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 :)

I have period pains that bend me in half, they hurt so much. Labour hurt about a hundred times more. Sorry!

Bad period pains here too and labour wasn't dissimilar imho. Labour was more gradual than my period pains used to be but I got the same sickness. Although where as I used to faint (insert pathetic emoticon) with period pains, I had so much adrenaline in labour that I didn't get that at all. However, second stage was all a blur, but I didn't really care by that point. I couldn't have described it to you the next day though; the bundle of joy is just the most wonderful feeling in the world. Good luck!

I was pathologically terrified before giving birth. I started looking at all women with kids and just being in awe of their courage - more than one, even! I was so, so scared I can't even tell you. And I remember being in labour and uneasily thinking, this is really, really going to start to hurt sometime soon... and then it just never did. A water pool and gas and air was all I ever needed. It was bewildering, because I am such a complete wimp, I needed novacaine gel when I had some laser hair removal; I used to take paracetomol AND ibuprofen before leg waxes. I fully expected to want an epidural. And I had an 8.5 lb baby, and was in labour 3 days (only last 4 were what they call "hard" labour - first part was "latent").

It's down to luck, but I wish I'd known labour could be that easy beforehand. I'd had absolutely no idea, and was so very afraid. Needlessly so.

Incidentally, I've had a couple of periods so awful I can remember them decades later. If I'd had gas and air, they might have been okay as well, but as I didn't I can honestly say they hurt far more than giving birth did.

It was really really painful, but nothing like as bad as I imagined it would be! I don't remember having contractions in my tummy-they were in the top of my legs. That was the worst thing about it.

I didn't expect it to be too bad but it was absolute agony with all three of my DC's. That said there is always pain relief available so don't be too hard on yourself if you end up taking that route.. I really struggled and got stressed out (which likely made it hurt more) because I had been intent on doing it drug free and in the end I was screaming for an epidural and so upset with myself. I wish I had gone into each of my labour's with a more open mind! Mine were exceptionally long and I think I was quite unlucky on the pin front, I'm sure yours will be better! Good luck

I meant pain front, not pin front

There's your answer - some labours hurt more than others. It's impossible to know how yours will be.

My first was just agony, from the first contraction. Beyond pain. It took me 18 months to stop remembering it.

Second time, hardly hurt at all until 10cm, then I freaked out and demanded an epidural.

Before I had DS, I only had periods every 55 days and they were terrible!

Early labour ( managed at home with TENS and biting the sofa) was bearable as pain would come and go. Period pains for me seemed constant.

Had G&A which helped control my breathing ( tend to hold my breath when in pain) Had G&A until I was 10cm and some contractions, when they peaked felt like I was having a limb removed with a blunt set of cutlery :o

My contractions felt maneagable - they would peak but be maneagable, similar to a very very intense period pain. But after they had peaked and started to wane they would end with the most intesnse, horrific bladder pain I have ever experienced.

That felt similar to someone stamping on my bladder from a great height. It was absolutely agonising. I had to run to the toilet and empty my bladder at the end of every second peak to try to alleviate whatever was going on there.

I still have no idea what it was or why it happened like that. The m/w looked at me like when I tried to explain it to her.

I had DC1 at home with no pain relief whatsoever. It was a 32 hour labour and not easy. There was pain but it built slowly and, with preparation, I was always 'on top' of it. In the later stages it didn't really compare to anything I'd experienced before. It was so powerful that I was sometimes shaky and teary, but not necessarily in a negative way. Trusting those looking after you is very important.

Have had 2 DC's since, and I can recommend gas and air & tens, really quite a lot. Had to have a spinal block with DC2 because he got stuck (at home, ambulance transfer). What I'm saying is that anything's possible, be prepared and be flexible. But it is bearable and such an achievement.

Not comparable at all IMO. I thought I would be able to cope well in labour, as I have a high pain threshold. But labour pains for me were totally different. Apart from food poisoning late last year, I have NEVER been in so much pain. The contractions were so intense and even though my labour was 45 hours long ending in emergency c section and every drug going (even though I repeated the mantra "I will be having a natural birth without any need for drugs" - pfff!) the contractions were 3-5 minutes apart from the start. Straight away I started saying that I couldn't do it, which surprised and upset me, as I thought I'd be able to cope. What will be will be. Don't over analyse, just try and be as relaxed and as energised as you possibly can. Good luck!

I had an induction and it was painful, very painful. It was manageable for a while, but having intense pain relentlessly hour after hour is the real killer. When you get very tired it doesn't matter how high your pain threshold is, it's very hard to cope with, and pethidine and G&A did nothing for me. I think I punched the air in celebration when told I needed a EMCS!

