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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

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...

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redcandlelight · 28/12/2020 09:41

up to 10 definitely
BUT
because it's not constant it's bearable.
plus you can get pain relief if you want to.

Orichette · 28/12/2020 09:49

For me, 10 (induction). I read lots of books about natural childbirth and had convinced myself I could overcome the pain with my mind, listened to hypnotherapy CDs etc. That worked fine TBH until things really got started. Then I found myself shocked by how painful it was - for me, there weren't really breaks in the pain - but I think that's unusual.

I got an epidural - I wept with relief and gratitude. If I ever give birth again (not likely) I will prepare for an epidural and then if I don't need one then great (rather than plastering no epidural all over my birthplan Grin).

PolarnOPirate · 28/12/2020 09:52

I had a forcep birth with zero pain relief (not through choice) but the worst pain I have ever felt was getting a drain removed after my c section. One was fine, the second must have been caught on a nerve or something because omg I couldn’t even breathe.

You’ll be fine, that’s what the drugs are for! Good luck!

HappyThursdays · 28/12/2020 09:54

Practise your breathing because it really does help

I was in a major accident and broke my nose at force and speed and the pain I felt where they manually tried to manipulate it back into position (without anaesthetic or painkillers because I'm asthmatic and had a compromised airway) was so bad I thought I would pass out and that's the worst pain I've ever had

1st child - head was on 99th percentile and was a pain to push out. Managed on gas and air but it was the exhaustion that gets to you so it's pain and tiredness together that gets you. 2nd child, waters broke and I had 2 contractions and he was out, barely any pain.

It does depend but you can prepare yourself. 1st time round you're scared too which adds to the pain I think. Subsequent births you are more relaxed as you know what's going on.

LazyName · 28/12/2020 09:55

I didn’t find it that bad, I mean it is terrible and I did feel that I couldn’t do it when the baby was half head out but we also had some laughs. I think the unknown makes it seem even more terrifying but I would love to re-live the experience again now I know what to expect. I was against having an epidural but did have gas and air and it was great, even managed a giggling fit Grin
Hope you have a straightforward and ‘enjoyable’ birth Smile

Throwntothewolves · 28/12/2020 09:56

It's all relative. I would say about an 8. But I'd previously had a ruptured ectopic pregnancy so that is my benchmark for 'worst pain imaginable'. It would probably be a 10 if it wasn't for that experience.
Remember you don't need to ensure the pain throughout, they will give you pain relief so take it

Earlgrey666 · 28/12/2020 09:57

10 and beyond, it hurt more than I could ever have comprehended.

I have done it 3 times though so it is something you get through and so worth it.

AnnaSW1 · 28/12/2020 09:57

7 or 8. Did it on two paracetamol ( not through choice though!)

AnaisNun · 28/12/2020 09:58

I didn’t think it was “painful” it just felt overwhelmingly physical, if that makes sense? So took my breath away- but not in a “fuck that hurts way”- more like when you’re swimming in the sea and the strength of the undertow catches you but... internally? Like huge forces moving through my body- but I wouldn’t call it “pain”. Certainly couldn’t rank it alongside toothache etc.

I know that sounds a bit loopy. Just how it was for me.

AnaisNun · 28/12/2020 10:00

Oh sorry- I had practiced hypnobirthing (on my own using tapes, not with a tutor) and drank fucktonnes of water throughout (I was unbearably thirsty) which midwife said might have helped lessen the sensation of pain.

lyinginthegutterstaringatstars · 28/12/2020 10:09

For me ( no pain relief ) I would say about 7-8. I did find focusing to be very helpful.

Aswad · 28/12/2020 10:22

With my first I took gas and air plus Pethadine, my second nothing. First was scarier as I wasn’t in as much control whereas I was fully’ with it’ for the second which helped immensely. The contractions were about a 6/7, the pushing a 10 and the stitches I actually didn’t mind! I was back to myself within 24 hours with both and all pain pretty much gone

LynetteScavo · 28/12/2020 10:23

First baby 10++++++
Second baby 10 (but it was quite quick)
Third baby 1, maybe 2.

Orichette · 28/12/2020 10:30

Looking through this thread something I notice is how subjective pain is - and how dependent on a range of factors (position of baby, induced labour or not etc).

