Moms who've been through it share what contractions feel like

Very few women would describe giving birth as a "comfortable" experience, and for many people, contractions are one of the first signs that you're about to go through something pretty painful – labor.

But what do contractions feel like? Moms describe the pain as everything from sharp to dull, from tightening and cramping to pounding and burning.

"It's really important to remember that this is pain with a purpose: Every contraction brings you closer to meeting your baby and is a necessary part of the process," says Kristin Cohen, DNP, a certified nurse midwife, board-certified women's health nurse practitioner, and a member of BabyCenter's Medical Advisory Board.

What do contractions feel like?

A common description of contractions is that they feel like waves of intense pain through your stomach and pelvis. Contractions can feel dull or sharp (or both, depending on how far into labor you are), like a tightening sensation in your uterus, or like being punched in the stomach.

"One of the biggest questions that people have about labor is what it will feel like, and for many people, it's also the thing that they're most nervous about," Cohen says. "The more you know about labor and contractions, the more prepared and empowered you'll feel when your own labor begins."

But the only way to truly find out what labor feels like is to experience it – a bit of a catch-22 for first-timers who want to know what they're in for! We did the next best thing and asked nearly 1,000 BabyCenter moms to tell us what their contractions felt like.

Every labor is different – and no one can predict what yours will be like – but hearing about it from moms who have been there can familiarize you with the possibilities.

Moms describe how contractions feel

Many moms told us that their contractions felt like an extreme version of menstrual cramps, while others compared them to cramps from gas, the stomach flu, or a charley horse.

• "It was like gas pains times a thousand."
• "Very painful cramping and tightening that started at the top of my uterus and spread downward and through my back."
• "Like the cramps you get with a really bad stomach flu, but they last longer!"
• "Labor feels like charley horses in your lower abdomen."

Several women told us that their contractions felt more like a tightening sensation rather than a cramping one.

• "It felt like my entire stomach was tightening down into a painful little ball. But the contractions were not unbearable at all."
• "I literally felt my uterus muscles tightening."
• "It was like someone was grabbing all the skin on my back and pulling very slowly until it was tight, then holding it for a minute and releasing."
• "It felt like someone was squeezing my belly every two or three minutes."
• "It was like someone was squeezing my insides as hard as they could."

Some women described labor as more of a pounding or punching feeling.

• "Having contractions felt like being hit with something really hard."
• "Each contraction felt like getting punched in the stomach – the type of punch that knocks all the air out of you."
• "It was like getting punched in the back and the stomach at the same time, but only when the epidural wore off."

In some cases, the labor contractions felt decidedly more sharp than dull.

• "It felt like I was being impaled on a hot fireplace poker."
• "It was like someone took a serrated knife and stabbed me in the top of my stomach, slowly, slowly sawed downward to my pubic bone, and then stopped for a few minutes and started all over again."
• "It felt like a knife going through my cervix."

Several moms felt a burning sensation during the contractions and crowning.

• "I was expecting the contractions to feel like intense menstrual cramps, but it felt more like burning."
• "I felt a burning pain that spread across my lower abdomen and then slowly eased up as a contraction ended."
• "During crowning there was a definite burning sensation, but I did tear, and that made it feel so much better, believe it or not."

Labor certainly isn't a trip to the beach, but many women described a wavelike effect with their contractions.

• "Each contraction felt like a wave of pain that rose, peaked, and fell."
• "I could feel each contraction coming on, building and building, then peaking and coming down. When the contraction was over, I felt completely fine."
• "I had very intense waves of pain, coming right on top of one another."

This is pain with a purpose: Every contraction brings you closer to meeting your baby and is a necessary part of the process.

- Kristin Cohen, DNP, certified nurse midwife

Do contractions feel like period cramps?

Some women compare contractions to feeling like period cramps.

• "My contractions were like menstrual cramps on steroids."
• "Strong menstrual cramps that came and went. They would start low and radiate up my belly and around into my lower back."

Do contractions feel like you have to poop?

For lots of women we surveyed, yes. The most common analogy moms used to describe the sensation of the pressure they felt during labor (even before the pushing stage) – all decorum aside – was thinking about having to poop.

"Technically, the feeling of needing to poop comes from the baby moving progressively further into the pelvis rather than from the contractions themselves," Cohen says. "Almost everyone experiences this sensation to at least some degree during labor, especially towards the end when it's almost time to push."

• "After the epidural, it just felt like so much pressure. I was surprised that it felt like I had to have a bowel movement rather than pressure in the vagina."
• "You feel like you want to poop really bad, and there's some pressure pushing down."
• "It felt like a big poop, to be completely honest."
• "When my contractions started, I thought I had to have a bowel movement."
• "It felt like I had to take a giant poop! Honestly! The pressure was insane!"
• "Transition [the period between the first and second stage of labor] made me feel like I had to move my bowels."
• "When the contractions were beginning, before they really hurt, it just felt like I had to go to the bathroom!"

How long do contractions last?

The length and intensity of contractions varies depending on the stage of labor you're in. As labor is beginning, contractions will last between 60 and 90 seconds and occur every 5 to 15 minutes.

As labor progresses, over time the contractions will become more intense and painful, and closer together (sometimes coming as close as every 2 minutes).

Where do you feel contractions?

Most people first notice contractions in their lower back or lower pelvis. In the beginning, it's often subtle and feels similar to menstrual cramps.

Sometimes people experience the pain sweeping from their lower back around to their abdomen. As time goes on, the pain will move throughout your stomach and pelvis.

For some people, it's also normal to feel pain in your upper thighs.

• "The cramping went from the top of my stomach down to my pubic area."
• "A horrible cramp that started in my back and radiated into my stomach."
• "The contractions felt like my whole body was clenching."
• "I had tightening all over my belly, radiating into my lower back and rectum."
• "I felt extreme pressure on my rectum."
• "I had lots of pressure in the groin area."
• "I had extreme pressure on my tailbone and vagina."

How do labor contractions feel different from Braxton Hicks contractions?

Many people experience Braxton Hicks contractions as they get closer to their due date. Unlike true labor contractions, which are increasingly painful over time, Braxton Hicks are merely uncomfortable or even painless.

They'll make the abdomen feel tight and hard to the touch, but usually don't cause back pain. Braxton Hicks contractions are also irregular, unlike true labor contractions, which become more regular and frequent as time goes on.

If you're not sure if you're experiencing Braxton Hicks or the real thing, time the contractions to see if they're occurring at a regular pace. Make sure you're well hydrated by drinking plenty of water and changing your position (if you've been on your feet, sit and take a rest; if you've been sitting, get up and move around).

If the contractions taper off, it's safe to assume that they were Braxton Hicks. If they're coming more frequently and strongly, it could be the beginning of labor!