PAIN! How bad is it rely? FIRST TIME MOTHER! Please help!?

Question

ok for all the women who have given birth how bad is the pain?

Ive heard that it varies from person to person.

I had a miscarriage at 16 weeks once and had dilated to 5 before they gave me an epidural when they did a DnC and I didn't think it hurt more than bad period cramps.

How bad does it rely get?

How bad was it for you?

(ps. I'm planing a natural birth with my husband and mother in the room during active labor. Yes I know it could go another way but this is just my birth plan.)

Answer 1

good for you!!
you should take Bradley classes, i LOVE mine!! they prepare you for the pain and teach you ways to deal with it.

i've heard the contractions are like really bad period cramps and the worst part is what they call the "ring of fire" (which only lasts a few minutes)--it's when you are actually pushing the baby out.

also, when you do an unmedicated birth you get a natural high afterwards, like a runner's high, that makes the pain & its memory go away. you don't get that when you are medicated because it gets in the way of your natural brain chemicals.

Answer 2

My first baby was induced, and I am convinced the pain is much more intense when you're forcing your body to do something it is not ready to do. The pain I felt during the 13 hours of labor without an epideral could be described as someone taking a knife and cutting me side-to-side across my lower abdomen, hour after hour. I finally got an epideral that wore off towards the end, but once it was time for me to push, the pain magically subsided because I was pushing with the contractions and "going with the flow", so to speak. With the second baby, I waited until I was dilated to a 5, and then went ahead and got the epideral, but I only did that because I didn't want to get to the very end and not be able to get one! LOL But, I did notice that the pain was much more bareable the second time around, and I could have possibly gone all the way and made it without an epideral, I just got scared. I believe that the pain was not as intense because I was not being induced. Now, I am pregnant with the third one, and haven't quite decided yet how I want labor to go. It's the last baby, so maybe I'll do it all myself this time, we'll see...:)

Answer 3

Well, it's like what you said; it varies from person to person. For me, I wasn't in labor for too long. I went into labor a week before my daughter was actually born, but the docs managed to stop the labor. For nothing because I ended up back in the hospital a week later with contractions. I was in labor for about 12 hours. It got to be painful. I ended up having to get a epidural, which in my opinion is worse than labor, but that's just me. I got the epidural for nothing because my daughter was born 20 minutes later after getting a damn needle in back!!! Some women have it pretty easy, but some really go through pain. I would do it all again to have another baby!!!

Answer 4

I personally loved labor. I know I sound like a crazy person but I did. Because the contractions come and go, it is a very manageable pain. I won't say it isn't excruciating, but it comes and goes so it gives you a chance to catch your breath and begin to deal with the next contraction. Just keep a really positive attitude and remind yourself of what an exciting part of life you are going through, and that women have done this for years. You are lucky to be having a baby today when we have such great medical care. And, if it gets too hard- there is always an epidural!!!

Answer 5

I have given birth three times, the first two times I got the epidural in plenty of time, with my third the anesthesiologist who was suppose to give me the epidural didn't get there until my baby's head was already almost out, and if I could do it again I would go natural,absolutely. Just find something to concentrate on other than the pain. Like I counted and focused on my breathing.

Answer 6

Heather, why are you so worried about the pain of having your baby? Each pregnancy is different, no matter what other women have been through, yours may or may not be the same or it may be different.
I'm 46 years old and I have two sons that are grown, wonderful young men. I remember each birth as if it was yesterday and I love each event just the same.
With my first son, my labor was all in my lower back, as if I had worked way too hard or lifted something that was way too heavy for me. Like I had strained myself. That was the way it felt. I had an 8 lb. 1 oz baby boy.
My second son was different. All my labor pains were located in the lower part of my tummy. Almost like I had to go to the potty and bad. But there was nothing inside of me to go. My son was 7 lb. 14 oz.
I used the bottom of the bed sheet they had me covered in to focus with. When I had a pain, I had tucked the sheet under my feet and used it to pull with my arms and teeth when the pains started getting harder.

