How painful is labour?

[MayimBialik]

I'm sure the answer will be very/extremely/agonisingly! But what is the most painful part? Is it the contractions? What do they feel like? Bad period pains but they go on for so long it gets exhausting? Or worse? Or is the most painful part the pushing? How long does that last for?

Just starting to wonder more and more about the whole thing. I'm hopefully having a waterbirth and am really looking forward to it. Im being a bit naive at the moment thinking I have a high pain threshold and always suffered from horrendous period pains so it can't be that bad....feel free to bring me back to reality!

Both my labours were v similar, a few intermittent contractions (like period pains) and then a rapid increase in pain, frequency and length - agree with other posters who describe it as a pain in the back as well, it seemed to me to radiate and pulsate iyswim but just as it got to the point that I didn't think I could cope with it then the pain eased and I had a few seconds respite until the next one. The crowning/pushing is a burning sensation and v much feels like you need to do an enormous poo ], I found the hardest thing at that point was not so much the actual pain but the mw saying stop pushing (so you don't tear and have the most effective pushes you should only push at the height of a contraction).

Both times established labours (where for me pain was worse than period pains) were v quick (ds1 2.5 hrs, ds2 45mins) and I had a little gas and air with ds1 and nothing with ds2. In fact I found it less painful without the gas and air. With ds2 my dh (kindly..) said that I made more fuss about the rectal exam afterwards than I did during labour

As other posters have said everyone is different - I would quite happily go through labour again but not the 9months of pg which I found awful. Good luck!

Very different experiences for different people and pregnancies. Mine was straightforward and honestly not as painful as I expected (but I cannot know your expectations, experience or thresholds). V similar experience to georgie22 - was fully dilated on arrival at hospital and thinking 'if this is what it takes to get to 3 cms I want an epidural'! Didn't get one, too late and not needed at that stage.

The gas and air was lovely once it kicked in, don't worry if it doesn't seem to be doing anything straight away. I liked my TENS machine too, had it on throughout. Wanted a water birth, sounds lovely, just too late by the time I got to hospital. Remember you can try it but get out if you want stronger drugs.

Try to stay as calm as possible, I think that and some sense of control made a big difference, when you 'let go' to pain and start feeling 'done to', it becomes more painful and stressful. The help you need is there though, so do ask for it, some of the things that can be done to you are very helpful and will help you feel in control of the experience.

I found a strong analogy with running a long race, or doing a hard day of mountain walking where once you have started, there's no going back. Similarly, though the hardest section may be ahead, you have to keep going as steadily as possible to get to the end, and there is an end, within a roughly predictable amount of time.

The contractions were probably most painful but the pushing most unpleasant, a really uncomfortable feeling.

I think it's different for everyone, I was lucky and found actual labour & childbirth to be manageable pain. I was very worried during my first pregnancy, after DS was born I actually said to the midwife I can't believe that's it!

Stitching on the other hand was the most painful thing that has ever happened to me

DD was even easier & no stitching.

I read "Childbirth Without Fear" during my first pregnancy, it made sense and I found it comforting.

It truly is different for everyone. I used Hypnobirthing techniques and found contractions very manageable. My contractions were pretty much continuous once they got into full swing and my labour was very quick. I was 9cm dilated on arrival at hospital and fully dilated shortly afterwards. I had some gas & air when I was in the hospital in triage and it was greeeeeeat IMO .

Unfortunately due to foetal distress, I ended up with a general anaesthetic and c-section. I'm pregnant again now and planning a VBAC - but slightly shitting it about the 'baby out of the fanjo' part! I'm not worried about contractions at all. I had a dry socket infection after having my wisdom teeth out a few years ago and THAT was real pain - I was literally sobbing and rocking it was horrific. Contractions for me were intense and something I felt I had to focus on, I paced all the time which helped and the breathing was helpful too - it's a very different sensation from 'pain' in a traditional sense, or at least that is how my personal experience was. Worth looking at hypnobirthing or natal hypnotherapy if you have a few weeks to go.

Oh I had a grade 2 tear and lots of stitches (dd seemed stuck, coming down slowly for ages, then shot out) waiting with legs in air for two hours as senior doctor who junior wanted to check with was busy. Had local anaesthetic and carried on with the gas and air (until a bossy nurse told me to stop as it was drying my mouth!). It was fine and combination of g+a and elation kept me happy. So, really sorry to hear some people have found stitches painful but they needn't be, don't worry about it, just ask for plenty of anaesthetic.

yes, crowning is the worse part. but remember that inbetween contraction you have NO pain - it's a strange experience.
just aim to get through one contraction at a time - and that's one step closer to it being over

This is a really encouraging thread.

I'm expecting my third and a bit worried as I found the pain very difficult to cope with last time.

I had an epidural with my first so didn't feel that much towards the end. In fact nothing at all when I was pushing.

the second time I was at home, and it all happened within about 3 hours, from the first contraction - they very quickly were 5 then 3 minutes apart. I had to convince the midwife to come out, by which time I was 4cm dilated so she believed me!

It became very painful indeed in the last hour or so, and I tried a bath which didn't really help, then I hit transition, so the last half hour was just pushing and because he had turned, he was back to back and took probably twice as long as he should have done to come out. (that's what I was told afterwards).

I suppose I panicked, I didn't know what to do with the pain so I tried screaming which felt odd and didn't help at all...I really thought I would die with the pain. And after he was born, I thought I would die as I didn't stop bleeding, but they gave me an injection which stopped it.

I remember lying on my bed being stitched and feeling as though I had been run over by a massive truck. I was shaking and just felt so bruised and injured, all over. It was horrible - but then, I am sure that some of it was panic, and surprise as I had had no idea of what to expect before.

