How would you describe the feeling of a contraction?

[mumofmany]

kinda feels like a wind pain too.. like you really need to well... fart! or go to the loo!

but they start low pain, peak high and taper off... like a bell curve pain (if you know statistics).

[Karina]

I dont get period pain, so I dont know if a contraction feels like period pain...

but my EARLY conractions felt like my tummy was tightening up, and it started at the bottom of my tummy and sort of travelled up higher till it reached the top of my tummy, then it would go into my back as well. Then it would stop... and start again 2 minutes later!

Hope that made sense! lol

[OceanPrincess]

Period pain for me is mostly in my back and that's where it all started for me. The actual contractions felt like tight bands of pain, right down low. I kept expecting they would move up my belly but they never really did!

I wasn't sure I was in labour until the contractions started building.

GL hun! Very excited for you! Try and rest tonight!

[paradise lost]

Mine felt like a chinese burn very low down in my belly (where i get period pain, but not very like period pain). It was a round warm feeling for me, not a sharp hot one. I didn't find it particularly painful. Breathtaking, powerful, immense as labour wore on, but never agony.

Bx

[Cricket]

Mine were definitely like period pain. They were in my lower abdomen, low back, hips, and upper thighs. I did recognize them for what they were right away, but then, I never really had much "false labour". The one time I did have false labour (DD3) I could tell the difference - somehow actual labour feels like a working pain. Can't really describe the difference, but I knew when the real thing came! I found it to be a real "achey" pain, deep in the muscles and bones, sort of.
I have had relatively fast, hard labour (7 hours, 7 hours, and 2 hours) so I do find it pretty painful and overwhelming, but I know it's something I can do, and you just keep in mind that each contraction has an end, and you'll get a little break, and labour isn't going to last forever. Each one brings your baby closer. Relax and breathe your way through it to the best of your ability.

Hope its coming really soon now for you Alibaby.

[Junglemum]

Oooo Ali, i hope this is the start of things for you! Early contractions are often described as period type pain....

[Kazbah]

Ooooh how exciting, I hope this is it for you Ali!

I was suprised initially that they weren't agony, I was expecting pain, but it didn't happen like that. It was, for me, a sore back spasm that passed round to the front and ended with a gut pain (like when you are constipated). They started off very mild and I was able to take panadol to not feel them so I could sleep.

I also wanted to go to the loo.

[Trillian]

I think DoubleDee started a thread about this not long ago and there were some great answers in there too - I'll see if I can find it.

ETA - it was Baby Blip sorry! Here it is https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...tractions.html