What Do Contractions Feel Like? We Asked the Internet

TLDR: They hurt.

What Contractions Feel Like According to the Internet

They don’t feel great. Shocking, we know. If you want the sweet version, visit WebMD. If you want to know the full scoop, ask a mom.

We combed the internet for the funniest, most honest answers women had to the timeless question, "What do contractions feel like?"

Here are all the gory details you need to know, including comparisons to food poisoning and being stabbed. But if you’re 34 weeks along, you might want to spare yourself the anxiety and sit this one out.

Like You’re Trying to Get Out the Last Bit of Toothpaste, Only Your Stomach Is the Tube

Pregnant woman lays on operating table before receiving cesarean section

"Labor is the worst period cramps you've ever had multiplied by 10,000. Labor is insane. It's those horrible cramps being used to PUSH A HUMAN OUT OF YOU. You get stretched and torn and squeezed like a human tube of toothpaste. 0/10. Do not recommend as an experience." —GypsyDanggger

Often, Contractions Come in Waves

Pregnant woman suffering migraine at home

"I never felt like I had cramps. It just feels like a weird radiating pain. It started in the center of my lower back and would radiate out and then completely stop, then start over again a minute or so later. It eventually gets very intense." —Anxietysheep

Contractions Can Be So Bad You Can Hardly Breathe

"It's the kind of pain where the rest of the world disappears and nothing exists except you and this terrible pain. Your sphere of attention devolves which is why they give you breathing exercises.

The pain is so bad, you can barely focus on breathing." —CastInSteel

Contractions Feel Like You Finally Got Salmonella From That Bite of Raw Cookie Dough

Tummy pain might be trying to tell you something

"When I had my first ever contraction, I remember thinking it was something like awful food poisoning cramping. And then it shifts into this indescribable pain and pressure. The worst was the second time around. Both times my epidural failed, so no relief." —Ischialanon

Ever Imagined Being Cut in Half? Maybe Don’t

Pregnant woman watching her baby on the ultrasound

"At first it was like really bad period cramps. I was induced, and after they broke my water, it turned into active labor right away. There was a huge difference between those contractions and the earlier ones. It kind of felt how I would imagine getting sliced in half would feel." —Abehling94

Like Your Insides Are Trying to Call an Uber

"At first it was like bad menstrual cramps, then it progressed to something far more painful, as if my uterus was trying to escape my body. Then I had an epidural and slept through most of it feeling no pain." —Emptyplates

Contractions Are More Intense Than One Can Possibly Imagine

In the Hospital, a Woman in Labor Pushing Hard to Give Birth, Obstetricians Assisting, Spouse Holds Her Hand. Modern Maternity Hospital with Professional Midwives.

"I was actually looking forward to the pain and endurance I would need to get through childbirth and looked forward to doing it naturally.

When we got to the hospital, I turned into a crack fiend begging nurses in passing for all the drugs." —Kittehwolf

One Mom Got Straight to the Point

"Hell." —Yara Herrera

Many Women Experience Contractions as Back Pain

"I would describe it as a very bad backache." —Tajwar Khan

Hope You Like Seafood

"Getting gutted like a fish." —Alicia Em Ahmed

Now Here’s a Visual We Didn’t Need

Young woman with disgusted expression repulsing something, isolated on the pink

"Like someone trying to rip your spine down through your butt while simultaneously pulling your hips out." —Karissa Clairmont

Comfy

"Like someone had my insides in a vice!" —Kelly-Marie Robertson

Do Contractions Feel Like Cramps? Depends on Who You Ask

In the Hospital Nurse Giving Birth Support, Obstetricians Assisting. Modern Delivery Ward with Professional Midwives

"Before my contractions started, friends used to say it feels like having a period pain × 1000. ... Nah, they lied to me. I was screaming and saying this isn't period pain, this is hell. Seriously, no words can explain contractions for me." —Princess Inikpi

Contractions Can Be Sharp, Dull or Both

Knife is Inserting in the Apple on White Background

"For my first child, it felt like sharp stabbing pains. For my second child, it felt like period cramps times 50." —Kelly Gray

Like a Classic Schoolyard Prank

"I thought it felt like a 'snake bite' (twisting closely laid tight fists in opposite directions) feels just wrapped around your abdomen/lower back." —Tabba Dziak

One Mom’s Contractions Were So Bad, She Declined To Respond

"I'd rather not say. Having three inductions and having my water burst for me, I'd really rather not say." —Anecke Potgieter

Contractions Can Make It Feel Like You Might Explode

"That pressure was unreal." —Jennifer Reed

Contractions Are Excruciating, but Worth It

"Agony that comes in waves, but it's worth it." —Kit Tunstall

At Least No One Judges You for Screaming Through Contractions

"Lol, definitely think I screamed like a demon on my last one, haha. All natural labor! Painfulllll...So worth it though!" —Katy Dricken

