pain of labour?

Question

This is a serious question so no idiot answers please.
I have been pondering the whole labour pain thing. This is my first and im 7 weeks pregnant. In an ideal world i would like to have a water birth with no pain relief. I have seen many mixed comments about the pain of labour, some appear to have found it easier than others. I have had a miscarriage and the contractions i felt at this time I have been told are the same as labour. The only added pain when in childbirth would be the size of the baby coming out is obviously much larger then if u have a miscarriage, and therefore adds to the pain. When i had the miscarrage, it hurt like hell but i found myself dealing with it, almost seperating myself from it in my head, almost like a spiritual thing and got through it without painkillers. My question is to ladies who have experienced childbirth - am i right in making the assumption that actually giving birth is the same? I am very interested in hearing your opinion on this.
Thanks

I would like to add that I'm not actually fearing labour or the pain of it at this point (although this will probably change nearer the time) Im trying to get myself in a good headspace and prepare myself for what may happen. The best way to do this is to speak first hand to people who have experienced it. All your answers so far have been fasinating and I thank you for taking the time to share your experiences

Wolfy - WOW nine children!!! how wonderful, an only 2 with relief! u are some woman

Answer 1

Labor pain as I can describe is so terrible that seems to be unbearable. Certain studies had described the pain equivalent to pain if your finger will be cut without anesthesia. The pain of true contraction is very painful as you can imagine especially after the water membrane "bag of water" has ruptured. The pain of miscarriage is just a part of the actual labor pain. You see, the pain of contraction is what makes you to suffer, in fact you will not realize the coming out of the baby and even the incision done before the delivery. All the great pain is focussed on the contraction. Once the baby is out , ohh such a great relief that all the terrible pain is gone like a magic with just little more pain expected (such as pain on the incision,after birth contraction) to occur but they are just the same as usual pains experienced in your daily life.

Hey,do not be scared. It is variable in every individual because your pain threshhold has a role to play. There is nothing to be scared of. Just think how many women had gone through such process and if they had done it ,so will you.

There is something you can do to help though. Give attention to your diet not to take extra carbohydrates and sugars. Fruits and vegetables and a perfectly balanced diet is good for you. The size of the baby have some effect on the length of the delivery process so help yourself not to end up having lengthy period of painful contractions during delivery.

Adequate exercise should be ensured especially on the last 3 months of pregnancy. Walking and swimming being the best exercises you have to do.This will help to make the process of delivery shorter.

Think optimistic on this pregnancy especially during delivery. If you will be scared and think of many concern on this process you will put yourself into trouble. Psychological effect has great impact on the delivery process.

Another point I want to mention to lessen your burden is that during the process, you will not be left alone to suffer all the pains. There are sorts of medications that will be offered to help you alleviate the pain. If you are really scared of this very painful experience you have the option of having "painless labor" having some anesthesia given. I have not experienced it though but it wil help to ease the pain along the process.

I highly suggest though to experience the normal process, bearing all the pains which will just be forgotten after hearing the cry of your baby.

Congratulations and Take care!

Answer 2

Each pregnancy, labor and delivery is different. No one will have the same experience twice.
Labor HURTS- a lot! There's no denying that. Miscarriage contractions aren't the same as going thru all the phases of labor. There's just something to be said about active labor- epidural. Labor/delivery is no contest. "Sandy" is not a better woman/mother than I am because I had an epidural. One benefit of having an epidural is that you aren't exhausted when the baby is born. You have energy.

Size of the baby factors in to the pain also. My 2nd baby was 9lbs 6oz. She was huge. Obviously that's more difficult than to deliver a 6lbs baby. And if the baby is "sunny side up", that adds another layer of pain.
(I've had 2 children- 1st was 22 hrs induced h*ll, no pain relief, then an emergency c-section w/general anethesia; 2nd was 10 hrs with an epidural for 6 of those hours-- both were over 9lbs- I'm very petite- and after experiencing the Pitocin hell, I opted for the epidural 2nd time around. Also, w/my 1st, I was SO exhausted and after surgery, had no energy to even lift my head much less take care of my baby)

My advice to you is: go thru your pregnancy, see how things go. Discuss a birth plan with your doctor but don't set anything in stone. It's easy to say something now. You don't want to make everyone promise you that they won't allow you to get pain relief.... and then in the midst, you change your mind. No one knows how they'll react until they go thru it. The most important decision you make is to do everything you can to keep you and your baby safe and healthy.
Good luck and Congrats!
Nicole who's still wanting a 10 lb'er

