Contractions?

[jewmeg1]

In 34 weeks and was just wondering how someone would describe how a contraction feels... I'm worried I won't know when I'm having them since my mom didn't realize it for all three of her kids...

[beautifulmum]

well i have had 2 babies so far and trying for number 3 after i lost one.
with my first i was induce which changes everything and i did have an epidural when forced by doctor after more then 5 hrs of labor they are very painful and when they get to the point you cannot concentrate on conversation or anything else you know they are bad.
when i had my second daughter i never had contractions that i felt til i went to hospital after 24 hrs of my water breaking i was progressing and dialated to 6 cm when i go there but i never felt them. they gave me meds to make it worse and they did get so bad i couldnt do anything but be in pain they are very much like ripping feelings and if you touch your belly you can tell it is tightning and loosning .
you will know

[kaalaharvey]

I've heard and since I have friends who are both thinner and heavier, it sometimes depends on your size and fluid in the belly. My friend had so much fluid she didn't feel any of her contractions. I on the other hand, having normal fluid and an average woman felt every one of them. I got an epidural for my daughter but this time I'm going all natural. They hurt but they really are not unbearable. I didn't take birthing classes but I heard they help with knowing how to breathe but woman have been doing it since before they had classes for it.

[jewmeg1]

Thanks everyone.

[DNP47]

They made me feel like I had to get up and bounce around for some reason. My belly would be tight, but I felt really uncomfortable in my pelvic region, and with the BH I did not feel anything but the belly tightness.

[Clysta]

I had back contractions/labour, and with them I wasn't able to walk, sit still or hardly breathe through them. For me, it felt like my spine was being ripped apart and then it would relax. I would also get a tight pressure across my back that went into my sides.

Generally your stomach will ball up and get hard and firm, (though it might not be all of your stomach) and last for so many seconds - could be anywhere from 5 seconds to 1+ minutes. This continues at either a regular or irregular rate.

[KTowne]

If you have to breathe through them or can't sleep through them, it's probably real. My first contractions felt like I had to have a BM, a lot of cramping and pressure, then it just went to very painful cramps that started in my back and wrapped around to my uterus.