What do contractions feel like?

[eiysmummyc]

I am curious to know what contractions feel like. 39+4 with 2nd baby but induced first time round and have no recollection of what contractions felt like before I was induced and experienced artificial labour pains!! All examples and experiences welcome!!

[MaidrinRua]

My baby was back to back...it felt like screwdrivers being driven into my spine...utterly, utterly unbearable.
I went from a planned home water birth to going to hospital for epidural, episiotomy and ventouse delivery in almost the blink of an eye.
I have no idea what childbirth feels like physically though!

[Strangertides1]

I was induced with my first. The pains were exactly the same with my second. It was all
In my hips, no back or belly pains. Funnily enough this is where I get period pains as well, sadly I couldn't walk it off as it can with period pains, lol.

[RatherBeRiding]

Started off with niggly back ache which came and went for hours, just little waves of ache-i-ness on and off which gradually strengthened and started to move round to the whole abdominal area and then became very period pain cramp like feelings. Totally bearable even with my first, and I found it very easy to do deep breathing and imagined climbing up a big hill as the pain intensified, then it plateau-ed when I had reached the top of the hill, then ebbed away as I went down hill. Much more intense with my second, but again it was just like really bad period pain cramping.

[cranberryx]

I was also back to back when I went into labour (DS is now one week old ) because of that, the toko wasn't picking up my contractions as particularly strong - only when I had a VE did they find I was 3cm dilated!

My contractions were continuous back pain, like period style cramps which would ramp up every 5-7 minutes into this intensive whole body tightening as if my body was preparing for my arse to be pulled out by a hot metal hook! I was able to breathe through on gas and air when I got to the hospital but spend 2 days at home biting down on a piece of leather and crawling on the floor!

Also found standing up and making figure 8's with my hips helped for some reason.

I got an epidural in the end, when I was 5cm dilated, and must say I had an amazing birth experience. Honestly, even a week later I would probably do it again. Don't be scared, listen to your body, you can do it - is my advice!

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

Both mine were back to back so all pain was in my back. Nothing like period pains. I managed both on gas and air though so can't have been too bad. They were definitely unmistakable.

[Lemonfizzypop]

I was induced but all my contractions were in my back, I know she was back-to-back at one point but they were in my back throughout my 24 hour labour! Excruciating. A dull tightening ache that got worse and worse before peaking and dying down again. I hadn't done any research about breathing techniques but I definitely found breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth helpful in the early stages before I was able to get the gas and air on the labour ward.

And this will sound ridiculous but there is a kind of euphoria I got after getting through each one...I almost had an epi but actually did believe I could get through it so didn't bother in the end.

I hated pushing though, it was tiring and felt HORRIBLE. That was the worst bit for me, not even the pain, just the feeling. But Dd was sideways with her hand by her head which didn't help.

[whatsoever]

I'm interested in the people saying just breathe through them, and how you managed to do that? I read Ina May, went to ante-natal classes, pregnancy yoga. I was SO ON BOARD with just breathing through them. But the pain was so excruciating it made me hyperventilate unless I had the gas & air thing jammed in my mouth.

Possibly because he was back to back? Although no-one told me that at the time. I only found out from googling all the jargon on my discharge notes.

[whatsoever]

Like a bad period pain early on. Like my entire abdomen from chest to pelvis was being crushed in a vice later on.

I never got the urge to push so never actually experienced the relief of pushing instead of attempting to breathe through the vice crushing agony!

[YoungMummy69]

With my first I had pains that felt like period cramps but a lot stronger in my whole bump area. As labor went on, this got stronger and more painful and I also had a dull constant pain in my lower back. During transition and active labor, these pains continued but grew even stronger. At the peak of contractions, I also had a hot burning sensation in my cervix once i started to push. Everyone is different and it's all worth it in the end. Good luck babez 😘 xx

[SomeonesRealName]

Congratulations on your baby OP xxx

[eiysmummyc]

Just a quick update. I've now had my LO and I must say you guys were not exaggerating!! The pain!! I would have happily died in the last two hours!! Labour was all in my back and progressed too quickly for drugs!! Pffftt. I really envy all you ladies that found it "bearable"

[ClareDeLune]

Intense period pains, but tighter and crushing. Mine were the whole of my belly and in the fronts of my thighs to my knees. But bearable.

