Could someone describe what a contraction/tightening feels like?

[victoriascrumptious]

I've never had one. Had an c-sec with no labour last time.

Can you describe them to me so I can live vicariously?
I'm sad that I may never know what they feel like-expecting another cs due to bp this time round.

I cant remember the first two times they were bloody ages ago.

Had DS3 22 mths ago so i can just about recall.
I do get the period type pains only much worse of course. Lots of pressure in the lower back. This suprised the hell out of me with my DD (my first). I didnt realise it could feel like the baby was coming out yer bum!

DS3's labour was easy for the first bit, it went on for ages (so much for your body remembering, not after 15 years it dont!) but the contractions were a bit wimpy.

During the hard bit they were bloody horrible and I had to make sure I wasnt lying down when one started because it was agony trying to get up and agony staying put!

I am hoping for one of those Eastender type births with DC5. They seem to happen so quickly!

For most of the first stage, starting off like a cramp across my abdomen but then as the contraction got more intense feeling as though the muscle was so tight that it was on the point of bursting or tearing or something, even though obviously it was tightening not expanding. And then as I got into the transition stage there wasn't really a "more intense" or "less intense" stage to each contraction.

Wit ds1 my waters broke then half hr l8r contractions started, very tight around middle & bad back pain. 10min l8r they were 1min apart lastin bout2min & were the most unbelievable body bn taken over pains, and they continued like that for bout 7hrs till i got my blessed epidural but even wit that i had unreal pressure on my backside, he was n da wrong possition & tryin to get out da wrong end it was hell till i had to hav an em section 10hrs l8r wit ds2, woke not able to lye down from pressure down bellow then waters went but contractions were bearable period/dodgey tummy like pains for da 1st 2-3hrs altho coming every other minute, but by da time i got to the hosp i thought id a giant snake wrapped around my body tryin to squeeze me to death, shaking every inch of me... good midwives & gas&air help a whole lot tho... But the pain is so insane, do love that gas & air tho...
But when ya get ur baba

To begin with, the pain was similar to period pains. I was asleep when the contractions started, and began dreaming about a seatbelt that was tightening more and more around my bump. Woke up and realised labour had started.

Contractions were irregular and not too bad for the first 14 or so hours. I walked around, did some shopping.

It was after about 20 hours that things really started going downhill, pain-wise. Gas and air was doing nothing and I was in continuous pain. There seemed to be no respite between contractions. It was absolute agony - the worst pain I've ever been in, all over my body. Just before I had the epidural, I remember wanting a gun and would have happily blown my head off to stop the pain.

Epidural was brilliant though and the pain is largely forgotten. Would love to have more DCs and go through labour again (fingers crossed!).

It was like a wave, where period type pain is the base camp and you go up and up, over the mountain and then steeply down the other side.

First-timers reading this and getting the fear (as I did pre-DD), please don't worry. You sort of go into a zone where it's you and it. It's sort of primal. You will cope. And if you can't, that's what the drugs are for

started like a mildy weird cramp, I kept walking around the room like a stork raising one leg up as high as it would go at a time.

I really remember being totally unable to stay still at all. They were definitly like period cramps/ pain at first and got worse and worse. As well as the period pain feeling I felt like you do if you swallow somethign before you've hewed it and it bruises your windpipe/ whatever that bit is that leads down to your stomach.

Massive lower back ache with sharp shooting pains going down into my legs, after 2 hrs I then started getting the tearing sensation - possible because I did rip my flesh apart.

not sure why anyone would 'want' to experience labour!

They start off like a huge, wide elastic band tightening around your pelvis, that progress to squeezing all the breath out of you.

My last labour was augmented with syntocinon (I think that's what it's called - wasn't concentrating too much at the time ...) and it felt like someone was turning up the dial for every one. They felt like being twisted and wrung out - and being strapped to the underneath of a rollercoaster doing the loop the loop - all at the same time.

Painful - yes, but not in the 'ouch i've stubbed my toe' sort of way. They were more terrifying than painful. But everyone's right - it's primal - I hung onto my midwife and then just as I had the worst contraction ever and was about to say - I just can't do this anymore, it was time to push. And those pushing contractions don't hurt so much... it's just the ring of fire and by then you're past caring.

