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- "The initial stages of labour, when the cervix goes from around zero to five centimetres in diameter, are very, very similar to period cramps," Fielder reiterates. "It tends to be in a cyclical fashion and the contractions come usually every half an hour or every 20 minutes, and it does feel exactly like period pain.
People also ask
Do contractions feel like menstrual cramps?
What does labor contraction pain feel like?
Is labor a pain in your back?
- How Painful Is Childbirth?
- What Do Contractions Feel like?
- Do Contractions Make You Feel Like You Have to poop?
- What Does Pushing Feel like?
- Feeling Back Pain During Labor
- Feeling Other Pain During Labor
- Feeling Exhausted During Labor
- Feeling Connected (and Disconnected) During Labor
- What Was The Best Part of Labor?
Our survey results made one thing clear: Labor feels different for every woman, in every stage of labor, with pain ranging from mild to extreme. Even the experience of labor after having an epiduralvaried widely. One mom even used the iconic words of Forrest Gump to describe it: "Labor is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going t...
Cramping
Many moms told us that their contractions felt like an extreme version of menstrual cramps, while others compared them to cramps from gas, the stomach flu, or a charley horse. "My contractions were like menstrual cramps on steroids." "The cramping went from the top of my stomach down to my pubic area." "It was like gas pains times a thousand." "A horrible cramp that started in my back and radiated into my stomach." "Very painful cramping and tightening that started at the top of my uterus and...
Tightening
Several women told us that their contractions felt more like a tightening sensation rather than a cramping one. "It felt like my entire stomach was tightening down into a painful little ball. But the contractions were not unbearable at all." "I literally felt my uterus muscles tightening." "The contractions felt like my whole body was clenching." "It was like someone was grabbing all the skin in my back and pulling very slowly until it was tight, then holding it for a minute and releasing." "...
Pounding
Some women described labor as more of a pounding or punching feeling. "Having contractions felt like being hit with something really hard." "Each contraction felt like getting punched in the stomach – the type of punch that knocks all the air out of you." "It was like getting punched in the back and the stomach at the same time, but only when the epidural wore off."
For lots of women we surveyed, yes. The most common analogy moms used to describe the sensation of the pressure they felt during labor (even before the pushing stage) – all decorum aside – was thinking about having to poop. "After the epidural, it just felt like so much pressure. I was surprised that it felt like I had to have a bowel movement rath...
Many women described pushing during laboras a relief, while others found it painful. "There is a ton of pressure, and once you start pushing it hurts so bad to stop." "My contractions were manageable but the rectal pressure was intense! It was relieving to push and incredibly relieving to push him out." "Pushing felt awful, like I was constipated t...
You may think you'll feel labor pains in your abdomen, but for some, the pain was more concentrated in the back. (Learn more about back laborand how to cope.) "I had terrible back pain. I didn't have any contractions in my stomach like you see in the movies." "It felt like a really bad backache." "It felt like a Mack truck running over my spine ove...
Legs, hips, and the rectal area were also fair game for pain. "I had rectal pain with each contraction from the very beginning." "I had an hour of labor before my epidural was placed with really bad cramping along my upper thighs." "It felt as though a 400-pound man was pressing down on each hip." "I felt sharp aching in my hips." "It felt like som...
They don't call it labor for nothing. Moms definitely acknowledged how much work was involved. "It was very consuming. I was unable to think of or do anything else after contractions started." "It was a lot of physical work, kind of like doing weight training at the gym with heavy weights." "If I could describe it, I would say it was the hardest wo...
While some women felt very present in their bodies during labor, others felt separated. "I felt like I was not in control of my body." "My body wanted to take over and do its own thing." "It felt like an out-of-body experience." "I was stuck between agony with my contractions, ecstasy when I sneaked a push in, and feeling like I was trying to stop ...
Even with the pain and challenges, childbirth was worth it, moms said. "It was the most beautiful pain I've ever felt." "It was amazing. Painful, yes, but I could see (with a mirror) my baby coming out!" "I was cracking jokes between contractions. I had a blast and was not afraid." "It felt natural, like my body was meant to do it and I should just...
If you’ve already had Braxton Hicks in late pregnancy you may be wondering if these are just more of the same. Braxton Hicks are: often painless; irregular; short. Early labour contractions tend to feel like period pains. Over time, they tend to get: stronger; more regular; longer lasting.
Dec 28, 2023 · Timing Contractions. 8 min read. What Are the Signs of Labor? Labor is another word for your body’s natural process of childbirth. It starts with your first steady contractions and goes through...
Mar 28, 2024 · Early labor: The cervix has dilated from completely closed to 3 centimeters (cm) in diameter. Contractions are mild—similar to menstrual cramps—and irregular.
- Lisa Milbrand
- 58 sec
May 31, 2023 · This includes symptoms of Braxton-Hicks contractions, prodromal labor, early labor, and active labor. Pregnant people may wonder if they will recognize their contractions when they begin.
Jun 27, 2022 · At the start of labor, contractions can be mild and feel like menstrual cramps. As labor progresses, contractions feel more intense, occur closer together, and last longer. When labor begins, contractions are usually mild.
