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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Contractions????

28 replies

RachelPross · 21/05/2006 21:48

This is probably a really silly thing to ask and v difficult for people to answer but as a 1st timer I have no clue exactly what contractions feel like. Could anyone describe the feeling to me.
I've been pain all day with my back but don't think it's anything to worry about.
Also been having weird pains in my hips...god knows what thats all about.

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jamiesam · 21/05/2006 21:54

Read your thread title as Congratulations???? Hope it is soon.

For now, I can't remember what contractions feel like, pg hormones do that to you, you know.

However, I do remember that if you can tolerate them, they are probably not the real thing - I had extended periods of braxton hicks with ds2 and fooled MWs into thinking they were the real thing until examination revealed no dilation...and the pains wore off Blush

Had no bh whatsoever with ds1, went straight into proper contractions, 4cm dilated within around 6 hours - so if pains become regular and intense, phone MW/labour ward for reassurance!

Original poster
RachelPross · 21/05/2006 22:00

Pains are far from regular at the moment. Just when I move around, think it's more likely to be my body complaining about the size of me at the moment than contractions. Have been having weird pains and pressure which is apparently caused by baby's head engaging....to be honest I just want it all over with now. As a result i'll prob end up overdue!

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jamiesam · 21/05/2006 22:06

I suspect that if you go with it and move around a lot it might help the pains to establish as it were, if they are not 'only' braxton hicks. Good luck, hope you don't have too long to wait.

BTW, my braxton hicks with ds2 kept me awake two nights running, so if you can sleep, enjoy!

SHHHH · 22/05/2006 14:21

i agree with jamiesam, I also can't remember 100% what my contractions felt like BUT I did have bh and they were NOTHING like the pain I felt with contractions!!

If you can walk and still talk while these pains are there then it's likely to be bh or aches and pains in general.

I remember contractions being painful..to the extent that I couldn't talk or walk during them.

Good luck for when baba arrives. xx

kbaby · 22/05/2006 16:29

I remember mine started in my back and felt like mild back ache on and off for about 1 hr. Then I noticed that they moved around to my tummy. They felt like mild period pains and I wasnt quite sure if they were contractions. I was still able to move about with them for about 3hrs at which point I knew I was in labour and had to stop and breath with each one.

tallmummy · 22/05/2006 16:38

I remember mine started like a period pain feeling which grew more intense and tight like a band tightening around my bump. They came and went for a day or two and when the really big ones kicked in they and I was in labour proper they were really powerful and you can't do much else but contract!
Good luck - I can really remember that first labour- scarey but so exciting. Keep us posted!

Original poster
RachelPross · 27/05/2006 15:03

Still got the niggling pains, they come and go but have decided they must be bh. Feeling v tired and got very stingy pains in patches on my bump cos bits of the baby are stocking in to me. V sore. Can't wait now!!

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PinkTulips · 27/05/2006 15:09

got to disagree with the others here, i was 2 cm dilated before my contractions started to really hurt and that was a good way into labour. had kinda periody cramps in my back and hips for the first 12 hours or so of established labour (and 2 days of irregular ones before that) that gradually got more painful as it went on. not quite the same as the BHs i'd had for weeks before though, more in my back and round the bottom of my bump.

maisiemog · 28/05/2006 23:33

I don't remember exactly what they were like, but I do know that I couldn't speak during them. I was able to speak in between, but when the contractions started I had to really focus on DP who was helping me to breathe. I kept forgetting whether I had to breathe in through my mouth or nose and would look at him in a frantic way.

SomethingAboutMary · 28/05/2006 23:39

With ds when they started they were like period pains across my lower stomach & progressed until they were unbearable.

With Dd it was all in my back, it started off as a niggling back ache then just got totally unbearable.

Each time they came & went but got more gradual.

Goodluck when are you due?

Original poster
RachelPross · 29/05/2006 10:42

am due 21/06/06, can't wait for it now as am soooo uncomfortable

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PinkTulips · 29/05/2006 10:49

poor thing, the last month is the longest.

catch up on as much sleep as you can now, it'll be a long time before you can again, and go to lots of restaurants and movies and small cafe's while you still can Wink

good luck Smile

suzi2 · 29/05/2006 22:01

Everyone told me "you'll know when you're in labour"... but... I had painful BHs for extended periods in the last few weeks. The last 3 days before DS was born I had them every 10 mins and they were sore enough to take my breath away. But when examined I was told I was "weeks off". (fooled them there eh?)

