What does a contraction feel like?

It's hard to say because different women have different pain tolerances. The muscles in the uterus push up to the very top and then squeeze down during a contraction. I felt every little bit of that.

to me it felt like someone squeezing your abdomen hard from the inside and then letting go slowly, and repeating all over again. when they came back.

I think it is difficult to explain a physical sensation but I have given birth four times, and so I will give it a try. To me it feels like a painful pinching squeeze that starts in the back and wraps tightly around underneath your belly to the front, squeezing hard for some time before fading. I always felt the need to hold onto something during a contraction. These get progressively worse as the cervix dilates. However, once you are fully dilated and it is time to push the baby out, the contractions hurt much less, and instead you get the weird sensation of the baby's enormous (so it feels) round head coming out. I never found this latter part of delivery painful, just very strange and a little scary at first.

Like cramps, only stronger. It is a tightness then a relax. You'll know its a real contraction because you won't be able to talk through them.

For me they felt like really bad menstral cramps. When I first went in labor I thought I was just cramping. I knew is was the real thing when my "cramps" starting getting closer together and stronger. You will also start feeling some strong pressure.

yes braxton hicks tightening of the stomach, real contractions for me i found were in the lower back area, and quite discomforting, put it this way you can tell the difference, but then again every pregnancy and birth are never the same. I have had 2 children and they were so different. Trust your body and your instincts if you are concerned or just want some advice call up your midwife im sure they can put your mind at ease. good luck with the rest of your pregnancy, enjoy it totally. P.s are you in the UK by any chance could give you a web site forum where you could get some baby freebies!!

When my best friend had her first babay she said that she felt the contaction pains mostly in her lower back.