I had a natural (pain med free) labor, and I have no memory of pain during crowning. I definitly remember the visceral pain of transition ( which was only "unbearable" for a couple contractions). The entire pushing stage was a breeze in comparison, in terms of pain level.

Thanks ladies! You have really put my mind to ease about the whole thing.

I hate to be the only one out, but I had a completely natural birth at home for my first (planning it this time around too!) and the worst part for me was the "ring of fire". I remember telling my husband that it "burned like heck" (in a more colourful way) ... but to be honest it was soon over when baby came out and it was totally worth the few minutes of intense burning.

OMG, that was the worst part of labor for me!!! It burned SO bad! I almost wanted to quit and have a c section haha!!!

I had two home births and didn't experience it either time! Pushing was wonderful!

I loved pushing the first time. I had intense pain in my back during transition and it went away as soon as pushing started which was such a relief. I described the pushing as more intense and hard work rather than painful. I pushed for an hr. I only remember the ring of fire, which came right at the end of pushing, clearly because of the sympathetic look the MW gave me when she said "it really hurts doesn't it?" She looked a little surprised when I said "no, it doesn't hurt at all, just stings". But it is true it did really sting but it didn't feel like pain to me.

My second labour the MW got me to take crowning really slow as she was a little concerned about the size of the baby (he turned out to be almost 11lbs and with a big head) I remember every time the stinging got intense she told me to stop pushing. I found it a little fustrating because I was ready to have him out now but things did go very smoothly and I didn't even have a stitch. Again I wouldn't describe it as pain, just an intense stingy, stretching feeling.

Both were drug free home births.

I had two natural births and I didn't feel it with my first son, my second son I definitely felt it and that feeling is what made me push so hard to end it lol
It was a burning/stretching pain for me but I pushed so hard it was over pretty quickly !

To be honest, that was the worst bit for me during both of my home births. I ended up with 2nd degree tears too, which took about two weeks to heal before i didn't cry when i had to walk any where..three weeks to feel much better.

I hope your one of the lucky ones that has little pain. Get some witch hazel water to put on a pad just incase you do have a bad sting. it helps for after wards xxx

^^ this is what i would have said! It feels like that but a bit worse id say, i remember it vividly with my first baby because i stopped and refused to push because if it LOL!!! I had to obviously just get on with it and push anyway lol and it always made me wonder after why they dont stick like KY jelly down there before the baby starts crowning because its a dry burn feel i think a lubricant wud really help! With my second baby his head come out still on the water bag so i didnt get the sting and didnt really get it with my third either, i wonder if its because my first baby my waters had broken 4 hrs previous and he had a lot of hair? Because his head was dry, whereas my last baby the waters broke about half hour before she was born and she didnt have hair so no friction lol! Still think they shud whack some lubricant down there to prevent the sting though lol (ps i had gas and air with all my births as my pain releif)

I found the contractions to be far more painful.