Contractions

Okay, this is going to sound really stupid... But I have no idea what contractions are supposed to feel like.

I asked the nurse that ran the childbirthing classes what it felt like and she said it was a sort of balling up feeling.

Okay... I thought I understood... but apparently I didn't. It's just that little Madeleine moves around so much (and sometimes her movements cause discomfort) that I can't tell if it's her moving or if it's a contraction.

God, I hope I don't sound TOO stupid...

i have heard it feels like cramping....

BTDT Mommies where are you???

I heard its like really bad AF cramps.

There is no mistaking the real ones when they come. If you aren't sure then you aren't having them. The good thing is we forget what they feel like so we can do this all over again and have more.

I wish I could tell ya!! My water broke w/o me having contractions, although they told me I was. When I did feel them, it felt like period cramps, but I've had much worse period cramps. I can tell you what back labor feels like though!!!

Did you get any of those Braxton Hicks ones? I never had them either.

How much longer do you have? This is so exciting now!! I loved the final stretch and the wondering when it was going to happen!!!!

Not stupid at all - I kept wondering the same thing, and all I kept hearing was 'you'll KNOW when you're having them'. And, it's true. At it's worst, you'll feel an overall tightening of the abdomen that gets stronger and stronger, and then it will slowly release. At first, this is not painful, but it will definitely get painful as time goes on and the contractions get stronger. These are the contractions that mean you're 'in labor'. I had those at the end, right before my c-section. I'm glad I got to feel them - I wanted to feel them.

Just so you know, however, I was apparently having contractions a lot earlier that day (and the day before) and didn't even know it. Those contractions are not 'labor', although they are contractions....

I think each person feels it differently.... Good luck, and don't worry! This is the exciting time!