So...can anyone tell me what the pain is really like?

[Fishpond]

General terms like 'bad, terrible, god-awful' are not really memory-inducing. I'm trying to equate it with some type of pain I could relate to.

Does the pain increase every hour / contraction?
What type of pain are the contractions vs. transition vs. crowning vs. pushing?
Do epidurals really eliminate all the pain? (We don't have G&A or pethidine here, epidural is the only way to go if I want pain relief)
Episiotomy?
Stitches afterward?
Delivery of the placenta?
Most painful bit?

I'm bricking it a bit

This is an interesting thread, you really get the sense that everybody's experience is different. For me I would say the pain was like very bad menstrual cramps. But I never got to the pushing stage - had an emergency c-section at 8cm dilated. Because the labour wasn't progressing they put me on a hormone drip and made me have an epidural - that got rid of all of the pain from the contractions, I was even able to sleep a little bit, but I still felt sore down below from being examined by a very rough doctor. Before the epidural I was managing my pain fine using gas and air. It did slowly get worse over time and I kept wondering if I should ask for some pethidine but then thinking 'Oh, just one more contraction' and getting through it. I never felt overwhelmed by it, but like I say I never got to the pushing stage and I believe that's where it can get tough. The fear when things started to go wrong, ultimately resulting in me having the c-section, was far worse than the pain.

For the record, my mum broke her wrist a few years ago and said that was far more painful than giving birth to me (but she did have an epidural).

OP, how come you don't have access to gas and air or pethidine? That sounds kind of barbaric. I don't think I could have done it without some sort of pain relief but an epidural is pretty hardcore. I ended up having two coz my first one was botched and I had puncture wounds and bruising all over my lower back. To this day I have back pain and wonder how much my epidurals had to do with it - officially I believe there is no link between epidurals and back pain after the birth, but anecdotal evidence suggests a lot of women who have had epidurals go on to experience back pain.

It really is different for everyone (as lots of people have already said.)

In my experience, the epidural was incredible- the first contraction after it was inserted the midwife asked "Did you feel that contraction?" and my response was "Did I have one?!!" so its reassuring to know that its available as an option should you need it.

Best of luck and enjoy your baby! :)

I too would choose labour over toothache. I thought it was actually a bit like dysentery actually.

Not sure about the OP but I am in France and AFAIK no G/A or pethidine here (I wasn't offered any, anyway).

Does the pain increase every hour / contraction?
It was just extremely painful all the way through for me, I was induced though so it wasn't a natural progression.
What type of pain are the contractions vs. transition vs. crowning vs. pushing?
For me the pain was indescribable, like IBS but a zillion times worse. I didn't ever imagine anyone could feel pain like that. Crowning just feels like a ring of fire but it was definitely a welcome feeling after 16 hours of hard labour!
Do epidurals really eliminate all the pain? (We don't have G&A or pethidine here, epidural is the only way to go if I want pain relief)
Can't comment they wouldn't let me have an epidural although I begged for one. Friends have told me they are AMAZING!
Episiotomy?
N/A I tore (which I didn't feel at the time)
Stitches afterward?
Agony but only because the doctor didn't give me enough local anaesthetic and when I cried out she told me to be quiet.
Delivery of the placenta?
Wasn't aware of this bit. It didn't hurt though.
Most painful bit?
Contractions, mine were atypical though I had a complicated labour which ended in a big post datum haemorrhage. Many of my friends had natural births and said they were not in any pain so it really is completely different for everyone. My labour was horrendous and has firmly put me off ever doing it again! All worth it for my lovely little boy though, don't let anybody else's experiences worry you - everyone is different. Good luck! :)

Oh yes and the urge to push is like nothing you've ever experienced. It is so strong and overwhelming and I roared like a lion!!!

I was induced so my contractions were really intense which didn't help matters. I agree wholeheartedly with woopsidaisy IME they felt like a mix between period pain and IBS pain but because your uterus is so big it's pretty much the whole abdomen area that feels like that.

It also got a lot more painful when they broke my waters but I remember in my antenatal class they said this is because before the waters are broken baby's head is cushioned but once they've gone it comes down right on your cervix. At that point I demanded an epidural which was bliss but it does mean I can't really comment on pushing pain. The contractions at that stage felt like intense braxton hicks though, a bit uncomfortable but not painful.

I think fear of the unknown and people's horror stories make it much worse but you have to remember that it's only a day or so (yes granted some labours can go on longer) and in the course of your life with your child it's not that much. Also if the memory didn't fade the majority of people would be single children.

