realistically how sore is labour?

[amjon]

Everyone always talks about how "it's the worse pain ever" and that you need pain relievers. I honestly didn't know I was in active labor because I didn't think the pain was bad enough (rated it a 5/10). I went from 2cm to delivery in about 2 hours being induced with Cytotec and near constant contractions (I've been told my OBs that Cytotec makes the pain far worse too). I actually did enjoy the labor, even though it was somewhat painful (but really more uncomfortable than anything) and I'm looking forward to delivering my new little one(s). I did move how I felt though, so that does help and used a hypnobreathing technique I learned years ago (not specifically for labor though).

 

[XJessicaX]

Pain is one part of labour. I found the contractions excruciating. No one can adequately explain! I had a back to back baby though so the pain was not what a normal delivery would be like. Its the exhaustion that happens to a lot of first time mums as long labours are common. Days sometimes of pain and no sleep and not being able to eat much.

I guess the only way I can explain is if you have ever had a stomach bug? Had that piercing intestinal cramping pain. Well...that but maybe 5 times stronger.

 

[Reidfidleir]

Hi. I'm a first time mom too and I was wondering exact same thing as you. For me labor was Not the most painful experience of my life. (I had a period at age 16 that was unbelievably painful. Literally wished I was dead).
One suggestion I have is that if you want to read any books about birth get it read now. I had a few I was getting to but baby surprised me at 36 weeks! The only book about birth I got to that I really enjoyed was Ina mays guide to childbirth. It's really good. Suggestions as well as personal accounts.
I didn't get to read up on or practice any methods at all. So during labor I concentrated on breathing slowly evenly and from my diaphragm. Also tried hard to keep my face and shoulders relaxed. Easier said than done! But it will help; once your jaw and shoulders tense everything else does too. I found that when the contractions got more intense I liked to have my eyes closed and look down. Having something to "focus on" didn't work for me. I tried keeping eyes open but didn't manage as well like that.
My contractions were like strong period cramps. I was nervous beforehand because as soon as I feel a period cramp I'm popping max strength midol (naproxen ). But once a pattern is established it really is so much easier than a period. My midwife was right. Contractions build and then subside. They're not jus constant pain like a period is.
Through the whole thing there was an underlying ache like a period and then the contraction would come on top of that like a stronger period cramp but towards the end I was breathing through them like an intestinal cramp if tha makes any sense. When I needed to push it felt better because I was doing something. That's true for sure! Also during pushing the contractions spaced out a little more. So they came every 3 minutes lasting 1.5 at the most frequent and during pushin they came about every 5 minutes lasting 1.5. I pushed 3 hours. Even having a water birth I found it difficult to change positions as that would spur on contractions and it was uncomfortable to do so. I did anyway when I was asked. Your body does give you natural "drugs". That was unexpected. I found during the spaces that I almost wanted to fall asleep! I probably could have if I could have laid down and curled up. It feels as if you've taken a max strength period medicine. So you still feel that underlying ache but very drowsy and relaxed.
I vocalized a lot (roaring growling) during pushing but it was completely involuntary and felt good! Not to be tmi but if you've had an intense orgasm and vocalized involuntarily it feels about the same (minus the sexual pleasure hahaha).
Crowning felt stingy and burning but like a slow stretch. And it's insane the immediate sense of relief once the baby is out. I couldn't believe it. The pain and contractions stop. All at once. And you feel like the weight of the world is off you.
Sorry this is so long winded but I hope this gives you kind of an idea.
My labor started with my water breaking by the way and I had a home water birth.
I found sitting on the toilet excruciating. Being in the shower with hot water was nice. As was the birthing tub. The tub doesn't take away the pain but helped in that I didn't have full gravity pulling on my body.
My biggest advice would be to just go with it. Don't plan too much. Go with the flow and relax relax relax! Don't tense your face or shoulders. Don't push with your face. Use your stomach muscles/pooping muscles.
Another thing somebody told me: it's only one day. You'll get through it.

I loved labor. Easy? No. Painful? Yea like a period but much more satisfactory! Hard work. But the exhilaration you feel after going through is amazing. Like a little high! I was on cloud nine for two weeks thinking I did it I did it!!!!
Btw my birth story is in the birth stories section entitled Thorrin water field Rodriguez is here.
Best wishes! You CAN do it!

 

[Mummy2B21]

It wasnt really sore for.me at all just painful but not a sore pain x

 

[subaru555]

You ladies are all so lucky.

I had the gel inserted at 5pm, contractions (labour) started at 8pm.

Bath on the ward at 10pm, waters broke.

No staff to help with pain relief or check dilation till 1045pm.

Labour Ward 11pm.

After this I had gas and air and diamorphine - felt I could cope after this.

Wore off after an hour.

I literally cannot explain the pain after this wore off.

I honestly thought I was going to die. I felt like I was being ripped apart.

My Son was nearly 11lbs though and his shoulders got stuck needed immediate episiotomy which is stil really really sore and he is now 2 years old. I'm told it's healed but there's so much damage to your insides when they do a deep one , that it might always be sore.

They tried to give me an epidural 4 times and they couldn't get it to work.

So it was basically gas and air.

It's left me traumatised.

I'm only going through it again because I won't have the opportunity again to have a baby, it's now or never and I'm absolutely dreading, if not resenting it already.

Just trying to be honest. Everyone told me it wasn't that bad, I did hypno birthing and everything. But if your birth is anything like mine was, it really is that bad.

