Health Talk

I am still in my first trimester, but as early as now, I am already starting to worry about labor and delivery. Can those who have had children share with me how contractions feel like? How do you know that you're already having contractions and how do you tell it's time?

Post edited 6:03 am – August 7, 2010 by friendless

You will know contractions when they hit you. Your doctor will tell you to time the contractions and will give you instruction to call him or her, or go to the hospital once they are a certain number of minutes apart.

You will know it’s time when the pain on your tummy and your back intensifies to a level that you can hardly bear. Not to scare you honey, but let’s not sugarcoat it either. Giving birth does involve a lot of pain. Well at least in my case. And unless you get medication.

They are very, very intense. It feels like your abdomen is cramping up really tightly, then unwinds… It will get to the point where you can time it.  I waited 'til almost the last minute to go to the hospital, because I was afraid of false labor. I don't like going to hospitals to begin with. :)

This is all great advice because I am pregnant and very scared of contractions. I have heard some people compare them to menstrual cramps and then a few others say that they are nothing at all like menstrual cramps. Maybe that's because of the additional back pain and nausea that others have said come with contractions?

For me it felt like menstual cramps at the start. Then it intensified as it came in quicker succession. It was like my upper body is being separated from my lower body in the middle, but the doctors and the nurses were of much help.