How sore is childbirth? If being compared to a very very bad period?

[Iwantababynow]

I get the worst periods! to the point that 2 times ive been taken to the hospital because im screaming in pain, I cant take it, however my doctor says I have a high pain threshold, I had my appendix removed and refused pain killers after.

so, you girls out there that know what its like to be in bed 3 days a month due to extreme period pains, how did birth compare to that for you?

I really want a natural birth in water without pain relief... how bad can it be???

thanks guys, ps i love mums net :)

not comparable ime
would compare it to very bad cramps in thighs rather than period pain.

Not comparable really. Labour is painful, but for me it was more a really powerful rushing sensation than just pain, IYSWIM. I think it's really helpful to think in terms of going with the feeling, rather than enduring it as you would pain.

I used to suffer period pains like that too, before havng children (these days they barely bother me, hurray).

My first labour was 100 times worse than the worst times I was in hospital on morphine for period pains. BUT there was a lot that had gone badly wrong and it was a very unusual situation.

I didn't even need gas and air in my second labour, which was in water. It didn't really hurt until crowning, just felt like bloody hard work (hence labour, I guess!).

It started off like period pain. It was then more painful. I had tens and gas and air with ds2 and it was painful but I did it. My friend said her gall stones hurt more. Two of my friends gave birth in bed with no pain relief at all. Make sure you get some isotonic sports drinks as it is tiring. With ds2 I arrived at hospital 10cm dilated so it can't be that bad, I am a big girl and think a smear test hurts! try not to worry too much.

I definitely would describe it as sore that's for sure! For me was like very intense period pains/cramping that come - peak - then go off. Good breathing and the gas and air was enough for me. But everyone is different if you feel you need pain relief ask your MW - no medals are given out at the end for who had the most pain

Inn my opinion period pains are very different from labour pains. Labour pains start and stop and have a definite peak, whereas period pains just drag on and on. I think labour pains are easier to bear as you know they will stop and start.

However, afterpains ARE like very very bad period pains - they were much worse than labour after DCs 2 & 3! But you are unlikely to get bad afterpains with your first - I didn't anyway.

BTW I had a drug free labour with all of mine, but bad period pains had me reaching for the ibuprofen & asking for the stronger stuff! They aren't so bad after having children though.

Good point by dragonwoman - my period pains have pretty much disappeared since having dd too. No idea why!

Mine too - brilliant isn't it?!

I had an epidural at 5cm dilated (same time as going on drip to be induced), but until then I'd say the contractions were quite similar to period pain, except of course they built up and had breaks in-between.

I was fine with gas and air, and breathing deeply, but of course I don't know how it feels after 5cm.

Mine were very manageable until my waters went, then it was a whole different story.... Remember, it's different for everyone though and unfortunately there's just no way of knowing how yours will feel. Don't scare yourself with horror stories but be prepared to change your mind re your birth plan when the time comes.

I still have painful periods , but now handle them better and use them as a reminder why DC will remain an only!

Hmmm I thought about this before giving birth as I do have pretty shitty periods (not as bad as you but I've been on the floor with them before!)

I was induced by pessary so not sure the effect this had on cxn but initially the pain was ok. Then I needed my tens! Then I needed the gas and air! That was all I had pain relief wise but the pain was really really intense and sore by the time I was in active labour and I found it to be like no other pain I've experienced. I described it to dh as climbing and descending a staircase of pain! Each step was increasingly painful as the cxn built up to an agonising but fleeting pain and then dissipated step by step until it was gone! There were a few times i definitely thought I couldn't do it anymore but coming back down the stairs I always thought ok, one more!

My sister did say to me it's pain with a purpose and you'll deal with it and she was right! I'm dreading my first period more than giving birth again, and dd is only 17 days old! Worth it!

I'm expecting DS1 and it is interesting to "hear" all these stories, as I want a drug free labour. I'm hoping to have inherited my paternal grandmother's ability to have babies without much pain or even discomfort and quickly (apparently she had most of her children by herself ) but, somehow I think that I'm more like my mum sigh... Oh well, we'll see pretty soon!

I didnt get much pain and when younger had terrible period pains..