I've had horrendous periods that have needed A&E before, and an ectopic that was the most horrendous, unbearable pain. Hospital was the only place I wanted to be.

In contrast, I quite enjoy labour. I've had both DDs at home with minimal pain relief. I like riding the contraction, and savouring the gap . I love the high that comes with knowing you coped. I don't like crowning but it's over v quickly. The sheer effort of the whole thing is what's hard for me (and all the afterpains/grazes etc, that's when I want the g&a, when they've all gone off & left you to it!!)

I think whereas excruciating periods & traumatic ectopic were negative pain (with no gaps), labour had rests & felt exciting & positive. Good luck!!

It seems to vary a lot depending on the individual. I have bad period pains (though not as bad as yours it sounds), and for me, even early contractions were far more painful than period pains and had me in tears. I had planned a water birth, but a warm bath in the early stages did nothing for me, as did gas and air TENS and morphine. An epidural was the only thing that worked for me - but then my labour was 30 hours and a 10 pounder. Hopefully you won't be that unlucky!

I used to have "3 days in bed" type period pains, and I'd say my first labour was similar.

My second was like no pain even imaginable.

I can't comment on the pushing, as both ended up as emcs.

BakingAddict - me too, looking forward to menopause for that reason. Kind of thought periods may not come back after DC2 (3 months) cos I am right old (41, mum had menopause at 38), but no...

The contractions are like period pains - increasing in painfulness as they go on - but the actual birth bit (crowning I think is the technical name) is much more painful than any period I've ever had. And I have had period pains that have left me bed-bound in the past (although not hospitalised like some).

It is so true though that as soon your baby is born the pain stops. So, in summary, my experience is yes, it'll hurt more but the really painful bit doesn't last all that long & stops suddenly with the arrival of your baby. I've had three DCs and have (I think) a fairly low pain threshold BTW .

I found labour pain unlike any pain I have ever experienced - yet the bits inbetween contractions - no pain at all.
One friend of mine had very little pain at all, in fact she didn't realise for some time she was in labour, all she had was a sort of grumbling back ache.
I think more people have the painful kind though!

The thing is, it feels different for everyone..

For me the pain was closest to the cramps you get when you have diarrhoea. A kind of wave of intense cramps that build in intensity then die down. Funny really cause giving birth is actually really like doing a big poo when it came to pushing for me that was my favourite part as it actually helped the pain to be able to push through it and I knew I was near the end. The feeling of relief afterwards is magical

My labour was short, so I don't know if that makes it more intense but it BLOODY HURT. And I think I'm pretty tough (I didn't feel anything until I was 2cm dilated). I'd had plenty of gas and air (no other pain relief) so was pretty delirious but clearly remember thinking:

• Forget the yoga teacher's advice to 'go to your own private island'. That is never going to work when the pain gets this bad
• I wonder whether this is how you feel when you die

But... it wasn't as bad as the embarrassment of doing a poo in the birthing pool in front of your husband
And... I forgot about it after 5 minutes.

Good luck!

The pain was the worst I'd ever experienced.

But it was the pain that I couldn't cope with. It was the length of time it went on for (4 days). And being unable to sleep or eat or drink in all this time (because I would be immediately sick).

OP, are you Scottish? When I moved here I couldn't believe it when I heard childbirth being referred to as "sore". Then I realised that in Scottish "sore" means anything from actually sore to blardy agonising. I'd err on the side of blardy agonising myself, but it does depend on your particular labour.

My first was agonising, and I mean agonising, for 18 hours solid (no pain free spells between contractions). My second only became really horrendous for a 5 or 10 minute transition spell and within half an hour she'd been born.

I have always had bad endometrosis and too had been hospitalised with bad peroid pain pre children . However i found the intensity of labour pain with my first baby a shock .Its just a much more intense and violent feeling .However with baby number 2 as I was more prepared I felt much more in control and found the pain much easier to cope with . I think going into labour thinking its going to be like a bad peroid pain is a big mistake ;its a very different sensation. .

I used to have bad period pains, so bad I'd faint, so have a very high pain threshold. It's so high I totally missed the first stage of labour and was able to breathe through my contractions until they were 2 mins apart and then had a mad dash to hosp. I was too late for an epidural and was in agony and gas and air wasn;t enough, especially when i tore.

I would compare giving birth to passing a water melon out of your anus.

However, I think having a water birth and if you learnt some relaxation/ breathing techniques you would do OK at least until the last bit!

BTW I'm now on a pill called cerazette and I haven't had a period since I started taking it a year ago- result!!