What did contractions feel like for you? I have a high threshold for pain and I am not familiar with menstrual cramps, so that description doesn't really help me. I'm noticing a pain in my lower stomach. FWIW, the description tightening doesn't help either my stomach always feels tight. This is my 3rd pregnancy so I should know but I don't. My water breaks early so it's pretty much a no brainer I am in labor. In the past nurses have had to tell me "that's a contraction."