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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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

457 replies

Blackitty · 28/12/2020 01:33

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...

OP posts:
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carly2803 · 30/12/2020 21:18

10

especially in the last 3 hours of labour - fuck me.

ShrikeAttack · 31/12/2020 02:03

Coming from the other side. 1-2. Neither of my births hurt. They didn't. In both cases the midwives were just hanging around and waiting for something to happen. I didn't even have to push, my body squeezed them out. I have silent silent labours. It's not always a horror show.

Hawkmoth · 31/12/2020 02:06

10 is gallstones
9 is dental pain
8 is migraines
Labour ends up at 7

Mummyamy123 · 31/12/2020 02:07

A good 9.

The 10 is saved for the first wee afterwards........

Hawkmoth · 31/12/2020 02:18

Oh yes, perhaps I needed to put in the postnatal poo. Labour moves down to 6.5.

TanglinOrchards · 31/12/2020 07:18

I do not even recall the postnatal poos. I think i was in shock!

I do rceall trying to ward off a friend (not even a close friend, more an acquaintance) who rung me while in hospital with DS1 absolutely outraged because she had seen him driving home for a rest (after days in with me) as she thought i needed someone to be there for me sitting by my bed and helping me shower and insisting she come in immediately.

That was pretty bloody painful too. Grin

TanglinOrchards · 31/12/2020 07:19

That was she had seen DH drving home. (Not DS. That would have been surprising).

originalusernamefail · 31/12/2020 07:22

About a 6 it wasn't the severity of the pain but longevity (72hrs DS1Angry), but I had a horrible pregnancy so was used to discomfort. I would labour tomorrow for another baby but I will NEVER be pregnant again.

BuffaloCauliflower · 31/12/2020 15:08

My first wees and poos were absolutely fine despite second degree tearing and stitches. I bought a peri bottle and vulva cool packs I never needed because it was fine, I was sat normally the same day just a bit uncomfortable needing paracetamol.

SarahD19 · 30/05/2021 18:17

For me it has varied so much according to the birth experience. Birth 1 was definitely 10. Birth 2 was more like 8/10. It also varied at different stages.

Also if I had to rate stages, worst contractions 10/10, crowning and pushing probably 7 or 8/10.

Lostwordsblessing · 30/05/2021 19:48

@Blackitty

Oh dear. This all sounds horrific. I definitely want an epidural now. Yes please!
Not helpful at all as I haven't given birth yet (due in October) but I've been reading about Hypnobirthing and it's really helped ease my anxiety around the pain. I know it's going to be painful, but as lots of women are saying, it all depends on the birth, and I know with my experience with pain is that our adrenalin and fear can make it worse. Personally, anyway. But yes, all matter of things can sway the type of birth we might have, so best to be open minded.

Really recommend the Positive Birth Co. for hypnobirthing: it's not hypnotherapy, just knowledge based, I'm finding it very empowering as an anxious person who thought my period pains were as bad as they could get!

menomary · 30/05/2021 19:50

I'd say a 4 byt it's not bc all tge time

Alysa8819 · 30/05/2021 20:47

10 (this was without any pain relief) but it's also the most empowered and 'high' I"ve ever felt. It's a very intense but positive pain as you know its for a good reason..you're not dying or ill and you know why it hurts if that makes sense...I speak from someone who was very lucky and nothing went wrong though / no interventions so appreciate it's not the same for everyone.

Also it does help that the pain comes in waves so it isn't constant (until the very last bit...but when it becomes really really painful you know that means you're nearly done).

I say all this from the comfort of my sofa in hindsight but at the time I begged for an epidural they just didn't have time to give me one...but it was ok! I'm strangely looking forward to it now I'm pregnant again but me be eating my words when it kicks off.

SarahD19 · 30/05/2021 20:58

I 100% agree it varies from person to person. My first birth was quite complex with a 10lb baby and extensive blood loss etc. Baby was in a bad position and labour was stop-start. Unfortunately hypnobirthing was not enough with that particular birth to stop me experiencing it as a 10. However I didn’t have to have an emergency C Section so maybe the approach helped.

I found the strategies really helpful with my second birth. I basically said to my husband “I’ve got to brace myself for the proper pain kicking in” as my first experience had terrified me. However baby was then born just over an hour later and the full blown pain I expected, although painful, didn’t happen.

Everyone has such a different experience - and each baby/birth can be so different. I don’t think we can tell women to not share their experiences and be honest if they experienced 10/10 pain. But it is certainly helpful to employ strategies.

SarahD19 · 30/05/2021 21:09

@Hawkmoth I’ve had migraines my entire life. I’ve had them bad enough for scans and other investigations. They are awful but in my experience, more tolerable than childbirth. The exception may be having a migraine every day for months just from how draining the pain gets and the cumulative impact.

I guess that is the thing though, some people may have an easier time with childbirth than others. For my friend who has PTSD as a result of a 3 day labour, emergency c-section and then sepsis from labour, I think it is fair to say she would sooner have a migraine than go through that experience again.