And yes I guess I do feel strong and powerful that I went through that and came out the other side - and birthed my baby. Like a sort of warrior earth mother. But in the end, it's pain you don't HAVE to go through. Whether you're epiduraled up to the eyeballs or refusing entonox - you end up with the same thing after all - a baby and a shot to pieces bottom half....

IMO we'd be better off finding a way to stop the post-childbirth pain and trauma that for some women lasts a lot longer than your average labour...

I'll go along with the tight feeling, like a belt is trying to cut you in two. I also had the oxytocin drip and the conttractions were coming one after the other (had to wait 3 hours for an epidural and I take my hat off to anyone that has had the drip without one). All I can remember is being lost in this feeling of tightening and rocking back and forth. I also remember DH's face which was a mixture of shock, fear and panic. I still want another so can't have been that bad

With both labours my early contractions have felt like period pains. They slowly build to a point where I felt like I couldnt cope and then went back down again - I imagined walking up to the top of the hill and down again during these. These last a long time (17-19 hours) and get me to about 3 cms before my body dilates to delivery in an hour.
That felt like my pelvis was being pulled apart and I screamed and cried and begged for death but it all stopped once I started pushing.
I made the mistake of telling the midwives I needed to push and they told me not to as they didnt think I was ready which prolonged the pain with DD (4 yrs ago). With DS I thought anything that makes the pain go away was good and ignored the midwives and gently pushed whenever they turned their backs. Everytime they asked if I was pushing I giggled, shook my head and thought in my head (in a very high pitched voice-must have been the G &A) 'I am a spy heeheehee'. I imagined the midwives as evil dictactors in gold lurex stroking their tiny little moustaches which helped immensely with the whole spy thing.
Once the pushing was establishing it was amazing, really primal and pain free. I could feel him descending and I was completely in control and relaxed, just focused on what my body was doing. It was just like doing a big poo though, you use the exact same muscles.
The ring of fire wasnt too bad, I was too busy smirking to myself as it had taken the evil dictators midwives by surprise as I wasnt supposed to be pushing. Once he was born it was over and I never have to do it again (hooray!)

With DS1 I had the all over bump big squeeze thing but had an epidural for most of it so not too bad. But then I say that and I suddenly remember they let the epidural wear off when I couldn't push him out and also gave me something to get the contractions going and it was one non-stop contraction for about 20 minutes until they finally decided to top me up again because I couldn't get a breath to push properly. That wasn't fun - no lulls.

DS2 started with what felt like a bladder infection. It felt like I was sitting on his head he was so low down and it was hurting my bladder. Eventually after about 1.5 hours of this there began to be slight peaks and troughs although the pain never went away. Couldn't decide if I was in labour because the pain was so low and people always say that the whole bump tightens which to be fair is what happened 1st time. Another 2 hours of that and it was starting to really hurt - crampy pain but bad bladder infection/period type pain. Bearable but gritting teeth and breathing was required. Phoned the hospital who doubted I was in full labour because I didn't have the statutory all over bump pain but told me to come in to be examined in case I had a bladder infection. Faffed around getting ready and stopping to have contractions and waiting for my parents to get there to look after DS1 and after half hour of that my waters broke and DS2 was born 20 minutes later.

And then suddenly all the pain goes, even for delivering the placenta.

Still never had the all over bump thing - it stayed very low down the whole time.

Mine was different for each child. The first time was hell from beginning to end because I didn't know how to deal with the contractions. I ended up having an epidural. The pain of natural contractions is definitely less shocking than those you will get via a drip. For me, normal contractions are like stomach cramps but artificial ones are a different kind of pain, more like when you've hurt yourself. After my first baby the labour was with me for at least a year afterwards - I was pretty traumatised.

For dd2 I had contractions that were all quite spaced out and I felt them in my lower back. It was all very manageable until the last 5 minutes or so when the pain was unbearable but by that stage it was so quick I didn't have time to think before she was born. I recall a strange 'vibrating' sensation low down as I went into the second stage.

With number 3 (born April this year) I had prepared with hypnobirthing and was induced but only needed the gel to start labour. I only realised I was in labour about 30 minutes before she was born and it was by far the least tiring, least painful birth. The pain was like a burning crampy sensation low down and a desperate feeling of needing the loo but this was the only one where I did not at any time think I was dying! For me, the crowning bit was quite a nice sensation. I recovered so quickly I hardly thought about it again.