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the 'real' contractions weren't obvious to me as they felt just like the painful BHs I'd been having. But rest assured, when I was 8-9cm dilated it was pretty obvious that they were contractions and I was in labour!

Sounds like you have the niggles. They are a bummer - the last few weeks are pretty uncomfy. rest up as much as poss and enjoy drinking a cup of tea while it's still hot. believe me that you don't get much of a chance after your baby is born Grin best of luck.

megansmum77 · 31/05/2006 22:33

hi there, im new to this, only joined today, im 38 weeks tomorrow with 2nd baby, my first daughter came at 37 weeks, so thinking every day could be it!!!
cant stop peeing, and having braxton hicks quite alot now.

Original poster
RachelPross · 04/06/2006 19:34

heard yesterday that some people can actually be havin contractions and not feel them at all...not braxton hicks...proper contactions! eek

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Xavielli · 04/06/2006 19:40

To me, contractions always felt like someone lighting a fire inside my belly and it moving progressively towards lady bits til it was excruciating.... imagining this actually helped at the end as I knew it was not long until the 'fire was extinguished'

Original poster
RachelPross · 16/06/2006 14:33

Strange back pains going on here but still nothing regular...v frustrating

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maisiemoosmum · 16/06/2006 15:46

i'm a 1st time mum too, i only experienced one pain about 10 days before the actual day, it was a real sharp pain down there, like someone wringing my insides, it made me drop to my knees! my real contractions started at 9 in the morning. it's a gripping intense sort of 'burny' pain inside. it grips hard, then releases, but not so bad you can't cope. the fact that my darling partner insisted i wasn't in labour because it was 2 weeks before my due date was the worst thing! i got to hospital at 2pm and had my dd by 3.45, with no pain relief whatsoever, and i'm just a lickle ickle lady!! (it is my most proudest achievement to date) your instincts will tell you when the real thing is happening. you don't have long to go now so get plenty of rest with your feet up. if you're getting regular pains and feel like you need a poo (midwifery term apparently Grin) then your lovely little one is on the way. best of luck for the birth, and it is completely true that once that baby's in your arms all the pain goes out the window. it's fantastic!

maisiemoosmum · 16/06/2006 15:49

quite right suzi2, i have now resigned myself to drinking tea and coffee 'milkshakes'!

Original poster
RachelPross · 16/06/2006 16:00

the worrying thing for me is that as I have been suffering with constipation throughout my pregnancy I have really been having those intense poo pains since 23 weeks. So now I have to go and try to poo before I can decide whether the pain is constipation or contraction...eek. My baby could arrive down the loo pan at this rate!!!!

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maisiemoosmum · 16/06/2006 16:36

eek! has the doctor not given you some lactulose? i had a big old bottle of it when i was pg. ooh yeah and some prune juice, sorts you right out! when you have a contraction and push at the birth it is similar to the motion of pushing a poo out (albeit a massive one). on the day of the birth, i called the mw and she determined i should go to hospital after asking if i felt like going for a poo and i said yes. as i said b4 my dd was born start to finish in less than 8 hours! so prepare yourself for anything. sounds like your having a terrible old time my darling! check with your mw to see if your ready to have some raspberry leaf tea, i had two cups one day on her guidance and went into labour the next day! if your due on 21/06, it could work for you. sounds like that little one is desperate to get out and see his/her mum!!

maisiemoosmum · 16/06/2006 16:43

ps, you may or may not know but the midwife advised me that apparently (the enzymes in) fresh pineapple does the same job as the raspberry leaf tea and lots of sex if you can manage. it's so exciting, you must let us know afterwards. (about the baby - not the pineapples and sex) good luck!!!!!! xxxx

shhhh · 16/06/2006 20:22

I also had pineapple,rlt and sex and dd arrived on her due date (sorry if tmi..!) not sure what if anything worked..!!! good luck. xx

pol26 · 16/06/2006 22:14

I felt like this with DD1 however, you know. They hurt and carry on and get closer together.

Original poster
RachelPross · 18/06/2006 19:27

still no sign of baby arriving. Been taking the rlt since week 37 (6 capsules a day) and also evening primrose capsules, been religiously sat on birthing ball every evening watching tv, been walking, mowed the lawn. Only thing I haven't tried is sex but in the hot weather the idea doesn't appeal as am like a huge sweaty whale!

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