No, I'm not having pains. I'm just wondering:
Where does it hurt? What does it feel like?
I started thinking about this after I was really sick the other night from too much dairy. I was stuck in the bathroom, my legs and feet were asleep and I was moaning in pain. I know it's different than that pain and probably a whole lot worse, which scares the crap out of me.
blogger / watermelon / 14218 posts
For me they started out as Braxton Hicks for weeks before I went into labor. That just felt like my uterus was tightening. I'd touch it and it would be rock solid. It felt a little like cramping, but not quite. Just like stiffness and uncomfortable.
Then when the labor pains started it felt like severe period cramps.
Then it turned into period cramps times 1000.
blogger / watermelon / 14218 posts
p.s. Don't be scared. There's an end to it! And if I can survive through it, you can too. I'm the worst wimp when it comes to pain. I did not deal with the pain well but I lived!
pomegranate / 3980 posts
I second what Mrs. Wagon said, thats exactly how I would describe it.
kiwi / 718 posts
mine felt like period cramps, too. hard core period cramps. I'd heard so many people say that they didn't feel like period cramps that I wasn't sure it was actually labour at first.
kiwi / 545 posts
@mrs. wagon: I agree! Mine felt the same. I'm a baby. So its totally doable!
persimmon / 1453 posts
Haha...strangely, the comparison to period cramps is kind of relieving to me! I'm familiar with period cramps. That's not so bad. Not easy, but not, say, crucifixion or having-a-limb-sawed-off bad. 
pomegranate / 3388 posts
Mine started like normal period cramps that accompanied my Braxton Hicks. They quickly escalated into period cramps that I couldn't stand up straight through... and then later couldn't talk through, and then could barely breathe through.
eggplant / 11287 posts
@mrs. wagon: When they shifted from braxton hicks to period-like cramps, did they come in waves or was it just a constant cramping?
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I didn't have any BH contrax, I went right into regular labor. They started in the morning and felt like waves from the top to the bottom of my uterus.
grape / 99 posts
I still don't know if I had braxton hicks, I just felt period-like cramping a week before and then, as @mrs.wagon puts it perfectly, period cramps times 1000.
blogger / watermelon / 14218 posts
@Mrsdaredevil: Braxton Hicks were pretty constant, but the period-like cramps came in waves. It's kind of nicer because you get a break in between and you feel relief. But the relief is mixed with dread because you know the next one is coming. This is hardest when they're like 2 mins apart because the entire time you feel relief you're just dreading the next one. THIS is the exact reason why I'm using a doula this time around-- I need someone to instruct me to relax through the relief instead of dreading the next one, then preparing me right before it starts again!
The beginning of labor is totally doable if you don't get thrust right into it, honestly. It's kind of fun to time the contractions. Once they start getting stronger it's a lot harder. I wish there were a way to prepare you for the amount of pain-- I had NO idea what to expect. I feel I will tolerate the pain a lot better this time around because I know how bad it will eventually get! I was hollering in the car through the contractions but now I know I'll have to calm down and handle the pain without just going straight to panicking.
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
I'm going to second what @mrs. wagon said, at least based on my pre-term labor. Constant Braxton Hicks followed by contractions which consisted of uterus hardening/tightening AND period like cramps low. I still get contractions and the real ones, even though they are very very mild still take my breath away a little.
GOLD / wonderful grape / 20289 posts
For me it started like mild cramps, and then progressed to "oh my god I want to kill myself and I'm never doing this ever again, I NEED MY EPIDURAL NOW!!!!!" cramps.
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
They start off feeling like really intense menstrual cramps. I honestly don't know how to explain what they feel like during active labor.
It's pretty bad though.
apple seed / 3 posts
This is a great discussion board! I've been wondering myself what it will feel like as I'm due in five days and counting. I have been having BH contractions all day every day for a week or so and have had some mild cramping, but wasn't sure what to expect when the event starts. Now I feel a bit more prepared. Is it silly that I was actually worried that I wouldn't know I'm in labor? I think after your descriptions, it is! Oh well. Thanks for the info!
eggplant / 11824 posts
Did anyone’s labor cramps go around to their lower back? I have a lot of BH contractions which don’t generally bother me at all, but maybe once every other day I get a painful cramp that feels just like a period cramp. The pain/cramp feeling starts out in front in my uterus area, and then like “wraps” around to my lower back, and then goes away. My OB didn’t seem too concerned since it doesn’t happen often, but said to keep track of them and call if they increase. I am wondering what it is! I am 33 weeks.
@MommyGinger: I am also worried that I won't know I'm in labor - my husband thinks I'm nuts and will know 
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