Contractions

[mummynumnum]

What do contractions feel like when they first start?

Mine first felt kind of crampy (ie thought I'd eaten something dodgey) and then like a light tightening. However if I touched my tum I couldn't feel it at first. I'd imagine everyone's different though

I'm wondering the same thing myself! I'm 40wks+ and am getting period pains feelings but I'm not sure if anything is actually "contracting" as my belly feels so tight anyway.

I'm not worried about it as the pains are rather irregular and can be hours apart. But a description of the feeling would be welcomed!

Mine were all around my bum!

Thought I was constipated

Never had any pains around my stomach!

I have constipated feeling. And slight tightening. Not sure if contractions.

Also had feeling of needing to go to toilet-to no avail!

Can't think to describe but yes like period pains tightening maybe makes you want to draw your breath in slightly - mine just got stronger and stronger until they were lasting longer and I couldn't move or talk while having them - time them for fun - gives you something to think about

No mucus plug lost. Tightenings seem to have subsided as well, although back still hurts!

for some people lower back pain is their contractions - concentrated into part of the back - get it massaged or have a bath to ease discomfort - not sure how labour develops with that but presumably it will make itself clear if you are in labour - call midwife if in any doubt

Mine started with mild/ constant lower backache that then spread into upper legs.
Accompanied by period type pains in lower abdomen. Intermittent tightenings were also happening - whilst not painful, were uncomfy enough to stop me falling asleep/ wake me up if I had nodded off.
I had also emptied my bowels every few hours during the day the symptoms built.

Went into hospital and confirmed that the tightenings were contractions and I was starting to dilate.

Everyone is different, and what is one persons false alarm is another persons early labour. I knew that I had never had these symptoms/ felt this way - so was pretty sure it was the start of labour.