Experiencing Contractions: The Good, the Bad, and the Painful

Contractions might vary in severity and location during pregnancy. Braxton Hicks are irregular and less painful. Preterm contractions happen before 37 weeks. Labour contractions are powerful and regular, and they may be felt in the belly, back, or pelvis. If you have frequent contractions, particularly if you also have other symptoms, see your doctor.

Utkarsha Gupta
Updated:23 Oct 2024, 4:00 pm
Pregatips
When you talk to any mother about labour and delivery, the question "what do contractions feel like?" is almost certain to arise. Contractions aid in the progression of labour, although they may also occur before labour begins. Most ladies would tell you that they don't feel wonderful.
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The uterus is a big muscle that, like all other muscles in the body, flexes when stimulated. Hormonal changes may cause contractions, but how a woman feels them depends on her pain threshold and the kind of contraction she is experiencing (yes, there are several types). Here are some of the things that influence how contractions feel.

What do Braxton Hicks Contractions Feel Like?

Braxton Hicks contractions are irregular contractions that do not occur as a result of cervical changes and may occur at any point throughout pregnancy.Some women may feel Braxton Hicks contractions without realising it. They do not occur at regular intervals and often appear towards the end of the day or after a lot of exertion. Changing positions or walking might sometimes help to lessen or eliminate discomfort.
The contractions felt like a squeezing and tightening of my tummy that continued going higher, accompanied by period pains. Like small lightning strikes.

How To Differentiate Between True Labor And False Labour?

You may have contractions in the last few weeks of pregnancy. However, contractions may not always indicate the beginning of labour. These pains are known as false labour or Braxton Hicks contractions.Braxton Hicks contractions are irregular. They don't move closer together. They often go away as you move around, relax, or change positions. Contractions caused by genuine labour are more regular, closer together, stronger, and persist even after position changes, rest, or movement.
Time the duration of your contractions to distinguish between true or false labour. This is the period between the commencement of one contraction and the start of the following contraction. Also take note of the duration between them. Call your healthcare physician if your contractions are the following:
  • Last at least 30 to 70 seconds
  • Occur at regular intervals of around 5-7 minutes
  • Don’t go away if you lay down
If your water breaks, contact your healthcare practitioner right away. You should call even if you are not experiencing contractions. Write down the time it occurs. Go to your labour and birth facility if any of the following happen:
  • You're bleeding vaginally, and it's not just spotting
  • Your contractions are five minutes apart or less. If your healthcare practitioner directs you otherwise, follow his or her instructions.
  • You’re in steady, severe pain

Contractions During Different Stages of Labour

Stage 1: Early and active labour

The first stage of labour and delivery begins when you experience persistent contractions. As time passes, these contractions grow more intense and frequent. They induce the cervix to open. This process is referred to as dilatation. The contractions soften, shorten, and thin the cervix. That process is known as effacement. It permits the infant to enter the delivery canal.The first stage of labour is the longest of the three. It is separated into two phases: early labour and active labour.

Early Labour

During early labour, also known as latent labour, the cervix opens and softens. It also becomes shorter and thinner. In the early stages of labour, the cervix opens by less than 6 centimetres. Contractions are usually moderate and irregular.As the cervix opens, you may detect a clear pink or slightly bloody discharge from the vagina. This is most likely the mucus plug that forms during pregnancy and clogs the cervical opening.

Duration

Early labour is unpredictable. It may stop and start. The usual duration ranges between hours and days. Those who have had a baby previously frequently find it shorter.

What you can do

Many individuals find that early labour isn't extremely unpleasant. However, some people may have more powerful contractions. During early labour, contractions may last for an extended amount of time. Try to keep calm.The following may help you stay comfortable during early labour:
  • Go on a stroll
  • Take a bath or shower
  • Listen to calming music
  • Try the breathing and relaxation methods given in birthing classes
  • Change your stance
If your pregnancy is not high-risk, you may spend the majority of your early labour at home. Most pregnant women do not need to visit a hospital or a birthing centre until their contractions become more powerful and frequent. Consult your healthcare provider about when to depart for the hospital or birthing centre. If your water breaks or you have excessive vaginal bleeding, call your healthcare provider immediately.

