What do contractions feel like?

[dodoe80]

I am 36 weeks pregnant with my first. I have been told that contractions feel like menstral cramps, but being that I haven't had my period in nine months I don't honestly remember what they feel like. On top of that my uterus is not in the same place as it was the last time I did have menstral cramps.

Here is what is happening:

Sometimes I have a tightening of the uterus where it gets really hard but this does not hurt. This comes and goes from time to time and I usually feel it when I lift something I probably shouldn't have and stuff like that but can also happen for no reason at all.

Also within the last two weeks I have been having a "Cramping" feeling arround my bladder area. This is uncomfortable. I relate it to a similar kind of pain I feel when the baby kicks/hits my bladder but my baby isn't real interested in torturing me that way and has only done this about five times throughout my pregnancy. This cramping last about 30 seconds or so, but I haven't really timed it. It happens when my uterus gets tight/hard. This has been happening about once or twice a day for the past two weeks.

I know I should tell my doctor and I will tomorrow when I go in for my visit. Just wanted to Know what you all thought.

[hotlama]

Bad cramps with a lot of pressure on your behind.

[hotlama]

P.S. It sounds like your having braxton hicks contractions. I had them on a daily basis during my 3rd trimester. The bladder thing sounds like your baby like to kick you.

[EzrasMom]

The "painless" tightening in your abdomen are Braxton-Hicks (BH) contractions. All women experience them but not everyone feels them or recognize what they are. They actually start very early (as early as 10 weeks) and they are the bodies way of "exercising" the uterus, which, after all, is one big muscle and will perform better during labor if it has a little practice. BH often happen during exertion (walking, lifting...) and usually go away if you sit or lay down, put your feet up, relax...

http://www.babycenter.com/0_braxton-hicks-contractions_156.bc

Real labor contractions are uncomfortable at first, progressing to painful. When it's the real thing, they will be fairly regular, like every 15 minutes at first, then every 10 minutes, then every 7 minutes... although some women start right off with 3 min apart; others bounce around from 15 min to 7 min to 10 min... There is no one right way to labor. Just depends on your baby and your body.

The pain during your BH are probably a result of the uterus squeezing your bladder or urethra. If it's not happening at regular intervals it's probably nothing to worry about. There are probably going to be a lot of unusual things happening in the next few weeks, most of which are totally normal for the last month of pregnancy. Of course, if you are worried, don't hesitate to call your OB or the L&D dept at your hospital. They should be able to answer your questions day or night.

[amynhailey]

It starts out feeling like light cramps and they come at regular intervals. Then, they get more and more painful. Then, they get closer and closer together. With my first, I was worried that I might not know when I was ready to go to the hospital or how it would feel when I was getting close to having the baby, but trust me when I tell you will know! My advice to you is that when you start, try to settle in and relax because with the 1st one it is likely to take many hours before you have the baby. My mistake was getting too excited and thinking it would go so fast and it seemed to take forever.

Good luck!!

[gamrgrl]

When I went into labor with my first baby I spent about 1/2 hr on the toilet thinking I was having bad gas pains. Then I realized the pain was coming and going like a wave so I went to lay down and watch the clock. Low and behold I was in labor.

As has been said above what you are experiencing are Braxton Hicks contractions, and are completely normal. Labor contractions should be uncomfortable progressing to painful. They also tend to spread across your whole belly to your back and come and go like a wave. The localized pain you are sometimes feeling is probably due to temporary pressure/obstruction of your bladder. Labor contractions should also be fairly regular and get closer together. The only time you need to alert your Dr. about Braxton Hicks is if you have more than 4 in an hour, and as you are already 36 weeks this wouldn't be a concern much longer (basically only until 37 weeks)