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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Please someone tell me it’s not THAT painful

314 replies

anmummy · 04/08/2023 18:20

Just watched an episode of one born every minute and this woman was SCREAMING, and I mean screaming from the top of her lungs. She was kicking the bed, trying to roll off of it, and was clearly in agonising uncontrollable unbearable pain. I’m due in 1 week!!! This is not what I needed to see 🤣 I’m so scared. someone tell me their positive stories. This is my first time. I know everyone has a different experience. I’m just hoping I can do this! I’m unbelievably scared now.

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 04/08/2023 18:21

It’s bloody painful, but it stops as soon as baby is out. And I remember asking to have another before my placenta was out 🤣🤣

ZebraD · 04/08/2023 18:23

It’s really painful.
get an epidural, then it is not painful at all but beautiful! No proxies for you going through pain when you don’t need to. Best wishes.

LubaLuca · 04/08/2023 18:23

It wasn't that painful for me, I wasn't at all vocal. I mean it's really painful, but it didn't send me out of my mind.

starlightmagic · 04/08/2023 18:23

I left the labour ward saying that wasn’t that bad! I was induced and just had gas and air :)

Gnomegnomegnome · 04/08/2023 18:23

Every birth is different.

Every baby ever born would have no siblings if it was that bad 😉

Parker231 · 04/08/2023 18:25

I had an epidural - brilliant. Did my nails, had a sleep and then watched Wimbledon

1daughterand3sons · 04/08/2023 18:25

It's different for everyone for me I don't find it that painful I've had 4 without any pain relief but my pain threshold is quite high.
Everyone told me that a birth was more painful when induced I didn't find it more painful than the ones I had without being induced.

Magssss · 04/08/2023 18:25

3 with epidural 1 without, I'd choose the epidural every day of the week. Magic.

PuttingDownRoots · 04/08/2023 18:26

Women experience labour differently. For some people the screaming helps them control the pain as well...

Temporaryname158 · 04/08/2023 18:27

It was manageable for me with absolutely no pain relief. Yes it hurt but I wasn’t like the lady you saw on TV!

my observation would be that a lot of the ladies screaming on tv are laid on their back on a bad (which If for medical reasons continual monitoring is needed fair enough but otherwise) this is in my experience the worst position to be in, the most painful. Get up, walk around, stretch, go on the ball etc. pains stop between each contraction so gather yourself and relax. Panic also makes things worse.

give hypnobirthing a try for the next week

ElvenDreamer · 04/08/2023 18:28

I have a very low pain threshold, but I had 3 home births with gas and air only. Oh and a pool for the 3rd one, water definitely helps. 1st one is the scariest because you have no clue what to expect I think. Best of luck to you, you will be great!

Dominoeffecter · 04/08/2023 18:28

Just take the pain relief when offered, you won’t get a medal for doing it without, although some people go on like you do 😂

WinterCarlisle · 04/08/2023 18:28

I’ve got 3. I definitely have a flair for the drama but honestly? Wasn’t bad at all. Only had entonox, one in hospital, two at home. Keep moving and keep positive. It’s not forever and you get a baby at the end of it

SmirnoffIceIsNice · 04/08/2023 18:28

Every woman is different and there are so many factors that will determine how painful it is, including your personal pain threshold. Some will deal with the pain by screaming and others are able to handle it better by using breathing methods or gas and air. There's no denying it's painful, but you forget it pretty quickly once you have the baby in your arms.

Diddykong · 04/08/2023 18:29

It's painful but more exhausting. But I had inductions that went on forever. There are plenty of people that feel a twinge, pop into a birthing pool and sneeze out a baby.

violetcuriosity · 04/08/2023 18:29

It was very very painful and I wish someone had told me truthfully how severe the pain would be so that I didn't choose to go into the midwife led unit and not have any pain relief. I had a 6 hour labour with a water birth, couldn't have been more textbook but I wish I could have had an epidural. My planned c-section was much better for me.

Helendegenerate · 04/08/2023 18:29

I found the contractions for the last few hours were awful. Pain like I never imagined. Then the delivery itself began and while it was hard work it was over in 15 minutes and not what I would call painful. Other mothers told me completely different accounts of their births. Ranging from a bit painful to horrendous and a few said it was a doddle from start to finish.

Take any help you are offered and stop watching that television programme!

Peony654 · 04/08/2023 18:30

Gnomegnomegnome · 04/08/2023 18:23

Every birth is different.

Every baby ever born would have no siblings if it was that bad 😉

I always think this!!

EsmeeMerlin · 04/08/2023 18:31

I mean it is painful but I did the majority of my labour at home and went into hospital 8cm dilated. Also managed to do it all without screaming my head off. I think my mindset did help. I had it in my head that it has to be done so there is no point making a fuss about it. I also listened to music, went in the bath and walked around. Good luck with the labour. I will say as soon as baby is born, you do forget about the labour pains.

GrinAndVomit · 04/08/2023 18:31

I’ve had three. All on a very varied spectrum of pain.
Don’t worry. Ask for drugs if it gets too much.

ScarlettBeauregarde · 04/08/2023 18:31

I was absolutely terrified to give birth. Ended up doing it on just gas and air, and whilst it was painful, I got through it. I’m having another soon and while I’m nervous, I’m not scared like I was before as I know I can do it.

Will also say that in my experience right when it hits the ‘top painful to bear’ point is when you’re ready to push!

Topseyt123 · 04/08/2023 18:32

Nobody can tell you how it will be for you. We are all different, every baby and labour is different, even for the same woman. We also all have different all have different pain thresholds so cope differently.

Of course it is painful. I see no point in pretending otherwise. Be open minded about all of the pain relief options. Epidural is generally the most effective one but there can be circumstances where it is not an option, such as when labour has progressed very fast and there is no time.

mummyh2016 · 04/08/2023 18:32

My first labour the pain was horrendous, DD was back to back and I remember thinking I'll never walk again and DH will have to get me a wheelchair. As soon as she was born the pain went and I was walking around 30 minutes later.
Second birth wasn't painful at all, it just felt like I was having a really big poo (in fact I think I've been in more pain having a poo Blush)

husbandcallsmepickle · 04/08/2023 18:33

I've been told by several professionals that I have a high pain threshold compared to others. However, within a few hours of labour I needed an epidural and would definitely recommend them to others. Why suffer? Nobody actually cares what pain relief you go for

golddustwomen · 04/08/2023 18:34

I was exactly like the women you are describing. I had another a couple of years later though Grin

If fucking hurts by my god it's worth it!

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