I am due the 31st of this month with my first child. I am more than likely going to be overdue. ?

Question

I have asked different people what labor pains feel like and I still dont know what I should be looking for. my doctor said they are a breath talking pain. Can someone please tell me from there experience what labor pains feel like?

Answer 1

Well you will be uncomfortable and you will start having contractions which feel like bad period cramps except you can feel them tighten up and they will stay time for 20-30 seconds then it will release and when you are actually in labor not braxton hicks, then these "cramps" will come in intervals, such as they may start out coming every 10, 20, 30 minutes apart but then when they get closer (get your watch out) once they are about 5-6 minutes apart for approximately an hour then that's the real thing and you can head to the hospital. Believe me you will know it's labor, there's no mistaking it! Also if your water breaks head to the hospital even if you aren't having contractions yet, you need to deliver within 24 hours to avoid infection. Good luck!!

Answer 2

You will know when you are truly in labor - there is no question. For me labor pain felt like my entire gut scrunching up tightly...to be honest, the endorphins and the passage of time have made me forget a lot of what labor felt like!

BTW, the thing about having to have the baby within 24 hours of your water breaking otherwise there will be an infection - that's an arbitrary rule set by doctors and hospitals. Actual research has shown that as long as there are few to no vaginal exams, a woman can safely walk around with her water broken for 4 days.