Real labour contractions

I feel like I'm possibly a couple days out and I'm currently feeling very uncomfortable with lower back aches, aches in the tops of my legs, and mild pains on and off. I have had extreme fatigue all day and have had to nap regularly, as well as frequently peeing, and being very emotional last night where I was saying I'd had enough. So what do true labour contractions actually feel like? I don't want any "you'll know when they happen" or any bull answers like that because I genuinely don't know what to look out for or when to start timing them. I thought I was having them this morning but I was totally wrong, because nobody ever gives a straight forward answer as to how they really feel. Where is the pain felt? Is it at the top or the bottom of the bump? Is the back ache supposed to be constant, or does it come with the contractions? Does the pain feel worse when you lay down compared to sat or standing when you are in labour? What is the pain comparable to? Is it a burning/scratching feeling? Do they come before or after your water breaks? How do I know when to start timing them?

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Mine felt at the bottom, like bad period pains wrapped around my abdomen and back, back pain was at the same time as the contraction itself. I realised they were real because they didn’t stop when I moved position, and I struggled to focus on anything much while they were happening. It was an ache / tightening / cramping sensation for me, and I was most comfortable sat on the edge of the bed with my legs wide and belly out for the beginning; then onto all fours in the pool mainly. I couldn’t bare to stand or be on my back or side, though that can differ for everyone. My contractions started lightly at about 10pm and waters didn’t go until I was very much in active labour at 6pm the following day. I started timing them as a test more than anything as I’d noticed the cramping was coming relatively regularly, and wanted to test the Freya app out a bit! It is super hard because honestly, you know when you know, but hopefully the above helps a little bit x

I would say Jess’ reply is spot on. I was trying to explain to a friend earlier but for me I said it felt like a very painful period cramp that goes from no pain to the most intense period pain over the space of 60 seconds. I imagine it’s completely different for everyone. But for me it was a rising sensation of pain and intensity. I visualised it like a balloon expanding in my abdomen. It took my breath away and required absolute focus to maintain calm and to breathe through it. I found it useful to breathe the pain away.

Thank you so much ladies! I find it most helpful if I can visualise this sort of thing, I'm 39 weeks tomorrow but I don't think I'm going to make it to Christmas so I really needed some insight of what to expect and what to look out for.

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