Refresh my memory: contractions

[pugz]

Do they always include tightening across your stomach? Or can they just be like period cramps with no tightening?

I get BH often. Tightening with no pain,

[gigem]

I feel like they are always painful but can come "from" different places, painful was the difference for me btwn bh and labor contractions. Even when they were mild period like pain. Does that make sense?

[gigem]

Sorry i c now you are still a little ways from your due date. Im worried i was alarmist with my precious post! If ot is really mild and non regular then probablly some random cramps.i got those too sometimes, as well as the bh.

[pugz]

Yeah i think random cramps tonight but got me thinking about how i don't remember them from last time. Labor was only 3 hrs long last time

[gigem]

pugz,wow yikes, this kid is gonna be a 100m sprint! My first was 22hrs and my second 5. It is amazing how we forget those things, so painful in the moment and then i feel like it is hard to recall even a few wks after. I hope your cramping stops, stuff like that is hard to shake off towards the end.

[pugz]

Yeah when my water breaks this time we are going straight to L&D. I was already at the hospital last time otherwise she would have been born in the car.

[arebee]

Mine were like period cramps until I was further along.

[mainelyfoolish]

My labor with DS was under 4 hours and the first 90 minutes only felt like period cramps. I kept waffling on whether to go to the hospital, but I finally figured I should go because these period-like cramps kept coming every 2 to 3 minutes. He was born less than two hours after arriving at the hospital.

[estrellita]

Mine were a combo. I got the regular tightening contractions, but I was also having period like cramps when I was in early labor.

[osulori]

I didn't have contractions I could actually feel until I'd been on Pitocin for a few hours, but once I did feel them they were like period cramps. Tightening contractions didn't come until later.

[pinotgrig]

My BH were just a feeling of tightness and my belly would get hard. My real contractions felt like period cramps.

[pugz]

Well that was a fun night. Cramps all night plus thunderstorms. I hardly slept. I bet I am dehydrated.

[pooh8402]

I got the tightening across my stomach way more than the cramps. In fact, I don't recall getting the cramps until I was in labor and my water broke.

[pugz]

Baby also will not stop moving. Maybe she is rearranging my insides

[crazygame]

With my first, all my pain was in my lower back, so I had no idea I was in labor for a really long time. I think it really depends on the baby's position.

[JRo]

Aug 26, 2016 8:09:29 GMT -5 pugz said:

Baby also will not stop moving. Maybe she is rearranging my insides

It could have been just how she was sitting last night. Sometimes mine will put a foot/hand/head/butt whatever right in a spot that makes me feel instantly crampy. Luckily she usually moves right after that, but I could see that happening.

Hopefully it wasn't real contractions yet!

[fashionx]

Mine were like period cramps until later. But then I had back labor so I felt it all in my lower back and not as much on my stomach.

[jenn248]

Aug 26, 2016 7:41:09 GMT -5 estrellita said:

Mine were a combo. I got the regular tightening contractions, but I was also having period like cramps when I was in early labor.

Same here.  

[sierramist03]

I had tightening when I was dehydrated and had been on my feet too long.

[ijack]

:::soapbox alert:::
Many times BH and "real" contractions don't feel any different. The only way to truly know the difference is to see what they're doing to your cervix. My contrax with DD1 never really hurt that much even though I was in active labor. So if you're having more than 6/hr and they don't slow down when you lay down you should definitely call your doctor (regardless of how painful they are).

[redpenmama]

I'm sure it's totally different for everyone, but BH were tightening for me. Real contractions were more like period cramps/bad gas pains.

I hope you feel better today!

[Deleted]

Contractions do whatever they want. They are jerks, but they are useful jerks at times.

I hope they settle down for a few more weeks and let you get some rest.

[pugz]

I drank a ton of water this morning and the cramping stopped, so I think it was dehydration (possible constipation too? I should start my colace now)