Was labour less or more painful than expected?

[midwife1992]

I had my first baby on the 24.5.2015 and was so surprised to find that I found labour so much less painful than I expected. I was 8cm when I got to hospital and only went in because I had a small bleed. I had no pain relieve to my surprise. I was planning to try and avoid it but thought id at least have gas and air but just didn't want anything for some reason, still can't put my finger on why. What was everyone else's experiences? Did you find it more or less painful and did you use the pain relief you expected you would? My labour was also a lot quicker than I thought it was be- just under 4 hours from first pain to baby being born

 

[Rhio92]

My first labour was less painful than I thought it would be - I used gas and air and water. I didn't get the urge to push so had no idea what that was like.
My second labour was so much more painful, it was such a shock. I need diamorphine for pain relief. However, I did get the urge to push this time, and I was shocked at how much it didn't hurt, I actually loved pushing.

 

[Eleanor ace]

My first was less painful than I thought it would be; I wasn't scared about it being really painful and didn't spend that much time thinking about how painful it would be, but yeah I guess I was pleasantly surprised . I used gas and air for pain relief which I'd figured I would.
My second was more painful than I was expecting, not for the first part but I guess once I got to 7cm, from there it was more painful than my 1st and the later contractions and pushing were significantly more painful. I used gas and air which I expected to (man I love that stuff) and water, which I'd hoped to but thought I wouldn't get to use, so that was an added bonus

 

[laura109]

i was induced so it was intense. it did hurt but as it was my first i had no idea anyway. if i have another i hope i can have it naturally xx

 

[emyandpotato]

I dunno, I was never really that scared, but it lived up to it and wasn't too bad at all. I have had many worse experiences. I think a lot of pain can be from fear and tension, and the expectation that it's going to be the worst pain ever. Obviously ever labour is different and that's not to say some people don't have horrendous labours but at the same time there is no reason to expect you won't be able to manage, and positive thoughts help!

 

[shasha]

just like previous posters my first labour was less painful than anticipated but the second was more painful but quicker. Under two hours.

 

[MrsMandy]

I was definatly surprised by how well I coped with the pain.
I had a back labour and from start to delivery it was about 38 hrs. I managed at home with a shower and tens machine for the first 16 hrs then we went to hospital as we thought i wasn't progressing as I had no contractions at all around my bump. (It wasn't till we called the hospital again in the afternoon and I described my pains that I was told of the possiblity it could be a back labour!) After being checked I was 5cm and was then offered gas and air. I tried it but it just made me cough so I didn't bother with it and just continued with the tens machine then I got into a huge bath and spent most of my labour there. I found the water was the best pain relief. I had to get out when I was 8cm though as my waters broke and he'd had his merconim inside. As soon as I was out of the water things became a lot more painful and then I had to take the gas and air - worked much better that time!!
I narrowly avoided a c section as his heart rate kept dropping and managed to push him out in 4 pushes, 6 mins, whilst being prepped for surgery!

 

[dan-o]

My first was a bit more intense than I expected. He was back to back, and I was induced with panicking people around me (high blood pressure) so maybe that's why. I actually caved in and asked for an epidural, but didn't get one as I was pretty much fully dilated at the time lol. The recovery from pushing him out in a unfavourable position, forcefully (and far too quickly) took about 6 months in total though, in fact I'm still not right down there!

Second was much less painful. Could have done it all over again right away. Calm and relaxed just let him come on his own no pushing. He was right way round natural labour. No recovery time, felt fine right away!

Both labours were fast with contractions 4:10 from the outset.
Excited to be going through it again soon, hoping for another like my second!!

 

[Popples1]

Much more painful than I expected but it was very quick so perhaps that didn't help. I didn't have any drugs though, just gas and air when I was pushing, so it was survivable!

 

[Spudtastic]

Labour was alot more painful than I expected. However baby was facing the wrong way. Contractions were long with a tiny break in between and were all consuming. After progressing from 2.5 2.5cms to 4 cms in 9 hours with all consuming contractions I had an epidural.
pushing hurt too because baby twisted around in my birth canal. Like dan-o I was sore down there for over 6 months and didn't feel right for about 18 months. I hope no.2 pleasantly surprises me.

 

[Take2]

I think it depends on how baby is positioned, my first was back to back and it was awful, at the time I thought that's what all labor was like but my second was so different, so much less painful and all together calmer.

 

[AP]

Way less painful in my opinion

 

[Jessicahide]

I have been induced three times, was not as bad as I thought it would be, had worse periods to be honest (endo)

 

[k4th]

Way more painful than I expected. Baby was in a good position & I only had gas & air.

My contractions were irregular throughout. Whilst labouring at home I kept ringing maternity & they kept telling me I wasn't really in labour because my contractions weren't regular. It really scared & panicked me. Eventually I told oh to take me to hospital anyway - when I arrived I was 6cm!!! I was so anxious & upset though & I didn't have time to pull myself together before transition hit. I agree with a pp - the tension really made it worse!! I've been doing birth classes & hope for a much calmer birth this time around!

 

[tinkerbelle93]

Much more painful! I managed to get to 8cm without pain relief, but once it was in full-force I really couldn't bear it, it was way worse than I'd imagined by a long way! Definitely the worst pain I've ever experienced.

But a lot of people I know have said they were pleasantly surprised by how manageable it was, as well as comparing it to other types of pain and saying it was not as bad as that so I think it just really depends! x

 

[mum140381]

more ever time i think to myself i dont remember it being that bad then bam worst paid i have ever felt cant believe i am doing it for the 7th time but i only use gas and air x

 

[SweetPea3200]

Just popping in to stalk this thread and hear some more opinions. Great read for someone expecting their first

 

[MummyToAmberx]

Every one of my labours has been different, my last(#3) was my most painful. It felt like pains in transition at only 3cm, she was out within 3hrs! Some women don't have back to back contractions which i think huge part, if you get breaks in between even at the end its going to be 10x easier to deal with. My 2nd wasn't all that bad it was mainly just pain from SPD.

 

[UponAStar]

Labor was way more painful than I had expected.

There must have been some weird positioning or something, though, because even when I was having strong contractions hours into labor the machine couldn't read them and my midwife had to call in a few other midwives to see if they could feel them by actually touching my abdomen. Even then only one midwife was able to (barely) feel them right before the pushing stage started. I had been hoping to have an unmedicated birth but after hopping on one foot for over half an hour (it was the only thing I found that made the pain somewhat bearable) I started trying the pain relief options available. I don't think I prepared myself enough for labor pain, honestly. I'd been counting on a warm bath to ease my pain since it helped with braxton hicks but it actually made my contractions hurt worse. Oh well -- at least I'm more prepared for next time. Haha.

 

[mjemma]

Mine was much more painful. It lasted a long time with a prolonged pushing stage but I only used the pool and g&a. Eventually DS was stuck so I was given a spinal -the most amazing feeling ever! - before they got him out. I'll tell you about #2 in a few weeks but hoping for better, though more open to pain relied this time!!