Lostwordsblessing · 30/05/2021 21:22

@SarahD19

I 100% agree it varies from person to person. My first birth was quite complex with a 10lb baby and extensive blood loss etc. Baby was in a bad position and labour was stop-start. Unfortunately hypnobirthing was not enough with that particular birth to stop me experiencing it as a 10. However I didn’t have to have an emergency C Section so maybe the approach helped.

I found the strategies really helpful with my second birth. I basically said to my husband “I’ve got to brace myself for the proper pain kicking in” as my first experience had terrified me. However baby was then born just over an hour later and the full blown pain I expected, although painful, didn’t happen.

Everyone has such a different experience - and each baby/birth can be so different. I don’t think we can tell women to not share their experiences and be honest if they experienced 10/10 pain. But it is certainly helpful to employ strategies.

Absolutely this! Can't stand seeing holier-than-thou new mums (especially on TikTok, christ) preaching about no pain and just "handling it well" and making out that anyone who has a c-section or induction has done something wrong. From what I'm reading there are so many variables which can dictate your birth, like your own, and you can't predict how you're going to react to the pain. But I find that knowledge, of what each procedure entails, really arming, if that makes sense. Like getting pregnant I realised how little I knew about childbirth and, well, growing a baby. Wild.
sausagepastapot · 30/05/2021 21:41

For DC1, pain was about 7/8? For DC2, pain was about a 5, but the afterpains were a strong 9- worse than my first labour, definitely.

Tooth ache is a 10 for me though!

WaitingForNormality · 30/05/2021 21:56

My birth with DS was pretty calm
And generally much better than I had assumed it'd be. Water birth. Only gas and air and didn't get the whole burning ring of fire thing to the extent others seem to have. It was still around a 7-8 on the scale though. Definitely the most uncomfortable and pressure/pain I've felt before but not unmanageable with gas and air and breathing etc. Equally, wouldn't want to do it again though!

elephantsneverforget19 · 30/05/2021 22:21

That depends. Assuming you mean natural childbirth but even that varies from person to person and birth to birth.

My first child was by far the most painful. I had absolutely zero pain relief, and it was agonising. I'd put that at a 10, but I also had the drip to help things along and that makes contractions much more painful.

Second child was very painful but a lot faster, I would put him about 8-9. Gas & air with him.

Third was a total breeze. I was able to talk through all my contractions even through established labour, right until I had to push. I wouldn't put her more than a 4-5 at the absolute most. She was also an hour longer than my second. A few puffs of gas & air right at the end.

Fourth was very painful but very quick, I was in labour in hospital 1 hour 55 minutes. Had gas & air but also the birthing pool. That was an absolute godsend. I'd put him at about 7-8.

Fifth I was induced (water broken) and was in what felt the same as established labour for a good six or more hours before they said I still hadn't got past 2-3cm... then had to have the drip at which point for the first time ever I told them I needed an epidural. Never felt the need for it before her. Probably more panic than anything else but wow, the relief was unbelievable. The pain was about 7-8 before it, I knew the drip would make it worse. With the epidural the pain gradually vanished. The thing I felt when she decided, 45 ish minutes later to be born, was huge pressure and I found that frightening. But it wasn't the same pain though. I can't really put a number on that because it wasn't pain as such, and it literally lasted a couple of pushes.

AngeloMysterioso · 30/05/2021 22:32

🧟‍♀️ ZOMBIE ALERT 🧟‍♀️

Given that OP had her baby in March I’d imagine she now knows for herself exactly how painful it is!

SarahD19 · 31/05/2021 06:22

@AngeloMysterioso ZOMBIE ALERT

Maybe people just like talking about an interesting topic? And maybe OP isn’t the only person who has this query? Maybe OP would like to reflect upon the experience? Maybe you shouldn’t feel entitled to judge/police what people feel they want to discuss? Gosh, the possibilities are endless Hmm Grin

camperqueen54 · 31/05/2021 06:26

15

hedgehogger1 · 31/05/2021 09:37

I was managing fine on gas and air with mine til the transition but where I had a weird panic both times, but apparently it's normal. It will hurt more if your scared so try to relax and go with it

georgarina · 31/05/2021 10:25

Definitely the most intense thing I've ever been through...there's no way to describe it. It all went away as soon as baby was born though and felt amazing and I was proud of myself.

I remember vividly one moment quite far along where I was screaming in pain and then realised I was in between contractions...and then another one hit me. Lol.

It wasn't just the intensity but the length of time as well. Over 36 hours. Plus the fact I wanted an epidural - it was on my birth plan, I'd called ahead and they'd reassured me I could have one, but then once we got to hospital they kept saying '5 more min' until eventually they said there was no anaesthetist available. So I wasn't prepared for the experience iyswim.

I'm trying hypnobirthing this time and I want to feel more in control of the experience. Heard second births go quicker as well so fingers crossed!

SoLongSister · 31/05/2021 10:34

Many years ago for me and I don't remember the pain levels.

It's short lived and there is a baby at the end of it. That's why people go on to have more than one.

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