What was THAT?!Your due date is fast approaching and you've heard all this talk about contractions. "Don't call the doctor until your contractions are x minutes apart ... Don't go to the hospital until your contractions are x minutes apart." But you've never been pregnant before so how the heck do you know when you're having a contraction or when it's something else? You've got to know so you don't end up giving birth in some crazy place. Plus, you want to know how bad they hurt and whether you'll be able to take the pain. (You will! You will!)
So here's your handy dandy guide to what a contraction feels like (as told by moms who have been there, felt that).
Image via oksidor/Flickr
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Comments 45
I have awful period cramps that make my thighs and lower back ache as well as my abdomen. With my first the contractions were like very intense period cramps and hurt so much it would take my breath away and cause me to wimper in pain afterwards. I was very thankful for the epidural because after that I felt no pain just a little pressure. My seccond baby the water broke at home early in the morning. I didn't have any major pain just some minor achiness and then they gave me pitocin which triggered those awfully painful contractions like with my first but as soon as I was given the epidural it was painless.
I just had my 2nd baby a few weeks back and thought it would be easier than the first. NOPE! In fact, it was harder!!! I went natural with my first which took a lot longer, but the pain was more bearable. With my second, I was induced with pitocin. It starts hitting you like a bolt of lightening right away! I went from 3 cm to 8 cm in less than 2 hours!!! Within those 2 hours I was gripping onto both rails with every contraction. The pain is so intense you can't think of anything else!! I used to think breathing techniques were dumb, but seriously BREATHE!!! I progressed so quickly I almost didn't make it for the epidural! But don't be afraid to get the epidural right away! It's much better to save your energy for pushing than to sit there and take on those contractions.
In the early stage of delivery my contractions were very much like what you stated...Strong waves of 'painful muscle spasms' which make you stop in your tracks and take your breath away, but as I got further along-at the point when most would be needing to head to the hospital or birthing place to deliver because they are x minutes apart, mine are no-longer painful. In order for me to really 'know' I was having a contraction I had to place my hand on my stomach. It felt, at this point, more like the baby was stretching out and creating pressure, but not pain. Eventually mine would return to the 'strong waves of painful muscle spasms' but luckily, they never got as painful as my menstrual cramps-unless they were braxton hix contractions!!!
I gave birth to two kids and I have one tatoo.. Believe me getting the tatoo was waaaay more painful
I had no idea I was having contractions until my water broke. Up until that point it felt like back pain, then I got into my doctors office and they told me I was about half way through already and my water broke and THEN it started feeling like waves of cramps. I'd been having contractions for days, though, and had no idea.
I didn't know either that I was having contractions. I woke up with a pain that felt like gas that wouldn't move. I had contractions every 3 minutes that lasted a minute. I didn't know what it was until I got to the hospital and was 4 centimeters.