Stupid question, but - what exactly do contractions feel like?

Where do you feel them?

How exactly do they feel?

Just curious especially when the Braxton Hicks start to come!

Re: Stupid question, but - what exactly do contractions feel like?

Braxton Hicks aren't painful. You will feel a tightening sensation (or not) and your belly will be hard all over for a minute or so.

Re: Stupid question, but - what exactly do contractions feel like?

I thought they felt like the MOST severe period cramps you can imagine...

Re: Stupid question, but - what exactly do contractions feel like?

yea, they felt like really really bad af cramps for me too

Re: Stupid question, but - what exactly do contractions feel like?

Let me put it this way, YOU'LL KNOW. Ok...that's not entirely true. I didn't realize I was really in labor for about 30 minutes and my REAL contractions started at 5 minutes apart. I think I was in denial...first baby, a week early....

I have no earthly clue what back labor feels like...but my contractions felt like this strange tightening of my whole "belly" but more like a pressure than cramps really ever are. To be honest, they tell you to resist the urge to push and blah, blah, blha...I "pushed" anyway [at first, didn't quite realize i was ] because it was the ONLY thing that felt better...no positioning or anything.

I had Braxton Hicks contractions, but they were MILD...annoying. Not everyone has them though, so don't count on it.