I recovered pretty quickly, though it was a day or two before I could walk upright, properly...

I know that I'm likely to have another fairly fast labour this time, so will probably not be able to get to a hospital, and the idea of the pain does worry me but at least I will know what to expect this time.

Oh yes, toothache is so much more painful, even though the labour hurt, I'd rather do it again than have serious toothache again!

I left the MLU after three hours, and recovered very quickly. Also, I only suffered two 'grazes' so no stitching here.

I have to add that even though I'm struggling with both PND and Post Partum Psychosis, I would happily do it all over again to have this little boy smile at me when I'm the first face he sees in the morning.

IME bad but manageable. It wasonly very near the end both times where I had the "i can't cope with this pain" feelings . Worst bit for me was the tiredness.

On the positive side there is lots of things you can try to help with the pain. I tried hypnobirthing for my first and it probably helped keep me calm but did not help with the pain of crowning. With my second and third I found a TENS really helped. I also found water v helpful - soaked in the bath with first two and in birthing pool with third - seemed to be v effective at reducing the pain considerably. But everyone is different and every birth is different, so it is a matter of trying things and seeing what helps

Yes I found tens good first time round

In my experience (8 months ago and as a pain wuss), the answer is 'nowhere near as painful as breastfeeding' (which also got better eventually). I get bad period pains, and the beginning of labour felt a bit like much milder pains, but in similar place, but with gaps, not that hideous dull ache for hours on end. A hot bath really helped. As the pains got closer, I decided to go into the midwife unit, where the 1st midwife didn't believe I was very far on, so left me huffing over a birthing ball. Next midwife declared me 6cm gone & filled the pool for me immediately. Pains continued to be like bad period pains, but gas & air took the levels right down & no pain at all between contractions. I'd also done preg yoga & hypnotherapy so that breathing was helpful too.

Pushing & crowning were definitely in 'enormous poo' territory, but again, nowhere near the scale of the actual enormous poo I did a few days later - and that was without the support & encouragement of a lovely midwife!

I'd do labour again any time if I could guarantee it would be like my first, but still in the 'I'm never doing the 1st 4 months of looking after a baby' phase!

I had 14 hour labour first time round, didnt really feel any pain with the contractions (had G&A and a TENS that wasnt switched on!). Transition was more painful. Pushed for 4 hours until DS eventually decided to put in an appearance. Crowning hurt like hell, and will NEVER forget that feeling as long as I live. The bit after the birth was much worse IME.

All that said, i really enjoyed labour!

I would add that pregnancy for me is worse than labour - however painful the pain is, it doesn't upset me or unhinge me nearly as much as feeling sick for several months. I guess that puts it into perspective - you are the same person in labour as in normal life and will probably deal with different aspects in a similar way.

Being sick in labour didn't worry me, though which was odd - well I wasn't actulally sick but I nearly was in transition, and it was just mechanical, no nausea - it was as though everything from the womb upwards was being pushed up, while everything downwards was being pushed down!

Contractions for me were a little painful, but relentless (they started at 2 mins apart), however I then stopped dilating so they gave me induction drugs and OH MY GOD. The pain. It was horrific.

I ended up being prepped for csec and having epidural, episiotemy and forceps but that was all bliss due to epidural.

OP I really don't think this thread is helpful to you. I am scared reading it and I have had my baby.

The only thing that you need to understand is that your experience is not going to be anything like anyone else's; it will be your own. It won't be easy, but you will certainly manage it. And (major cliche ahead) afterwards, although you might not forget the pain immediately, it won't matter as you will have the most wonderful beautiful ball of warm love in your arms. There is no feeling in the world like it.

Oh golly I am worried about induction, particularly as they've put me nearly 2 weeks ahead of my dates. I'm afraid they will say it is overdue when in fact it's right on time.

I had heard that induction is incredibly painful.

Before anyone gives me a bollocking, I should add that the positive posts are very helpful. Just ignore the other ones.

Emilie you can say no to induction. I felt the same way as you. My DD was 16 days late in the end when I finally gave in to having one, but she definitely was not over cooked. She was still covered in thick vernix when she was born and also quite downy.

I actually found the pain in my nipples due to bad latch and the constipation and piles afterwards much much worse than labour!

Olives I disagree. I find this thread very useful and interesting hence the reason why I asked!

I like to be informed and know what to expect. Not a sensitive type who's easily scared.

olive she asked the question, would you rather everyone lied to her. It hurt but if course it's worth it, that's a given.

i have had two labours and they were both fine. yes it's painful but it's not the worst pain i have ever had-infected gall bladder and broken leg were more painful.

it's productive pain anyway-i remember feeling really excited while in labour!

best tip i can give you is don't go to the hospital and lie down on a bed-it really does make it worse.

move about, let gravity help you, water REALLY helps with pain-i laboured in water with my first and it was amazing and a didn't tear at all.

Thing is, it could be the most painful experience in the world, it could just be mildly uncomfortable. Whatever it is you still have to go through it, and newborn babie are worth it.

Totally worth it.

Someone on here once said its like having your legs chopped off with a chainsaw - slowly- but worse. I agree. The worse bit for me was the contractions at 8-10cms. I panicked because of the pain (which i'm sure made it worse) it sounds OTT but I thought I was going to die from the pain. Early labour did feel like period pains- but they gradually built up to another league of indescribable pain. Pushing wasn't so bad- or the crowning- I suppose because I had something to focus on (and I pushed for 2hours)

I'm terrified of giving birth now (3 weeks to go) I'll definately be asking for an epidural this time.