labor contractions feel like menstrual cramps really bad ones at that! It starts then usually progresses worse and worse. Everyone is different in the amt of time they are in labor. I was 12 hours with both my children. My water broke with my son and I was not sure I was in labor my contraction were not that bad at that point so I went to get checked and I was in deed in labor! I was just 37 weeks so it was a bit early for my first. With my daughter I was induced at 39 weeks so it was scheduled...Well hope this helps! Good Luck!

With my son my water broke, so of course I knew it was time to go to the hospital..With my daughter I started getting light cramping in early evening that by night time had progressed into pretty painful, I timed them and over that couple of hours they got closer and closer..Believe me you will know when its time..Good luck

My water broke with my first too. FOr my second I thought I was having contractions (those pesky braxton hicks) for weeks. I knew when I woke up with "real" contractions that "this was it" I've always explained them like this, take your worse ever menstral/poo cramp ever, then multiply that by 107 and thats a contraction. They radiat all over and peak, so when you start feeling cramps that go in waves like that keep your attention on them! Good luck!

Both my labors started about the same - I started bleeding. Then I started feeling like I was having period cramps that ever so slowly got more and more intense. Then the contractions started, which weren't really painful at first, but eventually they would stop me in my tracks and kind of take my breath away. I went to the hospital fairly early with my first and things got pretty intense there - got my epidural and all was well. With my second I waited to go to the hospital because I was so much more comfy at home. When I got to the hospital, I was practically ready to deliver, which was good and bad - I was too late for an epidural so I was pretty freaked out, but I survived! It was actually easier to recover without the epidural. Anyway, best wishes to you!