How painful is labor?

Question

I am 39 weeks pregnant and I am very nervous about the birth of my child. I was wondering exactly how painful labor is? I ask alot of people but they all seem to not give me a straight answer. Can someone please be truthful?

Answer 1

Oh Honey!! Labor is like the worst menstrual pain you've ever had, I mean the ultimate worst, times 1000. It starts out as a dull ache, you think I can handle this. No biggie. As the pain progresses, you think ok, this is more than I bargined for. By the time the baby is coming you are beggin for pain meds or them to cut the baby out. Anyone who says different is sugar coating it for you. I wish someone had been honest with me when I had my first. I had all back labor and wanted to just die right there. There was no relief by breathing or moving or anything else. The sad thing was I was 10+ dilated and ready to drop my son when I went to the hospital. He decided to take another 7 hours coming out. WIth my daughters I had epidurals and loved the labor experience. It's not easy to get the epidurals, and they have side effects like anything else, but it was so worth it to me. Good luck with the baby and remember take whatever help anyone offers...I mean family offering to keep the baby so you can sleep and such...and take time for you. It's soo important.

Answer 2

You'll never get a straight answer, because labor is different for everyone. Labor is uncomfortable -- most people will agree on that. But some women progress to 10 cm quickly and others take much longer. The progression to 10cm is uncomfortable, but you can also get an eipdural which all but takes the pain away. I had twins vaginally, and got an epidural at 5cm. It was amazing how the pain just disappeared. They scale down the epidural when it's time to push, so you feel a little more then, but by that time, it's so close to the birth that you'll just want to get it over with. It's sooooo coool!!

In two weeks, you'll have your story to tell, and it will be unique. My advice is be flexible regarding your birth plan, and focus on the end result -- a healthy baby! You'll hear a lot of different stories -- but it is really an incredible experience! Try to savor every detail.

Answer 3

To be completely honest with you, my labor was very painful. My first child took 10 hours and only had about 1 minute in between pains, I also had back problems and this made labor more painful. However, don't count that your labor will be the same. Every women is different. I have known some women to hardly have any pain and give birth within 3 hours. For future reference, if you decide to have any other children, excersising and eating healthy during pregnancy helps. No one can really say how painful labor is because everyone is different and has different levels of tolerance to pain. Good Luck.

Answer 4

I had a baby ten months ago, and like you I was very nervous and, to be honest, SCARED about it. I won't lie, it will hurt ALOT, but I can give you some good advice. If you can just breath slowly and not use ANY OTHER MUSCLE in your entire body when you are having a contraction (this means don't move a finger or even whisper) it isn't half as painful as if you do move at all. When you are pushing, focus on what you are doing - and remember that the muscles you use - well, it's like pooping REALLY hard. I know that sounds gross, but it's true. And just don't worry about anyone else in the room. In that moment there is only you and God - it isn't called labor for nothing, girl, but God wouldn't have made you to be able to do it if you couldn't. Psych yourself up as much as possible before hand, telling yourself that you can do this, so you will do this. Don't worry, mind over matter - when you're done you will be amazed at how worried you were before it happened. Good luck to you. I pray for a happy, healthy delivery of that miracle you are carrying.

Answer 5

It's really more uncomfortable than painful. Your body is designed to do what it's about to do, but it is hard work. The contractions can hurt like hell, especially during transition, but they're short, and you get a little rest in between. And it feels a little like someone's lighting you on fire down there when the baby's crowning.
But it doesn't last forever. If you trust your body, relax and much as possible and go with it, it'll be over in no time. And you'll certainly have someone there to hold your hand and give you encouragement, whether it's a doctor, nurse, midwife, doula, spouse, other family member or friend.
And when it's over, you'll have a beautiful new baby, and you'll never again be able to recall that pain beyond vague descriptions. (That's why you can't get a straight answer.)
The best advice anyone can give you is to relax and let go of your fear. You'll do just fine.

Answer 6

I will be 100% truthful with you :) My first labor, i was only 16. I went in at 32 weeks and spent 4 weeks on complete bed rest and meds to stop labor, at 36 weeks they let me deliver my now 7 year old son. I had more back labor then anything. My lower back hurt so bad thats all i could think about. My labor started about 4:30 and i had my son at 6:23 so it really didnt last that long. I was all over the bed trying to get comfortable. When i was ready to push it felt so good lol funny i know but thats how it is. Your body knows when its time to push and when your having a contraction and start pushing it actually takes the pain away and it feels soooo much better. After holding my son the pain was very much worth it, and i dont know that i really thought about it once i had my son. I actually got up and walked to my room after having my son, so it really wasnt that bad. My second son i had when i was 18 I went into the hos, dialated to 7. I really wasnt in too much pain at all. I didnt know i was at 7 already! I had my second son pushing for only 15 mins! He was really fast. It was wonderful. I really dont remember having much pain at all with him either.

