I didn't feel any contractions with my first until I was in actual labor when they were clearly crampy feeling and coming regularly. With my second, I had pressure contractions (no crampy pain) for weeks toward the end of my pregnancy. All those contractions dilated me to 5cm before I even went into active labor. I kept thinking this is it, no... this is it... no. But when active labor actually started, it was clear! The contractions were no longer just pressure, they were again crampy feeling- like the muscle was really working. And of course, they were regular and getting closer together and stronger.
Â
If you're concerned about what you're feeling, drink a glass of water, lay down or take a bath. If it goes away, then it was nothing to be concerned about. If it continues and seems to be coming and going with regularity then something could actually be happening and you might want to get checked out. But I know, for myself, that I get a lot of crampy, stabby pains from gas while I'm pregnant. I can tell the difference because it doesn't come and go in regular intervals and is relieved once I manage to use the bathroom or can lay down and get the gas to move down and out.