Answer 3

Nobody, unfortunately, can really tell you what the pain of childbirth is like- nor what it will be like for you. Part of the pain accompanying a miscarriage is also due to your mental anguish at the time. I share your particular misery in this area, as well as a stillbirth at 27 weeks. I have since gone on to have four more children. With the miscarriage, I was very early on, so it was more like really bad cramps, and I had the D&C under a general anesthetic. With the stillbirth, I had to actually go through the entire labor process, and I think my general state of misery magnified the pain I felt. I had analgesics through IV, as I did not want an epidural, but to be honest, I was just to depressed to care what I felt. With the next delivery I opted to have an analgesic given through my IV, as a water birth was not available at the hospital where I delivered. I never intended to do it all natural, although I did actually do so with the last two because of the speed with which they arrived into the world. I was well prepared for my deliverys, besides my medical training as a nurse and paramedic, I attended birthing classes. I was quite aware that although my personal pain tolerance was quite high, I was not certain I could do it all without any drugs to assist me. I discussed this all with my midwife, who suggested that I leave my option for analgesics open and see how well I coped.
I can't tell you the entire labor process was pleasant, and I was able to do it all naturally. I didn't. I got to 6 cm dialation, and could no longer concentrate on the breathing because the contractions were so intense. At that point I got the analgesic, and was back in control again. I actually found with each delivery, that the contractions were the hardest to bear between 5 and 7 cm. After that, either because of excitement or body reactions, I noticed the pain was actually less intense.
There is no "right" way to have a baby. There is also not any "wrong" way. You use what is available to you to help you do the business of bringing your child into the world. If that means you can do it without medications, great. If it means using an analgesic or epidural, that's fine too. There are no prizes given for supreme suffering, and no penalties for opting for medications. If all goes well, everyone takes home baby, and that's the payoff.
On reflection, I think the pain I felt with the stillbirth was far worse than any I experienced with the other children. I truly think it was more due to my general state of mind, though, than a gauge of the actual physical pain. Pain is both physical and mental, and can be magnified by your state of mind at the time or lessened by it as well. I'm sorry I can't give you any better explainations than this, as it is very difficult to put it all in words. But I do think you should keep the options open so you can choose to use whatever pain control is necessary, without feeling as if you have failed, or are somehow the lesser mother for having done it. Remember, it isn't important HOW you do it- just that you deliver a healthy baby in the end. That's really all that does count.

Answer 4

I had a very easy experience, very uncomfortable, but no pain. And obviously, no painkillers. So I can't quite relate to the stories you hear about all the pain of labor, but it sounds to me like you have an idea how to deal with it already. I understand what you mean. This may sound stupid, but before I had a car and was walking to work in the winter, there were some days I would be so cold, but if you put your mind to it and pictured yourself somewhere warm, and not only picture it but also feel it, then I would actually feel warm and not feel the cold for a short time. So it kinda sounds like you do the same thing, and it seems that it works for you. And if it ends up that it doesn't, I'm sure you can try something else.

Answer 5

Well congratulations on your pregnancy! I too had a miscarriage before I had my son. I thought that I would be able to go through it without any pain medication. I had myself all prepared, I shot down everyone else's comments on how it would be more painful than I thought, I read everything on nonmedicated births, etc. Then I had an epidural. I felt so bad about it. My labour pains came on fast and furious. I couldn't think straight and I started to panic. I tried for over 4 hours without medication, but they started coming so close together that I didn't have any rest period. I tried the breathing techniques and they just didn't help me that much. The miscarriage I had was definitely not as strong in terms of the contractions (and at the time I was in agony). I found the contractions more painful than him actually coming out. I had a walking epidural, so I could still feel everything except the area around my uterus, which took away the feeling or contractions. That being said it did still really hurt of course when he came out. It feels more like an immense amount of pressure than what you think of as actual pain. It is hard to explain. I kinda blacked out near the final stages of pushing. Just think all women who choose to have children go through it. There isn't really anything that can prepare you totally for it. You might do all the reading and asking as much as possible, but things might turn out different than you expect. My mom was in labour with me less than 4 hrs and I was in labour over 18, and yes I think it was due to the epidural because my mom had nothing with me. Just make sure to research all the options including pain medication even if you are set against it (like I was). You don't want to get in there and be in so much pain that you can't think straight. You should stay positive though because I know quite a few women who did it without drugs. Even if you do take something for pain with this child, if you plan on having another you could try no meds next time. Good luck to you!

I also plan on having another one within a couple years! You'll forget about the pain really fast once you have your little darling in your arms!

Answer 6

I have 2 children and yes it was painful. But when you know what causes the pain and that it will come to an end and each contraction is 1 closer that end. It can be dealt with. Your breathing and controle over it is the best pain relief you can have.
Allow your body to move into whatever position it wants as this is the baby telling you to make room for its birth. If you can go to a good pre natal class for help.

Answer 7

From my own experience x 9 I made it through all but 2 of them with next to nothing. As soon as the baby is born and placed on your stomach you forget the pain and pay attention to your bundle of love. The only 2 I had anything with was due to their position when they camr through the canal it madw them feel like they were coming out of my back . But then all I used was the deadening of the cervix no pain killers. You will experioence som pretty strongcramps afterwards especially if you have chosen to breast feed. But having been through a couple of miscarriages and 9 births they can al be very close to the same. God luck and try to not worry too much.

Answer 8

I have given birth twice and would do it again and again!!! I am a sucker for pain but I promise you it is something that even today I think back and can't describe the pain! It is something that your body is able to deal with and accept. Don't be scared of it, I know this may sound crazy but try and enjoy and relish it because there are only so many times in ones life that you can experience it! Good Luck!!

Answer 9

In my opinion you experience almost the same pain giving birth as having a miscarriage. And you can expect as much, maybe more if you give birth without drugs.
Birth is going to be a little rougher on you, remember you're trying to push a grapefruit through a hole that's a lot smaller. That means you're going to tear tissue unless a doc is there to cut it. (Cutting is actually good, you heal faster).
I really wish I could give you more info on it, but I slept through most of my delivery. I was up for 29+ hours and once the mild pain killers were given, I was out like a light. The doc actually had to slap the inside of my leg to wake me up enough to push.

Answer 10

i have had 3 babies the first [ no drugs]was a hell labor it felt like u kicked ur toe but ur whole body hurt all at once i did the breathing and yes frreaked out alot but u know when u come to the point that yes ur baby is about to be born into this world and into ur arms u calm urself mind body and spirit and really the pain is put behind u as u concentrate and focus and when its all over the pain does go and they say u forget the pain but let me tell u its been nearly 7 years since my youngest and i havent forgotten it just makes me realize how lucky i am to have 3 beautiful kids good luck