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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

What do contractions ACTUALLY feel like?

51 replies

winterbabyrose · 12/01/2022 14:19

I have been getting what I would say mild period cramps on and off for most of the morning. I have a backache too, but that is more round the middle of my back so not even sure if that is related or just because of posture etc.

I am 37+3 today and my bump has felt 'tight' for most of the morning, I also had an upset stomach this morning (sorry TMI). I haven't lost my plug as far as I know, and my waters haven't gone, but I have had an increase in discharge (sorry more TMI) over the past couple days. I was absolutely bloody exhausted yesterday but all I have wanted to do today is organise our wardrobe and sort through clothes, and had an energy boost.

I am quite lucky to have quite a high pain threshold, and as this is my first baby, I have NO idea what to expect contractions to feel like... I know it is different for everyone but what did they feel like for you?

I don't know if all of what I am experiencing is any sort of sign of impending labour, or if it is just what to expect at 37 weeks... any advise would be greatly appreciated!

OP posts:
M1RR0R · 12/01/2022 14:21

They made me really need a wee. Really bad stomach pains & I needed a wee Grin

Could be that labour will start immediately or rake 3/4 weeks, there’s no rhyme or reason! Good luck Flowers

hennybeans · 12/01/2022 14:23

Mine always felt exactly like the worst period pains you could imagine. Your symptoms sounds like the signs of labour to me!

Lockdownbear · 12/01/2022 14:25

I'm no expert but don't want to read and run. It sounds to me like early labour, but early labour can take days and may stop and start again.
Rest when you can.

ResidentEden · 12/01/2022 14:25

This sounds exactly how my first labour started! Was madly tidying wardrobe in the AM with crippling backpain in middle of back. Bit of period pain ache by 2pm. First obvious contraction at 5pm obvious stronger and regular ones by 7pm continued steadily until full labour at 2am. Baby born 7am! Good luck :)

TheChip · 12/01/2022 14:27

I can remember one of my labour's being mostly in my back. It was a deep ache that progressively worsened and then relaxed, repeatedly until there was no denying that I was in labour.
Pay attention to the timings!

tealandteal · 12/01/2022 14:28

I said to my husband that I had trapped wind! It was only after he pointed out that trapped wind doesn’t usually come and go at regular intervals I realised what it was!

SunnySideUp2020 · 12/01/2022 14:30

Sounds like early labour or BH. But for me first BH were also early labour and I didn't realise.
Also have a high pain treshold but when my water broke 2hrs after when I went to bed that day, I experienced the real contractions. And I laugh now thinking my BH were contractions and it was not that bad 🤣

Exciting for you though! Make sure you have everything ready in case it's a day not 2 weeks left!

Newyearnewyearnew · 12/01/2022 14:30

Two dc and the contractions felt very different for each labour. You will know when it is very close, they are all consuming Grin . First was back to back and the contractions were very painful, with the pain all in my back, but little sensation of tightening. Second labour it was much more of a tightening across the bump and the pain was much more manageable.

SunnySideUp2020 · 12/01/2022 14:31

Oh and look out for some bits of mucus plugs. I remember back ache and period pains when I first lost some.

Forshorttheycallmecomp · 12/01/2022 14:32

Mine was like period back ache.

Lockdownbear · 12/01/2022 14:33

Remember not every womans waters actually go both times baby was delivered with the waters.

TheChip · 12/01/2022 14:34

I also have a high pain threshold. I was handling my labour so well that they wouldn't give me pain relief, telling me that I had ages to go. That "you will know when you're in labour" ignoring the fact that this was my 4th! I did know I was in labour!

I had to keep buzzing them back to actually listen to me and eventually check. I was 8cm dilated and they couldn't be any more apologetic.

This was the same labour that had the back pain where I paid attention to the timing of the pain.

Verbena87 · 12/01/2022 14:35

Mine started like period pains and then ramped up through terrible-constipation-ache in my back to whole-body-in-a-gin-trap, but baby was back to back and got stuck so the last ones aren’t normal.

You may well be on your way. Eat, drink and rest plenty!

MonkeyPuddle · 12/01/2022 14:38

Sounds like early labour.

I was induced with the drip and baby was back to back. Wasn’t much fun.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 12/01/2022 14:45

@hennybeans

Mine always felt exactly like the worst period pains you could imagine. Your symptoms sounds like the signs of labour to me!
This completely
chillydownwiththefiregang · 12/01/2022 14:45

Sounds like early contractions to me.

They start off like mild period pain and when true labour begins they will build stronger and stronger until ... well, at the point you feel like you can't go on any longer, you're nearly there.

Congrats OP.

Original poster
winterbabyrose · 12/01/2022 14:55

Thank you everybody - being my first time it is so hard to tell! Is there anything I should be doing other than sort of 'waiting it out' if it is actual labour? (Bags are all packed etc, so nothing left to organise)

OP posts:
Holskey · 12/01/2022 15:15

Sounds like early labour, but as PP said, it can last days and can even go completely when it's your first (mine did). So you could potentially still have a wait. Good luck!

2DogsOnMySofa · 12/01/2022 15:16

Mine started off with period like pains and got progressively worse as labour went along

annlee3817 · 12/01/2022 15:17

I had what I can describe as painful period pains for a couple of hours, but was able to sleep through most of them, they weren't take my breath away painful, just like when I had a particularly heavy period.

First proper contraction was a couple of hours later and there was no mistaking it, bought me to my knees on the bed and had to immediately breathe through it.

SummerHouse · 12/01/2022 15:20

I would personally go for a nap if you can. Dream about your easy birth and beautiful baby. Good luck OP! I went into labour the day after I cleaned all the windows. I never clean the windows!

SockFluffInTheBath · 12/01/2022 15:24

Sounds like it could be early Labour to me too. If you’re all packed then just try to relax, have a bath or a nap, maybe note time between contractions if it won’t make you anxious. Try really hard to stay calm, contradiction in terms, just see what happens x

NoNameHere12 · 12/01/2022 15:25

I don’t know why people say period like pains. To me if feels like hands in your stomach wringing out your lower insides.

Labour felt like someone stabbing you with a knife and wriggling it about 😂

NoNameHere12 · 12/01/2022 15:25

Can you tell I’m bitter I didn’t get an epidural with my second labour? 😂

Comedycook · 12/01/2022 15:27

Nothing like period pain imo. Sorry if tmi, but for me it was like that awful stomach cramp you get just before you have diarrhoea.

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