Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Haven’t given birth in a while… remind me how painful labour is?

56 replies

skipdiddyskip · 08/04/2025 20:57

Please don’t be afraid to scare me. Dd was born 3.5 years ago and the labour was a blur. It was unmedicated.

Due to give birth in 4 weeks and have no memory of the pain. It will be unmedicated except gas and air (not trying to be a hero, the birthing centre I’ve chose is an MLU unattached to a hospital so no doctors on site, but a 7 minute hospital transfer if needed).

Please be real with me about the pain of your labour. I don’t remember the pain but do remember feeling really betrayed by descriptions of it being just like period cramps (it was a lot more intense for me….).

I want to have more realistic pain expectations this time.

OP posts:
Clearinguptheclutter · 08/04/2025 21:34

Can you not have pethidine or similar?
my first drugs free birth was just awful
second one, when I had the drugs, was totally bearable

YourCraftyGreyOP · 08/04/2025 21:30

Pretty sure my pelvic bone was going to disintegrate into dust, such was the pressure on it. Felt like I’d imagine a vice would feel. You couldn’t pay me to do it again.

MeMyselfNDI · 08/04/2025 21:27

I’ve had two, both unintentionally unmedicated, after my first the first words to the midwife coaching me through pushing were “well that wasn’t as bad as I was expecting” she quickly told me that was the first time anyone had ever said that to her 😂

I had small babies (6lbs) and short labours (both under 3hrs) which will have definitely helped and I had done a hypnobirthing course that I found was amazing at helping me keep calm and keep on top of my breathing. With my second I went into a total zone and knew what I was doing so felt more in control. My biggest advice it to rest lots the weeks before, focus on yourself feeling happy and calm, keep up daily gentle exercise if you can.

I know I may go against the grain with this but I feel you hear the horror stories shouted far louder than thoes who it has been quite quick and calm.

OxfordInkling · 08/04/2025 21:18

I didn’t find it too bad. Quite liked it actually- esp the high I got after…

Yes it hurts on the moment, but it doesn’t last. Much easier than pregnancy for me.

Mrsttcno1 · 08/04/2025 21:07

Honestly I think it totally depends on you as a person.

My daughter is 11 months old now and my labour with her was agony, it felt like I’d been set on fire with every contraction I was just in pain absolutely everywhere BUT she was back to back, and I was induced with her which is known to be more painful as the contractions are stronger & closer due to being artificial, my body wasn’t really ready.

On the other hand I have lots of mum friends with same age babies and most of them have really fond memories of labour and can’t wait to do it again. One friend described it as cramps, she’s had 2 amazing water births unmedicated, another friend got to 8cm at home before she felt in enough discomfort to require hospital, another friend found it excruciating from the very beginning and had an epidural ASAP.

It’s so different for each person.

Zone2NorthLondon · 08/04/2025 21:04

You know already it’s excruciating (for most)
you’ll have seen it referenced in movies,tv and books as screaming & pushing
Frankly I’d recommend take as much analgesia as you can and be prepared for plans to go off plan

Swipe left for the next trending thread