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My experience with contractions were..hmm... It's hard to say as your excited and stuff. But, from what I can remember, they were mostly in my back. Felt kinda like having a really bad cramp in your back. The ones you get with period cramps, but 10 fold. The contraction would start and it wouldn't be too bad, but it would gradually get more intense, and then taper off. But closer to being ready to push, its hard to tell one contraction from another as they sort of mesh together. They are painful, not going to lie to you, but if you have a higher pain tolerance, you should be able to do it without meds. After awhile of having harsh contractions your mind goes into a kind of trance and you arn't that aware anymore. At least that is what happened with me. But everyone is different, and every pregnancy and labor is different. Good luck, wish the best for you. =D Hope your labor is a smooth one.

For me my labor began with a period crampy like pain as if I was about to start. Then those pains would come and go and were pretty bearable. Then it got more intense and the period like cramping turned into the worst dull achy pain that would just take over your body. It would just hit me in my pelvic region like an intense, stinging dull ache. I don't see how women scream like that b/c it zapped my energy and all I could do was just take it. To cope I would just grap hold of things and bear down. Honestly breathing didn't help, the only thing that saved me was the stadol and then epidural. But once I did get the epidural I felt no pain at all, not even when I started pushing.

I have a question that's been bugging the HELL outta me...first I believe I have a high pain tolerance but I've never been through any type of major surgery. I usually avoid pain meds because I don't generally feel needsfor them...anyways...I never had period cramps...or maybe I never felt them...I have felt cramps in my legs and sometimes went I run for too long I cramp a little until I catch breath is that any comparison? I don't know what period cramps feel like so everytime someone says that's how contractions feel it means absolutely nothing for me...anyone never had period cramps have an explanation for how contractions feel?

I had a friend who only felt pressure-NO pain. I would tell you that you will know when you are in labor because it is the most excruciating pain you can imagine radiating through your groin and mid torso...it all just depends on you and your body.

I can't think of how to describe a period cramp. It's like you need to have really terrible diarrhea, but it just increases and increases until I would just curl up in a ball and cry. I had horrible period cramps so I am NOT looking forward to labor. I'm sorry I can't describe period cramps to you any better. My boss said that her contractions felt like charlie horses in her uterus-- I thought that was a pretty good description.

See, now I've heard the description of contractions feeling like Charlie Horses one too many times...I've had some horrendous period cramps in my life so I definately know what they're like and can take it. BahamaMama, I can best describe period cramps as a tweezer pinching something off of your uterus or cervix or whatever down there.(I'm a banker, not a dr if you can't tell), and bad period cramps, take that feeling and multiply it. I guess contractions would multiply that multification to another level which I have not experienced yet. CHARLIE HORSES on the other hand, I've had as well, especially in my 1st and 2nd trimesters and I CANNOT take those!!! They are horrible stabbing pains that feel completely different to me than really bad period cramps. I hope it doesn't really feel like a charlie horse....I'm trying to go natural!

alirenee86 , ive had painful period cramps and when i gave birth i could not tell you how different contractions are. they are the most painful thing ive ever felt in my life....charlie horses and severe period cramps are a walk in the park compared....i always said i would try to go natural and hell i aksed for drugs 10 mins into labor.