what do contractions feel like? December 6, 2009
Posted by guinever in : birth, labor, pregnancy , trackback
First time moms all wonder what labor will feel like and ask their friends what does a contraction feel like? How will I know when I’m in labor? Will it hurt? When do I know when to call my midwife or when to go to the hospital?
Some pregnant women are afraid of the potential pain of labor, afraid of the unknown. An important thing to remember about these sensations is that labor is a normal, natural process. This makes it different from any other pain you may experience. Remember that contractions last anywhere from 15-90 seconds depending on how far along your labor has progressed. Then you have several minutes in between each of your contractions so it’s not like you’re in constant pain for the duration of your labor and birth.
The best thing to do is just to take one contraction at a time.
what do braxton hicks contractions feel like?
- just a little downward pressure
- a little twinge near my belly button
- menstrual cramps
- indigestion
- don’t really feel them at all
- don’t hurt, just a little tightening
what do early labor contractions feel like?
- all of the above for braxton hicks
- a little pain that starts at my belly button then wraps around my hips
- all I feel it is in my back, an annoying back ache that comes and goes
- it hurts, but not too bad
- sometimes takes my breath away
what do active labor contractions feel like?
- pretty intense
- a pulling at my cervix
- intense inward pressure
- can feel it all up front
- radiates down my hips
- my back just kills
- a pressure wave and I’m just letting my body open up
- like I’m working really hard
- my breathing gets really fast and I have to concentrate to keep it under control
what do transition contractions feel like?
- overwhelming
- very intense
- hurts a lot
- can feel the contractions in my legs and I start shaking
- like someone is twisting my cervix
- the contraction starts in my front then gets stronger and more intense and stays like that for a long time before fading away
what do pushing or 2nd stage contractions feel like?
- the same as before but now I have to bear down
- like I need to poop
- can’t stop pushing
- burning right before the baby is born
what do 3rd and 4th stage contractions feel like?
- really bad menstrual cramps
- same as active labor contractions
- wait a minute, didn’t I just have the baby? why am I still contracting like this?
what did your contractions feel like?
Comments»
Hey Guinever! Love your new posts. How helpful for first time mothers to have several descriptions of what different contractions actually feel like! I have referred several pregnant friends/acquaintances to your blog, so thanks for providing such great childbirth information. I mailed y’all a Christmas card today, and hope y’all are doing well. As you’ll find out from the card, we are expecting baby #3 and are planning another homebirth! Baby is due in mid July, so we have a while! Just wanted to share our news and thank you for such an uplifiting site. Hugs to you, Elaine
helloo..i was curious about things so i went to google and found this website. i love the answers that you were giving and it made me learn alot but on question. Can my cervix still close even though i was 3 centimeters dialated?
I think I juat lost my mucos plug!, and I have been having what feels like menstral cramps, and a constant back pain… and I am really sore in my pelvic area! it hurts when i get up..to the point i can barely walk.. I am 34 weeks and 2 days pregnant! my cervix is soft and thinning too! should i call the dr today..or wait till my appointment tomorrw?