it is very hard to try and explain what a contraction feels like. It is not the type of pain where you can put your hand on it to make it feel better, it's more like a cross between an intense period pain and a radiating wave from the inside out. if you are lucky like me (1st baby 4 hours) its wont last too long. it becomes more intense when thay are ontop of each other and you cant tell one apart from the next. just look forward to when you get the urge to push, this outways any contraction. please remember the is an end to the pain and it is more than worth it. im preggie with my third and i am more anxious than ever.and another thing, screaming helps, i dont care what anyone says LOL.