Okay this is what I felt and experienced and I'm sure its a little TMI but okay.. I had back pain, not really bad but enough to notice. Then about 12 hours later I was woke up with the back pain again, I thought it was normal. So the next day I was tired all day and I noticed I started to spot. Well the back pain got worse over the course of the day and the bleeding got bad enough I called the Dr and she said that I was in labor but not to come in until my contractions were 5 mins apart. They were 10 at that point! SO I laid down and about 6 hours later I woke up with the most awful pain in my stomach this time and let me tell you I knew for sure it was labor. SO many women are different but alot of women have the back pain, then can also feel like braxton hicks. If your close to your due date then the best thing to do it time the interval in between contractions and if they are regular and 5-7 minutes apart then you need to get to the Dr. Early labor for me was easy it was transition labor that was the worst!

Answer 3

I wouldn't think that early labour contractions are any different than "on time" labour contractions. So I'm guessing your question is really "What do contractions feel like?"

To me, they felt like really severe menstrual cramps, combined with the type of cramping you get when you have to have a bowel movement and can't go. I felt alot of pressure in my bowels, as if I had to have a bowel movement. This is because the baby is positioning and placing pressure on the bowels.

Labours can start out differently, you can have intense contractions right away and not far apart (like I did) or they can be very mild, an uncomfortable "period type" cramping for awhile until they progress and get stronger and more frequent. You'll know once they begin to intensify.

Answer 4

How much more specific do you want us to get.

Contractions are a muscular contraction of the uterus, you feel a tightening of your stomach... it goes rock hard without you dong anything!

It doesnt' feel like anything else.

Once the tightening gets strong enough it'll start to squeeze so hard it hurts. The pain can radiate through your back, down your legs and envelope your entire stomach. Comes in waves, getting closer and closer together.

It's a down and out feeling...

I'm 41 weeks pregnant now and the contractions can get quite painful in pre-labor, but nothing like when it's the real thing. You can't walk or talk through them at all, you just stop and stand there while your body sort of does it's own thing.

Answer 5

For me it was the absense of pain that was the give away. I'd been in a lot of discomfort with back pain and stomach cramps for days and had several practice contractions. I had one major contraction that coincided with the pain and lasted about 30 seconds, then it went, completely, all the discomfort was gone as if it had never been. I was very pleased and got up from what had become my customary position sitting on the floor, back against a radiator, went to walk across the room and the contractions and the pain came back with avengance, only to disappear again completely after another 30 seconds, then I knew.

Answer 6

For me, it wasn't like a menstrual cramp. It was more like something was twisting and the uterus felt kind of hard. You could even kind of feel it getting hard with your hand on your belly. But not everybody is the same! Some people feel like they are going to "poop" or they have a "low back cramp" or a "tight feeling across the low belly". It should only last a few seconds. BUT if you think you might be having it, or you keep getting a cramp that keeps coming back, DON'T take a risk. You call your obstetrician. Good luck!

Answer 7

There are several signs that will tell you that labor is getting closer:

Lightening: This is when your ""baby drops.'' You may feel as if your baby has dropped lower into your abdomen. Your clothes may fit differently. You may find it easier to breathe, but may need to urinate more often. This can happen a few weeks to a few hours before labor starts.

Bloody Show: This is also called ""show'' or ""mucus plug.'' It is a thick plug of mucus that forms in your cervix (bottom part of your uterus) during pregnancy. As your cervix gets softer and starts to open, this mucus plug will come out. You will see clear, pink, or slightly bloody mucus coming from your vagina. This may happen up to 3 days before labor begins or at the start of labor.

Rupture of Membranes: This is when your ""water breaks.'' The bag of water is the water-like sack that surrounds your baby during pregnancy. When it leaks or breaks, you may feel a slow trickle from your vagina or a sudden gush of warm fluid. This may happen several hours before labor starts or any time during labor.

Braxton-Hicks Labor Pains: These are called false-labor pains or contractions. You probably have had them during your pregnancy. As labor gets closer, these pains may get stronger and closer together. You will know they are not true labor pains because they go away when you walk around or rest. They often go away when you try to sleep. Braxton-Hicks pains are usually felt in your abdomen but not in your back.

Energy Burst: You may have a burst of energy several days before labor begins.

SEE A DOCTOR!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

It really depends on your body & the position the baby is in. My baby was backwards with his face on my spine which made me have very intense back labor for 29 hrs. No drugs) They say back labor is the worst. It honestly felt lie someone was pounding my spine with a hammer!!! No joke. It is a part of life & I would go through this pain over & over just to have my little boy. I love him so much. You'll see)

Answer 9

It feels like a stomach ache or cramping but it comes every few min or longer but it's consistant. And doesn't stop and gets more painful.

Answer 10

I feels like major pinching in the groin muscles. It is so weird. Wait until you get the real contractions. Hold on you are in for a wild ride.