I do think that hypnobirthing can change the way you experience the sensations of giving birth - it really doesn't help to have people surrounding you talking about pain - words are quite powerful! If it's your first time the main thing I would advise is not to lie down - it hurts then! Also breathing is the best pain relief ime.

Just had dc no 3 three weeks ago and I have to say it is the most painful and terrifying thing, but as others have said you do zone out and it's almost an out of body experience - not that I've acrually experienced that!

I've had a CS with dd1 and then natural for last two births. Both were really quick and the last one so quick (31mins from first contraction) that I didn't have the build up of pain. Just wham it was there. There was no period like pain it was like someone squeezing my insides out and tremendous pressure on my pelvis. I was screaming for something to take the pain away and I just couldn't stop the expletives coming out of my mouth (don't normally swear!). The pain just seems to overtake you and I could feel it from my toes to my fingers. My DH didn't make it to hospital in time and I remember screaming to hold someone's hand as all midwives were busy at the business end! Poor midwife trying to put a cannula in at the time ended up with my nails stabbing him in the arm.

Having said all of this I would still prefer a natural birth to a CS. However, everyone's experience will be different and as long as baby is delivered safe and sound that's all that matters.

Felt like a poo blockage initally in my back (but up high not down below) Got more and more intense until it felt like my bones were being cracked apart, my hips being split and i was being disembowled. Hurt like hell as baby moved down - felt like he was literally clawing his way out. After-pains were agonising too - a large empty uterus shudding with pain - i dread my next labour in 7 weeks time and am having as much drugs as they can pump into me.

Now you see I don't remember any after-pains to speak of - and all I had was G&A...

All i had was G&A too - afterpains were horrific. I remember crying 'but it stil hurts - it still hurts' and lying there in a pool of blood and pain with people trying to shove my baby on my boob and me just whimpering in agony.

With my first one, the pain was like blasts of period pains, but in the right side of my back...

And the second was more in the centre and to the front, but still like blasts of period pain accompanied by tummy going really hard.

Don't worry, you missed nowt imho.

stainesmassif - I was EXACTLY the same. Totally convinced I needed to do a huge poo before I could get on with getting baby out. In the end the MW said ok go to the toilet then, since it was all I could talk about but I didn't manage to go funnily enough - this was when I had just arrived at hospital, I came out of loo, she checked me and I was at 10 cm!!

Nobody told me before that it would feel like trying to do the biggest shit in the world. Doesn't even feel like your pushing anything out of your fanjo, felt like I was pushin out of my arse.

Victoria - and anybody else contemplating labour - I hope you can see from all these posts that the experience can differ wildly from woman to woman, and depends on personal pain thresholds, speed of labour, position of baby and all sorts of other factors. I am utterly sympathetic towards women who need pain relief in labour, but I've noticed that for some reason, a few women who describe their labours as excruciatingly painful scoff disbelievingly at the less traumatic experiences of others. It's important that those who are preparing for labour do so without being paralysed by fear before they've even begun!

I've had 3 natural labours lasting 8, 4 and 4 hours respectively and the contractions were painful towards the end, but they definitely felt like 'progress' and I only used TENS machine for all three. The contractions felt like period pain and, since I've suffered from endometriosis, my periods have usually been absolutely awful, so I do think the familiarity of the pain made it much less scary and terrible for me than it would for someone who'd never felt it before. There was also the stinging of the cervix widening which was a yucky pain but came in manageable bursts.

At no point did I feel scared, hopeless or in such agony I wanted drugs or oblivion. I went into my own headspace and listened to the midwives' advice on breathing. My second stages were short - 15 mins, 2 mins(!) and 4 mins - but fortunately I've never needed a stitch and the moment that baby was out the pain was in the past. It CAN happen that way!

xx

My first birth: My contractions were painful like stubbing your toe is - a shock through your body, then fading between contractions. I thought I was managing fine, but they're pretty relentless and it does get more and more intense. It then became like really awful bowel-emptying food poisoning, by the end it just washed over me and I mooed away while in a birthing pool and puffing on the G&A. This was described afterwards by my DM as a 'pain-free' birth: it wasn't.

My second birth: I did a breathing class beforehand, and knew what to expect. I knew that the food-poisoning feeling was just all my muscles working to open my cervix, which helped. I also knew that I'd get a baby at the end of it (I was a little surprised first time round!), and that I'd have to 'lose' myself in it to cope. I tried to get into the feeling I had in the birth pool, so I didn't fight it at all.

