We turned to a doctor and real women who have been there to get the scoop. Contractions actually feel different if you're in early labor versus active labor. “Contractions typically start as irregular cramping,” explains Bat-Sheva Lerner Maslow, an obstetrician and a reproductive endocrinologist at Extend Fertility.

How do contractions feel when they first start?

Early labor contractions may feel as if you have an upset stomach or trouble with your digestive system. You may feel them like a tidal wave because they increase and finally subside gradually. Some women feel intense cramps that increase in intensity and stop after they deliver.

Can contractions feel like trapped gas?

Labor pains involve a big muscle contraction all along your abdomen. "There's an uncomfortable tightening in the stomach during labor, where the whole stomach feels hard," Dr. du Treil says. If your tummy hardens every time you're experiencing pain, it's likely a contraction, not gas.