Gallstones pain vs child birth

[lockdownbabyx]

Just as the title says really! Saw a post on AIBU asking what's the worst pain people have suffered and SO many said gallstones and would rather give birth etc. So I'm curious now, as I'm 27 weeks pregnant (first child) and had emergency surgery last year to have my gallbladder removed after being hospitalised. The gallbladder attacks I had were HORRENDOUS and would last 5+ hours. So, those that have suffered this and given birth. What pain did you think was worse and can you even compare the two?

I haven't had gallstones, so can't answer on the comparison, but childbirth pain, while horrendous, is weirdly positive as you are moving to a hopefully positive outcome, and have a baby to snuggle at the end, so I imagine that the mental state of the person going through the two is very different which could affect their perception of the pain (or at least of the value of the pain, which would colour their memories).

Childbirth was worse but both pretty bad obs with both at least you know they will end

Not a parent but about to have gallbladder out next week.

Now OK I have nothing to compare it too, but I have spoken to a few mums who've had gallstones and they say childbirth is a walk in the park.

My own thoughts/observations

1. Most women (in the UK, anyway) only go through childbirth 2-3 times. Obviously there are families like the Radfords, or that farming family on the telly, or certain ethnic groups like orthodox Jews, but generally it's limited. I've lost count of the number of times I've had a gallbladder attack.

2. Usually childbirth is no more than once a year or less frequently

3. You know and are prepared for childbirth pain but gallstones can be any time

4. You get a beautiful baby to reward you for your pain

Can you tell I'm counting the days till my surgery? 5 DAYS! 5 DAYS! BRING IT ON!

Sorry I meant to say 'childbirth is a walk in the park compared to gallstones. I certainly don't think its a walk in the park. And that was from women I know who've had both.

Similar pain levels but my three labours were all under 3hrs and gallbladder attacks could last 5-8hrs, can regularly and reduced me to a wreck.

I think the level of pain is about the same. The difference is that with childbirth there are breaks (albeit, in my case, very short ones) and (when you're not hooked up to machines) you can contort yourself into positions that offer mild relief.

Also, you have a sense of what's happening with childbirth - I mean, you don't know how long it will take, but you know it will end. You know that at some point you'll get drugs, the baby will be born or you'll have a c-section. With the gallbladder pain it's just absolutely constant, with zero relief and you just don't know how long you have to wait until it goes.

And of course, with childbirth, as a PP has said, you know there's a positive outcome coming. which helps to manage it.

So in summary, it's not the intensity of the pain that is different so much as your ability to manage it.

The biggest positive I found with labour is that it comes in waves then you have some 'normal' time in between. I could count to 5 and knew 1 2 3 were it ramping up. 4 was peak and 5 was ease off, then it was gone totally and completely for a few mins until the next one.

I haven't had gallbladder issues, but I'd much rather have labour again than another broken elbow - the continuous pain for hours was horrific.

@Spidey66

Not a parent but about to have gallbladder out next week.

Now OK I have nothing to compare it too, but I have spoken to a few mums who've had gallstones and they say childbirth is a walk in the park.

My own thoughts/observations

1. Most women (in the UK, anyway) only go through childbirth 2-3 times. Obviously there are families like the Radfords, or that farming family on the telly, or certain ethnic groups like orthodox Jews, but generally it's limited. I've lost count of the number of times I've had a gallbladder attack.

2. Usually childbirth is no more than once a year or less frequently

3. You know and are prepared for childbirth pain but gallstones can be any time

4. You get a beautiful baby to reward you for your pain

Can you tell I'm counting the days till my surgery? 5 DAYS! 5 DAYS! BRING IT ON!

Haha oh bless you, it will change your life! Best thing I ever did was have it removed. Being able to eat what I like without having to worry about the pain later! Really is the best the feeling. Hope it all goes well ☺️

They are different types of pain. In the earlier parts of labour I felt some relief of pressure between contractions but I was induced so once on drip there was no break and it was far worse than gallstones.

Gallstone pain is over much quicker. I had many many attacks before mine was removed but they tend to last around 6 hours. My birth was days.

So I would choose gallstones over birth any day!

I’m due my second baby in September… all I can say is id rather go through childbirth 100x over than have gall bladder pain. Mine was thankfully removed when I was 6 weeks postnatal with my first. No words can describe the pain.

