What do contractions feel like?

I just wondered what contractions actually feel like. May sound like a stupid question, but I get so many aches and pains and stabs etc in my belly, that I just wonder if I will know when contractions start if they start off slow and my waters haven't broken.

Do they make you feel like you need to wee at all? Today when we were doing food shopping, I kept gettkind stabbing sort of burning pains really low down in my pelvis, almost felt like inside my vagina they were that low, and it would make me feel like I needed to wee. A couple of times they were quite strong and I had to stop walking and sort of bend over a bit and felt the need to cross my legs - got some rather odd looks!!

You know, it was only twelve days ago, and I really can't remember LOL!

I think it feels quite tight, and like a bad period pain, down quite low. That's in the early stages, later on they feel like nothing else on this earth!!!!!!!! Don't think I could describe that pain adequately ;) .

Good luck, I hope they're the real deal for you Min!

Min - i have been getting similar pains to that as well. I hope its not contractions. I have been telling my self thats its just bubs pushing down.

mum2bee, that's what I thought too, at first I thought it was an infection because of the burning but got the all clear. But today it was quite painful, there is definately something going on, just don't know what

Maybe bubs head bumping your cervix? :dunno: But I guess any action is all good :)
I agree with Sez, contractions feel like nothing else. I had a day or so of prelabour pains, which were very distracting, but when the real deal started, I felt quite overwealmed with the sensation. (I still had to be told that I was really in labour, though - I was already a week overdue and I wouldn't have believed it otherwise!)
Anyhow, all the best for your pregnancy - hopefully Leo will wait just a little bit longer before rushing out to meet you :)

Mine felt like a tight hot pain at my cervix and an ache in my back. As labour went on the hotness became like a long chinese burn each time. Was okay, breathtaking but never totally unbearable. The rests in between sure are welcome though :)

Mine were the same as what you described hoobley and I had alot of back labour too, I had an epi so cant really remember what it was like at full peak as I didnt really experiance it but the epi did wear off at one stage and it was alot of burning in my hip and tummy it took my breath away.

Sorry Min, didn't realise you are only 34 weeks, hope bubs hangs in there a bit longer!

Yep, I had the back pains too as Nicholas was posterior - ouch! They hurt worse than the contractions! But yes, the rests in between make it bearable for sure :)

Fletch, I love that, fart pains! Can't say it felt similar to me, but it's funny all the same!

To begin with, mine felt like a strong cramp in my lower tummy and a tightening at the same time. After a little bit, it started to feel like a pain in my lower tummy which then moved to my back, then my whole tummy went hard - starting at the bottom and moving to the top, then i felt pain in my entire tummy.

OK cool, so sounds like nothing to worry about then. I get braxton hicks all the time, have for months, sometimes they are alightly painful because I get them so strong, and I get all the hardening etc, so I guess contractions will just be like that with a hell of a lot more pain - something to look forward to!!

Also Min with my ds I had pre labour for almost 2 weeks before he came along, I dialated 2cm and the contractions were painfull and tiring so maybe it is your body preparing for the actual event, same as braxton hicks I guess really isnt it.

Mine felt like very vague period pains to start with and I noticed that they kind of came and went. I started keeping an eye on the clock and noticed I was feeling something every 11 minutes. They slowly became stronger and stronger and closer and closer together. But I would definitely describe mine as like period cramps.

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.

I am sure I will do lots of that - mainly at DH!!

I didn't actually scream AT anyone, but I did find that moaning and groaning long and loud during contractions was a fantastic pain release. I'm sure everyone knew I was there LOL.

at the beginning of my induced labour, it feels like the same cramps you get if you have the runs (sorry if thats TMI). Then after a while I began to notice them in waves...they walk in and walk out.

Just like walking up a hill...it sucks till you get to the top, then feels better when you know your on the way down lol!

Jac