I've done it 3 times now, and the pain was different each time.

First birth it was right in line with the 'bad period pain' descriptions. But I was terrified, in hospital, felt alienated and unhappy and just couldn't cope with it. Had an epidural which took the edge off, but didn't take all the pain away. I was left with gripping aching pain rather than panic-making hurty pain. I threw up a lot.

Second time I was at home. No drugs, no G&A, just tens and a pool. I could count my way through the contractions and felt intensity, pressure and very little pain.

Third time I was at home again, same deal with no drugs, no G&A. This time it hurt more. The pain was like a raw blister being rubbed over and over again. It made me think of blood and rawness.

The baby descending is the wierdest thing. First time I thought aaarg, biiiiiiig poo! Second time I knew what it was, which was a good thing as I went from 4cm 'yes you can get in teh pool now' to shouting that the baby was coming NOW! in two contractions.

The USA doesn't have gas and air, I don't think we have pethidine either although there may be something similar, I've been told its natural or epidural. And afaik we dont have "walking" epidurals either.

I had no pain relief except for a TENS and then pool. I didn't want G&A because I felt it would make me feel out of control. I just stayed very focussed on my breathing, walked about a lot, stayed upright. I was having waves that felt like strong cramp, but it wasn't a harsh sort of cramp feeling like leg cramp in the night. It was uncomfortable and immense, rather than actually painful.
I was relaxed and not frightened, because I told myself that if there was pain that I couldn't cope with I would ask fro an epidural.

MUCH better than a tooth abcess!

ive given birth 3 times.

its basically like severe period pain that progresses worse and worse until the baby is out.

i always tried to detach my mind from my body at the end bit when youre pushing it out. you really do have to dig deep for inner strength. i always told myself the sorer it was, the sooner i would see my babys face.

the best way i could describe the end bit with my first child was like getting boiling hot water thrown over my fee fee, but its just for a few seconds.

the one where i had an epidural was almost painless.
but then, the memory does fade so i could be exaggerating the easiness of that one a bit.

good luck, youll be fine, just think of your baby and the fact that youll be absolutely fine the second its out. and also, theres no pain in between contractions so you get little breaks here and there.

my best advice? take any drugs you want, they really really help. i was always sick after the births/drugs but that bit is a walk in the park after what youve just been through. x

I disagree, I broke my pelvis and wrist and childbirth hurt more!

Brokens bones a very dull but so sore constant pain, contractions feel like a white hot poker shoved up your bottom and scraped round your insides, it builds then peaks the goes down. SO good when they stop, so horrible when the next one comes. But all so copable with, with support etc.

I did have two super speedy births (3 hours and 5 hours) so the pain and contractions were very quick and super painfull, midwife said I had a cervix like a Ferarri! Gas and air made me feel ill so had no pain releif due to time issues.

Not that I would have chosen that method!

ps oh and the first time i screamed at the midwife that it was coming out my bum!!!!!! it wasnt a poo, it was the head coming right down. just remembered that there!

Does the pain increase every hour / contraction?
No, but because they get closer together towards the time coming to push they feel more intense because there are more of them. Between contractions you are perfectly pain free, it's weird, like being in a boat bobbing along a riding the big waves as and when the come

What type of pain are the contractions vs. transition vs. crowning vs. pushing?
Pushing did not really hurt, the crown was a red hot feeling, once the head is out the rest is much much better.

Do epidurals really eliminate all the pain? (We don't have G&A or pethidine here, epidural is the only way to go if I want pain relief)
Never had one

Episiotomy?
Natural tears which I did not even notice at the time, but felt for a couple of weeks after with stitches

Stitches afterward?
Yes, had gas and air while they did them, all over and done with in 15 mins.

Delivery of the placenta?
Like a massive tampon being pulled out

Most painful bit?
Crowning

Best bit?
When it's all over and you have you baby in your arms and you want to run round the hospital telling everyone!

Does anyone think the pain of contractions bought on by being induced (oxytocin etc) is worse than having a natural labour? I guess you can only comment if you have experienced both.. just wondered what people thought

It's been a while (DD3 6years ago....) but I remember getting a TENS machine on as soon as the mild pain started. That was great. Coped all the way through the first stage. Did some gardening, went for a walk, rolled on the ball, watched TV. Had also got my labour songs lined up and played them really loud on my ipod when the pain got worse and I wanted to be on my own. I had one contraction per song, and could then enjoy the rest of the song. I visualised waves rising and falling. You have to be mentally strong and throw away your watch.

