What does it really feel like?

[sweetchilli77]

Sorry in advance if this has been asked numerous times before but...

What does labour pain really feel like.Can anyone explain in the best ways possible the type of pain?

Im 30 weeks now and starting to think a lot more about labour and getting quite anxious

[SingingSands]

Has anyone mentioned the mooing yet?!

Usually there's a bit of mooing once you get to 10cm and start pushing. You can't help it.

I was a champion mooer 🐮

[3boys3dogshelp]

really genuinely not that bad sorry if that upsets anyone but I just wanted to say to OP that not everyone is in agony.
Dc1 my plan was an epidural. I kept waiting until I felt like I needed one and the time never came. I used a TENS which was fab and I didn't need anything else. All the pain I felt was across my bump at the front but it was only like period pain for me.
Ds2 extremely fast - more intense but I had no time to worry about it. Pain into tops of thighs (bad SPD probably made it feel worse). Midwife caught him in one half-on glove!!
Ds3 was in a weird position, kind of sideways rather than back to back. I remember feeling him turn just before I started pushing as the weirdest most nauseating feeling ever. Definitely more painful and more in the back of my pelvis but I think I had too much gas and air and felt woozy and out of control. It really didn't help me and I wished I hadn't started to use it.
Working pain is the best description I've ever heard - it felt uncomfortable but not scary - I knew the pain had a purpose and I knew nothing was wrong with me so I didn't worry about it.

[Scrumptiouscrumpets]

They say the pain of childbirth is the best kept secret in the world.

Says who? Everybody knows childbirth hurts a lot, it's common knowledge. Even the Bible says so, so people have been open about the pain of childbirth for at least 2000 years.

[Batteriesallgone]

Starts like period pains coming in waves. Builds to pressure and a need to get it out of you. I enjoyed transition - both times I was really happy during transition and having a little dance around saying baby! There's going to be a baby!

Then burning pain for pushing like when you do a poo after a really hot curry but all round in your pelvis almost, v weird.

I also felt my internal tear with first - a really intense quick sting that made me gasp but after that it was much less painful (don't remember any pain at all once it had happened tbh) and I didn't get any further pain from the tear. So a lot better than I would have thought it would have been if that makes sense.

Afterwards I tell people how good and amazing it was and DH is like yeah, you always go on about your 'amazing' births but I was there, you hippy lier! Ha!

[GemSingleton]

I was induced so my pain was fairly intense. At first I had very dull backache like I'd sat in a funny position too long. When the contracts started, for me it felt like when you go over a bridge too quick and you lose your tummy but it hurting (it always hurts me anyway lol). That sort of feeling. They gradually got worse and baby was back to back too. When the baby's head got further down I kept saying I feel like I need to poo but it was just the baby's head pushing down

[Mythreeknights]

Brave you asking this question! I also had vice-like pain getting tighter and tighter right until stage 2. They start as gentle hug like feelings around your tummy, but build to the point you can barely breathe. Breathing and controlling your breathing is quite important. I was surprised by the leg pain I had in all 3 of my labours - shooting down from pelvis to knees - unbelievable pain and I couldn't do anything about it. Remember that once the baby is out, you still have to deliver a placenta! I forgot with all 3 and it was a bad reminder that I hadn't finished. You'll be amazed at how well you cope, even if you're screaming the house down, you are still coping. Transition is scary and I definitely felt "uh oh I can't do this" with all of mine, at which point the midwives gear up and get excited as they know you're about to start pushing.

[Purplebluebird]

For me it was like period pains, but massively so. The actual birth felt like I was going to poo and it was very strange, and also painful. Then they had to cut me to get him out because he started to be unhappy in there :(

I am very traumatised by it all, but I know of women who loved the process too - it's completely random. Best of luck.

[Somehowsomewhere]

I've never had period pains so don't know how it compares to that. Bloody hurts though!

[Peppardew]

Honestly it was fine, surprisingly so. I just felt intense pressure in my pelvis. Tens and breathing really helped me, then gas and air once went to the delivery suite was amazing. I had an episiotomy because DS was in distress, but just wanted to reassure you that they anaesthetise the area first before snipping! Sharp scratch from the needle and then he just slid out with the next push, which was a bit of a relief as I didn't like pushing that much. I just found your body takes over though, it just seemed to know what to do, and afterwards literally felt amazing! Like I could do anything, it was the most unbelievable high. You could well end up having a c-sec anyway so might not be something you need to worry about! (I did with my first, it was also fine ) all the very best of luck and congratulations on your imminent arrival.

[Gingerbreadmam]

i felt like i was being kicked in the back very hard almost constantly. no pains in the front.

if i had a timeframe i would have coped. it was not knowing when it would end that made it unbearable for me.

[Gingerbreadmam]

oh and to add, once baby is out the pain completely went. almost immediately. i wish i could bottle that feeling of relief and calm ha!

[DontBuyANewMumCashmere]

My contractions started about 36 hrs before baby came out.
But they were very bearable for about 35 hours. Tens kept it at bay.
By about 1 hr before birth I suddenly needed a poo so went to toilet but nothing would come out.
Desperately needed a poo so kept pushing but nothing would come out and was terrified of giving myself piles so for some of it was actively trying not to push

I hate to say this as it sounds awful but I was scream/grunt/bellowing for about 15 mins and at one point screamed to DH "DO NOT COME IN I'M HAVING A SHIT"

Turns out that was labour and DD turned up about 30 mins later, relatively painlessly after my monster shitting session and she was born screaming her head off which MW said is uncommon
(Probably telling me to push her the fuck out, ffs)

I still maintain its not the most painful thing I've ever had tooth abscess

Good luck OP.

