Help please? Contractions - where does the stomach go hard?

Ok so, for weeks I know I've been getting some contractions, and I know I'm already at least 1-2cm dilated, but I have a question?

With labour contractions, where does the stomach go hard?? I have extra fat on me, which when I sit up, gets pushed down by gravity (ITMS?)
But when I get contractions ATM, (im sitting up), the top half of my stomach goes ROCK hard, and I get period pain lower (in the usual area) for about 15 seconds or so, which gets more and more intense, then tapers odd and goes away.

But the bottom of my stomach doesn't seem to get as hard? It does go hard, but not as hard, I know she's bum out (face to my spine) so could that have anything to do with it? (I.e. Shes somehow pushing herself out, despite not being able to feel it) :dunno:

Just confused and being a first timer to this i don't want to get myself excited unnecessarily :lol:

Thanks ladies!

can't remember, but good luck - hope it's happening!

Mine started at the top of my tummy (I didn't really feel them up there) and moved down my tummy (I DID feel them as they got lower) HTH. GL babe. xx

Thanks guys!

Sunshine - did they move down during each contraction? Or as labour progressed?

For me Braxton hicks are when the stomach centre around the naval goes hard, whereas contractions were more like period pain, and they feel like an upwards tug, so from the lower stomach up (braxton hicks are a different muscle, the one going around).

How painful are they? Prelabour like that can go on for weeks. All good signs though!!

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Thanks guys!

Sunshine - did they move down during each contraction? Or as labour progressed?

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From memory yes. towards the end i can't really remember. But i have a vague recollection of the mw moving her hand on my tummy to feel the ctx.

Theyre definitely painful, but I can live with it (having said that I have a high pain threshold)

I've been having period pain contractions for weeks, since about 32 weeks or so, not much in the tightening way, but the pains for awhile. But I was just wondering with these tightenings because they're rather painful and I've had back pain on and off too during the week so far.

Try having a warm bath or shower and some panadol. If you find that you are still sleeping ok (as well as a pregnant woman can anyway) i'd say your ok atm. normal ctx feel different to BH ones (or they did for me anyway) keep an eye on them though :)

Oh, and I've also had ALOT of pain around the vagina (but inside) (moreso the lips rather than the actual vagina actually ITMS?), its hard to explain, but it feels very muscular, almost like the muscles are tearing, and is kinda sharp, but dull at the same time? Sharp moreso when I move. This doesn't coincide with the contractions though, and this has only appeared within the last couple days.

I think they are felt on the top. The midwife measured mine on the top when I was labour as I had very long contractions and she would keep asking if it had gone and I would keep sucking on the gas shaking my head lol.

Good luck hun!

x

Mine were like waves, my whole stomach area would go rock hard and if I had my hand there you could feel it wave downwards along with the pain. By the time it got to the bottom the top had started to soften.

With BH's my tummy would just go tight and there was no wave down my belly.

Good luck!!