It isn’t a question of how painful childbirth is - but how painful it is for you - so I think it’s best to be open minded, both about your own labour and other people's.

Something I can’t stand is people criticising or looking down on those who need pain relief - for whatever reason. Not commenting on anything on this thread, just a general sense I’ve encountered that unmedicated births/women are somehow superior, which doesn’t make a lot of sense when you think about it. Would you think that about an unmedicated tooth extraction?

The NCT pushes this message and it’s just not helpful IMO, particularly for 1st time mothers who have never laboured before. Initially I felt like a failure for getting an epidural but then I realised that was bullshit Smile

stargirl1701 · 28/12/2020 10:31

DD1 in a birth pool maybe 2.

DD2 with gas and air on a birth mat maybe 6.

everybodysang · 28/12/2020 10:33

10 from me. For about 1/2 of the 22 hour labour. And maybe 8-9 for another quarter. During the quarter where the epidural was successful, a blissful 0.

I also was devastated for a long time because people kept saying shite like "you forget the pain the moment they're in your arms." Well lucky fucking you if that's the case. She's 10 now. And yes - worth it. But I would genuinely rather die than do it again.

madcatladyforever · 28/12/2020 10:37

0 because I had an epidural after "enduring" 2 contractions Grin

Leftrightatthelights · 28/12/2020 10:38

I’d say 6 at the worst point. I only had gas and air but did natal hypnotherapy which is essentially learning to breathe and relax. The more you tense up the worse the pain will be for numerous reasons, you have to just go with it. I’m not at all ‘hippy’ by the way. It’s just medical/ scientific fact. Give it a read.

Timmytoo · 28/12/2020 10:39

I had a natural birth with no painkillers or gas and air at all. Definitely not by choice. It wasn't a nice hospital or birth experience.

The contractions start off fairly manageable and then builds up to a point where I had to lie completely still and not even say a word as everytime I moved or spoke,
it caused another contraction. I completely under estimated the pain of contractions. It's nothing like a period pain although I don't really get them. But it's a pain that you can't compare anything to as it's so different.

When you're fully dilated, the pain becomes excruciatingly painful as it's rapid and no breaks between contractions. For me, this really helped with the pushing stage as the only way the pain stopped was when I pushed. I think it's your body's way of making you push. It took just two hard pushes and my baby was out. There was no pain from the baby's head coming out or anything as it was so quick. I didn't need stitches luckily as I don't think I'd have coped with going through anymore pain and I'm sure it's because I was able to get her out quickly due to the pain from contractions. I was contracting for 32 hours with no food drink or painkillers.

It was hectic at the time but the feeling you get thinking back is indescribable. You feel so powerful and in awe of yourself knowing you had a natural birth. I wouldn't do it again without painkillers but I'm glad I got to experience it. Rate it a definite 10 for me.

KarlKennedysDurianFruit · 28/12/2020 10:40

500, but my waters broke 6 weeks early I was told about a million times my cervix 'was not favourable' , and I ended up on the drip to be induced to avoid infection, DS was back to back and had a big head and wide shoulders, my epidural didn't work so I was just on gas and air (not what I wanted), he got stuck and I was rushed to emergency surgery. So all in all fucking painful and quite traumatic, DM told me ages later that when she came to the hospital to visit the next day I looked shell shocked.
DS will be an only, which we were 80% decided on before he was born, I love him more than I thought was possible, but there is no way I'm doing that again.

Lalanbaba · 28/12/2020 10:40

My pain was about a 6 and when she was crowning shot to 10 for a moment (I assumed that was when I teared)
After that no pain at all. No with the stitches, neither after labour pains either.

Parker231 · 28/12/2020 10:42

I had an epidural- no pain.

Lucy830 · 28/12/2020 10:44

First baby was about a 6-7.

Second baby 10. So worth it though and still look back on labour as being ‘special’.

Congrats on baby.

TheVamoosh · 28/12/2020 10:46

Before epidural: 10
With epidural it's hard to put a number on because you can feel it coming back when it wears off and during the pushing stage it's back to 10 when you have a contraction, but that doesn't last very long, usually.

amy2021 · 28/12/2020 10:47

I didn't find labour that bad but that was due to having SPD throughout pregnancy so my hips widened more than they should which helps with labour pains. Contractions are just like really intense period pains so not a pain you won't already know.