What exactly do contractions feel like?

Before labour starts, 'false' contractions can last a few seconds or up to a minute, they can be painful or just a mild sensation of tightening across your womb. Most women do experience this type of Braxton Hicks contraction that may come several times a day after 24 weeks, and increasingly in the few weeks before you go into labour. Virtually all women recognize real, painful regular contractions as labour when they start coming every few minutes!

How long does each stage last?
When do I discuss our birth plan?
My mother had a painful labour and the doctors said it was a ''dry'' labour. Am I at risk of this?
Do I need to have an enema before I go into labour?
How will I know if I am in real labour?
Do I need to write a birth plan?
How will I know that my labour has started?
What does ''waters breaking'' mean?
In a home birth, what do you use boiling water and towels for? Do I need to get these ready?
What is meant by ''natural'' forms of pain relief?
I''m worried about the children if we have to go to the hospital in the middle of the night. What can I do?
When do I need to give up work?
How do I tell the hospital what we want in labour?
Apart from the basics, should we bring anything else to the hospital for the birth?
What do I need to do before I have my baby in hospital?
Can I refuse to have any midwifery or medical students present?
What do I have to arrange for getting to hospital when the time comes?
What will I need to take with me to hospital?
What can my partner do in the first stage?
What do I need for the baby?
What should I do when I have a ''show''?
What things do I need to get for a home birth?
What is induction of labour?
It's my first pregnancy and I'm 36 weeks. How do I know if I''m going into labour?
If I gain too much weight does this mean I''ll have a huge baby and have to have a Caesarean?
Does an epidural cause chronic backache?
Who should I talk to about my birth plan?
Why does labour take longer if it is my first baby?
I am 38 weeks and my doctor examined me and said that he ''stripped'' my membranes. Will this help bring on labour within 24-36 hours?
Is it OK to take Castrol oil at 36 weeks?
I'm 32 weeks and my son is presenting head and feet down. I have never heard of this before-will this affect my labour and delivery?
Do you think I'm wrong if I should ask for my baby to be born around 29-30 weeks, because I have to much stress at home plus I can't bear to be pregnant any longer?
I have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Can I have an epidural anaesthetic in labour?
Is there a 'natural' home remedy to bringing about labour? I'm 37 weeks and fed up with waiting...
Is there a 'natural' home remedy to bringing about labour? I'm 37 weeks and fed up with waiting...
My last baby was born 2 weeks earlier than the due date. Will I be early this time around?
I had a 3rd degree tear with my last baby but everything's healed fine now. Can this happen again?
I am now 41 weeks and my baby's head is still completely free. Will there be a problem in labour?
I was told that the baby's head is currently 2/5ths engaged. My Braxton-Hicks are very strong although very irregular but wonder if this means that the baby will come early this time?
What can happen to my baby while passing through the birth canal if I have chlamydia?

What exactly do contractions feel like?

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