What do contractions feel like?

Question

I'm 36 weeks and counting down the days til she pops out. I was just wondering what a contraction feels like? I want to be sure I know whats going on when I start to feel them. So anyone who has felt them before, please let me know what it feels like!!! Thank you!

Answer 1

Like the others have said, everyone is different. But the best advice I ever got (and I'll pass it along to you) was that the pain doesn't hurt "down there". In the beginning the contractions feel like really bad cramps, but when you get to the "pushing" part, it feels like the biggest bowel movement you will ever have in your life. I was amazed that my friend was right. So don't worry about any pain where the baby comes out, the pushing feels like the baby is coming out of your butt!
No one told me about the placenta when I had my first. I thought I was having another baby. One last push from you and another from the doctor on your stomach to push out the placenta, it hurts for an instant like another delivery, but the release is so tremendous and the child is so wonderful that you will remember that you HAD pain, but you won't remember the PAIN itself (well at least I didn't).

Answer 2

ok all these people ar emaking it sound like contractions are no big deal. honey they are. at first i felt like i had to go number 2 all day. i had no clue it was beginning labor! then my water broke at 4am the next morning. 30 min later contractions DID feel like period cramps but a little worse. but dont let anyone kid u! they get so much worse! REAL FAST TOO! Ii could barely breathe! it basically is the worst pain u will ever feel. yet thats all i can remeber about it. i remeber sayin " i am never doing that again" yet now i cant wait to have another baby LOL. no one can describe contraction pain b/c there is nothing that will ever feel like it. either way everyone gets through it. epidurals are = love <3 LOL!

Answer 3

Well, I can honestly say it never felt like the baby was coming out of my butt, however the urge to push is similar to that of going #2.

Anyway, it really is hard to explain, agian, you will know like everyone else has said. One thing we learned in child birth class was that you can use your forehead, nose and chin to determine how strong they are. So when you stomach tightens up push on your chin. If it feels the same that is a very mild contraction. If it feels more like your nose that is a moderate contraction. If it feels like your forehead it is a strong contraction. I hope this helps somewhat. You won't be close to giving birth until they feel more like your forehead. However when you are that far into it you won't want to be touching your stomach at all!!

Answer 4

As almost everyone has told you, contractions are different for every woman. From what I understand, they're usually like menstural cramps, sharp pains in the front of your lower abdomen.

However, with me it was nothing like that. I had what is termed "back labor" (I'd never heard of it before). What I had was a lower back ache. It started out just hurting, and being hard to get comfortable. Then I started having waves of pain shooting across my back down there, as if I'd thrown my back out. Those were my contractions. I hope you're not like me, but I wanted you to be prepared in case you were. I was calling around at nearly midnight to know what was happening to me before I finally found out contractions could be like that!

Answer 5

Mine first started out like a real sharp quick pain. I didn't even notice any contracting of the uterus. Then after a while I realized the pain was regular and then I started feeling the tightening. Most people will describe them as strong menstrual cramps. Believe me you will know what they are when you get them.

Answer 6

OK when you go into labor you will know because you will feel the most horrible pain imaginable < atleast you think it is > but i have news for you honey it get worse.. It feels like just cramps in the beginning then it escalates into sharper pain. most women will tell you not to get an epidural but i have 3 children.. my first one i felt nothing pain free after 4 centimeters .. my 2ND one i waited too late to get the epidural and i felt every last pain and cut they did. On my third one no medicine only local anesthesia to the vagina.. worst one my advice and you don't have to take it GET THE EPIDURAL!!

Answer 7

Mine felt nothing at all like cramps. I have had four. Contractions felt like a dull ache that comes and goes. Menstral cramps hurt worse. The ache is like holding your mouth open wide for a long time. I used the Bradley method so my uterus did not cramp.

Answer 8

I wish i could tell you the "perfect answer" but I believe it's different for all women. With my first I was sick to my stomach, no pain ~ my second i woke up in agony ~ feeling like my uterus was being twisted in a vice ~ and my third felt like every muscle in my lower back was in a knot. when you're in hard labor ~ the contractions are kinda like a "building throb" you feel it coming it and gradually reaches a peak.

Answer 9

Charley horses all over your stomach, heavy back pain lower back. Also you feel like you have to go to the bathroom every 3 seconds. Pressure. Everyone is different and you will know.

Answer 10

with my first one i got induced, so after i went into hard labor is the only time i felt contractions. But its agonizing pain, maybe like your stomach getting ripped out of you by your belly button. with my second i went into labor by myself but i still didnt feel anything until i went into hard labor (about 1 hour before he was born). and then it was at first like i sorta had to go pee and then it grew into my uterus and then my stomach and just burst with pain. squeezing my stomach to nothing. sorry if it was gruesome but it truely is a beautiful experience. GOOD LUCK!!