What exactly are contractions?

Question

I've heard the description of contractions being: your uterus bunches up and hardens...what does that mean? So my uterus will be a few inches above my belly button-will my whole uterus bunch up and harden? I mean, is it going to literally scrunch together and get really hard? What does it feel like? Is it pain like horrible period cramps? Is that the only place you feel contractions, or do you have pain in your v****a, too? I'm almost 27 weeks and am just wondering about this so I can be prepared if I start having them at home by myself. Do the contractions start out very painful? If I notice I'm beginning to have them (I mean when I'm close to my due date), should I call someone, or should I wait a while? Just wondering :)

Answer 1

Yes your whole belly tightens and gets hard.  If you poke your belly during a contraction it feels like you are tightening your belly muscles as tight as you can, but you can't untighten it.  With my first baby they started out very painful and fairly close together (which I heard is common with first babies).  My second they started lighter (menstrual cramp like pain) and gradually got stronger and closer together.  The best description of what they feel like to me is a giant charlie horses across your whole abdomen.  The pain is usually only in the belly unless you have back labor and then the pain is in your back and front.  You can always call your doctor when they start (definitely do if you are not full term), but most of the time the doctor will want you to time them for a while first and wait until they are around 5 min apart before you come in.  Good Luck!!