Can you please describe the pain?

[McSnail]

Hi everyone. Bit of a masochistic question here, but I believe forewarned is prepared.
Could some of you describe the physical sensations you had in the three stages of labour? I know pain is involved, but what kind of pain? And is it 'good' pain or really, really bad pain?

Thanks in advance.

I had no pain relief at all, it was beyond horrific. It was so bad that I don't even remember it, if that makes sense. Sort of pain that makes you think you are dying/beg for a c-section/beg to be shot!!! (I did all three) I bit chairs, vomited on student midwives, screamed the place down,screamed some more, screamed and screamed, but 2nd stage was v v fast after that, and after the birth itself I had no afterpains, just odd sensations in my tummy.

enjoy!

It was very painful (esp. as DS was back-to-back and stuck - and at home until we were ambulanced to hospital, so no pain relief even if I'd wanted it!)

I found that breathing exercises made a difference (they give you something to focus on). I also decided right at the outset that this pain was going to be bearable, however bad it was. But I am a very tough nut when it comes to pain (when my appendix burst, the consultant didn't believe it as I wasn't screaming!)

We all pissed ourselves laughing at our NCT antenatal teacher who said they were encouraged to talk about 'strong sensations' rather than 'pain' during the classes (she said this with one eyebrow raised - she had four kids) but I had to take it all back.

I didn't acknowledge that I was in active labour until DP pointed out I couldn't talk through contractions - when we finally called the midwife. And it was partly because I kept thinking 'this doesn't hurt enough to be real labour, it must just be a rehearsal'. Like pps have said, for me it was like really bad period pains (which I had anyway, so perhaps I was used to it!) and paracetemol and a bath took enough of the edge off for me not to be panicked by it. Second stage is just hard work - I was in the cave-woman zone by then and had very little awareness of anything else other than pushing, and no idea what happened at crowning - think I was numb by then. I had a tear and have no idea when it happened (all fine btw, no after effects of that).

I know it doesn't work for everyone, but I think because I had a long gentle pre-labour, followed by a not-too uncomfortable 1st stage, my endorphins plus TENS machine just did their job.

Good luck!

it did hurt a lot but i also found it very satisfying and by no means unbearable
i would do it again right now if i had the chance - it is an amazing experience

For me, the first 12 or so hours were like really bad period pains, but bearable. I had G&A, had my music on and was able to float away and not be overwhelmed.

However, when I got to about 5cms, things stopped progressing. DD was posterior and the pain changed to being unbearable. By that, I mean the worst pain I could ever have envisaged. If someone had have handed me a gun at that point, I would, without any hesitation, have shot myself in the head to stop the pain. It was at this point that I had an epidural which was fabulous. After the epidural, I obviously had no more pain and so can't describe the pushing phase, but for me it was the easiest part of labour.

They told me to push when the machine showed that I had a contraction coming, I pushed (but couldn't feel a thing), DD shot out 25 minutes later!

After pains were negligible for me.

But as people have already said, everyone's experience is different...

well i would describe the pain as similar to a tooth abcess or really bad back pain ,if you have had either and remeber those moments when you would quite happily of ripped your own tooth out with pliers ,that kind of sums it up . then theres the bit where you have to push it out and thats sort of similar to burning a part of your anatomy that you wouldnt normally scald .I think its best to be prepared for the worst then if it isnt as bad as you imagined its a bonus !