what do contractions feel like??

Question

does it feel like someone jabing a knife in to your crotch?? i keep on feeling this sensation not on a regular basis though and my baby will not stop moving it seems like he is digging a hole in my belly?? i have a doctors appt. today but i want to be prepared...im 36 weeks pregnant and this is my first child so i haveno clue on what to expect....

Answer 1

I asked everyone this question when I was pregnant with my first and I never got a straight answer! I can tell you now.....contractions feel like menstral cramps. At first it feels mild-moderate, but as the labor progresses, think of the worst menstral cramps you've ever had and multiply it by 10,000!!!! At hard labor, it becomes indescribable. If the sensation you're feeling is cramp-ish...you may be having contractions. If they are sharp, then it's something else....maybe your uterus stretching or him hitting some nerve. I hope this helps! Good luck!

Answer 2

It might be just your baby kicking at your cervix which can be painful if baby hasn't turned head down yet. If it is, it might be the head pressing on a nerve. Also I had really bad joint and pelvic pains around the same time when your pelvis starts to get wider to prepare for delivery. ,Contractions, when they are not the beginning of the delivery process, are rarely painful. They feel like your belly suddenly turning into a water-melon or a basketball - it gets really hard. It's quite uncomfortable but not painful. When real contractions start, your belly gets hard the same way as in Braxton-Hicks contraction but it's accompanied by pain. The pain with my first contractions was very mild, very similar to menstrual cramps. I was given oxytocin to speed up dilation and then the real pain started. Only it was in the back because of my daughter's position - she was facing front and the back of her head was pressing badly a nerve in my back that made pain unbearable. I asked for an epidural but even after that I could still tell contractions by the hardening of my belly although I didn't feel any pain.

Answer 3

The jabbing feeling is probably from the baby's head being on your cervix. I've felt it many times before and it is awful. If you've ever had gas pain during your pregnancy, it's a close match to how contractions will feel. The good part is that while gas pain can stay for a long time, contractions will usually come on, get stronger, decrease and go away. You will usually in the beginning have a short break in between them. Your stomach will tighten and you will feel the pain. The key is to relax and breath deeply. This will help lessen the pain.

Answer 4

Ever have one of those stomachaches where you RUN to the bathroom and it goes away by the time you get there? That's how mine started. On top of that I had a pitocin drip and no pain killers. Luckily the body produces a chemical that produces amnesia to most of it.Go see the doctor if you're concerned and don't be embarrassed they've had a lot of people come in with false contractions (Braxton Hicks) or gas and heartburn It's better to be safe than sorry.Also at 36 weeks it quite possibly is labor! My 1st son came 2 weeks early, my 2nd son 2 weeks late.CONGRATULATIONS!!! Yeah it hurts but it's so worth it

Answer 5

sounds like your cervix is getting ready for your baby to come. I found this on a web sight
Six Signs that Labor is Within a Few Weeks or Days:
1. Lightening: You can breathe again! This is an indication that the baby has dropped, settling deeper into your pelvis and relieving some of the pressure on your diaphragm, so you are not so short of breath. You may feel increased pressure on your bladder, which means more trips to the bathroom. Others may comment on your changed appearance, although you might not be aware of it at all.

2. Bloody show: Loss of mucus plug. During pregnancy, a thick plug of mucus protects your cervical opening from bacteria entering the uterus. When your cervix begins to thin and relax, this plug is expelled. Some women think the plug will look solid like a cork, but it is actually stringy mucus or discharge. It can be clear, pink or blood tinged and can appear minutes, hours or even days before labor begins. Not all women notice this sign.

3. Rupture of membranes: Your water breaks! Only 1 in 10 woman experience a dramatic gush of the amniotic fluid and even then it usually happens at home, often in bed. Sometimes the amniotic sac breaks or leaks before labor begins. Your uterus is sitting directly on top of your bladder, which can cause you to leak urine. Sometimes it can be quite difficult to distinguish urine from amniotic fluid.

If your membranes have ruptured and you are leaking amniotic fluid, it will be an odorless fluid. This can occur with a sudden gush or a constant trickle. If you notice fluid leaking, you need to try to determine if it smells like urine or if it is odorless. If it does not seem to be urine, you would want to contact your health care provider.