 

[katieeandbump]

It hurts really bad. Im not going to lie. Have u ever had food poisoning? I know this sounds horrible but u have the poos and have real bad stomach ache? That's what my pain was like with really bad period pains times like 50! But it was mainly in my back! It felt almost like my back had locked so strange! But when you have the urge to push its amazing its like when u know u need to poo and its not going to wait and u finally get on the toilet! That type of feeling! u can channel the pain through the pushes But it does really sting as the head comes out but by then its pretty much the end and theres no turning back so you just do it

So yeh.. it does hurt BUT im on my 3rd haha! So im willing to go through it again for the reward x

 

[SarahBear]

first time mummy to be!
expecting a little pink bundle
young mum so wondering realistically how sore it will be and gas anyone not been in too much pain?
hoping for a natural birth using g+a only..
don't best around the bush I want to be prepared lol
thanks
xx

It wasn't so bad for me for a couple reasons. first of all I was blessed with a relatively easy labor. Secondly I prepared myself for the range of possibilities. Thirdly, I stayed positive. Educate yourself, stay positive, and remember to relax and accept what's happening and you'll be great . Bye the way, I had NO pain medication and honestly any level of pain meds would have been completely unnecessary. That's not to say there was no pain. It's just that the pain was very manageable.

 

[shelx]

Ok im going to be really crude here..!!

You know the really sharps pains in your stomach when you have diarrhoea?? IMO its those times two..
I kept going to toilet as if to relieve the pain but nothing happened

x

 

[shelx]

It hurts really bad. Im not going to lie. Have u ever had food poisoning? I know this sounds horrible but u have the poos and have real bad stomach ache? That's what my pain was like with really bad period pains times like 50! But it was mainly in my back! It felt almost like my back had locked so strange! But when you have the urge to push its amazing its like when u know u need to poo and its not going to wait and u finally get on the toilet! That type of feeling! u can channel the pain through the pushes But it does really sting as the head comes out but by then its pretty much the end and theres no turning back so you just do it

So yeh.. it does hurt BUT im on my 3rd haha! So im willing to go through it again for the reward x

I read this after I posted! Think we're both spot on Expect I only times it by two
x

 

[MrsSmartie]

Youtube some hypnobirth videos, they are wonderful. If the pain is worrying you then a hypnobirthing course can only help. Don't forget that the tightening is not constant. By the end you will have a minute of no tightening to just rest and recover, then the contaction itself is like a wave, it builds up slowly, hits the most intense part for about 20secs and then comes back down again, so when you consider it that way it is not too bad. Everybody is different, but deep relaxation really helps (I'm a midwife and hypnobirth practitioner) xx

 

[SarahBear]

Ok im going to be really crude here..!!

You know the really sharps pains in your stomach when you have diarrhoea?? IMO its those times two..
I kept going to toilet as if to relieve the pain but nothing happened

x

I agree with this, however, I really did "have to go." That is until my waters broke. Then the urge to poo was really the urge to push the baby out.

 

[bumblebeexo]

I went to hospital in moderate pain. It wasn't too bad though, I was still talking away, laughing, texting etc. I got examined and I was 7cm! The midwives couldn't believe it.
I did fine, until I got out the birthing pool to push. That's when the pain got excruciating! I was shouting, saying I couldn't do it etc, but I did with only gas and air

 

[SarahBear]

^^ Interesting. I didn't find the pushing to be painful. There was some discomfort and I think it was from tearing a little.

 

[Kmx]

reeeeeeallly sore but i had gas and air and morphine and it is defineltly managable! its totally worth it tho trust me xxxx

 

[Fish&Chips]

Ok im going to be really crude here..!!

You know the really sharps pains in your stomach when you have diarrhoea?? IMO its those times two..
I kept going to toilet as if to relieve the pain but nothing happened

x

Yep this was just like my first labour. The second was more like period cramps. I wouldn't say either was 'painful'. The crowning of the head stung and it was hard to push through it but it's very quick. I tore badly but it just was a stinging sensation.

 

[Scuba]

With my DD1 I had an induced labour and to say I found it excruciatingly painful is no word of a lie! I have literally never experienced pain like it in my life, and I ended up getting an epidural after 15 hours established labour as I'd still only reached 4cms.
With my DD2 I had an ELCS and loved it.. Even the recovery wasn't half as bad as I found my vaginal recovery - but I'm aware I'm in the minority in saying that!xx

 

[Karkey]

Ive had 4 children, natural births and only used gas n air. I was 18 having my first and to b honest i really thought i was going to die.....BUT.....i went on to have 3 more after that so really it cant b that bad. I also had back labour which is excruicating. BUT again i constantly had the end product in my head..... I just kept saying "this time 2moro, i will b holding a beautiful baby in my arms" it got me through. U can do natural if u really want to, but remember u dont have to b a hero, theres no medals for doin it on ur own. Ask for pain meds if u think u need them. Good luck

 

[Fish&Chips]

I have to say I've experienced 2 very different labours : one manageable and one unbearable. Like the above poster says, don't be a hero - take the drugs if you need them.

 

[rwhite]

I think it varies from woman to woman. The best advice I can give you is to go in to things with an open mind - birth plans often don't work out, try not to be too disappointed. As long as baby arrives safe and sound that's the main thing If things really ramp up and you need the pain meds, don't feel bad - take them, they are there to help you manage if things get to be too much.

I found with my labour it was really a lot easier than I was expecting - the pain was pretty minimal (until around transition, and I was moaning "It hurrrts" but aside from that no yelling really, I surprised myself and everyone else!). I did have gas and air but honestly could have got by without it fine, I was just being lazy and was curious to try it too.

I had psyched birth up to be such a horrific ordeal that I had made myself quite scared. Obviously I'm not sure what next time will be like, but am keeping an open mind to it potentially being that horrific ordeal that I imagined would happen the first time around.

 

[Bevziibubble]

For me it was awful and my contractions didn't even build up, they just hit me like a bus. I had to have an epidural as soon as I arrived at the hospital. But I think I'm just a wimp to be honest