Transition is where I lost the plot...wanted to give up, couldn't make a decision. Thankfully DH decided to take me to hospital.

G&A at hospital - love it. Used it to push. Crowning really, really, really stings but you need to breathe through it, and I know this sounds stupid but breathe your baby out. Little pushes so you stretch.

I didn't notice the placenta coming out (had the injection) and was busy congratulating myself on producing a girl and not another boy.

Stitching - I didn't need any with her, but with the others I asked for loads of local anaesthetic and G&A. I had no interest in feeling a thing at that point.

Childbirth can be an amazing, experience that leaves you feeling so amazed at how great you are! Agree with another poster that the really important thing is to prepare yourself for the postnatal period.

Its a bit like you'd imagine it to feel if you tried to shit out a filing cabinet

Up until about 5 cm it was painful but bearable. The break between contractions gave me a chance to rest. I was induced with the drip at 5cm as I had been in labour for over 24 hours and had not slept so they wanted to hurry things up. Pretty much from that point on it was unbareable I couldn't feel the break between contractions, it felt like some one was stabbing me all over, over and over again. Pushing was a relief for me as I couldn't feel my contractions. Crowning wasn't too bad. No stiches. No epi.

I opted for an epidural pretty quickly despite my birth plan which said "no epidural under any circumstances".

The pain was manageable, however with each contraction I vomited and I was bleeding very heavily. I wasn't prepared for the sickness and couldn't cope with it.

I would strongly recommend an epidural, I had one with two of mine and they were lovely, I could feel everything apart from the pain. I could actively push because I could feel the contractions. I had a bit of nerve damage following one, but it went after a few weeks.

I had to be induced and it took two days from start of water breaking and contractions beginning to the end.

Right at the start they were like very bad period pains and this was in the early afternoon. By that same evening, I was in such pain I was holding onto the headboard of my bed trying to grip onto something. For me they were more painful the closer together they got, but that might be because I was not having a break between each one to have time and brace myself for the next. But I don't think it is so painful that you cannot get through it unaided, you just need to focus on breathing through them.

During the next day when I was in hospital being induced, they had been more bearable when I was moving around as opposed to lying in bed. While actually giving birth, they were super painful but G&A is so amazing at helping you get through each one. When the time came to push, because I was focussing on pushing through each one, I didn't even feel the pain, just the overpowering feeling to push my baby out. I can honestly say that the part I thought would be the most painful (the end when I was actually birthing the baby) was the least painful. The pain was there, but everything else overtook it and it didn't even register with me.

I would say imagine the most painful period pain you can, and times it by 100. After having done it once, I am not scared for the next time because you really can get through it with mind over matter, a relaxed attitude, moving around and good breathing techniques. It is so incredibly painful, but not unbearable.

Got up to be sick and had what I though were BH, needed loo and passed blood, instantly got strong contractions 2 min apart but could feel blood passing with each one. Was 4cm on arrival and it took them a while to sort gas and air. Made me retch and want to throw up but had been told to expect that and by 4th breath felt it working but didn't like it - felt drunk like when you need to pass out. Begged for epi as contractions really hurt (really strong period cramps) but was already 9cm and felt need to push. It really surprised me how my body took over then and I had no choice but to push, almost felt involuntary. I had wanted a water birth or not to be on my back but that is where I stayed as I couldnt move, got scared when I knew baby was crowning. With each contraction I was doing 2 pushes but was holding back as I knew it would hurt.(it is like you can feel your cervix open then open some more and that stings) Got told that contractions were slowing down and if I didn't put more effort in it would take longer so really pushed and he shot out. I lost a lot of blood but kept being told it was fine. Delivering placenta was strange as I forgot about that and suddenly felt the need to push, freaked out thinking it was a surprise twin but it came out fine and felt like passing large clumps during period. Did not really notice stitches and whole labour was 4 hours. Did pass some fairly large clots day after so don't panic at that but get nurse to check them if scared. I hated the whole procedure but would do it again to get a sibling for DS. Best advice from me is keep bare feet off hospitle floor at all times as I caught an unbearibly itchy rash that was more irritating than sitting on stitches.

I didn't find it painful as such just an extraordinary intense squeezing. Totally different to anything else.

redbluered - my 3rd birth was brought on by that oxytocin. it was a very intense and quick labour. got it at 10pm, she was born at half 1.

the ward was busy, think they just wanted me in and out to be honest.

im glad i had it but at the time i was moaning like an animal and trying to close my legs and it made me slide down towards bottom of the bed.
very intense but dont know if it was any sorer??