A contraction feels like a very strong cramp. It is very different from a Braxton Hicks. What you are describing sounds like a contraction but you should only be concerned if there is bleeding. You will know if you are going into labor if these "cramps" come and go within a noticable amount of time. If they become regular, you should start to time them. They say, the closer the contractions are, the closer you are to delivery, but that is not always the truth. Everyone is different. Try to stay calm, breathe deeply and controlled. When it is 5 min or less btw contractions, start to prepare for a hospital visit.

I just realized you're at 24 weeks. There is no reason to panic unless they start to come and go. If you only had one contraction, then there is nothing to worry about unless, like I said before, there is bleeding.

This is very common and although they may feel stronger than the braxton-hicks you have experienced before keep in mind that as you get closer to your due date the pain associated with braxton-hicks gets stronger and more frequent. I would try not to worry about it and see if changing positions will help with the pain. If you are truly worried and the pain is unbearable I would go in to see my obstetrician as soon as possible. Better safe than sorry!

After I had my first "real" labor contraction, I was somewhat breathless. The pain starts coming from your back, not from the top of your stomach like the Braxton-Hicks, and it radiated towards the front of my belly. Earlier during my pregnancy I had stronger contractions than the usual Braxton-Hicks. They were more intense and made me wonder but when you really are in labor, they become more constant and frequent. Time yourself and make notes for about 1 hour, if they persist, call your OB and discuss your symptoms. This way you have enough "material" to support the call and help your doctor understand what you are really experiencing.

Trust me you'll know when you're having a contraction. Contractions feel like really strong, painful menstrual cramps. Sometimes they can start in your back and come all the way around into your lower abdomen. You'll just know when the time comes. They will not necessarily be very painful to you as every woman is different and has a different tolerance for pain.

I have had preterm labor with four of my children. If you are getting four or more of these in any given HOUR call your doctor. When you start having contractions of four or more an hour, you start standing the chance of them changing your cervix and this can happen as early as 24 weeks. The only time that you wait until they are five minutes apart to call the doctor is when you are 36 weeks or later. 24 weeks is TOO early to wait until they get closer together. The doctor will want to stop labor if you are this early. Contractions early on can be tightening (painful or not), pain just in the lower stomach area, or pain in the back. If you have any questions, please call your doctor. Good luck and best wishes.

Depending on the position of the baby, Braxton Hicks contractions will range from mild to painful. The key is paying attention to how far apart they are. You are still to early in your pregnancy to worry about that. However, Braxton Hicks can sometimes become regular so if they do, get up and walk around and that will make them go away. If they do not calm down with movement then call your doctor or midwife and talk to them. I have given birth to 4 children and the Braxton Hicks about drove me nuts because I felt like I was in labor for the last 15 weeks of all my pregnancies but after the first one I learned to just move around and then I would know if it was labor or not.
Good luck, it get's easier to deal with the contractions after a while.

"Contraction" by definition means a pulling, closing or tightening. So, when you feel that in your abdomen, that's when it's happening. If you don't know if you're having one or not, then you probably aren't having one. Contractions get longer and stronger and they don't go away regardless of how you change position

I am going to say this again rather urgently. Do not try to determine if these contractions are braxton hicks or assume that they might not be doing anything. You cannot make that determination on your own. If you are having four or more in an hour call your doctor. Period. Until you have had your cervix checked and it been determined that these are not changing it... Call your doctor.

Oh man a contraction feels like a period cramp but 20 x stronger! Or you know when you have to go poop real bad and your stomach start grumbling and hurts bad, it feels like that but way worse! Few days before i gave birth slim stringy stuff was falling out of me and my bf mom said that is what happens a few days before you go into labor.

Contractions gradullly get worse and worse , they make you go to the floor and double up if say you were standing.

A contraction feels like there is something going inside of your body forcefully.

It feels more like a cramp inside the body, that you cannot help.

A contractions feels like period cramp, only 100 times more intense lol. And your tummy will be hard as rock when you touch it. It will be very painful and they will be closer and closer apart. And when you are fully dilated or when your baby is crowning, you'll have uncontrollable urge to push.