The best thing i can tell you, is when people tell you its the worse pain in the world, thats really not true lol. Its not that bad!!! You will forget it all once you hold you little baby in your arms :) when its time to push it feels GOOD!
I did both my labors completly natural, no pain meds at all. And im 24 weeks pregnant with my third and again im going to have a all natural birth. Its the best way to go. Ive had my nipples pierced and i can tell you thats worse then giving birth lol. Goodluck and congrats!!!!

Answer 7

it's painful, you'll think it will never end, but always remember, labor is pain with a purpose. It's not like a cut that throbs or a sprained ankle, or a backache or toothache..it's totally different. But when they hand you your beautiful new child, it's put to the side and you don't mind it so much.

For me, I was surprised about where I was sore. My backside was more tender than where my daughter came out, and my arms hurt something awful. But a week later, it's mostly gone and you've still got the child, and it's worth it 1000%.

There's nothing wrong with being afraid. I was too. Just keep a sane head on your shoulders, do NOT lose control, do your breathing and you'll be fine :)

Good luck to you!

Answer 8

Hugely painful but only for about 60 seconds as I pushed her out. I ROARED so loudly all my neighbours heard me. That was the first noise I'd made the whole time and I had no pain relief at all. The contractions weren't so bad. The best advice I can give you is:

Expect the unexpected.

Keep moving and keep upright, this makes labouring sooo much quicker and easier, it helps your baby position themselves too.

Don't get obsessed with numbers...cm per hour etc etc... it's the worst thing you can do. If you can bear it, cover all the clocks and don't let anyone tell you how dilated you are, better yet don't let them examine you. I didn't. It can take all your labour confidence away if you clock watch or don't go as fast as you thought you would have done.

Just trust your body. It knows what to do. Good luck and positive labour vibes in your direction!

Answer 9

Yes ,it hurts. for some they say it didn't. I have 6 kids. 2 natural and 1 epidermal , 1 home birth and twins c-section. I didn't take lamaze classes. Pain different w/each. I wouldn't get a c-section, I hurt 2mos. the natural and home were the best. It hurt as if your bottom is ripping open, but it only last about 2 mins. Labor is harded than the delivery. Practice Kegals , when peeing , stop the flow, count to 10 and release and again . This is how you will be pushing out the baby. If you have more questions. Email me. GOD BLESS

Answer 10

Honestly, it hurts, but it's not that bad. I had my first at 18. I was so scared about the whole thing, I probably made it even worse for myself. I was already fully efaced and 7 c. when I got to the hospital, but was in labor for 9 hours. 3 1/2 of those hours were pushing. Here's why: my doctor loaded me up with the meds in an epidural. I didn't feel a thing after I had it. That was nice. I honestly don't remember feeling any really bad contractions for my first because I had the epidural minutes after I got to the hospital and only had like 2 contractions on the way there. However, because I was so loaded up with the meds and couldn't feel the contractions, I couldn't tell when I was having one to push and couldn't feel how hard I was pushing. So, it took a long time to deliver my son.

For my second daughter, we went to a different hospital. Again, I was fully efaced, but only 5 c. when I got there. So, I had the first shot of the epidural. Once I got to 7c, they wouldn't give me any more meds, even though I was asking for them. I thought about it for a minute and realized I didn't want to be pushing for 3 1/2 hours again. So, I didn't push the subject anymore. It did hurt. It felt like the worst cramps I'd ever had in my life times 100. The pain brought tears to my eyes. But, after the nurse helped me relax a little bit and helped me to stay relaxed through the contractions, they weren't that bad.

One of the earlier posts said something about pushing being the best time. I totally agree. When you are pushing, you don't feel the contractions. I loved it when it came time to push. I had thought it was going to hurt worse, but it honestly did not. It felt so good. Contractions come, you push as hard as you can, and suddenly you don't feel the pain anymore...the doctors telling you to take a breathe and get ready to do it again. You start to feel a little twinge of pain, but then you start pushing again and the pain is gone.

The second that baby is placed in your arms, you won't remember a bit of the pain that you had. It's like, when cut your hand, or break an arm...it hurts right then, but afterwards it doesn't hurt anymore and you don't even remember it.

You'll do just fine.