Like a Curse From Harry Potter

"Cruciatus curse. Well, what I imagine that would feel like." —Cole Poodi

Like a Natural Disaster Inside of You

"Thunderstorms inside your body." —Jessica Rios Morales

Like Being Torn in Two

White Ripped Paper or Torn Paper in Half on Wood Background 2

"Like I was being ripped in half. That explains it for me. Natural, no meds, no nothing but a hospital bed. Here goes to doing it one more time." —LaTonya Scott

Towards the End, Contractions Feel Like an Intense Need to Push

A Pregnant Woman Tries Breathing Through Labor Pains stock photo

"All I can remember is thinking, if I don't push, I'm gonna die!" —Claudia Thapar

Like Borderline Murder

Pregnant woman touching her belly and lower back, suffering from backache. Pregnancy health, wellbeing concept

"Back labor was like having a knife driven through my lower spine with each contraction. Thank goodness for that epidural." —Meredith Lopez

Like You Want To Leave Your Spouse for the Anesthesiologist

"I professed my love for my anesthesiologist when he made the pain go away!" —Kristine Elizabeth

Contractions Can Be So Painful, You Have to Dissociate to Cope

Woman Having Spiritual Out Of Body Experience

"My first baby I had gas and air, my second seven years later was all natural. The gas and air didn't work and just made me panic even more, and the pain literally made it think I was dying. I felt like I had a like out of body experience." —Megan Lamb Parker

Increasingly Bad, Until You Finally Have a New, Precious Little Person

Pregnant Muslim lady suffering prenatal contractions at home, caring husband comforting her

"The labor part wasn't that bad. Painful but manageable. Transition felt like I was going to die, the contractions were just right on top of each other and wouldn't give me a break." —Stefani Robinson

Ever Heard the Song 'Under Pressure'? Like That.

"When the epidural works, you feel intense pressure when it's time to push. With epidural fail, contractions feel like menstrual cramps times 1000. It had me begging to be knocked out." —Stephanie Capollari

How Contractions Feel Varies From Person to Person

Young interracial family with little children at home.

"Different every single time." —Zoe Evans

Like You Ate Fireworks for Dinner

Explosion of a nuclear bomb in the ocean

"Extremely painful! I felt like my body was exploding and my lower back was on fire! Undoubtedly, the most extreme pain I have ever felt in my life." —Liv Z. Hedez

Four Days of Labor? Four?!

Portrait of a beautiful smilling pregnant woman

"I had almost four days of induced labor, two and a half hours of pushing followed by a C-section. No pain relief. Call me a psycho, but labor pain wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I kept waiting for it to get worse. It felt like bad cramping in my pelvis and lower abdomen. I imagined it would be way worse." —Samantha Lock

Really, Really Bad.

"I had back labor. I felt like my back was going to break in half. It was so bad, I couldn’t feel the contractions because pain never let up." —Tiffany Tully

Like Hagrid Is Giving You a Hug

Tiny businessman looking up on huge legs of another man

"I got induced, and before the epidural, I couldn't talk, move or do anything if there was a contraction. Kind of felt like a giant was crushing you between their thumb and forefinger." —Bek Parker

Like Getting Sliced in Half. Never Did Like Magic Shows

Magician performing trick with his assistant who is cut in half in the magic box

"Labor until the final stage is manageable for me with gas and air. The cramps are bad, but it’s when it gets near the end. Both times approximately 20-30 minutes before our boys were born, I wanted to die. I honestly wanted someone to kill me there and then. There were hardly any rest points between the contractions. I felt like I was going to be ripped in half. The relief that washed over me once they were out felt like I was in heaven." —Lisa Brown

Contractions Are Often Different With Every Pregnancy

Surprised woman smiling against gray background

"First child mild contractions, 40 min labor. 4lb 10 oz. Loved being pregnant. So I decided to try again...second pregnancy was a lot rougher. Back labor was unbearable. Popped all the blood vessels in my eyes during 3 hour labor. 5 lb 6 oz. Two completely different experience, both worth every second of pain." —Tricia Peter

Like a Herd of Pachyderms on Top of You

An elephant and its baby walking in long grass

"Contractions were like hundreds of elephants running on your tummy." —Judy Iul

Funny How Contractions Feel Like the End of Life, Not the Beginning of One

Pregnant woman is crying, she feels depression

"Pain, like you think you might die. That's literally what I said when I was in labor with my last baby." —Jenny Golfin

No, Thank You!

Pelvic pain stomachache concept. Hands of young woman on stomach as suffer on menstruation cramp, indigestion,gastrointestinal,diarrhea problem

"The worst period cramps you’ve ever had in your life. …Times 100!!!!" —Monica Bythesea

Like Pooping Out Some Living Room Decor

"At first, it's like stomach cramps that come in smaller and smaller intervals, tighter and tighter until it literally feels like you're going to die because of the pain in your stomach and back. Then it shifts and feels like taking a cr*p, only its a sofa you're trying to push out." —Kristina Eriksson

Some Women Feel Contractions in Their Hips

"It felt like my hip bones were being wrenched apart with every contraction. Like I was being torn apart starting with my pelvis, then up my hips and into my back and stomach." —Mary Loma Whiteman

