So, exactly how bad does childbirth hurt?

Question

I have never given birth but I do want to some day. i want to know exactly how bad it hurts. I am fascinated with childbirth as well and I would like to become a midwife some day.

Answer 1

Worst pain I ever felt.

Answer 2

It depends on the woman and if she uses any medication to help with the pain. I have given birth with an epidural and I have given birth 100% naturally. When I gave birth with the epidural there wasn't really any pain, just pressure. The most painful part of that childbirth was the stitches for where I tore. The second childbirth was very painful but over with quickly. I was only in labor for an hour and fifty minutes. But the pain in that last hour was intense. I couldn't lay still for awhile and then I just had to kind of put my mind somewhere else. Once it was over with though I felt much more alert and my daughter was much more alert then the time I had the epidural. There will be at least some pain but it is sooooooo worth that baby that comes out.

Answer 3

Yes it hurts, but it's not as bad as everyone makes out. Don't listen to horror stories, because they will freak you out - You need to go in with a positive attitude, the more calm you are, the more endorphins your body will produce - As you probably know endorphins work as pain releivers, and they alter your awareness of time - So the labour will feel much faster than it really is. You may make it to hospital in time for an epidural yet hun, but if you don't, don't worry - The contractions come and go, and they hurt the most half way through, so it's not a constant pain like a headache or something. Yes those contractions are awful, but remember the pain all goes away once your baby is born. I didn't have an epidural with my first, and I'm doing it again - So it can't be too bad can it hun :) Good luck and please try not to worry - Look up hypnobirthing CD's online if you want to try and feel more calm, and remember don't listen to the horror stories You are going to be just fine xxx

Answer 4

pain depends on several factors. The size of the baby is one, believe it or not. Women having smaller children have easier, shorter less painfull labors. So, gaining only the right amount of weight during pregnancy would be a good idea.
Also, the physical and mental condition the mother is in helps. Women who have prepared for birth and are happy with it give birth easily. Prenatal care and classes do A LOT to help women know what to expect and have strategies to make it less painful.
It IS very painful, but some women have a better time than others.
I hope you get to be a wonderful midwife and get to have your own healthy children someday.

Answer 5

The birthing process was quite painful, but as many of the responders already posted, it is very different for each woman.

Some experience no pain at all, and in those cases you'll hear stories of women who suddenly realize there's a child at the bottom of their feet!

There are others who's pain tolerance is very low and get very weak from the physical pain.

My worst pain was from the contractions, the actual pushing was not bad at all. I had an epidural and slept through much of the labor, although I was very conscious of the pain. Breathing was difficult and intensity of the pain was felt throughout my abdomen and up towards my chest.

Answer 6

It all depends on your own tolerance for pain, and whether or not you use medication to treat the pain, and how well that medication works. My first pregnancy, I decided on the epidural because it was late and I just didn't see the point in enduring the pain. Thinking back i think i could have continued without, but I'm glad i got it because it worked so well that i even fell asleep for the last hour or so before giving birth. All i really felt was pressure. And pushing him out I remember thinking " oh wow this really hurts, please let him be out soon" but really, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Some women are fortunate like that, others aren't.

Answer 7

I had a c-section and altho the procedure itself didnt hurt every person is diferent 3 days after giving birth to my daughter I was back in school. (college not high school) Some women who give birth naturally are back to normal activities soon as a week later. it depends on if you tear tissue during birth or if you get hemmorhoids there are so many things that could complicate pregnancies and make them painful every person is different. Mine with my 8 lb daughter was the easiest thing I ever did. I got to fully enjoy the experience of my daughter being born. But no two births are alike.

Answer 8

Well, if you get a epidural it's okay, get it soon, because the contractions are hell! I was at the point tearing my hair out and then I got the epidural. I delivered twice vaginally, I got an episotomy (cutting of the vaginal walls) the first time and the epidural in the beginning, I was scheduled to have the epidural and the piotocin, then with my second I when into labor without any help and got the epidural at 9 cm, very painful without. It's like the worse cramps of your life. After you give birth it gets worse, the bleeding the cramping, the pain of your breasts/ Nobody told me about this with my first one, and I wish they did, because I like to know what's going on, so it sucks to tell you, but I'm telling the truth.

Answer 9

For me the worst pain was the contractions. But if you learn how to relax it's not to bad. When someone asked me how bad it hurt I say I have a tattoo on my back and the tattoo hurt ten times worse then an all natural childbirth. To me it was a slight burning sensation. For others it could feel much worse.

Answer 10

it depends, if you have the epideral its not that bad. The worst part about it is the cramping and after the epideral, that goes away and you don't really feel them anymore. Its just really exhausting when your pushing and you feel ALOT of pressure, but not really pain. I have no idea how it feels without the epideral though. I've heard from friends that its painful, but not so painful that you never want to do it again. But I do know that as soon as you see that beautiful baby, you forget all about the pain and you're filled with so much joy, that you don't care about the pain at all. So good luck to you. Hope this helped.

Answer 11

Pain of childbirth is very individual. If you ask hundred difference women this question, you are going to get a hundred difference answers. Everyone has their own pain tolerance thresh hold. For some people, with a low pain tolerance, it is very painful - hence the shots to alleviate most of the pain. For some people, with a high pain tolerance, the pain is still there but much milder than the low pain tolerance person. Lamaze does make a big difference is being able to tolerate the pain as does meditation.