Labor contractions typically feel like intense, wave-like tightening or squeezing sensations that start at the top of the uterus and move downward
. Many people describe them as very strong menstrual cramps or period-like pain, often accompanied by dull lower back pain, pressure in the pelvis, and sometimes pain radiating to the inner thighs or legs
. During a contraction, the uterus tightens and becomes very hard, almost like a rock, then relaxes between contractions
. Early contractions may feel like mild cramps or a dull ache and are usually manageable, allowing you to talk or walk through them. As labor progresses, contractions become more intense, longer (up to about a minute), and closer together (every 2 to 3 minutes), making it difficult to talk or move during them
. Braxton Hicks contractions, or "practice contractions," feel different—they are usually irregular, less intense, and often stop with changes in position or rest. They tend to be uncomfortable but not truly painful, unlike true labor contractions which steadily increase in intensity and frequency
. In summary, contractions feel like increasingly strong, rhythmic waves of tightening and cramping in the lower abdomen and back, accompanied by a hardening of the belly, and can be quite painful as labor advances
