Is it true that a severe migraine is worse than giving birth?

Question

someone said it was... but i doubt it

Answer 1

I have had two children, 11 pregnancies - some of them ending early, some closer to term than others. All natural. The children that I had were both over 9 pounds at birth. My first full labor was 20 hours, the second was 18. The miscarriages that were of pregnancies over 16 weeks tended to last over 10-14 hours...

I've passed kidney stones...

I have chronic migraines, with NEVER less than 10 days a month of pain at less than 7 to 8 on a 1-10 scale of pain. I tell people that 8 on the scale is giving birth to either a 10 pound baby...or a watermelon...take your pick. I have at least 5 to 8 additional days a month that my pain level is at a full blown 10. You don't want to know what that is. So far, preventatives tat we have tried haven't helped (or not a lot). Pain medications don't touch these migraine episodes particularly. I'm one of those "lucky" few.

So thanks, but believe me, given a choice, I would rather look behind Door #1 or Door #2 any time (although I'm not sure how door #2 snuck in - it wasn't in the initial question! ).

Answer 2

Migraines After Giving Birth

Answer 3

It is different for everyone. I have heard some women say childbirth was simple, while others say that it was extremely difficult, long, and painful. There is no reason why it varies so much from one woman to another. Sometimes genetics plays a role in that, but not always. Also, the first childbirth for a woman tends to be longer than the next. Also, people have different pain tolerances. What is a severe migraine for one person may be just a dull ache for another. So, it is possible for someone to feel that a severe migraine is worse than giving birth, depending on how they tolerate the migraine, and how easy or difficult the birth is.

Answer 4

I get migraines since I can remember, but after the pregnancy and giving birth they don't come as often as they used to - and they are not that strong, either.

Anyway - in general they are bearable if I get to lay down in a dark room, get a strong neck massage and rest. If I have to continue with my activities (at work or so), it gets worse and I end up vomiting.

Still, for me those are still nothing compared to (my) childbirth, BUT:

A few times my migraine episodes were intense to the point that I wasn't able to speak or walk (alone in the house, crawling on the floor disoriented by the pain to get to the medicine box). If I had to speak, my speach would sound incoherent.

The worse attack ever for me was a year ago, coming back from a party by car, in the backseat with people loudly enjoying their evening, basically screaming in my ears in excitement. You all probably know how it hurts when you hear smth loud while having a migraine in general - still, the pain was so strong that I wasn't able to speak a word even to tell them to calm down. That was the one time when I was sitting, overwhelmed by pain, no thoughts whatsoever in my head (too painful to think) - just from time to time a fast flash: "I wish it was labor again instead".

So in general - I'd say typical migraines are far from being as bad as childbirth, but there were a few episodes so painful that a childbirth felt like tickling when compared to them.

Answer 5

I'm a guy, so I'm instantly disqualified when it comes to discussing childbirth pains... but I'm also an occassional migraine sufferer, and would just like to say that I have yet to have a migraine that lasted sixteen hours. I have a friend, however, who had to endour exactly that long of labor giving birth to her son. So I guess I'd vote for childbirth being worse!

Answer 6

i have migraines and have given birth 4 times i have had migraines that have been 100% worse than giving birth but its a totally different sort of
pain child birth has a purpose migraines dont!!!

Answer 7

I've given birth to 3 children, all natural and i get migraines. The migraines are WAY worse.

Answer 8

Definitely!!! I had 2 normal births and believe me the joy is so overwhelming that the pain was instantly gone -forgotten-, I've experienced a few migraines but definitely pain in another sense. If you haven't been there you wouldn't believe me, but not even wishing for death can save you from a migraine like that.

Answer 9

I have had both and 2 births one c-section and one natural. Your gonna get MANY different answers because we all have different pain thresholds. But I get migraines 3 times a week...I'd rather have the migraines than that many kids...lol...j/k...but YES they are worse than birth because pain meds take the birth pain away the migraines I get NOTHING takes them away.

Answer 10

I second chicchick!! Passing a kidney stone is much worse that having a migraine!! passing a kidney stone makes you feel like your having a child and it's a constant pain. Migraines can be gone with pills and birth pains will be gone for the moments with an injection and some pills, but you'll feel the pain later. passing a kidney stone, you have to pee it out!!