i just want to let everyone know my experience with contractions since i have seen a lot of people asking what they felt like. I have read posts from woman asking if they felt like gas pains and everyone was responding with no they just feel like period cramps. well one normal day i began having gas pains and they kept coming for an hour so out of curiosity since i had already downloaded a contraction timer i timed them and sure enough they were coming every 6 min and lasting 45 sec. I called and the doc said it was contractions and 8 hours later i was in the hospital in active labor. so don't ever assume its just bad gas lol i never felt anything like my period.