Is (physical) miscarriage pain as bad as labour pain?

[LondonJen]

Last October I had a natural miscarriage at 10 weeks pregnant. (Technically this was classed as a missed miscarraige because my bloods indicated a horomone level of less than they'd expect at 10 weeks.)

When I saw the midwife at epu she said it sounded like I'd had a mini-labour. This made a lot of sense to me as I realised that's why I'd felt ok at times as I was having contractions. I experienced horrendous low grinding pain which I understand was cervix opening. My stomach had gone rock hard before and I'd had back ache. There was some shivering/clammy/knees buckling feeling during the pains I think were contractions along with me moaning. And after I passed the placenta I felt instantly much better (phsyically) and it all stopped.

I am now 26 weeks pregnant. I was discussing labour pain with my mum and how the above experience made me want to go to the nearest place to give birth as it was so painful. Mum has had a miscarriage herself at 12 weeks and suggested I might find labour no more painful because it happens over a longer time period so is less intense.

I just wondered if anyone who has experienced the pain of natural mc and labour pain could give their opinion on whether that was the case? Or is my mum just trying to ease my mind?! If anyone feels able to share I would really appreciate it. TIA

Hopefully you will see this. I know it’s been 2 years but I have 4 children and now have had 2 very very painful miscarriages as well and both at 12weeks. I don’t mean to pry but I’ve never had any issues carrying so I was wondering if they ever found a reason for you having miscarriages after 5 children. And if you have had any luck now?

I know this post is old but I’m reading through all of this as a FTM, due in a month and had an MC last year. I had the same experience with my OB telling me it would just be “like a heavy period.” HE was so wrong! Completely downplayed that it would actually be like a mini-labor. I bled heavy and cramped all week and finally by the end of the week I woke up in severe pain and was rolling around on the floor in agony. I had no idea that’s what it would be like. If I was prepared it probably wouldn’t have caught me so off guard. I didn’t know I would have contractions and pass huge clumps of tissue and the whole bit! Thankfully my DH was smart-thinking and ran me a warm bath before he had to leave for work. The bath was a huge relief and I was able to get in a good position to bear down and let my body do what it needed to do. My mother came over to be there for me for moral support while I was going through it. I wouldn’t call it traumatic though because I felt so supported and I wasn't scared, and if anything it made me stronger. I look back on it and feel empowered that I could go through something like that and still be in as good a mindset as I was in. Reading through all of these responses gives me hope that I can go on to have a successful and peaceful natural childbirth with my son and I hope that what I went through with the MC helped my body prep for childbirth in a way. I’m hoping that it at least gives me some type of credit for what I went through and maybe just maybe my body will have the muscle memory to work effectively on getting this beautiful healthy baby boy out safely and easily! And if anyone is reading this I hope the very best for them and their children and future children :)

Mrs Robertson,
I totally relate to your experience and was curious how your labor went. I miscarried yesterday and it was the most painful experience in my life, had the whole panoply of water break, contraction, vomiting, shaking uncontrollably, and immense relief, euphoria when it passed. I thought I was going to die or faint, and evidently the emotional pain of grief makes it perhaps harder when miscarrying than delivering a live birth.
Sending you tons of support!
Melissa

Melissa,
Wow thank you for sharing your experience and your kind words and for wanting to check in on how the birth went. My heart goes out to you for your loss, I pray you find peace and grace even in the dark times. The light will come and when it does it makes the hard times worth having gone through to have the good times. I hope you’re recovering well and have peace and healing. My unmedicated birth at the birth center went amazing even though it was looking bleak toward the end after 5 hours of pushing! Throughout the 11 hours of labor I felt so at peace and in control and it was overall an incredible experience to feel everything my body was made to do! I really believe the MC made this birth experience end in a positive for me. 11 hours of labor and 5 hours of pushing unmedicated. It’s completely possible and I did it! And it was a good, positive empowering experience that I’m still riding the high from :) and baby boy is perfect and healthy and beautiful!

sending you love and support as well! 🤍

Mrs Robertson,
Your message in January was so heartwarming to read. It meant a lot to me. Thank you so much for your kind words.
It was a tough year but now I am seven months pregnant ❤️ I am starting to think about labor again and remembering my experience with the miscarriage. I want to feel as you were, strong and at peace. I hope all is well with you and your family.
Melissa

I’ve never gone through labour at full term but miscarried in august at 11 weeks 6 days. The pain was unreal - like I was exploding. I was hospitalised and had to have two lots of IV morphine, IV paracetamol and an opiate tablet to get it under control. The pain made me physically sick and scream constantly until the morphine kicked in. I’m sure it was made worse by the fact that I knew I was losing the baby. But I was also told that my cervix was closed throughout this time but yet the baby had moved down lower in my uterus (so my body was trying to expel the baby but also keep it in). When I actually had the baby come out the next day, my cervix opened and the pain was a lot less bad. Basically it was just off the charts painful, which I wouldn’t have expected.