By the time most expectant moms are in their second trimester of pregnancy, the term "contractions" becomes a familiar term. You'll read it about it in all your childbirth books and information, and hear stories from friends and acquaintances about what their contractions felt like. But what role do contractions play in labor and delivery? What are Braxton Hicks contractions? What do real contractions feel like?

Dr. Jean Hundley, an OB/GYN with Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Md., gives the lowdown on contractions, and one mom shares her experience with contractions during pregnancy and childbirth.

Q. What exactly are contractions, and what do they feel like? How will they help me deliver my baby?

A. Uterine contractions help efface and dilate the cervix in preparation for labor, says Dr. Hundley, who also describes them as feeling like severe menstrual cramps (particularly during the active phase of labor).

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