[nigelforgotthepassword]

I found the contractions the worst part-felt them in my back as if someone was squeezing my spinal cord in a vice-that's the best way I can describe it.
And the crowning felt like my bits were on fire.but that part didn't last long and was near the end so it didn't bother me as much.
It's different for everyone I think.
I was petrified about giving birth. But it's gonna happen op so no point in worrying about it too much really...you will be fine, we really have no idea of our own strength sometimes.

[nuggles]

Both my labour pains were so different. First felt like someone was ripping my insides apart with a knife - I was induced and reacted badly. Epidural was AMAZING!

Second labour was drug free, and Manageable pain until he crowned. Even then it was mainly stinging. Your body knows what to do and how to handle it. I found hypnobirthing really helped me in 'not feeling as much pain'

[Tweetypie85]

I was very anxious leading up to the birth.I was a few cm in the morning and only had a very dull ache. Once the contractions eventually kicked off it was bloody painful!! Did it all with gas and air. Being in the pool also helped. Labour was then very quick.Once it was over I felt like Superwoman! I even think that I could do it again!!!

[sweetchilli77]

Thank You ladies for your detailed accounts, I really don't regret asking. Its reassured me in a strange way.

I anticipate it will be bloody hard work and painful but at least i know what I'm looking out for and what to expect at each stage.

Its weird that a lot of you have mentioned that the actually pushing isn't the hard bit.Thats what i envisioned being the worst part.

Again I'm glad i asked. Im not a soft arse but was getting quite anxious.
Either way it has to come out. :S |

DontBuyANewMumCashmere I have just woke my hubby up laughing at your labour, sounds something like me hahah.
Interestingly ive had my fair share of tooth abcess and thought that was bad, until i had gallbladder pain. They told me this was as bad as labour....i will see.

Cheers again ladies, x

[hoddtastic]

i have had 3 massive babies, have broken my spine. most pain i ever have had was a tooth abcess. you'll be fine.

[Ponderingprivately]

With my dc1 I had very bad pain in my back and it felt like serious period pain but the type that makes you cry. I had an epidural at 6cm (which I regret) and dd was born with ventouse.
Ds the contractions were like bad period pain in the front which progressed to the needing a poo scenario described by others. This intensified and I really thought I was going to poo myself despite reassurances from midwives that I was actually having a baby. When I accepted this and went with the flow it was a much better birth. It was painful of course but a distant memory. Good luck op don't worry about a thing- they'll get your baby out!!

[sherbertlemon17]

Some of your stories and comments have had me crying with laughter!!

I feel the same as 3boys and honestly didn't find it too bad at all. Not everyone has an excruiatingly painful experience...

I'm always a little bit embarressed to share my birth story especially when others find it so hard. I never want to sound as if I'm rubbing it in that I found it ok.

My first twinge was at 3am and as the day went on it felt like mild trapped wind in my back. Went about my day like normal tbh, just kept an eye on timings. They started to feel more intense around 9pm so I used my TENS machine (which are awesome!) and now the contractions felt like stronger trapped wind and also moved in to the front of my thighs. It almost felt like that uncomfortable feeling you get when your about to get AF. By this point I couldn't sit down through them.

Got to the hospital at 00:30 (after having to go back home and get my notes!!) and was a stretchy 4cm. My second and third stage were pretty quick and my contractions continued to increase in intensity and I asked for G&A just as I was about the start pushing. DD was here at 3am.

It's kind of the best and worst thing all rolled in to one.

And I am certain in did a poo! Midwife and DH never said a word though

[HNY2017]

Haven't read through but for me, both times, it was just like very intense period pains. Totally normal in between contractions and it really only got "bad" in the half hour or so before the baby is born. Crowning isn't much fun but is over pretty quick.

It's fine, don't think of it as a big deal and it won't be (I did hypnobirthing a bit, not properly but the underlying theories totally made sense to me).

[Batteriesallgone]

Oh and the most useful thing I got from hypnobirthing - it was all brilliant, well worth doing - was saying next time you do a big poo, really think about how it feels. You're not pushing exactly (or shouldn't be, that gives you piles!) but your muscles are doing their thing and you are patiently waiting for your body to be done. Then, the next poo after, remember how it felt to try and track your pooing and this time let yourself zone out like you probably normally do.

Then she said in labour you have a choice - be scared, be super present, try and track it etc OR let your body get on with it and zone out as much as you can. You've probably had a painful poo before with diarrhoea or something but that doesn't leave you creased up in fear every time you shit.

Might not work for you but I found it useful as a way of thinking about things.

[user1468957349]

I was induced and contractions came quickly thick & fast. For me it was like every muscle in my middle cramping. I ended up with pethidine and pretty much slept through them until my waters went. I went from 2cm dilated to baby arriving in 76 minutes. I have to say the contractions were more painful than the pushing and delivery for me - by that point I just felt the pressure from the baby moving down and not pain necessarily. I think if you stay focussed it is totally manageable. I know inductions can be a more intense and painful labour but I was lucky how quickly it all happened