following princess question about how painful is labour?

Question

is it really a pain you feel??
is it a sharp or dull pain???
if its not a pain how would you decsribe it? (e.g could it be very very intense aching/cramping feeling etc)
im only 14 weeks but my pain thresh hold is none existant so the labour does worry me!!

Answer 1

If you are not scared about labor I will tell you my experience with labor.
My first son I went into labor at 5:30 am I started off not painful at all, the contractions were coming every five minutes or so. I thought it would be o.k to take a shower and get ready, by the time I was done they were way more intense which stopped me in whatever I was doing. When I got into the hospital they said I was about 4cm dilated. It was so painful that I needed some relief, I was scarred this was my first labor and I was terrified, so I got the epidural, which was no relief for ME. At one point I turned to the nurse and said that it feels like someone is reaching their hand(up to the elbow) up my butt and pulling out my insides, she looked at me and said I bet it does feel like that.
After 17 hours I finally had a healthy little boy, and I forgot about the pain instantly.
My second labor was way more intense but way faster(they were both back labors).
I went into labor at 8:30 am, we arrived at the hospital at about 10:30, when I got their they checked me and I was already 7 cm dilated, I had him in about 45 Min's after I arrived at the hospital.
These are just my experiences, everyone is different, some people just say it was like having really bad cramps(like going for a number 2), some people say the epidural was a god sent.

Know I have two healthy little boys, and we are trying again, so it can't be that bad.

Answer 2

With my first child, my contractions started off like really bad menstrual cramps, but they become more frequent and more painful. I didn't have back labour, so all my pain was in my belly and pelvic area. I'm not trying to scare you, but It basically feels like you are being torn in two, I really have no other way to describe it. In the end, I got an epidural which was heaven. I didn't feel much more after that. I did however feel my son's head pressing down when it came time to push, but that is more uncomfortable than painful.

I don't have a high pain tolerance either, but it's amazing how strong you can be once you are in labour. I made it 22 1/2 hours without any drugs (28 hour labour). Believe me, if I can do it, you can do it.

Good luck!

Answer 3

It's a very intense cramping. It hurts like hell! However there are painkillers available if you wish, and it's over as soon as the baby is born. You really do just forget about it. As sson as my first was born i declared I would neber have another, 21 months later my 2nd arrived and I've had another since then. It doesn't really matter about how high your pain threshold is, as there's no getting away from it. Justfind things to relieve it, like walking, rocking, getting someone to rub your back, take a bath. i have to say that although it was rea,,y painful i didn't cry once throughout all 3 times, and don't know anyone else who did either! The first tears were when i first set eyes on my baby. Try not to worryy and just enjoy the pregnancy, don't let this spoil the rest of your time before baby comes. good luck x

Answer 4

Its cramping pain. Every pregnancy is different. There are things that can make the pain more intense. If you are induced the medication causes the contractions to come harder and stronger. You will be amazed at what you can endure when your in labor. Just read about all the different types of pain relief and decide what would be an option and what isn't for you. Be flexible and you will know when labor comes if you need something strong or not. I didn't have an epidural with my first child and had him with iv meds. This time I'm going to have an epidural due to medical complications. I want to be in as little pain as possible.

Answer 5

Dont worry about it, you cant change it, all you can do is wait until it happens, then it will be over, its not huge. I am on my third pregnancy, and the first 2 labours were very different. With my first, the contractions were based around the small of my back, it felt like bad back spasms that just got worse, about the only thing that really got me was the stinging sensation as he crowned, no one warned me about it. But my second child, the contractions were in the front, it felt like really bad, sharp period cramps, but the actual birth went very quickly, so quick i almost missed it, literally. I got the urge to push, pushed a couple of times and the midwife told me to stop pushing, i just assumed the baby was crowning, they tell you to stop to ensure bub is coming out right and you arent going to tear, but he was already out, the doctor just about dropped him. You lose all sense of time when you are in labour, one minute it feels like it has taken hours, then the next you discover that hours have actually passed by, then its over, you can relax and look at your baby for the first time. As soon as its over, you wonder what all the worry was about. Yes it is painful, but you can cope, i did, no drugs at all, not even gas, nothing. You were right about the intense cramping feeling, then you do actually get the urge to push, you have to push, your body wants to, its weird not having any control of this urge. Its really not as bad as you think.

By the way, if it was really unbearable, and if you didnt forget so soon, nobody would have more than one child, im 17 weeks pregnant with number 3.

Answer 6

yes you feel waves of pain-but there are gaps between the contractions
i have had 3 children and the pain/ birth experience was different every time: the last one was incredibly intense- yet the best as it was all over in under 2 hours!lol

i have had arthritis 18 years now and get pain most days- no where near as bad as labour pains, but at least with labour you do get something rather amazing out of it!!

take a cute picture of a baby with you and have the midwife stick it up where you can see it- it helps remind you that very very soon ,your wonderful new baby will be in you arms!

ps by the time your due date is imminent, you will be begging for labour to come, just to get your body back!!

Answer 7

Stubbing your toe is painful. Giving birth is like being on a totally different planet. When I think back to it, I don't think 'pain' - it was just like an out of body experience.

Prepare for the labour as much as you can. It really helps. Do perinal massage so you don't need stitches. Learn about good positions for the birth. And plan the birth you want.

Answer 8

my labor was induced, they also had to break my water. Contractions got rough, not really sharp or dull..but consuming. I was dialated 5 1/2 before getting an epidurial..delivery still hurt and the pressure was crazy. The epidurial didnt hurt..they put a numbing lotion on my back first I couldnt imagine doing it without the drugs..some people say they are not necessary but for me they were. Although I read everything I could to pepare myself it is scary and it does hurt. It helps a lot to have someone there to tell you that everything is okay and to hold your hand.

Answer 9

Yes it is cramps and aching that get worse over time, but don't worry, this will make it worse.

What happens is that it starts out relatively painless, just feeling tight, and with gaps. It will get get worse, but you get used to it as it goes on, and you get gaps between, so you get to know when it will come and for how long, which makes it much more bearable. There is a definite peak, a bit like when you have perios pain cramps, but you know when each is over.

Don't worry, think of how exciting it will be when it starts, and how amazing it will be at the end when your baby arrives and cries fro the first time

Answer 10

Im not going to tell u a loada crap! It hurts like hell!! Its more of an real intense cramping which gets 2 a real high peak an u cant breathe through it, altho the midwife tells u to but i found it totally impossible. I actually found the contractions worse than pushing the wein out coz by that stage u no its nearly over!! But my advice 2 u at this stage is 2 calm down an worry bout it a bit closer 2 time!! Gud luk an i hope u have an easyish time!!