Waters broken have period cramps how do I know its a contraction?

[NishaaS123]

so guys how do I know its a contraction? My waters broke at 10pm they send me home saying my cervix was very up and not dilated but i have been getting period cramps but no tightening off uterus how do I know its a contraction or one to start worrying about?!?!?

It'll move in a wave like motion from the top
of your uterus down. I'd liken it to a strong period pain.Some people feel them in their back. But trust me, you'll know if it's a contraction - it's very distinctive. Make sure you time whatever pain you have and how long in between them. Your baby should be here soon, good luck

Sounds cliche but you'll know! Mine started with a few twinges but after a few hours they definitely had a pattern & were getting stronger. I didn't really get the ripple over my tummy feeling, it was all in my back but they did come & go like wave.

Just time them. When they are regularly happening 4-5 minutes apart and lasting 15-20 seconds, and you have to start breathing through them, they are definitely early contractions.
Good luck
When did they tell you to go back?

Mine weee all in my back and I just knew

Mine were in my lower back, hips & top of my thighs, also felt like my bladder was getting kicked, when they got stronger, each one made me wee myself. Ds was back to back, only way I could get comfortable was on my knees, bum in the air, was really pissed off after 4 hours to be told I was only 4cm, after epidural was set up, only thing I kept on feeling was my bladder each contraction.

Believe me you will know. X

This is really helpful. I’m awake now as I’ve been getting strong tightening, period like pain low down and a bit in my lower back. I had this on and off throughout the day yesterday and lost lots of blood stained plug. The last two tightenings came within an hour and woke me up. I feel like it’s so much worse when lying down but I know it’s important to sleep! Now I’m sitting up they have eased off. I’m guessing like all things everyone feels things differently. I’m not getting a wave from top of bump to bottom but maybe that’s to come? I’m definitely feeling like these pains are the start of something

I didn’t ever get waves. Have 3 children.

Same as madwoman. No waves. And I didn’t have regular contractions that got closer together either. Just really bad period like cramps. With DD2 they would come and go irregularly and last for anywhere from 1-3 minutes. I went to the hospital thinking there was something wrong as I was in a lot of pain and had a little bit of bleeding but having no regular contractions and she was born 30 minutes later.

Not all labours follow the typical pattern. If you get to a point where you are in a lot of pain with the cramps (I was really shaky whenever I got one) then I’d go to the hospital just to be on the safe side. With both DDs I didn’t have a typical pattern and went from 0cm to fully dilated in just a few hours.

Hopefully you’ll have your baby soon! Good luck!

It could be early labour if it’s easing off OP. I had days of it with both DDs and then when it really kicked off it was quick both times. Uncomfortable for a couple of days but at least when actual labour started it was over pretty quickly.

@madwoman1ntheattic @Owwlie interesting!
I’m timing the contractions on an app, they are about a minute long and 7 minutes apart but totally manageable pain wise. I’m planning a home birth. If it keeps going like this I’ll call triage when it’s daytime just to prepare the homebirth midwifes that I may need them at some point today.

I didn’t get waves either, mine felt like really strong pressure and that my bladder was being squeezed.