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I think I have discovered a way to explain what a contraction felt like for myself. Well imagine having a Charlie horse in your calf or leg. Now imagine having this pain in your stomach. There is really no position to relax that muscle and if you move it makes it worse, now can you imagine that?? Hope that helps.

Im 30 weeks gone and im scared to death of whats going to come, i sometimes cant sleep at night thinking of it, but in the end im gonna have my baby in my arms thats the most amazing feeling i have ever felt. As for pain relief im gonna have whatever the offer me.

Contractions are like a tight squeezing. They last 30 to120 sec. they are in a pattern slowly increasing in strenth and time. It hurts but not a death pain. Well for those who have never been through major pain it would be bad. For me I had a high pain tolerance and have been through it all so it wasn't taht bad.

Early labor feel less like sharp contraction pains and more like a low heavy weight in your pelvis. It is very awkward to walk. Braxton hicks type contractions get stronger and closer together until they eventually turn in to the sharper unmistakeable active labor pains. Labor pains are strong enough to wake you from a dead sleep. ...With my 3rd child I too wondered what I was supposed to be looking for. My first and second children were induced. After having my 3rd child without pitocin I was amazed at how different the labor pains were at the hospital. With pitocin the labor comes so hard and so fast that you don't have anytime to breath between contractions. If you have to have it,( I had to with my 2nd child because she was breech and they turned her and needed to induce labor) don't let them try to turn up the drip. As long as you and the baby are doing OK don't let them rush you!...My labor with my 3rd child was completely drug free. Granted it was a third child, but she was my biggest. I was talking in between contractions. They were MUCH gentler than my experiences with the pitocin. The most painful part was when she crowned but that only lasted a few minutes 7 to be exact. My first child was a 27 hour back labor induced with pitocin, I was given morphine at first to help with the pain and then at hour 12 gave in and had the epidural. After pushing for 2 hours unsucessfully ( It is hard to push when you can't feel your contraction and the baby was posterior) the doctor tried a vacuum which left a little scar on my now 12 year old sons scalp and I ended up having to have a C-Section. My advise to any new moms out there would be to take the most natural approach possible for your situation....If you can help it don't induce unless necessary, epidurals can make contractions less effective and can sometimes slow labor, With my second child the only pain relief I had was 1 shot of demurol which helped me relax between contraction, and if it hadn't been for the pitocin I may not have needed that. Talk to your doctor about your options, but remember in the hospital you are your best advocate. Ask questions...Don't let them rush you...slow and steady labor is the most comfortable.

I HAVE HAD SOME CRAMPS BUT NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE ME UNCOMFORTABLE. I AM 33 WEEKS AND DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT A BRAXTON HICKS CONTRACTION FEELS LIKE. I HAVE HEARD MANY PAINFUL STORIES BUT I DONT LISTEN TO THEM BECAUSE THIS IS MY FIRST ONE AND EVERY WOMANS BODY IS DIFF. I HEARD THAT STATOL MAKES THE PAIN SUB-SIDE BUT NOT GO AWAY. I REALLY CANT TELL ANYONE WHAT IT FEELS LIKE BECAUSE I DONT KNOW BUT POEPLE TELL ME THAT AFTER THE BABY IS BORN YOU FORGET ABOUT THE PAIN.

I would have to say my way of explaining contractions is like having a really bad charlie horse or cramp that tightens up your stomach all you can do is breathe to get through it.....yes it hurts....

Tightness and/or cramping pain. They can be mild to extreme, but get longer/stronger as time goes by.

it hurts like hell

With my first baby, my contractions began like menstrual cramps-in lower stomach and my back, very regular and predictable. When they got 7 minutes apart we went to the hospital. I walked the halls for an hour, was put on the monitor for 30 mins and walked another hour then my water broke. After that the contractions got really bad in my back so I didn't feel anything in my stomach. They gave me a muscle relaxer and I actually went to sleep for an hour! Woke up ready to push and baby was out within 30 minutes. Yes it burns when the baby's head is coming out and you feel like your doing a big poop, but that's normal!! You contract a little more to deliver the placenta and when your uterus is shrinking back to normal size, but feels like menstrual cramps again. I am 37 weeks 4 days and have been having Braxton Hicks for 2 weeks-I'm having them now! Your stomach gets really tight, almost like the baby is stretching you out all over, and it's harder to breathe (I get hot flashes with mine too) but for me at least, not painful--that's how I know it's not the real thing. My first experience with giving birth was great in my opinion--no crying or screaming or anything like that and I didn't tear or poop on the doctor's shoes. I'm looking forward to going into true labor with baby #2! Bring It ON!

In the beginning, it felt like gas pains...not really that paintful. They gradually got worse and worse, but mine were all in my hips, then in teh end in my back, so where the contractions are can vary. Everyone says this, but you will know when you are labour. I felt relief in pushing, but a burning feeling. It really is like having a sh*$&^. You push so hard you feel like it will never come, and they your baby does!

Braxton Hicks contractions are not supposed to be painful (so I hear) I dont believe I have ever had them with my previous 2 pregnancies. You may second guess when the real ones come---but deep down you know what they are.

my opinion of what a contraction feels like is like a period cramp......that gets worse...and worse.....and worse....and worse......until you can't handle it anymore.......then it eases off. Then it starts again.and again...and again....

to holly...........i have never forgotten the pain. I was so doped during labor. I do remember the pain I felt before I got epideral. and I do remember the pain I felt after the epideral wore off and I was stitched from end to end. I can't and don't ever want to imagine what labor feels like w/o an epideral.

i had a misscarriage in june and got pregnant again in august now i am 20 weeks pregnant and i've been okay up till this week.at the begining of the week i started to feel abdominal pressur and some pain. Some times whene i go pee. I have felt some wierd feeling in my vaginal area. does anyone know if this is dangerouse? can feel the baby move alot.

If you ever feel anything that you think is dangerous to you or your babies health you should see your health care provider as soon as possible.
It could be that you are feeling pressure in your vaginal area from 'vulvar varicosities'....basically like hemerroids, but in your vagina.( If you feel the area with your hand you would feel a 'poofiness' and maybe even vein outlines) If you have varicose veins developing, you should have your health care provider give a a prescription for support hose. In addition, keep standing for long periods of time to a minimum and drink plenty of fluids (non-sugar).
I hope this could be of help and of course CONGRADULATIONS!!!!

i had my baby dec 13th and u know this is my 3rd and the contrcations were painfull i was bearing down with each push and only 8 cm dilated i was screaming and begging them to help me i had gas and air to late for epidural i had a bad time really bad when i sleep i dream about this night and wake up shaking