Not Too Bad at All

"I have endometriosis and the pain I get from that every month i find far worse than the pain of child birth. Contractions started at 5 a.m., my son was born at 9:20 p.m., no pain relief. Had a really enjoyable experience from start to finish." —Louisa Price

Needless to Say, Contractions Feel Much Different With and Without an Epidural

"Without an epidural, indescribable pain that you just power through, and with an epidural, the pain is mild, but the pressure is intense but more manageable." —Tara Anderson-Johnson

Some Women Actually Enjoy the Experience of Labor

Mixed Race Mother Doing Skin to Skin Bonding with Newborn in Hospital Bed After Delivery

"When I didn’t have to be induced, my labor was smooth, manageable with distractions from my daughter. Labor is by far my most favorite part of pregnancy." —Jamie Lynn Timm

For Some, Contractions Are Less Painful Than Kidney Stones

"Compared to being hospitalized for a week with kidney stones during pregnancy, I'd say labor is not easy but definitely manageable." —Hai Lee

Back Labor Is the Worst

"I back labor, so it is awful anyway, but there is a pressure point on your back that helps. Just need to time it right and push the right spot! With Pitocin*, back labor feels like your hips will shatter at any moment. Then either way, burning for the pushing. Then after all that, a sweet, sweet relief when you get to hold your baby." —Katie Libby

*Pitocin is an artificial form of the hormone oxytocin used to stimulate contractions.

Fortunately, Everyone Forgets How Bad Contractions Are Eventually

"Horrible. But then we forget how much it hurt until we are pregnant with the next." —Ally Miller

Because They're Like Every Period Cramp You’ve Ever Had. Combined.

Mature woman lying on the bed suffering from stomachache and painful period cramps

"The worst period/diarrhea cramps you've ever had, times 10. Made me throw up. Went from a three to an eight in about an hour." —Beth Ann

Someone Call the Priest

"Like an exorcism." —Karina Diane

A Complete Surprise

Smiling young Asian pregnant woman having a consultation with a doctor

"I wouldn’t be able to tell. I’m on my third pregnancy, and my last two were silent labors. I didn’t even know I was in labor until my OB checked me and looked at the NST monitor at my regular appointment." —Becky Sweatshirt

What Do Contractions Feel Like? Borderline Paralysis, Only Worse

"An extreme tightening and pressure that make me physically unable to speak or move. I unintentionally experienced labor unmedicated up until the last 20 minutes and it was horrible." —Sarah Garcia

Adoption Is Always an Option

"Period cramps times 100, like acid being poured over your uterus." —Mindy Rubio

Contractions Are Like Watching a Tap Dance Show, Only You’re the Stage

"Like having someone in high heels tap dance on your uterus! 21 hours of induced labor with a failed epidural that led to a C-section with my first. With my second, she was a planned C-section, and I never felt a contraction with her." —H. Ayne Glaur

Some Moms Got Literary With Their Descriptions

"Like the fires of Mordor are pulsing within me." —Deborah Truss

Finally, an Answer That Isn’t Completely Terrifying

"A means to a beautiful end." —Joanne Osborn

So, Contractions Feel Like a Crime? Cool, Cool

"Like someone stabbing you in the uterus over and over and the burning hurts beyond words lol, but totally worth it. Pushing helped it a lot." —Ashlynn Porscha Colbert

Like You’ve Joined Cirque du Soleil Without Any Training

"My son didn’t turn until last minute so I had back labor that felt like my back was snapping in half. Then I finally asked for the epidural." —Erin Brockhouse

Easy, Apparently

"Mine were nothing like most women. Three children and every child was under an 1.5 hours of labor start to finish. I was blessed." —Katie Roberts Jahnke

Um, Ow?

"Carol Burnett — (paraphrasing) Take your bottom lip and pull it over your head." —Thejcookie

Like a Charley Horse, Only Bigger

"Ever get a cramp in your calf that won't go away for a few minutes and you're laying there about to scream? The hardest part of labor feels like that, but over your big, stretched out uterus. It gets intense, then the pain slowly eases up, you rest for a minute or two, then it starts again." —Snowy

According to Some Moms, Contractions Aren’t That Bad at All

Pregnant woman holding pink and blue baby booties

"I didn't really feel that much pain, and I've heard that's somewhat normal with twins — apparently when your uterus gets stretched so thin, the cramps don't hurt as much!" —Pola_Xray

Like the Aftermath of Bad Sushi

Woman sitting on the toilet having pain in her stomach

"I felt like I had the worst food that made me have the runs. Every time I tried pooping it wouldn't come out and it came in slow waves and it they got closer together. Just think of them as having the runs. Although I heard its different for every woman!" —Andy12345678910

Like Your Body Is Attacking Itself

"Like being crushed by your body. It felt like a giant belt crushing my abdomen all the way around.

I know everyone says you'll know when it is the real deal, and trust me, you will know. My rule of thumb: if you can sleep through it, it isn't labor." —Snarklepop

Like Squeezing an Ice Cube

"I read something once saying if you want to see how you’ll handle contractions, squeeze an ice cube in your hand as hard as you can. And there is some kind of similarity to the sensations. For me contractions are this sort of hard radiating pain." —OrneryNewspaper