Contractions vs menstrual cramps

[Eline]

I was wondering if you can compare these? I often have really bad menstrual cramping, so that I have to take pain medication to get through them. Sometimes they are really unbearable. (I must say, before, when I wa on the pill I only had minor cramps and couldn't understand that there are women who stay home when AF shows, but now I understand.)

Now I was wondering how these compare to contractions. Is there anyone who had really severe cramping who can compare? Do you think your experience with AF cramps helped you cope during labor?

 

[Dragonfly]

With both mine they where nothing like menstrual cramps, nothing. Very very painful. Periods cramps would be preferred.

 

[solitaire89]

I would sometimes get the most horrendous period pains, I would curl up into a ball, rock and cry my way through them, and that was after all the meds I could take!
Labour, on the other hand, I had no pain whatsoever.
I don't think the painful periods had any bearing on my ability to cope in labour, they are a completely different type of sensation - ie period pains hurt, contractions don't! Seriously, when I get period pains, there's just pain, nothing else, but the contractions were a sensation of tightening and tensing with no pain.

 

[LoraLoo]

I would sometimes get the most horrendous period pains, I would curl up into a ball, rock and cry my way through them, and that was after all the meds I could take!
Labour, on the other hand, I had no pain whatsoever.
I don't think the painful periods had any bearing on my ability to cope in labour, they are a completely different type of sensation - ie period pains hurt, contractions don't! Seriously, when I get period pains, there's just pain, nothing else, but the contractions were a sensation of tightening and tensing with no pain.

how did you get away with no pain in labour?!

 

[solitaire89]

I would sometimes get the most horrendous period pains, I would curl up into a ball, rock and cry my way through them, and that was after all the meds I could take!
Labour, on the other hand, I had no pain whatsoever.
I don't think the painful periods had any bearing on my ability to cope in labour, they are a completely different type of sensation - ie period pains hurt, contractions don't! Seriously, when I get period pains, there's just pain, nothing else, but the contractions were a sensation of tightening and tensing with no pain.

how did you get away with no pain in labour?!

natal hypnotherapy mainly, but the right surroundings, support, prep, practice and birth partner all contributed hugely birth story in siggy if you're interested.

 

[LoraLoo]

I would sometimes get the most horrendous period pains, I would curl up into a ball, rock and cry my way through them, and that was after all the meds I could take!
Labour, on the other hand, I had no pain whatsoever.
I don't think the painful periods had any bearing on my ability to cope in labour, they are a completely different type of sensation - ie period pains hurt, contractions don't! Seriously, when I get period pains, there's just pain, nothing else, but the contractions were a sensation of tightening and tensing with no pain.

how did you get away with no pain in labour?!

natal hypnotherapy mainly, but the right surroundings, support, prep, practice and birth partner all contributed hugely birth story in siggy if you're interested.

I'll read now thanks, interested in the hypnotherapy- i generally have good labours, hubbys fantastic and i always feel well in control but still bloody kills so will be looking in to this! x

 

[Dragonfly]

Right thats it I am going for hypnotherapy this time. Tingling and tightening will do for me thanks.

 

[solitaire89]

Well, if you guys have any questions once you've looked into it, feel free to shout me I recommend it to everyone who will listen to me! There's another lady on the forums who used Natal Hypnotherapy recently who also had a great birth experience. Can't remember her username though...

 

[Eline]

I would sometimes get the most horrendous period pains, I would curl up into a ball, rock and cry my way through them, and that was after all the meds I could take!
Labour, on the other hand, I had no pain whatsoever.
I don't think the painful periods had any bearing on my ability to cope in labour, they are a completely different type of sensation - ie period pains hurt, contractions don't! Seriously, when I get period pains, there's just pain, nothing else, but the contractions were a sensation of tightening and tensing with no pain.

That sounds great. I always thought that, since I need pain meds just to get through my period, I would never be able to give birth without pain medication either. But apparently there's hope

 

[Mazzy17]

when i first started my periods (when i was a young whippersnapper ) i would get pains which would make me double over...that was what my contractions was like

 

[mrscitysmith]

My cramps ar always more in my back (like when you have the runs) but my contractions were in a different place, right around my belly with a pulling sensation down below. Just a different feeling altogether.