Finally I breathed big big in and out breaths through each contraction, and soon figured out each would last no more than 4 breaths, so I felt in control. I also had a speedy labour, the result being that I honestly didn't find it as painful in any way as the first time. It just felt like my body was opening up - yes some pain but like if you run hard, like your body is working hard.

I used (the same) tens machine for both births - 1st birth I had it up to 8 by the time I went into the pool, 2nd time I never had it above 4.

So even if you had a painful first experience, it might not be like that the second time.

great thread (unless you're expecting your first and don't want the truth!).

mine was absolutely bloody awful and my main memory of it was wanting to die in order to not be in that much pain anymore. started off ok, like strong period pains which came and went. actually rather enjoyed that part (maybe 3 hours ish?) because it was so interesting how you have to stop talking and concentrate through the contraction, then it totally goes and you carry on a normal conversation. really weird. but then as they got going, and dd turned back to back the pain was just overwhelmingly everywhere and constant. indescribably horrific. I was about 7 cm at this point. it took an hour for the anaesthatist to arrive, and that was the worst hour of my life. i remember seeing sweat literally pouring off me onto the bed and thinking "blimey" then going back into wanting to die again. just can't express how horrifically painful it was.

anyway, then had the epidural which was the most fantastic thing on earth. i remember the bloke saying 'this might hurt a bit' presumably talking about as he put the needle in) and even in my mooing death-wish state i thought that was the most ludicrous thing to say given the pain i was already in!! lol. needless to say i didn't even feel the needle. just was suddenly flooded with the realisation that the pain had gone away. within seconds, i was sitting up in bed, stopped vomiting and sweating, had some toast and we watched The Apprentice on telly before getting a couple of hours sleep.

epidural hadn't fully worn off for the pushing stage, so i didn't really feel much, other than found it exhausting pushing for over 2 hours.

I was shocked that no one had said quite how painful childbirth is and i think i'd have appreciated this thread before experiencing it actually, because at least this time (expecting twins) i'm more prepared.

First of all mild period pains, then they started to come in waves, gradually becoming more intense. At their worst I would liken them to having a bad case of food poisoning with the spasms you get when vomiting and the pain of bad stomach cramps - but no let up, unlike vomiting which usually doesn't last long. I made a lot of noise - I think it helped me deal with the pain but alarmed everyone else. I would still have another baby though so I don't think it was that bad - a means to an end. I wouldn't be too sorry at what you are missing though!

Both of mine were fairly manageable for the most part, until the obviously horrific 'shitting a brick'/'ring of fire' final stage.
With both, I had moderate period-type pains for a few hours after my waters broke, followed by a few hours of more severe period-type pains. The 'pushing' stage was a bit horrific with DD as the cord was round her neck and I'm sure it just kept pulling her back in!!!! The whole thing was sped up when the MW told me to concentrate a bit more on the pushing and a bit less on the wailing! (she was actually a lovely MW!). With DS, I was so laid back that I was sat in the living room chatting with my parents through most of the middle stage, and then managed to make the guest bed up in between the stronger contractions (bizarre control freakery given the circumstances). Had DS 10 mins after getting to the hospital, and nearly gave DH a heart attack on the way there cos the pushing sensation was so strong and sudden (think bowling ball out of your backside), I was convinced I was going to give birth in the car!

I've had 3 c-sections, the first was an emergency sections (up and downy from, belly button down) was fully out with a general, so dont remember much about it, but that means that all others had to be a section.

DS, and later my DD - I had my sections at 39 wks, yes I did have braxton-hicks, and it just felt like the bump was tight all over both times. I had also dilated with both to between 3 - 5 cms, but I don't remember feeling a thing - perhaps if I had been able to have a 'natural' birth I would have been one of the luck ones that don't feel much until the end. Never the less, I don't feel that I've lost anything, as I still have 2 happy and healthy children at the end of it all.

Working from what I imagine being kicked in the balls feels like (only every three minutes), to eye watering back pain, to (in a manner that seemed completely logical at the time) I am going to just get up and jump head first through that window and THEN they'll have to sort this out. Next stop being branded around my fanjo, relax, repeat slightly whilst small lady rustles around in my uterus to pull out shy placenta, finishing with "I'll just clear out the clots for you whilst I'm in here", the weirdest sensation of my life. Then held my baby, brilliant!