labor pain question to those who have had natural birth?

Question

HI all :)

I am only 15 weeks pregnant, so I am a ways from the delivery.. I just had a question... VERY painful menstrual cramps run on my mother's side of the family... We prescriptions for it... And well, I spoke to my mom about delivery because my father brought it to my attention that she didn't have an epidural with either me or my sister! and she was FINE!

Basically, she said that labor felt like our "regular" menstrual cramps and really wasn't so bad, since she was used to dealing with them for so long. I find it hard to believe that it is just menstrual cramp feeling! In that case, I wouldn't do an epidural... whats the point?
My question is.... anyone out there who has these horrible pains everymonth and had no problem with birth? I would like to do it natural, Im just SCARED. (my sister has 2 kids, both a c section tho, so i can't ask her!) how likely is it that i will have the same kind of labor and delivery as my mom?

Answer 1

I had a natural delivery at a birth center with midwives. (I hate hospitals and being hooked up to machines and needles and all that) and the pains do feel like menstrual cramps in the beginning they get stronger but definitely its doable. Especially if you are in a good environment. If I were you I would look into a birth center, they really help the whole birth go smoothly and let you labor in a jacuzzi tub which is very relaxing. They also do not restrain you to a bed and they do not hook you up to a machine, plus it is very safe. And the rate of transfer to the hospital is only 2% with c-section rates even lower.

Now it does hurt but only at the very end. Which is transition. That is where you go from 7cms to the full 10. But transition is pretty fast and only lasts a couple of hours. And once the pushing is over and the baby is out you feel 100% better. I was up and walking around and drug free and alert it was great. So great that I am doing it again now that I am preggos again. :)

But it is definitely good to have support. Hospitals are not the best places to offer support and they have very high c section rates. If you do decide on a hospital see about having a doula there to help you, they are trained to help you with massages and different positions.

Remember though, Birth is a natural process, it doesnt need hospital interference unless there is something wrong or you are high risk or something like that. Email me if you have any more questions. :)

Answer 2

It really depends on how you deal with pain. I, too, had painful menstrual cramps. I remember one particular time being doubled over on the couch they were so bad. When I had my daughter, my contractions started feeling like cramps with a little bit of pressure. I thought I could handle it. Maybe something to take the edge off but no epidural. As time went on, they got worse, especially after my water broke. When the pain medication didn't work, I went for the epidural. I needed some sleep! For you, since you want to have a natural birth, I recommend finding some lamaze classes and take the person who is going to be in the delivery room with you (whether that's the father, your mother, sister etc.)to classes. Many WIC clinics offer them free or you can check into the ones at the hospitals. Those usually cost a little money but not a whole lot in the grand scheme of things. Every woman is different. Every pregnancy is different. Just because your mom had an easy delivery doesn't mean you will. Just keep that in mind. Talk to your doctor about what you can do now to help ease pain during labor. I understand walking throughout the pregnancy helps. (Like a half stroll, nothing strenuous) Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 3

Hello, congratulations!! I have had 3 children all natural. I was induced with my oldest daughter at 41 weeks. I can definately say the contractions are much worse with putocin. I tend to go extremely fast so that helps with the natural births. I was started on putocin at 8:30, my water was broken at 9:30 and the cramping did get pretty bad by 10:30. I ended up asking for a shot of demorol to take the edge of the contractions, but when the nurse went to put the shot in my iv at 11:00 I had to push and told her so. (I never got the medicine) She checked me and I was at a 10, too late for meds.

With my 2nd daughter it was much easier. The contractions did feel like menstrual cramps and I wasn't even sure I should go in. By the time I got to the hospital I was at a 5. They broke my water and I delivered 45 minutes later.

The contractions were the worst once the bag of water was broken and I was dialating from 7 to 10. Every delivery and person is different. Depending on how long you are in labor may play a crucial role in your decision to have an epidural or not.

My suggestion to you would be to come up with a birthing plan. If you want to go natural plan it that way and don't be scared because if it gets too much for you to bear you can always ask for an epidural. The doctors and nurses will do whatever you want and feel comfortable with. My sister and law had 2 babies and had epidurals with both. She slept through much of her labor. My cousin has had 3 and expecting a 4th and has gone natural with all. She also goes through labor quickly.

My mom also went natural because she too had quick labors. So you definately have the possibility of being like your mom. Perhaps the inheriting of bone structure (pelvis) plays a role.

Hope this helps, enjoy!

Answer 4

Every womans pain is different. When I was in labor I walked around with my doula and I was crying from pain, while other woman were completely fine. I was almost 2 weeks late and 3 days before I went into labor my cervix was unfavorable, I hadn't opened even the slightest. When I went to the hospital convinced I was about to give birth due to the pain I was only 1 cm dilated. When it came time to push, I pushed for almost 3 hours. My Mother said her pain was horrible as well (I was also 2 weeks late) She pushed for almost four hours. Our birth experiences were very similar. I ended up having an epidural and so did she with me. Do not be scared about having a natural birth, woman have been doing it since the beginning of man kind, you should invest in a doula, they really help with exercises, massage, relaxation, basically everything. Once you have your baby the pain goes away, all of a sudden you feel the baby pop out and then there is no pain. The next few days however there is pain when you go to the bathroom, I found this worse then the three hours of pushing I had to do.

