Is labor extremely painful?

Question

ssssooooooooooo afraid!

Answer 1

Yes. However, it's worth it and remember that your body is meant to do this. Don't be afraid - it's natural.

Answer 2

Depends on the person. Just like some people have bad cramps during their periods and others do not. As for those that get epidurals.....it's a dangerous procedure (did you not read the paper you signed about the possible side effects people) and can and does cause back issues for the rest of your life. They are injecting crap into your spinal column. It's really not worth the risk. I had no epidural with my first, had one with my second, had 3,4,5 and 6 without one. If you want drugs, fine, go ahead even though it's not what is best for your child, but avoid the epidural. Epidurals may take away the pain (until they stop it at the end and you feel most of it anyway) but the risk is too great. Women have had babies for centuries without epidurals. Be strong. Be smart. The pain will be forgotten in the end. Our society goes through weird spurts of temporary insanity. One generation even spouted to us that breast feeding was bad for a baby! Use common sense. You won't die. It will hurt. It will be over before you know it.

Answer 3

When I was pregnant, I had these fears too. There were times when I was ok with it and there were times when I was petrified. It helps to realize that your body is MADE to do this - it will alter itself to accomodate this process. Your body will help you.

People focus so much on the contractions that I was more afraid of those than anything, and they turned out to be just uncomfortable rather than painful. When the contractions first began, I didn't even realize what was happening! It was only after they kept going that the muscles started to get sore.

I had decided that I wanted to have my baby naturally - no drugs at all. So of course I was afraid. And after I got used to the contractions, the idea of expelling this child got really scary. But honestly, the actual pushing part was not really even that painful. It's not easy, to be sure; it's a tremendous physical challenge that makes you work very hard, and in my case I even burst a lot of the capillaries in my face from the effort (I looked like I'd been beat up, lol), but believe it or not, that part wasn't the painful part.

The painful part was one moment when I was not fully effaced yet and they wanted me to lay on my side so that the baby's head would put pressure on the non-effaced portion of my cervix and help to efface it. THAT, ladies and gentleman, was very painful. I did not want to stay in that position even though I knew it was necessary to efface my cervix, I couldn't help trying to move to my other side because it hurt so much. They practically had to hold me down. That part was the worst - far worse than contractions, and worse than the actual birth.

But here's the good news - that was just me! Your cervix may very well not need any encouragement. A lot of women don't have to deal with that. And here's another piece of good news - whatever pain you do experience goes away very quickly once it's all over. Maybe it's an endorphin rush or something, but once you're staring at your beautiful baby and memorizing those eyes, everything else goes away. It truly does.

I'm not going to BS you and try to tell you that you won't remember the pain. I remember mine, and it's been ten years. But it was worth it.

Answer 4

It depends on the person. Some have a much higher pain tolerance than others. Some have a quick labor, some long. If you feel discomfort that you don't think you can handle there are medications that can help you cope with any pain you may have.

Answer 5

It hurts but you forget about the pain after you see the baby and know that they are okay. I had all four of my children natural (not even a Tylenol). Discuss pain relief with you Dr. Many women would not go through labor without it and I am told that it is a piece of cake compared to an ALL natural delivery.

Answer 6

its painful, but if youre determined to have a natural birth, theres a few things you can do to make it easier. first of all, stay home as long as you can! do NOT go to the hospital at least until you can no longer speak during a contraction, preferably longer. i made that mistake with my first, and ended up spending 24 hours in the hospital, i was so freaked out that the nurses offered me an epidural over and over again until i just gave up and took it. second, walk during early labor, when the contractions are like bad cramps. when they get to the point where you need to stop and breathe through them, get into a hot bath. (even if your water has broken... the chances of infection are very very very small, and midwives have women get into baths to actually give birth, if it were at all dangerous it would be outlawed.) a bath is the best advice i can give you for dealing with the pain naturally, i literally couldnt believe how much better it felt. have someone pour water from a bowl over your belly during the contractions. its truly amazing how much it helps. finally, if you feel like you have to take a huge #2, or the contractions suddenly stop for a few minutes after comming one on top of the other, youre in transition, and you need to get to the hospital in no longer than a half hour. my first birth was filled with interventions, ivs, epidurals, medications, electrodes strapping me to the bed, etc. my second, i got out of the bath as soon as i felt like i had to poo, we got to the hospital, and i started pushing 10 minutes later. they didnt get to put in an iv, and i was too far along for an epidural. no electrodes, no breaking my water, just giving birth. dont be afraid though. even if you do take an epidural, or get scared and go to the hospital early, it doesnt change the fact that you will more than likely be ok. and natural or with interventions, it doesnt change that youre a mommy. good luck hun! weve been doing this for hundreds of years, youll be able to deal with it, ive had tooth aches that hurt worse than the contractions.

Answer 7

Yes it is painful. It is survivable though and the results are tremendous! Don't be afraid, it is a normal and natural thing. It is true that you forget the pain almost as soon has you hold your baby. It is not the kind of pain that lingers either, once it is done, it's done. These days though women don't have to suffer like they used to. Doctors have lots of meds to help the pain. Shouldn't be too bad.

Answer 8

i gave birth to two ten pound babies without drugs and it wasn't really that bad. i guess it all depends on the person and how much pain they can handle. but i also get cramps so bad that i can't walk and labor was nothing compared to cramps. but they do have pain medication available and you will be fine.

Answer 9

It only depends with each individual.Some claim extreme pain some say it was painless

Answer 10

HELL YES AND IF ANYONE TELLS YOU DIFFERENT THEY'RE LYING W/ MY FIRST SON I DIDN'T EVEN GET A CHANCE TO FEEL THE PAIN. I GOT AN EPIDURAL ABOUT 30MINS AFTER GETTING TO THE HOSPITAL. W/ MY 2ND SON I FELT THE PAIN FOR 5 HOURS STRAIGHT AND EVEN WHEN THEY WERE GIVING ME THE EPIDURAL. IT'S LIKE REAL, REAL BAD MENSTRUAL CRAMPS. IT'S WORTH IT WHEN YOU SEE THE CREATION YOU MADE. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!