How painful is childbirth on a scale of 1-10?

[Blackitty]

1 being a breeze
and ...
10 being the absolute worst pain imaginable?

I am due in March. First baby and would like to know what I’m in for...

Ds1 7
Ds2 4
Ds3 9 (would be ten but I am aware there have to be more painful experiences)

10 and I thought there would be respite between pains... But the bastard drip.

DD1 epidural didn't really work. Long difficult birth.

DD2 epidural fabulous - birth less painful than a leg wax.

The first was a 10. (Back to back failed induction, failed epidural, ECS).
Second probably 7. Normal onset, managed on gas and air. Still ECS though.

Only realised how bad DD1 had been when I had DD2!

I would say a 6 whilst on the birthing pool but an 8/9 once they needed me out.

But it is true, you forget the pain and at the time you just power through, your body is an amazing thing.

1st. 10
2nd 2
3rd Googleplexion

All worth it

6, it’s not that bad, if it was people wouldn’t have more than one, I’d prefer to give birth than have a severe UTI and it was more painful when I had an anula tear. I had a grad 3b tear and had surgery straight after birth but I’d still say a 6 out of 10 for pain. It’s bearable and it’s so short it’s only going to last a few hours not weeks, just keep that in your mind.

About a 6. Didn't even have gas for the birth ( only the stitches) as it was all too quick.

Ulcerative colitis was much worse.

10

10 but only briefly
7-8 for most of it

Back to back 9lb baby on synto drip, 37 hour labour ended in EMCS- definite 10! I think cutting him out myself with a spoon would have hurt less.

I had imagined a hippy-dippy water birth. I remember telling DH to move "those FUCKING essential oils" out of my face at one point

However, it is a ridiculously amazing experience and totally worth it! The minute labour is over and you get to see your healthy baby it's all forgotten

@Tomatobear

Back to back 9lb baby on synto drip, 37 hour labour ended in EMCS- definite 10! I think cutting him out myself with a spoon would have hurt less.

I had imagined a hippy-dippy water birth. I remember telling DH to move "those FUCKING essential oils" out of my face at one point

However, it is a ridiculously amazing experience and totally worth it! The minute labour is over and you get to see your healthy baby it's all forgotten

Syntocinin drips are the devil's work. Being hooked up to the national grid would hurt less

10 for me each time. At one point I begged them to cut me open there and then to just take the baby out, when they refused I told them to give me the scalpel so I could do it myself.
My youngest was born following induction and three days worth of very vigorous sweeps. I felt very bruised even going into the labour. At one point I prayed that I would die just to be free from the pain!
As soon as you hold your baby though, it is all worth it. Funny that the worst pain imaginable can also be accompanied by the deepest joy.

I had very short intense labours with my 3 DC with a couple of paracetamol and a bit of gas and air. The first was the most painful -back to back and came out with both arms by her head (and believe me, I was begging for all the drugs but it was too late!) But I guess it didn't put me off! It's so different from any other pain because you know its for a short period and a happy purpose ☺️. I also found my body kind of took over and it was very natural (which took me by surprise) and it got easier each time. I've probably not experienced anything more painful, but I was much more miserable, for a much longer period, when I had a nasty bout of food poisoning.

Not going to lie, stings a bit

10

Honestly, a 6. The pain was not too bad, but the relentlessness of it was exhausting. When they broke my second waters, I threw up violently with the shock, and that resulted in horrific heartburn. I had no epidural, just gas and air. My stitches weren't that bad until 2 weeks later they tightened up and I could barely walk. That was an 8. Turns out they are soluble though, so i ended up dissolving them off in a bath.

About 6/10. Things that have been more painful: shutting finger in the car door, sprained ankle, getting my ears pierced, a bad armpit wax. Things that helped were: reducing fear of labour with hypnobirthing CD, good midwife, Gas and air during the pushing stage. It was more ‘intense’ like a period, bad backache or a rough hangover and the actual contractions were only a minute at a time for most of it. Not a sharp pain but something that built up gradually and took more and more focus as you progressed. Try reading positive birth stories, meditation/hypnobirthing because fear won’t help you and you may find it useful in the early stages before you get pain relief.

Hypnobirthing... try the positive birth company. Transition is tough- the pressure is immense and I'd say that bit was a 9 but didn't last long.

Pushing was satisfying, crowning nowhere near as bad as I imagined. In my experience you don't notice tearing at all.

All done on gas and air for 6-10cm then breathing for the pushing. However you do it it's a day out of your life and anyone can do that. And at the end it's the most exciting moment that has ever happened to you.

I hope I get to do it again with all my heart.

0, had a planned section
Getting the spinal injection was a 1 and the pain afterwards was around 3-5

Syntocinin drips are the devil's work. Being hooked up to the national grid would hurt less

This^ If they threaten to put you on the drip, best to just jump out of the nearest window first. It'll hurt less.

9, where 10 is a bad break of a bone involving agony and involuntary screaming

10
What surprised me was the contractions were the worst bit. The episiotomy (without epidural) was nothing compared to the contractions. Didn’t mind the stitches as was just so pleased the contractions had stopped!

10, I am even scared thinking of the third labour next year.

It goes like this:

5,0,5,0,6,0,6,0,7,0,7,0,8,0,8,0,9,0,9,0,10,10,10,0, 10,10,10,0,10,10,10,0,0,0,0,0