So if labour pains are like period pains but much worse - what do period pains feel like to you?

[Chocolatewafer]

Due any day now with first baby, nervous and wondering what to expect!

I’ve heard many people describe labour pain as like period pains but far worse, and others say it’s like diarrhoea cramps. I know it’s different for everyone so nobody can really tell me how it’ll be

But it’s got me thinking - what are period pains to you? I get a combination of the achey back ache pressure feeling (which I’m getting now with Braxton Hicks) and that sharp needly pain at the front that feels like someone is twisting a sharp needle around inside

For some reason my brain read Pethedine.i have no idea. Pretty sure my brain is dying

@snoosigh my periods are the same so I am hoping I can deal with contractions in the same way which probably means sitting in the loo with a sick bowl telling everyone to leave me alone to ride it out

Period pains for me are very mild cramps in my lower back. Labour pains were in exactly the same place, in both labours. I didn't feel a single contraction at the front. However, I would multiply the period cramps by about a million for labour pain. It felt like someone was grabbing the muscles in my lower back in a fist and then twisting as hard as they could.

Oops, just read the thread properly and realised you might actually have been in labour. If so, hope all has gone well.

Thank you all! It was labour and now on postnatal ward trying to figure out how to get baby in cot without her noticing so I can rest!

To answer my own question - very painful backache/period pains

The first wave of pushing went really well, I was so in the zone but hallucinating on the gas and air (everything sped up to triple speed and I kept thinking made up sentences!)

Then there was a big lull and it got so so much harder because I was lucid again

Worth it though!

Clearly too late, and congratulations, but compared to my period pain, labour wasn't that bad, and at least I got some respite between contractions.
Yes, it means my period pain is that bad, not that labour wasn't.

Congratulations OP. Sounds like you aced labour, will you get home today? X

Yay! Chocolatewafer Well done sounds like you done amazing! Woop woop. Enjoy your lovely baby

Congratulations OP!!!!

Awwww, congratulations! 🎉🎉🎉

My labour was nothing like period pain, I don't get period pain.

Labour for me was like a really really bad IBS flare up combined with being hit in the lower back by a baseball bat. It developed into feeling like something was attempting to claw their way out of my abdomen and a whole baseball team was hitting me. It was truly horrific. Towards the end the pain and exhaustion caused me to hallucinate, I forgot what I was doing it for, and I genuinely thought I was going to die.

Let’s just say labour was done within two hours and I didn’t pass out from the pain. I have had some extremely severe periods (had to leave work and go to bed) and medication does little except take the edge off the pain. I have passed out on more than one occasion. Since I gave first birth more than a decade ago this is infrequent now and I am grateful. And the gynaecologist I was referred to when in my late teens was condescending and did nothing. Basically you’re a female and deal with it. (Sorry I think I having a bit of a rant and getting things off of my chest today )

And congrats!