Active labour

During active labour, the cervix expands 6-10 cm. Contractions grow stronger and closer together. They also occur more often. Your legs could cramp. Your stomach may feel unsettled. If it hasn't happened already, you could feel your water burst. You may also feel additional pressure in your back. If you haven't visited your labour and delivery facility yet, now is the time.Your initial joy might decrease as labour progresses and you become increasingly uncomfortable. If you want pain medicine or anaesthesia, ask for it. Your healthcare team collaborates with you to make the best decisions for you and your baby. Remember that you are the only one who can assess your need for pain relief.

Duration

Active labour often lasts four to eight hours or more. On average, the cervix expands around 1 centimetre every hour. However, it may take longer for those who have never had a kid before.

What you can do

Ask your labour partner and healthcare staff for encouragement and support. To relieve discomfort, try deep breathing and relaxation exercises. Use the information you learnt in birthing class or seek advice from your healthcare provider.Unless you need to be in a certain position for careful monitoring of you and your baby, attempt the following to make active labour more comfortable:
  • Change your stance
  • Roll on a huge rubber ball (a birthing ball)
  • Take a warm bath or shower
  • Take a stroll and pause to breathe during contractions
  • Massage gently between contractions
If you need a Caesarean birth, generally known as a C-section, having food in your stomach might cause problems. If your doctor believes you may need a C-section or if you have an epidural for pain medication, you may be restricted to small quantities of clear liquids such as water, ice chips, popsicles, and juice rather than solid meals.The final stages of active labour may be very difficult and painful. Contractions are close together and might last from 60 to 90 seconds. You can have pressure in the abdomen and lower back. If you are tempted to push, let someone on your healthcare team know.If you want to push but your cervix isn't completely open, you'll probably have to wait. Pushing too quickly might exhaust you and cause your cervix to enlarge. This can cause a delay in delivery. Pant or blow through the contractions. This stage of labour is normally brief, lasting approximately 15 to 60 minutes.

Stage 2: The birth of your baby

It is time! You have your baby during the second stage of labour.

Duration

It may take anything from a few minutes to many hours to deliver your baby. People who have never had a baby before and have an epidural often take longer to push than those who have had a baby or do not have an epidural.

What You Can Do

Push! Your healthcare expert instructs you to bear down during each contraction or informs you when to push. Alternatively, you may be urged to push when you feel the need.When it's time to push, try out several positions until you discover the one that feels most comfortable. You may push while crouching, sitting, kneeling, or even on your hands and knees. A member of your healthcare team may monitor your progress while pushing to let you know whether your efforts are effective.At some time, you may be advised to push more lightly, or not at all. Slowing down allows your vaginal tissues to stretch, rather than tear. To keep motivated, you may ask to feel the baby's head between your legs or look in the mirror.After your baby's head is born, the shoulders follow. Baby's full body will follow soon. The baby's airway is cleaned as needed. If you or your baby had no health issues during the birth, your healthcare professional may wait a few seconds to a few minutes before cutting the umbilical cord. Waiting to clamp and cut the umbilical cord after birth promotes the flow of nutrient-rich blood from the cord and placenta to the infant. This increases the baby's iron reserves and reduces the chance of anaemia. That promotes healthy development and growth.

Stage 3: Delivery of the placenta

After your baby is delivered, you will most likely experience a tremendous feeling of relief. You may hold the infant in your arms or on your tummy. However, some work remains to be done. The placenta is delivered during the third stage of delivery.

Duration

The placenta is usually delivered within 30 minutes.Mild, less painful contractions that are close together persist after delivery. Contractions aid in moving the placenta into the delivery canal. You softly push one more to deliver the placenta. You may be given medication before or after the placenta is delivered to stimulate uterine contractions and reduce bleeding.

