What did your contractions feel like?

Hi all,

Not 100% sure if these are just braxton hicks, but for the last few days (especially today!) i've been getting quite strong contractions, and they've been getting closer and closer and today they've been getting to the point where i cant really do anything while they're happening other than breathe through them.

(TMI bit!) i've also been losing my mucous plug too i think, rather large globs of white/very light green of "stuff" coming from my va jay jay, its not sticky except to itself, and stays together very well.
as well as diarrhea (sp?) alot too.

not sure if there's anything else to mention?

my main question is, does this sound like braxton hicks? they're up higher in the belly for the majority, and are somewhat sharp, but i also get period like pains..

just after some advice here? i dont know whether to just hang out til my midwife appt next monday, or possibly go in/call someone beforehand.. :S


Thanks ladies

I was always under the impression that BH were painless, but tight at the same time? IYKWIM?

My contractions were like period pain...

I'd give the hosp or middie a call just to be safe :)

Combining the plug with the cx's that you have to breathe through, I would get checked out babe.

They can tell you if your cervix is nice and closed, or if its early labour sweets.

Go in and see someone hun. It can't hurt for them to stick the monitor straps on for a little while and see what is happening.

My contractions always feel like bad dihorreah/constipation pain and it comes in waves that build up from slightly irritating to rather uncomfortable. The longer they happen for, the more intense they get. I have only ever lost my plug during labour or right before labour starts.

Fingers crossed this is just a build up and your princess can stay put for at least another 3 weeks :)

My contractions felt like the baby was headbutting my bladder.

My BH feel like my stomach is really tight and baby is pressing up against it trying to get out by explosion method. I do get some period pain cramps as well but they go away after a little while.

If you are worried - go and get checked out.

That's what i thought, but i've also heard people say that BH's are also painful.. its so confusing! :S

were your contractions higher in the abdo? because i seem to have both, lower and higher lol..

stupid bodies and not being consistent! lol :)

Do you remember that ad on TV where it had a balloon in a vice being squeezed? I told DH at the time that it felt like that in reverse. Like the vice was inside and pushing out, my belly got all hard too.

It's sooo hard to explain!

Sounds like you are losing your plug. Maybe call and tell your midwife and see if she wants to see you earlier?

Wow! i had like 10 comments in the time it took me to reply the first time!

LOL at the vice comment!

i may give the hospy/midwife a ring and see what they say.. if i know its not labour ill be able to relax more, but im just getting slightly nervy because the cx's have just been getting more intense and more frequent over the past couple days, and prior to that i've had heaps of period-like pains.. so yeh..

FX its just BH's or false labour or something!

Some were higher, most were down low... sometimes the pain was like bubby was shoving a foot in my ribs!

Fingers crossed for you!

Good luck!

Good luck hun! Let us know how you go :)

Like my spine was being snapped - but I had a back-to-back labour.

The very early contractions were very clear, pronounced waves of period pain teamed with a top tightening.

I never found BH painful, but did feel the tightening...but no period type pain to accompany them.

hiya, thought i'd give an update :)

i spent about 3 hours last night timing the contractions, as i knew they'd probably ask me how frequently they were coming, so i thought i'd time them, and if they're irregular, i may not bother calling, ill just wait til my appointment on monday.

but anyways, they were coming around every 4 minutes or so, (some longer, some shorter, but 4 mins was an average)

so, i called the hospy and they told me to come in, so i went in, and they did a trace on bubs and i, and it picked up some contractions, but apparently nothing to worry about, and my cervix is still long and closed

but they did say because some of my pains were so bad if they get worse (they sent me home) or doesnt go away, to let them know and/or come back in again, as they're not sure what it could be.

so they gave me some panadeine forte, and said if it does nothing, or little to let them know, and i guess take it from there?

ill wait til the morn and see if it does actually help, but so far i think its made it worse, i was in quite a lot of pain on the way home, and for awhile at home, but i *think* its starting to settle now.. but then it may come straight back again, just like a contraction. but then, maybe this pain is from having the panadeine forte on an empty tummy and taking about 15-20mins to come home and put something in my belly?

i dont know.

i wish our body's had instruction manuals!! lol! that would make life soooooo much easier! :lol:

thanks for all your suggestions ladies, but if you have any extra ideas, please feel free to let me know!! i would be more than grateful :)

xx