Real Contractions?

Are all contractions really painful?

For the last hour I've been uncomfortable, but not in extreme pain. Stomach is getting hard as a rock for about 3-5 minutes every 8 or so minutes.

I just thought contractions would be really painful. These hurt, but not like i thought.

Are these considered real contractions?

Re: Real Contractions?

I had the same thing about a week before I really went into labor. They were intense braxton hicks or I guess what you would call false labor and they were coming at least every 5 min and sometimes less. The only way I knew I was in labor was my water broke so my doc sent me to the hospital ...when they hooked up the machine they said I was having contractions and I was like really but then when they really started coming on there was not doubt about it.... the pain was