What do contractions feel like?

[Atia_Julii]

I'm 34 weeks pregnant, and I'm not positive, but think I may have had my first contraction?  

It happened yesterday, and it was a painful tightening of my uterus.  It started at the top of it, and then traveled down.  It hurt.  Bad.  (I can't even imagine what bad contractions feel like!)  It lasted around 30 seconds, and then I had another one about 10 minutes later, and that was it.

I know Braxton Hicks are very normal at this stage of pregnancy also, but I always thought BH's weren't painful?  This one hurt!

Could my body already by gearing up for delivery day?

[forestfairie]

I've noticed most of my BH contractions don't hurt but they are uncomfortable. About once every couple of hours or so I get a pretty hard menstrual like cramp that lasts for over a minute (I have to breath thru them they are so tight). These just started happening a few days ago but so far I'm not dilated thinned, nothing. These contractions are normal per my OB and pretty common (this is my 3rd baby but I never had them this hard before). Im 33w 5d right now.

[BedfordGal]

so yes it's possible for bh to be painful, unfortunately *lol*

[BedfordGal]

Let me tell you...braxton hicks contractions can be just as painful as the real thing..i've been having painful braxton hicks almost continuously since 25 weeks...it's horrible! I've been to the hospital many times thinking it was the real thing but always get sent home...as much pain as i'm in and as regular as they are i'm not even a bit dialated or even thinning out so i think for me i'm being punished for having a scheduled csection...someone wants me to feel the contractions anyway...instead of two days labour as i had with my last..i've been feeling like i was in labour for months now. NOT FUN

[DoulaSummer]

Just because you can talk through contraction does not make them not real.  When you cannot talk through them it means you are in early labor (I use this as an indicator when my clients call).  There is no such thing a real contractions not doing something.  They

Generally speaking, if you can pinpoint where it hurts they are likely BH contractions and are not doing much "work", but are needed to help the body practice (they are DEFINITELY real).  Usually the whole uterus will contract, but only parts will be uncomfortable.  They can last up to 2 minutes and become consistent and then suddenly fade.  When labor starts women are usually unable to pinpoint where they feel pain and do not fade when you change position or environment.  Being dehydrated can cause contractions as well, so make sure you are drinking plenty of water.

Most people say contractions feel like period cramps, but I have to disagree.  I think they feel more like cramps you get when you are trying to hold in your poop until you find a bathroom, just more intense.

I think too many people focus on timing contractions.  Until they begin to make you cringe and hold your breathe, there is no need to time them and can put a lot of unneeded pressure on the mother.

Also remember, your due dates are ESTIMATED due dates (EDD) and can be up to 2 weeks off (not everyone ovulates 10-14 days after the first day of their period).  This why women can deliver between 37 and 42 weeks.  Just because you are 38 weeks according to ultrasound or period date doesn't mean you are 38 week and does not mean all babies are ready at that time.  41 week babies end up in the NICU for problems too.

[Cycl3Chick]

I uuh 3rd the main difference is getting them to stop or lessen being the difference.  I have really bad BH's where its like painful menstrual cramps but I can usually make them lessen if I move around.  The doc said it will just get more frequent and intense as you get closer to time.  Today I woke up at 4am with them and they have been going until now, and its now 1:30 in the afternoon.

Another sign that it could be real is if you cant talk thru them at all :D

[34kmaray]

I'll second the main difference is whether you can get them to stop/ lessen or not. BH usually subside with a change of position, resting, drinking lots of water, or emptying your bladder.  When it's the real thing it only gets worse, no matter what you do - When I went to the hospital at 30 weeks with contractions I had already tried all those things for 3 hours & they only got stronger. (Dr. blamed it on a stomach virus, stopped with meds, IVs, & hospital rest for 4 more hours.) Hopefully, your body practicing means when you get to 38 weeks you will have already started dilating (you can be a couple of cen. for days/weeks, or just go all at once).

[Atia_Julii]

I think the baby has dropped a bit, because I'm once again feeling a lot of bladder pressure.  No loss of mucous really.  And wow! 38 weeks is just in one short month!  That sounds like perfect timing to me. :)

[lotsamommy5]

hey girl i know what you mean baout contractions. an yeah they say B.H arent suppose to be that painful. They do have a bit of pain to them but trust me when i comes to a real contraction you will def. know. but at the same time some B.H will be a littel worse then the first beign they are what gets your body geared up for that final D.day. If you start having the contractions try sitting down an propping your legs that usually makes them stop. but if they dont stop an they do get worse then you know they are not BH. an more power to you cause i'd be jealous i cant wait for the day to NOT be pregnant anymore.....lol im on child number 5 an im so over this stuff..haha. but good luck to you an i wish you the best just remember no matter how bad you hurt remember when it comes time an your child is handed to you for the first time. it was all worth it. an you have a beautiful life in your hands.. :) god bless

[Ashelen]

LOL I'm with you I would love Grey to come at like 38wks on the nose...a week later and I would be in labor on my birthday....40wks and I'll be crying to be induced again because those last 2 weeks are so miserable...so I'm aiming for 38wks. hope he cooperates ;).

I hope you go at 38 that only means another month for you !!! have you lost any mucus or felt the increased pressure from dropping? not all babies drop ahead way ahead of labor so that doesn't mean much but it's a good sign if they do!

[Atia_Julii]

Thanks so much for your response. :)  It's nice hearing from someone who has done this before. :)

I've also heard that the body can gear up for labor for weeks before the baby actually comes, and just based on the way my body has been feeling, I think my body is definitely gearing up.  Kind of makes me excited because perhaps it means I won't go much beyond 40 weeks which would be great.  I think having the baby at about 38 weeks would work great for me. :)  And I think my baby's lungs should be plenty developed by then as well. :)

[Ashelen]

that's probably a real contraction....I think there's too much emphasis on BHC and I truly do believe that you can have a "real" contraction without it leading to labor, because I KNOW what BHC feel like and they're uncomfortable, but I have regular, "real" contractions on occasion that are NOT BHC because they tighten my entire uterus and travel, just like you described...which is exactly how the "real" contractions felt when I was in labor with my daughter. and BHC can hurt I don't know where that myth started, IMO it's sooo wrong but I hear it all the time, lol.

I think the biggest difference between a BHC and a real contraction is that BHC only tightens part of your uterus and passes quickly but a real contraction tightens most or all of the uterus and can last for awhile...I had a GOOD one yesterday my whole belly popped out and looked like a basketball and I had to sit down...but nothing ever came after it so I didn't worry.

Sounds to me like a real contraction and yes your body definitely IS getting ready for labor...however...that could mean..tomorrow...or...6 weeks from now. But I would say yeah next time it happens find a clock so if another one comes you can time it because it sounds real enough to warrant keeping an eye on them if they start coming regularly, even far apart, because you're only 34wks.