Do pain thresholds really vary that much? How is it possible that some ladies seem to find labour relatively painless?? *Bit of a long post*

[Minesahotchocolate]

Hi, I'm 30 weeks preg with my 2nd and am starting to think about going through labour again. With my first I really wanted a natural birth, prepared with hypnotherapy type CDs, did yoga etc, read stories about ladies having beautiful water births, and as I'm generally a pretty stoic person was convinced that I would be able to also cope with the pain. It was a huge shock (and took a long time after to get my head around) that I found the pain from early on so completely and utterly overwhelming/unbearable. (My labour in summary:12hours at home, arrive at hosp to find only 3cm dilated, 2 more hours of walking around corridors got me to 5cm, after which I vomited, and reached the limit of what I could take and had an epidural. Contractions STILL hurt a lot, but were bearable, baby was born 4/5hours later after they sped the labour up with oxytocin as contractions had been slowing down).

I've just been reading some Mumsnet posts, and the comments on the NHS pain relief in labour page, and am wondering how some ladies have posted saying that labour didn't really hurt that much!!! Some on the NHS page are accusing it of fear mongering as it suggests that pain relief will be needed, when they found labour didn't hurt much at all.

How can the experience vary SO much woman to woman? Even after the epidural I found it tough! It is hard not to feel a bit of a wimp when you read someone saying that they practically 'Om'ed their way through it in a semi meditative state. My Mum tells me my aunt (who has 3 children and is a tiny lady with no hips - unlike my more generous proportions!) each time felt maybe she should go to the hosp, and a few easy hours later, the baby arrived. So it can't be down to the presence of so called 'child bearing' hips - as I'd be sorted if that was the case.

Is there something I'm missing here, or is it really just down to the luck of the draw??

Sorry for the long post - I'm just wondering what, if anything, I could do differently 2nd time around as I was left feeling quite traumatised (despite a pretty routine labour) due to the pain of the 1st birth.

of course it can vary!

Can we all run marathons? Do Triathlons? Do we all cry when we go to the dentist?

I found it hideous and akin to torture.

Mine

If you were "traumatised" by your first labour in this country you could request an ELC.

I was traumatised by what many would describe as a dream labour! To me it was horrendous, I had a section the second time round and it was the best outcome all round.

It was the right thing for me and when I think of the surgery, and her birth, I have nice thoughts! Cosy thoughts of when I saw her, being tucked up with her after, I even enjoyed my hospital stay and I was previously dreading it! Two weeks into recovery I did think - what have I done to myself, but I would rather those thoughts than the trauma I felt first time.