A big giant internal squeeze. Very hard to describe. It was really hard work, not what I'd describe as painful. Just all my muscles working intensely together. I had contractions at various times during the week leading up to labour and they felt like sharp catches low in my pelvis, but I mistook them for the baby moving and putting pressure on the area.

Early labour contractions were there but different.

Pushing was incredibly hard work! I gave myself a sore throat with the noise I made, and thank goodness for the birth pool, only my inside muscles were tired and recovering afterwards. Not my knees and legs.

I didn't find them anything like period pain! Everyone is different but we are all made to give birth.