practice contractions?

[ireland30]

I was reading and they say your body will start practicing painless contractions but this is my first pregnancy and have no clue what that feels like.

[ireland30]

Oh good charlie horse in the stomach that's pleasant. I get them in my leg as is and always have since I was young

[SJQ2015]

They are called braxton hicks. Chances are you have had them but haven't noticed as early in pregnancy they tend to be painless and infrequent. Later in pregnancy you will feel them. They will feel like a cramp or rly bad muscle spasm like a charlie horse in ur uterus. A change in position and a cool glass of water will make them go away. Unlike real contractions, which will not go away when you change position and will come at regular intervals and gradually increase in length and intensity. Real contractions feel differant for each pregnancy. They may seem to start at the back and wrap around to the front. Or feel like a squeezing working from the top of ur uterus and down.

[PoeticPep]

Yes it's normal bt they dnt always hurt. I've felt my uterus contract since I knew I was pregnant. No pain tho. Doc recommends lot's of water.

[kelliadrian]

This is my second pregnancy and the way they feel to me is my stomach tightening up a LOT. If you push on your tummy like below your belly button it will feel very hard..mine don't usually cause me pain. If you get them to the point they're uncomfortable, try drinking some water. And do the opposite of whatever you were doing when you first got the contractions. If you were laying down, walk around. Etc. This is all advice straight from my doctor.

[Danielleberger1]

I'm a ftm too. I just have someone I work with who told me about them. But I'm also feeling things way sooner than most. Like I felt my baby move around 10 weeks.

[cadosanjos]

I am only 19 weeks and sometimes I feel like I have already been experiencing them...but then again I am also a ftm so it's very hard to tell!

[ireland30]

Oh.  Ok thanks ladies I wasn't sure. I am almost 22 weeks and haven't had them yet Than. I haven't experienced that.

[Destynee2015]

Yep, they can feel like mild cramps and your belly may feel rock hard like its tightening up.

[Danielleberger1]

I had someone tell me today they are like cramps. I started feeling them this week and I'm 21 almost 22 weeks.