What you can do

By now, your attention has most certainly switched to your child. It's possible that you're not observing your surroundings. If you want to, try nursing your infant.Mild, less painful contractions that are close together persist after delivery. Contractions help in moving the placenta into the delivery canal. You softly push one more to deliver the placenta. You may be given medication before or after the placenta is delivered to stimulate uterine contractions and reduce bleeding.Your healthcare practitioner checks the placenta to ensure it is intact. To avoid bleeding and infection, any remaining fragments of the placenta must be removed from the uterus. If you are interested, request to view the placenta.After you deliver the placenta, your uterus continues to contract, allowing it to recover to its normal size.A member of your healthcare team may massage your abdomen. This helps the uterus contract, reducing bleeding.Your healthcare expert examines your vaginal region to see if any tears need to be repaired. If you did not have an epidural, you will be given an injection of local anaesthetic in the region that has to be repaired.

When To Go To The Hospital?

A contraction is a tightening of the uterus that causes cramps or pressure. You should feel it throughout your uterus and maybe in your back. As labour continues, your contractions become more frequent and regular, so timing them is an excellent method to determine when it's time to travel to the hospital. Timing is everything.

This is how it works

  • Once you experience several contractions in a succession, start timing them
  • Time the duration of each contraction. If the tightening lasts 30 seconds or more, it is a labour contraction
  • Count the time between contractions, beginning with one and ending with another
If this is your first baby, come to the hospital when you get contractions.
  • Come every 3 to 5 minutes throughout an hour period
  • Last at least 45-60 seconds
If you've given birth previously, come to the hospital when you have contractions.
  • Come every 5–7 minutes
  • Last at least 45-60 seconds
The first step is to contact your hospital and let the care staff know you're on your way. Save your hospital's phone number to your phone so you may access it when needed.Get underway once you've called your care team! Grab your hospital bag, travel to the hospital, and prepare to meet your newborn.

How Does The Baby's Position Affect Contractions?

The baby's position in the womb may have a substantial impact on contractions during labour. Here are some important points:
  • Optimal Positions: The baby should be in a head-down (vertex) position with its back to the mother's tummy. This posture promotes pelvic engagement, which may lead to more effective contractions.
  • Posterior Position: If the baby is in the posterior position (facing the mother's belly), it might cause back labour. Contractions may feel more strong and painful, and labour may last longer.
  • Transverse or Breech Positions: If the baby is laying sideways (transverse) or breech (bottom or feet first), labour might be difficult. In such circumstances, contractions may be ineffective, necessitating a caesarean section.
  • Pelvic Alignment: The baby's position may influence how effectively the pelvis opens during contractions. Positions that enable the mother to move and shift (like squatting or hands-and-knees) may assist improve alignment.
  • Impact on Duration: A well-positioned baby might cause more efficient contractions, thereby reducing the labour. Malpositions, on the other hand, might make labour more difficult and time-consuming.

What Do Preterm Contractions Feel Like?

Preterm contractions occur when a woman's regular contractions begin before the 37th week of pregnancy. Without seeing a doctor, it might be difficult to determine if your preterm contractions are occurring without cervical changes or whether they are accompanied by cervical changes that can lead to premature labour. That's why it's critical to contact your obstetrician if you're having any consistent contractions, even if they're before your due date.Preterm contractions range from slight discomfort to intense stomach cramps. However, some women may not be aware that they are undergoing contractions.

What Do Labour Contractions Feel Like?

If you ask many ladies this question, you will most certainly get a range of responses. Labour contraction discomfort varies from woman to woman since everyone feels pain differently.The duration and intensity of your contractions, as well as the stage of labour you are in, may all have an impact on your overall impression of pain. A woman in early labour may experience pain or a squeezing sensation in her belly.Active labour contractions, on the other hand, occur when a woman's cervix is dilated and effaced. You may have problems speaking through them. Transitional labour contractions, which occur when the baby is coming out, are the "most powerful, frequent, and painful.

What Do Back Contractions Feel Like?

During labour, women may have lower back discomfort as a result of the baby's position or the strength of the contractions. Back contractions do not occur in all women in labour, but when they do, they are severe and painful.