Answer 5

Every woman is different.. I wont lie it hurt like hell... I cried and screamed, and by the end when she was out all of the pain was gone.. The pain is like menstrual cramps but only twice as bad.. If you are use to the pain then go for it.. I am now pregnant with baby #2 and plan to go all natural with this one as well.. I know that I survived one natural birth I can survive a second one.. Plus you dont have to worry about all the side effect the epidural may cause...

Answer 6

I too suffer from HORRIBLE periods. I also labored for 43 1/2 hours before giving birth. about 30 hours or so were natural.

It honestly was just like a bad period. You get the SAME cramps, especially early on, as thats the feeling of your cervix ripening. Whats nice about labor pains, is that unlike period cramps, they ebb and flow. You actually have a few minutes without pain inbetween contractions.

I had about an hour of transition, and the pain was the same as a bad period, but the contractions were sooo strong, and so close together that I couldnt even breathe and felt faint, at that point I was FINALLY 5cm so I got some stadol and a spinal morphine.

Delivery was painful, but in all honestly, Ive had worse periods.

DONT get an epidural, get a spinal morphine, you can get up and walk around and move and it doesnt slow down labor like an epi. Plus you can still do water birth or use a stool, or anything else that will put gravity to your aid. WELL worth it.

Take the drugs, while its not worse than a period as far as pain, the duration and intensity is pretty bad, and they have medication for it. No one likes a cowboy.

Answer 7

Your mom is underexaggerating. I had HORRIBLE cramps and a natural birth. I will definately have a natural birth again but I kept the options open. In my hospital you needed a epidural class, I took it JUST IN CASE. At about 9cm i really wanted the epidural but it was way too late. Keep the options open in case you are someone with a 12 hour labor or longer but it's always better not to have anything. The pains are so intense during delivery, it is easy to block them out OR forget about them because of the wonderful reward. But in the momen you think you will NEVER forget that pain. Hope I got my point accross and CONGRATS

Answer 8

I was induced with both of my girls and people say induced labor is worse because it is more intense than going into labor on your own. I had both of them natural and it hurt, I wont lie, I cant imagine someone having cramps like that every month, and if y'all do, I feel for ya. But it hurt bad, I cried and kicked and screamed, but I am 16, almost 17 weeks with my third and good lord willing, I will do the same with this one. I felt like I had control over my body and I could feel the baby moving down and told them when I could feel the baby's head and knew it was time to push. This lady at my church had an epidural and had a pain free labor but pushed for two hours, with her second baby, had him natural and pushed 3-4 times. I as well pushed maybe 5 minutes tops with both my girls. It really will depend on how bad you want a natural childbirth and how high your pain level is. Good luck and congrats!!!!

Answer 9

Before having my children, I had TERRIBLE menstrual cramps. Sometimes, I'd have to get up and walk around half the night b/c they were too painful for me to lay still (or I'd do a hot bath, etc).

I also had a back injury that gave me back spasms. The worst pain of my life!!!!

Because of those 2 things, I thought I would be able to handle labor pain.

Pain is usually the body's way of telling you there's something wrong. Labor is totally different. It is a natural, normal process. It DOES NOT HAVE to be painful!!!!

My ctx were VERY intense. It took all of my focus to stay "on top" of them once they really got going (after my water broke). I was having a very fast labor, which is usually considered to be the most intense kind. I agree!!!

NOw, notice I said "intense" NOT "painful." When I was well rested, nourished, and supported by my wonderful husband and doula (highly recommend getting one of these), I did NOT feel the ctx as painful. They felt strong and powerful. At times, they felt like I was trying to ride a whole herd of stampeding buffalo! Yet, they did not "hurt" the way menstrual cramps hurt. I could feel that my body was working to get the baby out.

I should have had my son in 4 hours b/c I was going so fast (in transition after 1.5 hours of labor), but the cord was wrapped very tightly several times around my son's chest. He got "stuck" and couldn't descend. I had a c/s about 13 or so hours after labor really began. At the end, just before the c/s, I got really, really tired. All my nutrtional reserves were gone (b/c of the hospital's stupid "no eating during labor" policy). At that point, I began to experience my ctx as pain, even though the intensity was the SAME as before.

That experience really taught me that a lot of labor pain is in how we "conceive" of it. If we BELIEVE it is painful, it will be. If we are tired, hungry and/or have a poor support network, it's much more likely to be painful.

Of course, even when it seemed most painful to me, it still wasn't as bad as some of my menstrual cramps or my back injury! And, as trite as it sounds, I would do it all over again (including the labor prior to the c/s) for my beautiful children. I do wish my son had not had that cord around him though!

I highly recommend reading Birthing From Within. Bradley classes can be very helpful, but I personally found them unnecessary. I believe a doula is MUST! A supportive husband is absolutely necessary and a doula doesn't replace him, but a husband just can't do what a doula can do.

Answer 10

Honestly you won't know until it happens...every person is different and even in the same person every birth is different. The best thing to do is keep your options open and realize that you can ask for pain relief at any time during labor if you find it necessary...I had my first 3 w/o pain meds and the next 2 with an epi and plan an epi for this one (I have very hard labors). It also has to do with how high your pain tolerance is. Don't be afraid to ask if you feel you need something...Good luck when your time comes...

Now is the time to read up and investigate all of the many different options for pain relief including natural methods and drug methods...That way you will be better prepared to make your decision. Educate yourself!!!