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I've read as much as I can and I keep hearing you'll know when you have them. But I'm really impatient and want to know more!
Do they feel like period cramps or sharp pains? Are they more localized in your lower pelvic region or can they fell like a band across your belly. When you first start having them do they have a reconizable start and stop time?
For me they have always felt like terrilbe period cramps. They are lower in the abdomen for me but my whole belly tightens up. Also, you will usually feel a dull pressure or pain in your lower back. HTHs!
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Molly
DH Andy
DS Hayden - May 21, 2003
DD Brynley - February 23, 2006
Zachary Stone - Due April 28, 2008
I SO hope you are having what you think are contractions right now! I can't wait to meet Olivia! To me, they feel like someone putting their hand on your uterus and squeezing. It's like a very localized tightening at the bottom of your belly. It doesn't really feel like cramps (to me) it really feels tight. Since you are so skinny you will probably be able to feel them from the outside too. Like, if you lay on your back, you uterus will feel hard at the bottom of your belly, and almost smaller, like the sides are coming in towards each other. It's hard to explain, obviously!! They are pretty obvious though...it's just one of those thing that you know when have one. They are a very different feeling. The beginning pain level is that of cramps though...nothing you can't stand. I hope you are having some!!!!
Mine never felt like period cramps either -- but you can definitely feel your uterus harden. You may not notice them at first -- but once you have about three in a row, you'll really pay attention and realize that they are probably contractions.
I never got contractions until after my water broke -- with my first, probably within 30 minutes of the water breaking and with my twins, it was pretty immediate once my water broke.
My "not-so-serious" contractions do feel like period cramps with a hardened uterus. But when I was in labor, the pain was so bad I couldn't even think enough to be able to describe what I was feeling. Nice thing to look forward to, huh?!
well i wouldnt really know... i think i felt two with ds.... ANd then got the epi... (my water broke first so I was admitted to the hospital the night before i had him. lol Oh I puked with both of those contractions! So, hopefully, i know them too if i get them... i am hopeing to be induced though... or csection. I dont want to go into labor on my own...lol
I can put mine into 2 groups - BH ones where it's mainly tightening of my whole tummy and more 'real' ones that are tightening + pain. The level of pain seems to have a really wide range - even when I was in labor w/ my daughter some of them were barely painful - while others were really intense.
Last night I actually had some mildly uncomfortable ones that seemed to be squeezing downwards from the top of my belly....
Hey, Unregistered - we need you! The SheKnows pregnancy boards aren't going anywhere - but perhaps you'd consider helping us grow our 
What do contractions feel like?
So, hopefully, i know them too if i get them... i am hopeing to be induced though... or csection. I dont want to go into labor on my own...lol
