What do natural contractions feel like?

[mibarra]

Mine was a burning tightening pain like cramps but MUCH worse, with back labor being like a fiery hand squeezing my lower back.

[mysticmomma1879]

Pressure. A lot of pressure. Even back labor was just pressure. I've had worse period cramps than contractions.

[Tris]

Kinda like when you have diarrhea. Except honestly not as bad.

I've read contractions feel differently to everyone though

[mibarra]

Originally Posted by Tris I've read contractions feel differently to everyone though

This. Not everyone's are equally painful either. So some people have an easier time because the pain is actually less for them.

[ambivalent_amy]

I've had both a natural labor and an induced one and my contractions were essentially identical. I was prepared for my induced labor to be way worse than my natural one, but it really wasn't.

[bigmamakelsey]

In early labor, they definitely feel like menstrual cramps that pick up and drop off and then they slowly gain consistency and become more intense. But you know that

[geez0pete]

Originally Posted by bigmamakelsey In early labor, they definitely feel like menstrual cramps that pick up and drop off and then they slowly gain consistency and become more intense. But you know that

This. Plus nagging lower back pain.

[karlitacat]

Hm, I'm going to say that it's different with everyone! After not progressing with my first labor I was given Pitocin... and labor contractions on that were extremely painful and one on top of the other. When I went naturally the second time, it was a walk in the park in comparison - just a longer, stronger version of braxton-hicks. When they started ramping up I'd say they were like strong period cramps that came in waves.

[JennTheMomma]

Mine just felt like menstrual cramps. Transition contractions were like bad menstrual cramps that came super close together without much break inbetween, but I wouldn't describe them as painful. Intense though. And then I didn't have contractions with pushing. Pushing felt like I was vommiting from my crotch.

[Kiliki]

Originally Posted by jlsquire0324 Period cramps that come and go in waves and grow in intensity

this. word for word.

My belly gets hard, like a bowling ball. BUT that is not a true contraction - that could be a BH contraction. Which can also be painful.

When I feel the pain down low, like a period cramp, and coming in waves, that is when I know they are real contrax.