realistically how sore is labour?

[Fish&Chips]

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

My first was like that and I had to have an epidural from the word go but my second labour was much more manageable and I only needed gas and air. So I doubt you were a wimp, you just got unlucky and had a difficult labour

 

[Eleanor ace]

My contractions weren't too bad until I was in established labour, I didn't recognise that labour was starting until I got in the bath to sooth my aches and that made them regular and pretty painful! I got examined and was 3cm, an hour later I was 7cm and they weren't really any worse. I got on G&A at 7cm which really helped but when I came off the G&A to push the contractions weren't any worse. DS was back to back and I was induced but still, it wasn't that bad. OK it was the worst pain I've ever felt probably, but 10 minutes after I was ready to do it again

 

[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

My first was like that and I had to have an epidural from the word go but my second labour was much more manageable and I only needed gas and air. So I doubt you were a wimp, you just got unlucky and had a difficult labour

Aww thanks I hope my next birth is easier!

 

[Marie131]

Every birth is different and every woman's experience is different. Your birth will be your own and it won't be like any others. I've had 4 and they have all been very different experiences ranging from pretty painless to down right excrutiating. 3 of them were all unmedicated births and one was with an epidural. One of my unmedicated births was really a very gentle homebirth. I was eating melon between contractions and joking with my midwives. I was even telling my dh that it was so easy I'd gladly do it again! My next birth was really tough and I told my dh during my labour that he was getting fixed and that I was never going to go through that again! My last birth was a hospital induction, I had an epidural for that birth and it was pretty pain free. I even got to catch my baby when she came out.

I really believe that as women our bodies are made for this. It is pain with purpose. Every contraction brings you closer to holding your baby. Be flexible to adapt to the situation, because what you may visualize now may not be what works for you when you are in that moment.

 

[Mandyblur]

I felt with both my labours that i was trying to pass a watermelon through my back end! That really is where you feel all the pressure - it is painful to an extent but it is manageable - if it was unbearable a woman would only ever have one child

 

[Elizax]

Worst pain of my life.
I had a back to back labour so my contractions were crippling, I breathed through everyone and that helped immensely rather than focusing on the pain.

Then the pushing, when that head comes out, oh fuck, feels like someone's sticking a shredder in your vagina and tearing it apart. I'm not even exaggerating, but I had no pain relief so that might be why it hurt so bad.

 

[MummyToAmberx]

I found water/kidney infection pain 1000x worse than labour (this happened around wk 24 for me)

I gave birth my first born at 18, i'm not going to lie it did hurt but its cope-able providing you have right people around you to help.

 

[kerrie24]

It is the worst pain I have ever felt in my life,but Ive had 3 babies now-8lb12,8lb10 and 10lb5 with only gas and air and I would go back for another lol

 

[Justagirlxx]

I was induced with my 2nd, I cant even describe the pain. It was unbearable and coming so fast. I think if you want to go natural dont be induced but you'll never know if thats nessesary or not until the end. GL

 

[gk1701]

It's like the worst charlie horse/leg cramp pain you have every experienced or even worse than you have experienced, coming one after another, but in your stomach instead of your leg. For me, it was bad enough to moan loudly and to dread the next one. There is no way I could have hypnobirthed my way through it. I ended up getting an epidural at 9 cm.

 

[hubblybubbly]

Horrendous, mine were full on contractions every 2 minutes from the outset of labour, no build up, like the worst period pain x 50.

However I used a tens machine, had G&A for the contractions then a natural water birth with no pain relief.

Just remember its doable, it's manageable, but every situation is different, every labour and every person is different, there is no competition and no reward stickers for those who do it with nothing, just as there's no shame for needing every drug under the sun!

Good luck!

 

[AimeeM]

If you fear the birth it is a lot worse than if you just look at it as a natural thing. Relax, go with it and it will be a lot more bareable.

 

[SophiaEli]

I did not use epidural anaesthesia (because of contraindications and risks) and could relieve pain only with massage, breathing techniques, fit ball and different poses! But when it came close to the fetal expulsion, nothing helped! It seemed to me that I was about to die... but I survived and you will, be sure! And they say that women usually forget all the suffering (hormones will help), but I have not forgotten yet! Actually, my midwife said that I was pretending (!) and it was not so tough... I asked her whether she had children and she said she had even two but she could not recall her labour. So, I hope one day I will forget all that pain and will venture to have the second baby