Can you please describe what a contraction feels like?

[marthamay]

Hi there,

There must be some other first time mums out there like me who have no idea what a real contraction feels like! I am close to my due date and really curious now.

I would be really interested if those with more childbirth experience could describe what they feel like...

?????

Thanks!

Mine started like period pains. I was on MN for a bit, being told that I wasn't in labour cos I wasn't struggling, so it mustn't be the 'real' thing.
I called my mum for about an hour, between us we decided that it might just be the real thing.
Was fine for a good long while, just breathed through. All still feeling like strong period pains.
During both, I hopped about like tigger with the midwives smiling on, chatting to DH.
With DS, DH and I giggled at my indian raindance impressions.
Those were the easy bits though
Got a bit tougher after that, just sort of,....hmm...deep throbbing or like one big throb that lasted so long, then stopped. The stopping is bliss, gives you a moment to regroup, even have a wee laugh with DH and the MWs.
Needed help (ventouse) with DD, managed DS all by myself. They made me stop with DS so took 2 cntractions to get him out.
It was such a release.
Puuuuush and there he is!
willybreeder For me, it was the best slice of toast afterwards!

For me, I knew none of it was lasting. Each contraction could only last so long and then there would be the reprieve. Each one bringing you closer to the best thing ever!

In one breath I would do it all again and also never again. Only because I only want 2 children though, not because I would not go through labour again. I would.

What helped me (apart from being completely high on gas and air) was imagining the pain as 'Useful'.

The pain is the muscles contracting really hard so that they can then relax enough for the baby to get through (God knows if this is true but it helped me to think so).

It did hurt more than tooth ache or something but was somehow more manageable because it was leading towards something and I knew there was going to be an end to it.

Good luck and I agree with Twinkling fairy about the toast!

Agree about visualing the contractions as useful pain. And remembering they won't last forever, it's a finite number, so each contraction you go through is like mentally ticking one off.

Mine started just as tightenings. The progressed to increasingly sharp pains in my abdomen and back. As they got more intense, they seemed to take over more of my body. Towards the end it felt like fiery burning pains tearing through me, which sounds scary but I had a wonderful midwife, who supported me through it all.

In the earlier stages you get that reprieve between contractions, but towards the end mine came thick and fast and pretty much continuously.

When I had a VBAC, the contraction pain was centred on my scar.

Can't say that anything about my contractions felt "useful". More like I was going to die.

I think the so-called break between painful contractions is one of the biggest myths peddled about labour. Some get it, but by no means all.

don't worry, just relax, breathe and concentrate on the end result! mine felt like someone was drilling into my lower spine (helpful aren't I?) but I got hold of the gas and air before it got unbearable (lovely stuff, gas and air). we have 3 dc's and i would go through it all again, so definitely worth it in the end

THEY HURT!! It'll freak you out if you are a first time mum to think about it, I was better second time because I knew what to expect. Sorry to dis, NCT but they really didn't prepare me for what to expect - but I do know some people who had a better time of it. Smelling lavendar and thinking about 'opening up like a flower' doesn't really help when it hurts like nothing else you can ever emagine. The thing is unlike 'hurting yourself', as in breaking an arm, falling over, you do get something good out of it.
Transition is funny [but only when you look back on it!], I told them I'd had enough, was bored and was getting up and going home!
Just remember, its all very well going in and being brave, wanting to say that you did it on gas and air [I found this only good for clenching onto with my teeth!], but epidural is wonderful, - infact I had written on- on the front cover of my notes for my second child - EPIDURAL ON ARRIVAL!!
If you were to go back 100 years and say 'hey anyone, childbirth without pain at all' - do you think they'd have said 'no thanks we'd rather suffer'?!
Oh, and for those that say the pain makes you bond more with your child - rubbish, I love my two more than anything in the universe, and had epidural [after 2 days with 1st!], and straight away with the 2nd!
Just think of your beautiful baby, thats the main thing. x

It feels like this (for those that have had IBS);

Know the cronic pain you get when your bowels are bad, IBS sufferers?? Know the point were you start spacing out from the pain? It's EXACTLY THE SAME as that and gets worse but the G&A is maaaagic I tell you!!

mycarscallednev totally disagree!! I had only G&A and I enjoy thinking back about the labour pains and all... (Not disagreeing about bonding. Sure you are totally right there) but in my opinion the pain was all part of the wonderful experience! (Damn sore at the time, no way around it!!) I love knowing what the whole thing was like naturally...... but now I do know.... may epi for the second??

It is true that everyone experiences them so differently. Think mine were the classic 'starting off as period pains' then 'tummy tightening all over with a wave of unbearable pain all over that peaked then faded away' and also thinking I was going to die etc (sorry!). I'm doing hypnobirthing this time and feeling a lot more positive about it all...

But I have friends who described it as 'not as painful as they thought it would be' and bearable. And one friend who had a 32 minute labour and described it as easy and said she had had worse period pains (although she doesn't like to shout this from the roof tops for fear of being hated by most of womankind!)

The only thing I really remember about them is this - I could cope with the actual contraction, but as time went on, at the end of each contraction it felt like someone was sticking a broom handle up my backside, and this I couldn't deal with - I now realise that this was because he was back to back.

i experienced astrong clenching in my butt ....which was overwhelming and kinda felt as if i was being pulled towards the centre of the earth!!!
i have to say when my mum was there with me holding my hand and i was twelling her how i felt i didnt have any pain watsoever it was really awesome like that!!
i also found hot shower/bath completely took the pain away!