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I would also love to hear the answer to this question. Everyone I have talked to says I'll just know, but I am so nervous that i won't! I am 32 weeks. I shouldn't let myself get so worried. My Doctor has already started complaining that my blood pressure has steadily been rising lately. But it's my first and I come from a long line of worriers. My mum calls me everyday and lists all the horrible things she has read can happen. It sucks being an only child to an overprotective mother. I'm 27 and happily married and I just shouldn't be this stressed out. The doctor said if my blood pressure goes up anymore he's taking me off work and putting me on bedrest. Sorry I guess I needed to vent a little bit. But any advice would be wonderful.

Mona, my advice is to tell your mom to stop doing that. The one thing I was told by everyone when I got pregnant is to NOT listen to the horror stories. They cant benefit you at all. I am the only child of an overprotective mom as well, so I can relate! But my mom doesnt do that.. lol, all moms worry in their own ways, but that way is bad for your confidence. Read some books on labor instead! :) I also would like to see the answers here. I am a first time preggo as well and am SCARED!!

I dont think you'll even feel the first contractions hun. They are usually uncomfy but nothing more. When a real and productive contraction hits, you'll know because it stops you in your tracks. Almost similar to a dry heave, where your body tightens and you can really control anything. Its scary at first but then you should get into the ebb and flow of them and you'll be ok. Dont worry about it too much...you'll know when its happening and you wont be able to do a thing about it but wait it out and get your bags to the car for the hosp. I believe you can dialate and efface weeks before the baby is born. But, yes, it means active labor is close. Try to relax...sleep...and eat now. You wont be doing much of the above once you're in the hosp.

Personally, my contractions felt like I hadnt had a bowel movement in a year. Same with my cousin. She sat on the pot so long trying to poop that she almost "pooped out a baby" All contractions feel different to diff women. Some just have tightening of abdomen like the baby is rolling into a ball, some have bad leg pains, some back pains, and me, I get the "gotta poop" pains. But Sarita is right ... it'll just stop you in your tracks. If moving and getting in different positions doesn't make the pain go away, or if it gets more painful and closer together, time to head for the hospital. GOOD LUCK

In my case, it felt like menstrual cramps and I just "knew" they were contractions. I started timing them and, sure enough, they were regular and 3 minutes apart. They got more painful pretty quick and we headed to the hospital.

um, i have a ques: i am about thirty one weeks and i often feel these wierd tightenings like my whole body is being sucked into my abdomen and my breathing gets a little funny. usually happens when i am walking. is this normal. i havent been to the doctors for ages coz im a little broke.should i go because of this

I'm 39 weeks and 4 days and two weeks ago I was 1cm dilated and 50% effaced. I phoned my midwife yesterday because I was so worried I wouldn't know when labour had started or what contractions feel like. She said 'you'll just know' and I felt like I was being patronised because that's not an answer!! I went into early labour 12 hours ago and although I can't tell you exactly how it feels, trust me YOU - WILL - KNOW!!!!! It's more pain than I've ever experienced before!!! I'm still at home and although it is agony for the 30/40 seconds you're having a contraction it is fine in between - fine enough for me to be writing this! I know it's frustrating when people say you will know but you really really will!!!!!

My rule of thumb is any less than 3 cms isnt considered established labor. You can go crazy running to labor and delivery for every ache. contractions to me feel like a tight band around my tummy getting tighter and tighter progressivly until i think my tummys gonna pop. Transition is when i feel like i wanna poop and the last time in teh car i had to literally cross my legs so as not to push..the best part about labor is pushing cause at least the pain has some end and you will push extra hard if it means that pain ending sooner.

I am three days away from my due date, but I have been having contractions (Hicks) since I was 6 months pregnant. The problem is, we are all different, so describing what contractions feel like, can have many answers. For me, I would describe it as being like a charliehorse in your stomach, but it does not always hurt or feel extremely uncomfortable. At times, I have a real strong pain in my lower stomach during a contraction and that is when it hurts. Dr. says I am 80-90% effaced and 2cm dialated. My baby likes to hangout on the right side of my uterus, so my stomach looks really weird when I have a contraction (My stomach gets really big on the right side, very lopsided, and very tight). My stomach gets so tight that others can actually feel the tightness of my belly and they can see the lopsided look to it as well. I have been told these contractions will increase with more pain as labor becomes eminent. Lately, my pelvic bone has been having sharp pains as these contractions take place. This must be the stretching of the uterus. Like most, I'm still waiting for these contractions to develop a pattern, so I can get down to business and meet my little girl! My mom had a hard time with her first labor because she did not know what to look for and by the time her contractions developed a pattern (her contractions were only backaches, no stomach tightening) she reached the hospital just in time to find out she was 8cm dialated and they had no time to prep her. About an hour later, she was holding my brother. She had backaches because of the position on my brother in her uterus, so I guess your labor pains will depend on the position of your baby in your body. I get very mild backaches, feel constipated, nauseated, and pressure in my lower pelvic area accompanied by stabbing pains, but I'm not at the point of going to the hospital yet either. I'll give you an update as to what labor really feels like once I actually have my baby, which I hope is real soon because I am sooo tired of being pregnant.

staci i agree with you. its funny how everyone wants to tell you their horror stories when they know you are pregnant!!! i have decided that the best thing for me is to try and be as positive as possible, ignore the horror stories and try and enjoy the experience as much as i can. we also don't know what we are having so im hoping that in the throws of pain, that suprise incentive will keep me going strong!

I didnt have regular contractions, I had back labor but when they got bad enough I could still tell. It was like someone was trying to break my pelvis in half for about 30-40 seconds when it started and then it would completely go away. I realized I had been having them all day later on but just didnt realize it until they were constant.

patience my mum had the same thing with my older brother. out of the 4 babies she had she said the back pain labour she had was the absolute worst. She also lost her waters gradually over 4 days so it ended up being a 'dry' labour as well. ive been told a contraction feels like a bad period pain.