Contractions the second time round - the same?

[Arimeh]

May be a stupid question, so I apologise in advance.

In your second (or third or whatever!) labour, did the contractions feel the same as the first labour?

I didn't have any period type pain for my first labour experience, just the headbutting bladder feeling, and then just well... pain... lol....

So I'm wondering - will I get that type of pain again, or could I get period type pain? Is it the same for each labour? I'm just asking because for some stupid (irrational) reason, I've always thought that I would go early this pregnancy (had 28 weeks in my head) and last night I was getting some tightenings and some period cramps that were coming and going for a few hours. So of course because of my irrational thinking - I was a bit freaked out!

So I'm sorta wanting to know if I will get the headbutting bladder type pain for contractions or period type pain... does your body follow the same type of pain it did the first time round?

[~clover~]

I think it was the same for me with each labour. Every time I knew with that first contraction (though with DD3 it took 3 to convince me, coz i didn't want to get excited & it was still day time! lol)
I think you might get different descriptions of the pain more varied from each person bacause its so hard to explain what it feels like.
Its also feels different depending on how you handle it i think. For me I handled DD2's labour way better than the others, so I don't remember it being as painful... but it was!
Did that make sense?? lol

[Early Kids]

In my experience the earlier (gestation - early) labour pains were not as bad as when I had DS1 at 30 weeks. I went into labour at 26 weeks with DS2, I felt 'strange' was having tightenings which came and went like contractions as well as back pain which waved down my back. Apart from the back pain, which was fairly mild, it wasn't all that painful. However I was only in early stages of labour, they stopped it before it got established. Early stages with DS1 I was in agony, but his labour and birth were very much dry (waters had broken at 28 weeks)

So, to answer your question, yes they were different in the early stages. But once I was in established labour the actual contractions were just as painful. (DS1 30+1 and DS2 34+3)

I think if you feel strange and are getting period like pains which are coming like contractions would, then you should get checked out. It's definitely better to be safe than sorry.

[sasha]

I've felt some tight BH and I'm around the same weeks as you - I remember getting quite tight BHs with T at about 30 weeks, so I'm guessing it's kind of the same. They're not regular really, so I'm not concerned at this stage. For both labours the onset of labour was quite distinct - with S, I started getting tight period-pain like cramping around tea time but they were irregular and quite far apart. Same with T, but they got much more regular much more quickly! So I guess it was the same feeling but just a lot more intense with #2.

I'm expecting a quick labour with this one... freaks me out a little, actually!!

[Lisa]

All my contractions have been the same... from DS1 at 41 weeks to Noah at almost 21 weeks.

I definitely know it is labour when I get the contractions as they have that familiar feeling.

[Tinks]

My contractions were the same for each as well.

[MrsFabuloso]

Not sure hun.
With DD, I was induced after my waters started leaking. I hadn't had any contrx, and when I had the synto, the contractions went from 0-100 in about 30mins-1hr. There was no build up to it with her birth and I was in agony from the begining, I don't remember the pain exactly, just that I was in pain, kwim.
With DS, I had pre labour for weeks and the pain built up, so my pain barrier built up too over the weeks. When I went to the hospital and was told I was 8cm dialated, I kinda didn't believe it because I was with standing the pain sooo much better than I had with DD. I was just a totally different experience for me and I can't compare their births.
The contrax, the REAL ones with DS, tightenings rose from my cervix (as in right under my bump) up to the top on my uterus, and then the pain was in a band around my belly and back and hips. The begining of labour I was getting period pain under my bump with some BH, increasing in frequency as the days went on, but that was it, until I was in established labour a few days/weeks later. I am starting to get the same sort of period pains occaisionally now this time, and BH are getting more and stronger. I will let you know how the pain is for this bub!!

[Tegam]

I had 'normal" contractions with my 1st and 2nd births. Then the 3rd a BIG FAT ZERO! It was just like bad period pain. All down low and at the front and a hot water bottle there solved the problem. I did not feel one contration from the top of the uterus if that makes sense.