I've get gallstones and kidney stones (lucky me). I'd say my gallstones are less painful than labour and kidney stones but more debilitating as they happen way more often. I get kidney stones maybe once every 8 months or so but atm I can have multiple gallstone attacks a week. In terms of pain scale for me though: kidney stones, closely followed by labour, then gallstones quite a bit behind but still bloody awful.

I had a kidney stone when pregnant. For me, it was worse than labour. But i agree with PPs, theyre different. Labour starts off manageable, the transitional phase and crowning are bad but for me werent long. Plus you know it will end. Not only that, but labour ends the looooong journey that is pregnancy so in many ways you're dying for it to get started! Kidney stones were pointless pain, with no break unless on meds in hosp, and no idea how long, how bad, how often it might happen or what or when treatment would work. So mentally they are chalk and cheese in my experience. But hey, a traumatic labour v a small or quickly treated kidney stone might be a v different answer! Just my experience: i'd rather labour. 37 weeks now and wishing i felt those starting twinges.... I find some primeval satisfaction in labour tbh, but maybe i'm weird..

I developed gallstones with an inflamed gallbladder during pregnancy. It was the most horrific pain I have ever had.
Labour despite complications which meant I needed a emergency c section was a breeze in comparison.

I think partly because you know you there's an end to it, the gallbladder pain seems unending hits at random moments and feels like it's impacting on your life constantly.
Good luck with your labour x

Obviously different types of pain but I've always said i would rather give birth with no pain relief 10 times over then have another gallstone attack. Worst pain ever. Luckily had gallbladder out after ds2 was born and it was the best thing I ever did.

One of the things that makes labour better is that the pains don't last that long and you get a break in between (until the end). Crowning absolutely horrendous but over very quickly.

I've given birth twice and weeks off doing it for a third time but feeling pretty ok about my ability to cope as I've done it before and I know it won't be anywhere near as bad as gallstone pain!

Good luck

@lockdownbabyx
Because I'm overweight they've put me on a special diet for 2 weeks (well it was supposed to be 2 weeks but they postponed the op for 5 days so nearly 3) to shrink my liver. Basically 4 Slimfast shakes a day and only water and sugar free drinks. I am currently craving food.

Chippy teas were triggers for a gallstones attack so I haven't had that for a year. While I'll continue to diet sensibly after the op, I plan to reward myself on Tuesday with some cod and chips

For me gallstones was worse, but I was ill for months with attacks before I was diagnosed, fortunately surgery happened 2 weeks after diagnosis but then the recovery was also pretty painful!

My first dd was only 3hrs of pain and dd2 only about 1.5hrs so compared to the gallstones attacks they were easy!

I've had three babies, the first with no pain relief, two with gas and air only, and the last was 9lb+ with shoulder distocia. Compared to every labour I went through, the pain of gallstones (which also caused pancreatitis) was far, far worse!

@Sirrah

I've had three babies, the first with no pain relief, two with gas and air only, and the last was 9lb+ with shoulder distocia. Compared to every labour I went through, the pain of gallstones (which also caused pancreatitis) was far, far worse!

@Sirrah this is what happened to me last year, I ended being admitted for pancreatitis and was fast tracked to surgery. I'm hoping now that giving birth with be a breeze compared to that pain 😂. Time will tell xx

100% gall bladder pain was worse than childbirth for me. My first attack was when I was 37 weeks pregnant with my 2nd DS. I thought I was in labour but new something wasn't right as was nothing like contractions/pains with my DS1. They kept me in as my fall bladder was infected and I was in agony for 10 days, so much so that I didn't even release that I was in labour until a midwife checked me over and I was 9cm dilated.
It wasn't until DS was 6 months old that I had my gall bladder removed. In those 6 months I got admitted to hospital 8 times with serious gallbladder infection. The relief when it was finally removed was the best feeling ever!

Gallstones worse than labour for me!

Labour was obviously hugely painful, but it was a productive pain and it came in waves, so you got respite every couple of minutes.

Gallstone attacks were just relentless, all consuming pain which left me unable to move or even breathe too deeply. I honestly wanted to die during gallstone pain, I didn’t feel that way during labour!