Labour and birth pain compared to other types of pain

A lot of how you will experience labour will depend upon bubs position. For the first 5 hours of my labour DS was in the LOT position and I was coping very well. The contractions were powerful but I wouldn't call them painful. It was a bit like when you lift something heavy ITMS. When contractions were 3 minutes apart lasting for over a minute we decided we better get to the hospital (so not far from the end). Bub decided to turn posterior on the drive there. The difference was huge - and it sucked BIG time. For me it changed everything, contractions slowed down and became less efficient because I simply couldn't relax through them because now there was pain, all in my back as bub pressed on my nerve endings there. It took a lot to encourage him back into a good position, and it seemed that every time we did, the hospital staff would insist on using the heart rate monitors (because I was a VBAC which is akin to a chemical bomb apparently) which he hated and would turn back to get away from them - Gah!. It took me another 29 hours of posterior labour (and hiding from nursing staff in the shower so they couldn't use the monitors or harass me about not using them) before I got to 10cm and could start pushing. Bub's position makes a huge difference as to how easy (or hard) you both labour.

Totally! DD came down my pelvis with her head sideways (thus the feeling that my pelvis was being torn apart).
Well done hiding from them that long

Yep! My DD was posterior and arrived that way (induction didn't help) Still got through it just using gas. Check out the Spinning Babies website for ways you can sit etc to get bub in the optimal position for birth, just 2 try 2 make it easier on both of you.

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Totally! DD came down my pelvis with her head sideways (thus the feeling that my pelvis was being torn apart).

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Had the same thing with DD2...refer pulled apart chook comment above :rofl:

I reckon its fine, so long as things are progressing nicely. For me, that pain was totally bearable (with gas LOL) right up to 10 cms and that was with a posterior baby. But it progressed nice and quickly (4am, 5cm -9am, 10cm)
Then bubs got wedged and for 2 hrs I pushed. The pain wasnt any worse, but OMG the feeling of doing all that work and not getting anywhere, that was painful LOL.
So I caved, got the epi and then they pulled him out.
But hell, if he had come out in a more timely fashion, then it would have been totally bearable, just like the worst period pain ever,but bearable KWIM?

Hmm... I found posterior labour to be quite a sharp pain all in my lower back and I normally have a very high pain thresh hold. Granted he was my first vaginal birth, 4.5kgs and had a big head, so his size on top of his position most probably had a lot to do with it. I think the pain or pressure or whatever is all very relative, and there are so many contributing factors that can change your experience. As they say every labour is different, even for the same woman. I think the important thing is that you are educated and empowered to make the decisions you feel you need to make, whether that be doing it drug free, using alternative therapies, or using pain-relief, and be willing to change your mind. I know I had planned on going drug free and only take gas if I absolutely had to, but the gas did nothing for me but make me feel sick.

This is my take on the subject as a tried and tested hypnobirther - I'm kinda "set in my ways" about this so keep in mind it's my opinion only.
I don't think birth "pain" is comparable to injurious pain. When you birth, your body is contracting for a purpose ... your body is doing exactly what it was made to do to bring your beautiful baby into the world. If you can tune into your body and be confident in your body's ability to birth (and consciously relax as much as you can during contractions) you are probably going to be better equipped mentally and physically to deal with the very foreign sensation as a first time mum. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder ... and so is "pain".
On the other hand, I'd expect that if you injure yourself to the point that the pain is almost unbearable (or have a medical condition like kidney stones), then your mental outlook is going to be very different.
I birthed confidently and felt totally on top of any "pain" I felt. To this end I had both boys without the need for pain relief. But cut off my hand and/or break my leg and my attitude to pain would probably be a completely different kettle of fish. I'd be like "GIVE ME THE DRUGS".

Hi Lee,

I suffer from IBS too, and actually thought the onset of labour was a mild episode. Realised reasonably quickly that it wasn't :)

I gave birth without any analgesia and found it intense, but completely bearable. If you have ever had IBS and period pain at the same time, it was never any worse than that. I said right after, "I could do that again!" It is pain with a purpose, and you know that there's an end to it, with one heck of a reward! IBS I find so draining, and usually it's punishment for bad dietary choices or for letting myself get too stressed. I feel wrecked after an episode and usually need to sleep it off. I was totally charged after my daughter's birth - energised and relaxed.

Take the time to learn about relaxation, about where you store tension and how to release that tension. I did prenatal yoga from about 23 weeks to around 35 weeks and it helped me understand my body so well - I learned that I keep my tension in my shoulders and jaw, and asked my DH to help me out during labour by reminding me to relax between contractions.

Your body is made for this... you will be amazed at what you can do :) Good luck!