When you are in the labor room, you are so focused on having the baby, most of the time there is either a nurse (as was with me in behind me, helping me to push) I didn't care about the pain. I was wanting to see my baby, HOLD my baby, MAKE SURE He WAS OK, COUNT ALL HIS TOES, FINGERS, SEE HIS FACE, KISS HIM.
YOU FORGET ABOUT ALL THE PAIN WHEN YOU SEE THE HEAD CREST. THE PAIN DOESN'T MATTER. THE ONLY THING THAT DOES MATTER IS THE BIRTH OF YOUR CHILD AND THAT THE BABY IS ALRIGHT.
I PRAY THIS IS HELPING YOU AND FOR GOD TO BE WITH YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR BABY!! CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SWEET BLESSING.

Answer 7

Ok, I am a mother of 4 kids and I had them all natural. The contractions can vary from light to intense. I promise you if you focus on something (in the room where you are giving birth) like a clock or a picture on the wall, and breath normally, none of that Lamas crap, you will be fine. Stay focused and try to relax. Congrats and good luck.

Answer 8

Ok, I don't want to be negative, because I am sure that you can have a relatively comfortable natural birth, but before I had my two boys, I was in the room with a friend who went natural. She loved it, but all of her screaming, sweating and crying convinced me to do the epidural. Then with my first, I had 21 hours of labor, with back pain. I was miserable and I didn't get my epidural until about the last four hours. The back labor especially was excrusiating, much worse than period cramps. My second son, much smoother, after I had the epidural, I was truly able to enjoy the experience. You have to remember that it is not only the cramping that is the pain, but their entrance into the world during contractions. Watching my friend, that was the worst for her. It is a personal choice, but in this case, I say yes to drugs.

Answer 9

Hiya and congrats!!

Both of my children had to be taken by Ceasarean. I was crushed with my first born since I was in active labor with him. My second one was for my safety that I had one.

But...What I am going to tell you is only my experience. I wish I could wish it on MOST women not my enemies, hehe.
I went into labor at 3:15am I thought it was just an uncomfortable cramp. It didn't hurt, so I didn't worry about it. It kept coming though...about 15 minutes apart, so I was stupid and got into a warm bath...lol.. Well, I felt better so I went back to bed. I woke up at 11:30 and told my mom that I thought I might be in labor. She looked at me and said no way because I was screaming bloody murder...so ok. Well, the contractions got to be 7 minutes apart and still no hurt. So we decided we'd best call the ambulance just in case. I got to the delivery room and the Dr. checked me, I was in full blown labor, and dilated to 8cm. He broke my water and realized that my son was breech (flipped w/in past 2 days). He left, came back in and checked me again and I was at full dilation and my contractions were then 4 minutes. I still felt nothing. I didn't feel no pain, no hurt, no nothing. I was told by the Dr. that if I had been able to deliver naturally that he doubted I would have felt anything besides when the head first came out. Anyhow..same for my second child.

But on the other hand my sister had a son 2 months before I had my last one and she was climbing up the back of the bed screaming in agony, and her child was even 3 weeks early. She also didn't know she was in labor. But she went spastic when the whole pushing started.

I wish I could tell you that everything is good, but what I can tell you is that no matter which way you deliver..having that child placed in your arms for the first time...it don't matter if you're ripped from head to toe...you forget and fall in love with your baby all over again.

Answer 10

its really not that bad! just dont get yourself too hyped up about it thats all. i did it all natural with no meds and labor only felt like bad cramps and lower back tensing up really bad. the delivery just feels like you need to take the biggest crap in the world! (sorry if that grosses you out but i think that is the best way to describe it). I never cried, yelled, cursed, or anything. in fact, my mom said the only way she could even tell i was having contractions was because my face would get really red. the worst part for me was when i was ready to push, the doc wasn't there yet so i had to wait 30 mins for him until i could finally give in to what my body wanted to do and push! it was such a relief!