Stories wanted

Question

I was just wondering for anyone who wanted to share,
1. what did your contractions feel like?
2. Aside from the popular nesting phase does anyone else have any experiences just before going into labor that in hindsight would of tipped them off that you would be going into labor soon. (i.e my mom said before me and my brother were born - 2 months early - we had just barely started kicking so she could feel it and then it seemed to stop for awhile almost as if we were resting up to come early).

I am having these burning sensations across my belly both up high and around my navel sometimes I think it is just one of the boys pushing out really hard and other times I notice no movement prior to it - it happens after I have been pretty active, was wondering if it was more likely braxton hicks, contractions or just them trying to make more room in there for themselves.

sadiesmommy · Answer

Wow thanks ladies for sharing. I remember feeling the induced contractions before my water broke but I wouldn't have said they were unbearable at the time, I asked for the epidural because I had been awake since 2am and it was 10am and there was no telling how much longer it might have been. luckily when my water broke I was 4cm and he was born by 2:30pm so it went by quick for my first time although I just block out that first day of sitting in the hospital hooked up to an IV of pitocin with absolutely nothing going on....

I asked my OB today about what was happening and she said she thinks the burning sensation is more from them pushing around in there but if it happens again she wants to get it checked out. The other hardening sensations she didn't say much about so I am assuming those were BH as they are not painful.

motherofan18month · Answer

at 37 weeks-6 days i went in for my 38 week check-up...i felt tired all day and had an immense amount of pressure (nothing at all really) at my appt. my bp was through the roof and would not go down so my doc told me to go walk around our local walmart for a few hours but specifically told me not to go home...i did anyways! i took a shower and dolled myself up (why i don't know) any ways i didn't feel any better so i went to the e.r. and my doc had already sent over my paper work and i was taking straight to L&D.....they hooked me up to the monitor and told me i was having contraction every 1-3 minutes  still i was not feeling anything, a lil while later i had dilated to 4 and as soon as nurse made it to the door my water broke.....blah,blah.....by almost 8 centimeters i still felt nothing and all of a sudden it hit me hard and i asked for the epidural before it was too late!

kikicoates78 · Answer

I also just had the tightening, not pain, just uncomfortable, till I hit about 6, and then my water broke, OH momma I felt it then! LOL

GRose · Answer

I had really bad back labor so I really never felt anything in my belly. I knew I was in labor because it felt like the start of menstrual cramps and I went to the bathroom and I was spotting. The cramps got more intense and were every three minutes, all in my back.

cminamyer · Answer

For me I didn't think what I was having was a contraction.  I had them through all of my pregnancy with DD and didn't think that's what they were.  My stomach would get hard as a rock, like when you tighten you stomach if someone is going to jump on you.  I was dilated to 5cm without feeling any pain.  I didn't start to feel anything until the Dr. broke my water.  Then it felt like REALLY bad stomach cramps.  I've noticed alot of BH this time but I'm told it's normal.

AnitaRFrith · Answer

I was in labor an didn't know it with my first pregnancy.  I had shap pains in my sides an rectum.  By the time I got to the hospital it was to late.  I gave birth at 19 weeks an 5 days.  ( to a baby girl.)  I'm not sure if mc pains are the same as normal contractions but I felt like I was going to die.  I'm kinda wonderiong whats the norm also.  Anita

ashiepooh · Answer

sadiesmommy-  you may just be having bh contractions, maybe since there are two little babies in there, it's a burning stretching sensation!  COuld also be your uterus getting the inch bigger for the week too!  =)

sadiesmommy · Answer

Thanks ladies - keep them coming. I was induced with my first and I vaugely remember those contractions and I am thinking that burning feeling across my belly this afternoon may have been one as ashiepooh talked about a fingernail raking sensation.

leighanne - sorry I can't be to reassuring but with my first I was the same way, people and the nurses at my non-stress tests would tell me I should have felt them by now and I just didn't it was so strange to me and I was thankful to be induced as there was no guessing about it then. I definately noticed my belly hardening a lot more this time around but I also have two in there and wonder if isn't just because their is no space in there - its seems harder a majority of the time. I will let you know what my OB says tomorrow about it!

justice6920 · Answer

I really didnt feel the contractions until the dr broke my water..... and after that WOW! but before my water was broken it would feel like my stomach would tighten in to a ball.... didnt really hurt just kinda tingled and felt weird.....

ashiepooh · Answer

Well, with my kids I never felt contractions, UNTIL my water broke!  LOL...  I guess they were spiking on the monitors over 100 and all it felt like was a finger nail lightly running across my stomach, lol...  but I have back labor and back contractions, so who knows.  

I did notice with both my daughter and my son, that 3 days prior to having them, they weren't moving much, but they would twist, and my stomach would be lopsided.  Completely sitting sideways out one side of my stomach and the otherside would be flat...lol  Also, I lose my mucous plug the day before and less than 24 hours later my water breaks and i'm in labor, early and everything.

Oh and when my water did break, and I was feeling the contractions, it didn't even hurt it felt like a kid tapping my stomach for 3 mins and let up for 15-25 seconds...

leighanne143 · Answer

saddiesmommy- i am also worried that i will not know what conctractions are when i start having them since this is my first child.  people keep telling me that i should have felt a braxton hicks one already and i keep telling them i have no clue what they are talking about because i have not felt anything.  i am 28 weeks along.

Darkestlight · Answer

I never went into full blown labor.... I had a amnio at 37wks to test her lungs and after the amnio i started having contractions and i didn't feel a thing. I told the nurses i wanted to go home b4 i had to come back so that i could get some things and come back and they asked me if i was sure i wanted to leave like my contractions were severe or something lol. i was amused.

JoyRenee · Answer

At first I couldn't feel my contractions. My MIL noticed my stomach hardening and said, "Are you having a contraction?" I didn't feel anything at all. So I had to place my hand on my belly and I would feel it get really tight. Eventually I did feel the pain... oh yes, I felt the pain!

Suzie0224 · Answer

10 weeks early - my belly was contracting without pain.  I was put on meds to prevent labor.  I had Non Stress Testing (NST) for those last 10 weeks. I had odd adrenaline rushes - bursts of energy. Went into back labor the night before she arrived - 27 1/2 hours of labor!