Until you see your physician or midwife do not use tampons, have sexual intercourse or do anything that would introduce bacteria to your vagina. Let your health care provider know if the fluid is anything other than clear and odorless, particularly if it's green or foul smelling, because this could be a sign of infection.

4. Nesting: Spurt of energy. For most of your pregnancy you have probably been fighting the urge to take a nap, so you'll know when you experience this. One day you will wake up feeling full of energy! You'll start making a long list of things to do, things to clean, things to buy and everything you've put off doing will become a high priority. In all your preparations, don't forget that “Labor Day” may be just around the corner so save some energy.

5. Effacement: Thinning of the cervix. Usually in the last month the cervix begins to stretch and thin. This process means the lower segment of the uterus is getting ready for delivery. A thin cervix will also allow the cervix to dilate more easily.

Your health care provider may check for effacement in the final 2 months of pregnancy. Effacement is measured in percentages. You may hear your helath care provider say,“You are 25% effaced, 50% effaced, 75%...” The Braxton Hicks contractions or “practice contractions” you have been experiencing may play a part in the effacement process. You will not be able to determine your effacement process, this can only be done by a health care provider. exam.

6. Dilation: Opening of the cervix. Dilation is the process of the cervix opening in preparation for childbirth. Dilation is measured in centimeters or, less accurately, in “fingers” during an internal (manual) pelvic exam. “Fully dilated” means you're at 10 centimeters and are ready to give birth. In the same way that your health care provider may be checking for effacement in the last 2 months, your health care provider may also tell you how many centimeters your cervix has dilated.

One SURE Sign Labor is Really Happening:
Consistent Contractions: When you begin to experience regular uterine contractions, this is the strongest indication that you are in labor. This is the time to get your notebook to record the exact time each one begins and how long it lasts. These contractions feel like menstrual cramps or a low backache that comes and goes at 20 to 30 minute intervals. Gradually, the aching or cramping becomes stronger and lasts longer. When your contractions are consistantly 5 minutes apart, it's time to call your health care provider

Answer 6

No now not even near. braxton hicks is whilst your complete stomach will get truly tight for seconds to mins,looks like stress,cant breathe and a bit tiny cramp. Real contractions think EXACTLY like your interval cramps however soooo a lot more severe. U will absolutely recognize whilst it's truly hard work or now not. The affliction won't get larger however handiest worsen...suppose again to whilst u had quite dangerous cramps together with your interval and multiply that via one hundred...with an epidural and a few affliction meds u will manipulate...well good fortune!!

Answer 7

what you are explaining sounds a bit like Braxton hicks to me . ( practice contractions )
With my 1st baby i had had a really bad cold and a cough. so when i went into labour I had no idea i was actually in labour. It felt like to me that i had pulled a muscle in my lower stomache from coughing. it was like a searing cramp. a lot more deep and painfull than period cramp. .. so .... i sat at home for 5 hours putting up with the so called spasms i was having ... only then did my mother in law actually start to time theses spasms. when she realised they were coming every 15-20 mins and were regular did she then advice me i may actually be in labour. I was only 28 weeks gestation and did not beleive her for one second. but deep down i sort of knew she was right.
When i eventually arrived at the maternity unit and was examined I was 4 centemetres dilated. .. you need to be around 10 cms before you push..
as the pains got worse so did the time in between them.

I am sure you will know when the time comes for you. Best advice is stay calm and dont worry. if you feel unsure at all get medical help .

good luck xxxxxxxxxx

Answer 8

Contractions are a tightening in your stomach usually from the back to the front. You will know when they start happening and don't stop. They are a little painful and continue to get worse. You will know when you're in labor. Ask your doctor for some info on what to expect.

Answer 9

The sharp pains are not contractions.....the bones are speparating and your dialating. Contractions start around your back area. You kinda feel a discomfort first just around your lower back where your kidneys are and middle of the back. It's a different feeling. This is the first sign of contractions. It worsens as you get closer to delivery.........the pain is everywhere. But it goes away right after you deliver. Good Luck and God Bless sweetie!

Answer 10

Contractions have nothing to do with your crotch. The feeling is almost in-explainable. I would say it is the tightening of your stomach, but internally. It hurts a lot because the baby is making its journey down for birth.