Does anything...and I mean anything at all hurt more than child birth?

[Madissun]

For me, the pain was pretty much identical to my period pain (well, apart from pushing out the head!)

The best thing about labour pain? The hormones that make you forget! You dont get those with any other type of pain.

And really, if it was that bad, would women not only do it once, but go back for more?!

I was scared like you too honey, but remember and trust that your body knows what to do and it knows how to handle whats happening every step of the way. And just when you think it cant get any worse, it will ease off.

You will be fine! Good luck xx

[Meegs]

I agree with Manta... if you focus on the pain you are almost talking yourself into it.. Yes it hurts.. but my advice is not to think about that part.. It is definately a positive pain and I can honestly say that I enjoyed my drug free birth.. Wierd huh?? I guess that because you know that you are going to have a fantastic outcome it makes it easier to push (pardon the pun) through!!

Butr geez.. sounds like I would rather give birth than have gallstones, ruptured appendix and kidney stones anyday!!

[Nai]

I think there are many more painful things than childbirth.

Personally my wisdom teeth removal and fracturing my sacrum are 2 that come to mind. My swimming instructor today said that getting fungus scraped off her eardrum was more painful than childbirth (and I think it does sound like it would be!)

[amberj]

I have to agree with myson- recovery from episiotomy and major tearing was worse than birth. Yes, birth was exceptionally painful, but fuzzy in memory and it ends. Recovery I recall very clearly indeed and it seemed to go on forever. Try not to have a 9.5lb baby!

[Spring Angel]

TBH birthing my earth baby was a breeze. Almost enjoyable. Emotional pain is much worse IMO.

If you are in the right frame of mind labour is a beautiful thing and isn't painful at all.

Spring xx

[Mad Scientist]

I have to agree with myson- recovery from episiotomy and major tearing was worse than birth. Yes, birth was exceptionally painful, but fuzzy in memory and it ends. Recovery I recall very clearly indeed and it seemed to go on forever. Try not to have a 9.5lb baby!

I'll agree with this one too! And feeling the episiotomy happening because they didn't put enough anaesthetic in. That made labour feel like a walk in the park. Sorry if TMI!

Alibaby - good luck with your labour. To be honest, I loved every minute of it. It is such a fantastic challenge. The whole time I just knew my body could do it. I found the exhaustion is worse than the pain. But it's a bearable pain. I kept waiting for it to get worse and it never did. Not like breaking a limb or cutting yourself really badly. The whole experience just the best and to be totally honest I can't wait to do it again (and I remember clearly what it was like cos it was only a year ago that I was going through it!) ;-) You'll be fine. Probably best to expect the worst so you might be pleasantly surprised :-p

[Ilithyia]

I would call labour intense, at times VERY intense, but not really painful.

We can all add our 2 cents worth here but nothing is going to take away the "fear of the unknown". Until you experience childbirth yourself, your "curiosity" won't be cured.

Try and go in with an open mind. Don't think one or the other.

Have a good support team who know what your ideals are for the birth.

I always give my clients a copy of "A Labour of Love" to listen to in the last week of their pregnancies. They then go on to listen to the CD during the labour. The breathing exercises on the CD give them a focus point.

Don't put to much pressure on yourself. Be open. Literally!

[Sair]

I always give my clients a copy of "A Labour of Love" to listen to in the last week of their pregnancies. They then go on to listen to the CD during the labour. The breathing exercises on the CD give them a focus point.

That is the CD I was talking about, I loved it!

[AnyDream]

Fantastically interesting question, I'm enjoying reading people's frank description of the relativity of their pain/sensation in childbirth.

I'm loving ppl saying "gallstones is worse than childbirth". I'm currently having gallstone attacks (yes I need morphine to cope with them) and I'm aware that I'm at the very extreme end of the spectrum BUT childbirth was worse for me than my gallstones. I'd rate the severe pain from gallstones as an 8-9 but childbirth took me into the 10 zone.

However from all my reading and listening to women's experiences, I'm aware that this is not normal at all and probably a poor reflection on the hospital I was in at the time. Or maybe I'm just wired differently to other women.