[Brindler]

I find it fascinating how everyone's experiences are so different!

Mine was all in my back. Dull ache to start with which came and went and got stronger and stronger until it was unbearable. Then the pressure around my bottom was unbelievable. I honestly thought the baby was going to come out through the wrong hole! (And at that point really regretted not going to any ante natal classes!)

[OneHandFlapping]

DS1 was back to back, and it was exactly like runningupthathill describes.

I vividly remember crawling round the floor at home, crying with the pain, and later in the labour ward waiting room vomiting helplessly in front of a bemused family of bearded middle eastern men (I wasn't allowed into the labour ward because I wasn't having 'proper' contractions). DH was working 3 hours away, so I was there on my own.

[MistyMeena]

First time, like intense period pain, sort of achey. second time was more like a really sharp, high pitched sort of pain. Sorry for odd description but it really fits

[LibrariesGaveUsP0wer]

I am so jealous of some of these. Sounds way better than mine.

[wizzywig]

The worst food poisoning ever. Thats what i think its like

[Chalk25911]

Like period pain that started up my back and then went round to the front , peaked and then slowly died down, painful but jus breathe and think of the end result!

[brokencrayons]

Started out like warm period cramps low down, then built up gradually to proper tight big powerful surges, still warm dull and manageable until 8cm. Then I panicked about pushing so got an epi. The contractions were totally manageable for me and the relief I felt after each fell away had me on a sort of high, ready for the next one.

[Missingcaffeine]

I woke in the night with a tightening like a Braxton Hick but accompanied by mild period like pain. Spent all morning wondering if it was labour as it really wasn't that bad - even went out with friends for coffee and a walk. By midday I realised it was labour as the pain was like bad period pains and every 2 mins. By 6pm, I was at the hospital begging the midwife to let me stay. Midwife was trying to send me home but I begged her to examine me first and I was 7cm so she let me stay. From that point onwards, contractions were so painful and intense - felt like baby was coming out of my bum - just unbelievably intense pain across lower back and bum so severe I couldn't think or move or care about anything in the world other than getting through the pain. I thought my bum and everything was going to rip open. It didn't thankfully. I was screaming and I'm not a screamer! I would have had an epidural if it wasn't for the fact I was so paralysed with pain I couldn't move from the floor and being on all fours. I had 6 hours of contractions like that. Got through it somehow. Felt pretty good after the birth though, despite loads of stitches. Despite forgetting the detail and having a textbook 'easy natural birth', I do remember the whole of my labour knowing that I could never go through that again.

I'm 6 weeks pregnant with my second and thinking about an epidural.

[Focusfocus]

DS was back to back and twisted inside me for 29 hours. Id expected this as I knew his position but as a first timer obviously the sensation is unknown.it was painful enough to make me have a 29 hour on and off conversation with my dead grandmother questioning her about when she would come to rescue me. To be naked and crawling about on the floor wailing

Strangely, dealt with nothing except gas and air which arrived at 34 hours out of a 35 hour labour.

More strangely, already forgotten and its only been a month 😃 but that may well be because it was a textbook birth which went per plan really. The birth was actually euphoric and empowering and despite 35 hours with a back to back baby - exactly as empowering as I had had in mind. Upright and bold 😃

[Cerseirys]

Like really really bad period pain that built up to a crescendo, peaked and then subsided for a few minutes, and got more intense as time passed. Towards the end I wasn't sure which hole the baby was aiming for as I felt like he'd come shooting out of my bum at any minute!

[TheCunkOfPhilomena]

You know that feeling when you do a hopping dance around the room because you have cramp in your leg, that real intense cramp? It was like that but started inside my fanjo (obviously) and spread up to my ribs and all around my impressively wide midriff.

I won't tell you how I described it to my MW when she visited 2 days after but I do remember lying down on my side and not caring if I died

[fourlegstwolegs]

It started with the type of pain you get when you've got a bad tummy and need the loo NOW.
It ended with the same experience as Runningupthathill82 - back to back labour and worst pain imaginable. I literally didn't care if I lived or died by that point. Eventually I had an EMCS.

[FabergeEggs]

Like an adult boar was being torn from my insides every few minutes.