What Do Contractions Really Feel Like And How To Prepare Yourself As A First-Timer
Noone really does a good job at explaining how it feels. And no-one really tells you how to prepare yourself. But, I am here to tell you just those things!
I am currently 10 months postpartum.
For years, one of my biggest fears was getting pregnant. I knew I always wanted to be a mom, but I also was so not looking forward to labor and delivery. But after a year of being married, I knew it was time!
So… contractions.
What do they really feel like?
I felt uterine contractions AND contractions in my butt and lower back. The epidural helped when I first got there, but then it wore off once they gave me Pitocin (still working on writing my birth story).
Contractions
Uterine contractions (to me) feel like your belly is slowly being blown up like a balloon but then slowwwlllyyyy letting the air release. The most painful part was when the “balloon” aka my uterus reached its maximum capacity. I personally felt 4 distinct uterine contractions - but at first did not really even pay attention to this until I surrendered to the discomfort. The 4 contractions I felt increased in intensity as I surpassed each one, but the fourth one felt relatively easy compared to the rest of them. Knowing that, it helped me tremendously mentally because I knew what to expect as I’d cycle through all 4 contractions until I felt ready to push. These, to me, felt the most do-able even though they were intense. A lot of people only get these types of contractions. But if you want to be a little prepared for the other types of contractions, read #2 and #3.
Butt labor contractions. Oooof. These almost were the worst type of contractions I felt. They were extremely painful and I almost wanted to have some cut my butt off. These are hard to explain, but luckily they did go away and never really came back once I had the epidural (thank god). But it felt like my rectum area was almost being ripped out of me without my consent. It almost felt like a corkscrew. It was very strange.
Low back contractions. When I first arrived to the hospital, these were very powerful. I’d say it felt like a knot that was being twisted on both sides of my low back. After I got the epidural, the pain on my right side went away, but the left side pain remained the same and only got worse after I received Pitocin. I had to have my husband apply counter pressure here during every contraction.
Pushing contractions. These last much longer than your regular labor contractions. And I don’t know why I didn't know this, but I wish I did. These contractions help guide baby OUT and you use these contractions as leverage for pushing. So at the start of one of these long ass contractions, you start pushing but you have to wait until they’re almost at their peak. And then you push 10 times per contraction (I only did an 8 count). They tell you it’ll feel like you have to poop but I NEVER felt that feeling. I could feel my baby descending but it didn’t feel like poop LOL. It didn’t hurt either. I really didn’t feel discomfort in my vagina at all even when they would check my cervix and I didn't feel “the ring of fire”. It was hard to feel much of anything other than the contractions TBH.
How to prepare!
Get uncomfortable + sit with it. For me this looked like sitting in some yoga postures after a workout or yoga session. I’d set a timer for 10-15 mins and stay in the pose. At first you may want to resist the discomfort, but the more you sit with it - it starts to feel more doable. You’d think it’s challenging your body the most, but it’s actually challenging your brain, your will power and mental stamina. If you can breathe, but also relax even if it hurts - you’ll be fine!
Nasal breathing exercises to prepare you for labor. I like 4-7-8 breathing or square breathing.
4-7-8 breathing: inhale through your nose for a count of 4, pause at the top at a count of 7 and exhale through your nose at a count of 8. Repeat continuously for 5-10x’s.
Square breathing: imagine a square and all four sides. Inhale, pause, exhale, pause with a count of 5 per line. Here’s a video.
Push-breathing exercises. Try taking a deep inhale through your nose and then at the exhale purse your lips together and hold your breath as you bare down for a count of 8-10. Repeat this 3-5 times.
If you like to workout already or are trying to while pregnant, I would try to find a balance of strength exercises and flexibility work especially when you’re doing core and lower body. I personal prefer lots of yoga and not just the gentle kind. Power yoga is great! And the sooner you start, the better. A lot of women wait until the end of their pregnancy and moving around with a big belly is hard in and of itself, let alone praticing yoga postures that you’ve rarely done. It’s better to get your body (and mind) acclimated to the moves so when you enter your third trimester, you’ll know when to dial it back.
Turn the lights out, close your eyes, breathe through your nose and have a portable fan (usually hospitals have them). I also played a pregnancy meditation playlist on Spotify.
Surrender and trust the process. It is VERY challenging to just sit there and be in pain. But the sooner you surrender to the discomfort and do tip #5, your body and mind will relax and you’ll be ready to push. Letting go and embracing discomfort, makes things much less painful.
Things to buy
A yoga ball is great to relieve discomfort and honestly some jitters as you approach your due date. I didn’t really use it other than for bouncing LOL and I used it A LOT the first few weeks/months postpartum to help rock my baby to sleep. But for labor, the hospital supplied a peanut ball and we did some postures in it even though it was challenging because my legs were numb (partially ;)).
Tensing unit! I think this would have helped me with my back labor rather having my husband or my twin push on it. They call this counterpressure - which was extremely helpful for me. I almost felt out of control/naked/seen if someone was NOT able to push there, it was weird. But it was also very painful. This is when I feel the #4 would have came in handy for me!
If you struggle with “being seen” or feel “pressure to perform” I would suggest being alone especially when you’re approaching 8-10 centimeters. I had a doula, which was really helpful, but I truly believe my labor took so long is because I had people in the room waiting and waiting. But who knows.
One of those labor combs. I know they sell some on Etsy! I wish I had one of them, ugh!! You think you don’t need things because you’re just so preoccupied and ready to just get the show on the road, but I think this would have TOTALLY helped me feel in control a little bit.
Hospital bag. So many “influencers” recommend all kinds of things and I actually suggest keeping it simple and bringing minimal things. The last thing you’re thinking about is your hospital bag. I’ve created a hospital bag post for you to read as well. My number one thing to bring with you to the hospital is your PUMP if you plan to breastfeed or pump (or both!). And if you read the post, you’ll know why. I’ve also created a PDF on things to buy as a first time mom for your postpartum journey!