Incidentally Eline I love your avatar! I am a huge Blur fan and think that is my all time fave music vid!

 

[Eleanor ace]

I used to have bad period pains, I was on strong prescription medicine for them. For me contractions were a lot worse, but in a way better as at least I knew they would be gone sooner! Also the contractions didn't really feel like period pains, only the ones at the start.

 

[dan-o]

Yes mine started off like bad period cramps and then built in intensity to full contractions

 

[little_lady]

I used to get very bad period pains to the point where I didn't care if I died or not. They were so bad that medication couldn't touch them.

Contractions however were not crampy or painful in the same way at all. They were very unpleasant but more like intense pressure.

 

[disneydarling]

I get the most awful period cramps, they are terribly painful and often leave me unable to move for 24 hours. (that's the reason I did the pregnancy test in the first place, the pains start about 12 hours before my period, and I was wondering why they hadn't arrived lol)

Throughout the pain I am unable to sleep, eat, or do anything apart from lay there and cry, I've tried everything and while a few things slightly soothe me, nothing works, no painkillers are strong enough.

Of course I am under no illusions that labour and contractions will be extremely painful, but I feel like I am equipped to cope with the pain after going through what I go through every month with my periods! My period pains are mainly concentrated in my back, which I think is the worst place in the world to have pain, so I'm REALLY hoping that I don't have back labour, because I can't even imagine how much that would hurt. I feel like belly pains are more manegable than back pains, for me.

 

[chulie]

What's funny is I had the WORST stomach pains last night. I ate something that didn't agree with me and ended up having the runs and really bad cramping. As I was curled in a ball in bed I had this "hey this is familiar" thought. It's exactly what my early contractions were like! I seriously was brought right back to when I was labouring at home because that's exactly what the pain was like early on. The difference is, with each cramp you feel empowered and know your baby is closer and closer....and not just sitting on the toilet crapping for no reason when you want to be sleeping. So the pay off justifies the pain and makes it more tolerable! Lmao!!!

 

[MindUtopia]

In my experience, they weren't really anything like period pains (okay, maybe the very early ones, a little bit) but I also don't get much in the way of period pains. For me (and I've heard others say this too), they were much more like the kind of cramps you get if you have a stomach bug or gas pains and the contractions you get during the 2nd stage are kinda like that too, like when you get bad diarrhea and your whole body just pushes without you having much control over it (you know that feeling when you really, really have to poo?). But don't let it scare you because assuming you have a natural birth (aren't induced) the sensations are very manageable with the right preparation. I used natal hypnotherapy as well (actually I think it's me that solitaire89 was referring to above) and that must have helped so much. The contractions were never not something I could cope with and I was at home by myself with just my husband all the way through dilation/transition to the start of pushing without even feeling like I needed to call the midwives. When they did arrive (I had a home birth), I was starting to push and they were amazed that I was that far along because I was just chillin' on my birth ball, chatting and breathing. The second midwife actually almost left to go home because she thought it would be awhile, but they checked me (ouch! that did hurt!) and I was fully dilated. The pushing part was hard work (it lasted 4 hours for me), but I wouldn't necessarily describe any of it as horribly painful. It was really doable. I think the fact I used natal hypnotherapy helped to make that possible. I felt very in control, relaxed and in a really positive state of mind the whole time.

 

[solitaire89]

(actually I think it's me that solitaire89 was referring to above)

Yip, it was you

And now Duffers has written up her Natal Hypnotherapy birth story too - @MindUtopia, have you read it yet?

 

[we can't wait]

Yes mine started off like bad period cramps and then built in intensity to full contractions

^WSS.

Mine actually started off feeling like gas (TMI) pains... they were really low in my belly, almost in my thighs, which I hadn't been expecting. Honestly, prefer the contractions over just menstral pains. The contractions were empowering.... they were for a purpose! (I'm one of those nuts that loved labor and delivery, )

 

[Eline]

Of course I am under no illusions that labour and contractions will be extremely painful, but I feel like I am equipped to cope with the pain after going through what I go through every month with my periods!

I was thinking the same thing. I try not to take pain meds for period pains, thinking it's good practice. Unfortunately, I often have to give in.