ETA: In defence of whatever it was that HP's mum wrote, pain that is 10/10 is probably just about as extreme as it gets. It was painful enough to cause me to leave my body and go to the jumping off place, to look my death in the eye. I had to fight to stay here, to stay alive. I'm sorry if that is scary to whoever reads it but both HP's Mum and myself are still here so and in the end that's what matters. In contrast, my neighbour across the road was the one-in-a-million woman who felt exactly ZERO pain during any of her 3 births, only went to the hospital with her first because she was feeling a 'heavy' sensation. It was the baby descending through the birth canal, it crowned just after she waddled through the door. I'm sure that's not normal either. But I'd like to think that BB is a place where every woman's experience is honoured and validated, no matter how extreme or strange it might seem to everyone else.

[AliBaby]

I'm enjoying reading people's frank description of the relativity of their pain/sensation in childbirth.

Me too! I think it is so interesting to know how different people view the idea of pain and what it is to them as it is so true that everyone rates pain differently and we all have different pain thresholds.

I cant believe some of the terrible accidents or medical problems some people have gone through! It really does show how amazingly strong we are as women!

I dont think men would be able to cope with the different types of pain that different ladies on BB have experienced. My DP whinges and carries on when he has a cold!!!!!

[Tobily]

Having never had broken bones or any serious injuries or chronic illnesses before I had my kids - yes, childbirth was the most painful thing my body has ever experienced.

Yet after a 20 hour labour with our first one, I told my DH less than an hour after she was born that I wanted another one asap. Such is the power of happy birthing hormones!

I get asked about the pain factor alot from the mum's I work with...there are some doulas and midwives that like to minimise references to pain and give it other names - while I understand that intellectually and appreciate that there are women for whom this approach works, I don't talk about pain in that way. Primarily I guess because that wasn't my own experience of it, my labours hurt! I guess I don't feel that you can prepare for something unless you know what it is, so I tend not to sugar coat it. But in saying that birthing is painful, the pain is also transformative and it has a purpose - we come through it transformed from women into mothers. It also plays an important role in keeping mother and baby safe during birthing and in triggering responses and events that are important in the process. So for that reason we can embrace it and know that it's not something to fear. It is most definitely not the same as having your leg chopped off.

[krisp]

But I'd like to think that BB is a place where every woman's experience is honoured and validated, no matter how extreme or strange it might seem to everyone else.

I second that, we all have different birthing experiences, some are just horrific and some are blissful. Each experience is as valid as the next and BB is often the one place where we feel free to be open and honest. It may scare some people but it's OUR truth. Please lets all accept each other as we are, scarey stories, sad stories, wonderful experiences and ugly truths.

We are who we are - wonderful, strong and HONEST women...

[Mum0809]

Even though my post had MY opinion and MY expereince, which I thought the was the post was asking for peoples opinions and expereinces, I have offended someone. Apparently I wasn't meant to feel the way I did when I gave birth and if for some freakish reason I did feel that way I certainly wasn't meant to tell anyone or write it down. I'm very sorry if I upset or offended anyone else.

[Ilithyia]

No I don't think there is nothing thing more painful than childbirth. I thought I was going to die, I was in so much pain.

I totally take into consideration that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. And I value that your experience of childbirth is what it was. But thats is exactly it. YOUR birth expereince was your own. I honestly don't think there is a need to relate the pain of dying to the birth of ones child.

As I mentioned in my last post, everyone has a different experience and feels labour differently. But to post a reply to a woman who obviously has some anxieties about her upcoming labour that you "thought you were going to die". C'mon!

Its these types of comments which can send women down the road to a cascade of intervention.

[Celsie]

I think when your precious little one hurts themselves or is upset and really cries and you can see the tears rolling down their sweet little face... that hurts more.

Don't worry Ali - mother nature has a funny way of making you forget. I was all ready to do it again 24 hours later.

[Janie]

LOL Celsie, I was ready to do it again 5 minutes later - I told the midwives and my ob so and they all thought I was hilarious. I was serious!

[Celsie]

LOL Celsie, I was ready to do it again 5 minutes later - I told the midwives and my ob so and they all thought I was hilarious. I was serious!

Mother Nature must have REALLY worked her wonders with you. I wasn't THAT keen.

[Muffy]

Im sure there are more painful things than child birth.
BUT...
Child birth is THE WORST pain i have ever been through.

ETA - Willow i will agree about the cyst they are DAMN painful but i still think childbirth was worse..