Just HOW painful?

[krystals]

Is early labour? I've been having BH all day that have just become a little more regular than I've experienced. There's no pain to speak of, just an awareness of tightening from the sides to the front. I'm not trying to talk myself into a 'this is it' kind of thing, as I'm not due for another couple of weeks, but just wondering your experiences?

[Livinthedream]

For me, and all of my friends, early labour is exactly the same as period pain.
So not very painful at all. I sat around for 5 hrs, going "is this it?"
But then the pains got regular, like every 7 mins to the dot.
That was the real thing.
Good luck xx

[krystals]

thanks for replying!! Unofrtunately (well, fortunately really!!!) I've never had period pain! How frustrating. But good to know you had a definite recognition point!

[deletedit]

When mine got 'real' they were definitely different to regular BH. And not that painful, just noticeable. And never closer than 10 minutes apart with the last baby!

[Persephone1]

My PRE Labour was just BHs that became stronger during the day. I'd also had some period-pain-like cramping the week before and some back pain,

My EARLY Labour was painful. The BHs went from being uncomfortable to painful and they became more regular. I dilated to 3cm in 15 hours of early labour, which I considered to be the painful contractions, not just the tightenings. The hospital considers early labour to be 0-4cm dilation, and established labour to be 4-10cm.

I think it's different for everyone, and obviously different depending on whether it's your first or subsequent baby.

[human bean]

It is so very different for everyone, therefore hard to know what to anticipate, for want of a better word. For me, well I still thought I was in early labour, but it turns out I was 8cm, and mine started as strong period pains and just got stronger, but never really closer that 10 mins apart. A few double peakers though towards the end. The BH I had throughout my pregnancy felt completely different than the period like labour pains.

[Visitor7]

I don't get period pain at all. With my labours, when the contractions first hit, they knock me for 6. There is a definite difference between pre labour and actual labour.

[OceanPrincess]

I don't get period pain at all. With my labours, when the contractions first hit, they knock me for 6. There is a definite difference between pre labour and actual labour.

Absolutely agree.

A MW told me that when there's no pain, it is most likely just BH. Real contractions are painful. In most cases!

[miss.cinders]

#1 started with a 'stitch' every 15mins or so. That was about 12hrs before I actually thought it could be labour when they had a definate 'period' type pain.
#3 was just like BH until about an 1 1/2 hours before he was born. It went on all day. My besty and I argued all day whether it was or not because I could talk through them. Turns out I was in labour lol

[*LittleMissSummer*]

I was in pre labour for 3 weeks leading up. The day before i had BH all day but they werent painful just tightenings but I was lucky in that my waters broke so i knew i was in labour. Then the contractions first felt like BH then period pains and then i started feeling them in my back and then OH MY GOD!!!! Which went on for about 18 hours..

[sassy123]

i had a really really bad back ache for like 2 days and was so uncomfy i couldnt sit or lay and when standing i had to sway constantly. then the pain in my back started coming and going 8 min apart and slowly went around to my tummy a bit but most of my pain was in my back and sides.