Pregnancy Signs & Symptoms, Week by Week Pregnancy Guide

If you are asking what does contractions feel like, the best thing you could do is to ask women who have already gone through labor because they will know for sure.

You can be certain that when the contractions start for you, you will know because there is no way for you to mistake them for anything else.

Cramps and the feeling contractions

Some of the women claim that the contractions feel just like the menstrual cramps. At the beginning they are mild and then they turn into the worst cramps that women can possibly have. When thinking back women realize that their labor lasted a lot longer than they thought it did.

Bowel movements

In case you are asking what do contractions feel like, some women describe them as if you had bowel movements. Sometimes women wake up in the middle of the night with cramps and they think that they have to use the bathroom. Naturally nothing happens and so they go back to bed.

What’s happening?

Even though you might have been looking for the contractions’ feeling for some time, it is possible that it will take some time for you to realize when you are in labor. It is common for women to notice some spotting when the cramping begins and this is nothing to be worried about.

Tightening feeling

When asking what does contractions feel like some of the women say that it feels like a tightening feeling that starts at the lower part of the vagina and then everything tightens all the way up to the uterus. If you happen to have a high tolerance to pain, it is possible that you will be able to walk and talk even during the contractions.

You will see and feel contractions

Usually when asking what does contractions feel like women say that they always knew when a contraction was coming. It was clear when it started and when it ended. Even more, in some cases women can see the contractions if they look at their belly. In this case the best thing you can do is to lie down.

Pulling a muscle

Some women compare the feeling of the contractions to the feeling that you have when you pull a muscle, only in this case the muscle is located in the pelvic region. The contractions that women have offer a new feeling and at the beginning they are asking whether they have the real deal. Eventually they will know.

A fist

When asking what does contractions feel like think like this: if your belly was a hand, a contraction would be like when the hand is made into a fist. If you touch your belly during a contraction, you could feel that it is quite hard to the touch. Also the pain that you feel is supposed to have a beginning and an end.

As you can see there is no definite answer to the question what does contractions feel like. Contractions feel different for each woman and your experience will be unique as well.