I cant say birth was pain free , but tbh the only bit that was was when the baby(S) where crowning. It nips like a chinese-burn iykwim.

High forceps were sore ( breach twin) , try and avoid them.

Have had worse toothache. And a fracture that was more painful.

And if giving birth was that bad , no one would ever have more than one !

Good luck with yours !

1000 times more painful, but imagine a painkiller that works within seconds and actually erases most of the pain from your memory because for me thats what happened as soon as I gave birth and was handed my wee bundle :)

I think it is like bad period pain. Pushing the head out hurts but isn't as bad as you imagine it to be (And I had a 10lb-er and tore!) Just stay calm and focused. I really do think staying calm is the key!

early stage labour was like bad period pains (which used to have me curled up on the bed sobbing for my mummy)
BUT stage 2 labour is nothing like period pains, IME. It goes all around the back as well and reminded me more of the nightmares I used to have when I dreamt that things were putting their hands/claws around my spinal cord and squeezing. Crowning and delivering didn't bother me anything like as much as those stage 2 contractions - barely noticed it in comparison (lying on the bed in the extended foetal position begging DH to shoot me during those ).

First baby I was so delerious with the pain I thought the bed was eating me, threw myself off and was crawling around the floor screaming. I wasn't even in active labour at that point, being just 2cm dilated (although to be fair the pain didn't get any worse, less worse as I progressed in fact).

Second baby didn't even hurt. Was chatting away all the way through and drinking tea.

I don't think there is a 'level' that is common to all woman or all births.

not comparable in my opinion. I would compare it to having teeth pulled, a whole mouthfull with no pain relief.

IMO it is a different type of pain. You can do a lot to manage how you deal with labour pain, not being frightened and using breathing will help you lots as if you are tense it hurts more. Easier said than done . In labour you know that there will be a positive outcome.
I know you did not ask for advice but I am concerned for you that you have such bad period pains. There are some things that might help and might be worth a try : using organic pads means that you dont have chemicals near you bits and I found that i dont bleed as much. You can also buy organic tampons but they are more expensive . You could try a mooncup which is not everybody's cup of tea .

I hope you have the birth you want.

It starts of feeling like period cramps.
It ends up feeling like you're being torn in two.
(sorry)

But, what I noticed was something I probably only noticed because I was using a TENS machine: As the pain got a little bit worse, I'd turn up the machine to the next setting. Often, the next setting felt like I was being electrocuted and I'd turn it back down for a bit. (coping with the pain, that with the tens felt like period cramps) then in a bit I'd turn it up to the next setting (tentatively), which then felt like Bliss! This seemed to happen almost every time I tried to turn up the machine, but I didn't notice the pain getting that much worse, iyswim.

The human body is so amazing, that it increases the pain slowly, very slowly, so that you can cope with each stage as it comes. When the pushing stage comes, it doesn't seem so bad, as it would if you'd had that stage without the ramping up of pain.

Totally agree with planetpotty, if your in pain, get pain relief, one of the joys of living in the 21st century

I didnt think that labour was that much more painful than my worst period, gas and air was all I had. If you do your breathing properly and have a blast of gas when you feel the pain building then labour is manageable.

I am so sorry but I did just completely snort at this line:
"You could try a mooncup which is not everybody's cup of tea"
possibly one of the least appropriate metaphors ever!

Sorry forgot to add...for really painful periods you can get a prescription off your Dr for mefanamic acid, it really does the biz. However after the kids my periods aren't as severe, I can cope with heavy duty Nurofen

I'm a bit weird and actually looking forward to the menopause so I dont have to endure periods anymore

Not much point in worrying about it anyway ime... you'll just get on with it to have the baby you will adore anyway..I can't remember mine even though I had no drugs at all. I think being relaxed helps.....

Birth 1 felt lots worse than period pains (and I had the throwing up etc kinds of periods), birth 2 far easier and birth 3 like nothing so much as being forced to walk on a foot covered in raw blisters. Except focused on my belly, not my feet!

FWIW, births 2 and 3 I coped fine with just warm water (birth pool) and TENS. Birth 1 I had the whole epidural'd works.