Contractions?

Ok...so I need to hear from other ladies on what their contractions felt like. I know that when I am in labor they will be painfully obvious...but I kinda want to know when they are coming on too! I have been having some contraction-like pain in my belly but then Blake will move around right after or during and I don't think they are contractions then. Aren't the babies suppose to be still and it is all just stomach muscle or uterus or whatever? Sometimes I can't tell..

I KNOW that when I am actually in labor I will know...but I was just curious what you guys have experienced or if it is even possible to describe it?

[Jem75]

super super tight and lasts about a minute......doesn't really hurt, but happening more frequently for me - number of times a day - but not regular. Can't feel movement during this time.

[ovaz129]

Good question because at my appt. this week my doctor asked how often I was getting contractions and I asked her... "Well, what do you consider contractions?  Because I get Braxton Hicks and they aren't painful."  Her response to me was "Ok, then you aren't having contractions because contractions will be painful."  So... I guess my body is still practicing away because my "contractions" are not painful at all... uncomfortable, sure... but not painful.  So, I really haven't had any "real" contractions yet.  But, when I do, I will let you know!   hahaha... hopefully I will be getting some real ones this week :)  I feel like I will be a contraction pro after all of these Braxton Hicks!

[AmyC311]

Yeah I am just confused. I have been having painful "contractions" (I think?) but it just didn't feel like what I would expect. It felt more like pushing "out" instead of pushing "in" and so that is why I think maybe it was just baby pushing multiple places at once. And it wasn't always my WHOLE stomach...sometimes it would just be lower...but those were more typical of contractions as I have come to expect them. It was just an odd night to be honest last night. I kept waking up to them thinking "What the heck?" I guess they were just odd Braxton Hicks...because they never got worse and now I don't have them at all.

But last night was definitely an odd night! haha I kept saying to my husband "I don't think we are going to go to the hospital anytime soon but I really wish I could figure out what is going on down here..." I try not to alarm him because he is always like "Do you think you are going into labor??" Part of me thinks I never will so I just figure whatever I am experiencing is odd but not real.

Also lots and lots of more achey (achy) pains in the vagina area...ouch. :(

[Jem75]

ok - i forgot to tell you (when I was typing last night my post above my husband was getting irritated that i was on the computer at 11 pm and he was trying to go to bed - haha) but last week my DR put that little disk on me and she said i was having lots of contractions but I did not even feel a single one. I think they hurt more as you get into active labor.

funny how you say it is specific to a part of your belly - mine hardens mid to upper - and I have not dropped. it does not harden as much in my lower belly. At least I don't think so.

Are contractions bad for baby do you know?

[AmyC311]

No I don't think contractions are bad for the baby...As far as I know it is purely exterior to the baby and don't effect the actual baby. I am sure they might notice things are getting cramped but I dont' think it is anything more than that.

I am not sure if I have dropped. I thought I did but then apparently I didn't. I read in What to Expect that you can semi-drop and then un-drop but that isn't after you "officially" drop I guess. I guess baby can act like she is going to drop and then float right back up! haha. I think by now I have dropped...my stomach looks smaller in a weird way..lower and more compact. I still have some trouble breathing. Breathing and eating ***** sometimes!

[mommom2]

O.K., now mine's been almost 4 years ago. But when I had my son, I went up to the hospital twice with false labor the week that I did in fact go into labor. the false labor were regular contractions, they hurt but not super bad (I wasn't doubled over). I WALKED into the hospital both times and they told me "you're not in labor" and I remember thinking "how do you know?!" so they'd hook me up to the machines to monitor the baby's heartbeat and my contractions, and they were right, I wasn't in labor.  The night I did go into labor, my contractions started at 8:30 P.M., they were regular and hurt, not terrible though, I started timing, they were 8 minutes apart, but I just stayed put on my couch. At 10:00 they were 6 minutes apart, a lot stronger and I had severe pain all across my lower back. I was scared to go up to the hospital, but at 12:00, my husband finally talked me into it because I was in SEVERE pain from my stomach and my back (my back pain NEVER ended, I would have my contractions in my stomach and they'd go away for about a minute before another would start, but the back pain NEVER let up until I gave birth), I couldn't really walk, I did make it to my car, but once I got to the hospital, the security guard ran out of his little booth and got me a wheel chair and wheeled me upstairs while my husband verified my info. in the computer. At that point, my contractions were either 2 or 3 minutes apart, I kept holding my breath and locking my arms down beside me on the bed (I was sitting up, hurt too bad to lay down).  I did this until about 5:30 ish the next morning and I had him at 6:07 A.M.  and then -no more pain or atleast I didn't notice it because I was holding my baby :)  I didn't notice when the Dr. had to cut me or when he stitched me up, I guess you kind of go numb down there or he numbed me, I don't know, I didn't feel it.  
I'm sorry I can't give more info. on location of the pain in the stomach area, like I said it's been almost 4 years. and I don't mean to terrify anybody, I don't think I did, I just want you to know that when it starts happening for real, but you're still not sure - in a few hours, you won't have any doubt in your mind!

[Whitneylauren]

I never had braxton hicks contractions with my first pregnancy so I know someone else's experience will seem different.

With my first labor it felt as though my entire stomach was hardening. I knew it was labor because the contractions were consistent (every 10 minutes) yet painless. Gradually the contractions got more and more painful, to where I couldn't walk or talk, and closer together. It took me 24 hours to get to 4 cm when the hospital would admit me, and at this point the contractions were 3 minutes apart. Finally, when I was in L&D, I went into transition, which is the most painful part, and gave birth within 45 minutes. Everyone has a different labor experience, but you will know because the tightening will be consistent.

[tea_berries]

this is my first time to have a baby too and was happy to see this thread.  I could feel that tightening stomach you ladies are talking about maybe at least three times a day only most in the night though.  followed by a weird nauseaus feeling LOL.  then DH would give me a back rub and after a few minutes it goes away.  There is no timing pattern yet but I guess I am getting close.  Last week my OB said I am not dilated yet I am now 38 weeks and hopefully I am at least a bit dilated.  I did some exercises to help it open up.  I must admit since I went on mat leave I am always on the couch trying to get some sleep that I dont get in the night.  and the breathing problems are still there after meal time.   I sometimes take tumms to help me digest my food and the OB said these are fine and good source of calcium.  

I am going to see my doctor in a few hours from now and will find out if I am dilated or not.  I am hoping she would say I am even by just a bit. LOL.  I cant wait to hold our son

[justice6920]

Well this is my second baby..... But its been 10 years in between so I was having a hard time with this too...... I just was not sure how they are suppose to feel and if they are real or not! But i have been having tightening of my stomach and its a bit uncomfortable and hard to breath and i think those are braxton hicks....altho i do think those contractions actually do some work for us down there... and I do believe like Jem said, you could actually be having them in the begining stages and not really feel them until labor progresses.... its soo hard to know, i think that if its the real think they will get more consistant and more uncomfortable.... i do remember with my first that the contractions did not hurt until the dr broke my water..... I dont really think the baby moves much through them either....altho when the baby is pushing or moving it can actually really hurt and feel like a tightening or contraction....... I say just keep an eye on them and if your having more than 6 in an hour than hey maybe its the start of the real thing!!!