Do Contractions Feel Like Menstrual Cramps?

Contraction pain is subjective. There is no standardised or universal norm. However, when describing how contractions feel, many women compare them to severe menstrual cramps.The discomfort usually begins as a dull ache and gradually increases in severity as labour proceeds.

Where Do You Feel The Contractions?

Once again, there is no clear solution. You may have labour contractions in several locations, including your tummy, back, and pelvis. Many women connect them to period cramps, while others describe them as bowel movement pains. The discomfort may go down your thighs and your legs, and some expectant mothers describe experiencing contractions throughout their whole body. To summarise, the pain may be localised or generalised.

Common Myths About Contractions

There are several myths and misunderstandings concerning contractions during labour. Here are some of the more common misconceptions:

1. Myth: Every contraction is painful

Truth: While many women have painful contractions, others may sense pressure or discomfort. The severity might vary greatly from person to person.

2. Myth: Contractions only happen during labour

Truth: Braxton Hicks contractions, sometimes known as "practice contractions," may occur weeks or months before labour starts. They are often irregular and not indicative of approaching labour.

3. Myth: You should rush to the hospital as contractions begin

Truth: It is critical to monitor the frequency and strength of contractions, however not all contractions need emergency hospitalisation.

4. Myth: Contractions will become consistent right away

Truth: Early labour contractions may be erratic, with varying frequencies and strength. It may take awhile for contractions to become more regular.

5. Myth: You cannot eat or drink during labour

Truth: While some hospitals prohibit eating during labour, many allow modest snacks or clear beverages, particularly in early labour. It is always important to consult with your healthcare physician.

6. Myth: Labour will always follow a predictable pattern

Truth: Each labour experience is unique. Some women may have fast labour, while others may have a longer pace.

7. Myth: Epidurals completely prevent contractions

Truth: Epidurals may significantly lessen discomfort, but they usually do not eradicate the sense of contractions. Many women still experience pressure during contractions.

8. Myth: Relaxation leads to easier contractions

Truth: While relaxation techniques may help manage discomfort, contractions are a normal part of the labour process, and each woman will feel them differently, regardless of relaxation tactics.

Postpartum Contractions

Contractions are typical throughout the postpartum period; they are how the uterus decreases back to size. These contractions feel like quick, strong pains in the belly, similar to menstruation cramps or labour contractions. They should gradually reduce in severity each day after childbirth. Contractions are common and natural; they are actually beneficial to the body. They not only indicate that the uterus is decreasing back to its pre-pregnancy size, but they also compress the blood arteries where the placenta was connected, preventing postpartum haemorrhage.

How long does postpartum contractions last?

Postpartum contractions often last seven to ten days and are intermittent, unlike labour contractions. They are often most painful on the second and third days after birth and may hit during nursing or pumping. Contractions are also caused by oxytocin, a hormone that is released during nursing.Here are some techniques to manage unpleasant postpartum contractions:
  • Over-the-counter pain relief
  • Whatever coping strategies worked for labour contractions should also help with postpartum contractions
  • Place heating pads on the abdomen and/or gently massage the lower tummy

When should I be worried?

If your postpartum contractions are causing severe discomfort, you are bleeding heavily (needing to change your maxi pad more than once an hour), or you have a temperature of more than 100.4, call your doctor right away.

FAQs on Experiencing Contractions: A Guide to What They Feel Like?

  1. How long do contractions last?Labour contractions may last anywhere from 30 to 90 seconds and become more frequent as the pregnancy progresses and you approach birth.
  2. What Are the Early Signs of Labour?Determining if you are in labour might be challenging. It's perplexing—especially if you're having severe Braxton Hicks contractions. The following are a few clues that the baby's birth is not far off:
    • Regular contractions
    • Baby may drop
    • Vaginal discharge and a bloody show
    • Your water breaks
Disclaimer: Medically approved by Dr Nazia Dalwai, MBBS DGO, Gynecologist and Obstetrician, Mumbai