What does labour feel like?

If this is your first baby or the first time you may experience contractions you are probably asking yourself 'What does labour feel like?' or 'How do I know that contractions have started?'... Here are some quotes from women who have been to my classes describing what contractions felt like to them:

Early labour....

Waves of mild period pains, that come and go quickly, easy to cope with.
Like a Wave coming from the side, building up to the middle, belly goes rock hard. 
A gradual build up, a tightening round my belly, not unpleasant in the beginning, quite exciting, not painful. 
A build up of tension round your belly and into your back. 
Don’t ignore it. Don't tense up, pleasant sensation, nothing to worry about.
It's hard not to fight it and hard to ignore.

Later on in established labour....

It felt like an intense squeezing pain in the lower half of my abdomen and lower back coming in waves.
Something pulling muscles intensely in your belly.
I could feel my belly tightening strongly and releasing.
It definitely did feel like extreme period pain and it gradually got more intense. 

Please feel free to comment below with what contractions felt like for you!

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