labour pain comparison?

[Joy&Dawn]

Is labour pain as painful for a person who only had a 8hrs compare a 30+hrs?

I had a labour that was around 11 hours with my first child, it was UNBARRABLE. I went throught it without any drugs what so ever, and that i am very proud of. But im wondering, I have a friend that her first was 36 hours.

Is the pain the same?

Take care.

[BellyBelly]

Labour pain is different every time. The first time you don't know what you're in for, you can't compare it to anything. Also the baby's position could increase pain (especially if posterior) and how you labour, any induction or augmentation drugs, how stressed, tense and anxious you are and dehydration too. People can have intense, short labours and long but slow build up labours. Too hard to say But it's likely you will cope better with your second to some degree, I highly recommend doing some further reading and learning to find ways to reduce pain. Hire a doula, those who use doulas ask for less pain relief as they are more supported and relaxed.

I had a very long first labour - active labour isn't until you are 4cms dilated and this is often where they count the duration of labour from. Early/pre-labour can be uncomfortable but last hours, days... so I wouldn't count the length of labour until I was having regular, strong contractions.

[Nelle]

I am not sure with labours that long - there may be someone on BellyBelly who has experienced both and can comment. It seems to me like trying to tell which is more painful - stubbing my toe on concrete or stubbing my toe on metal...both are pretty painful at the time.

For what it's worth, I had an 11 hour labour and 50minute labour, and I found the 50min labour far more intense, and the 11 hour labour easier. I imagine with a 36 hour labour, exhaustion would play a large part there too.

And just noting...you say your labour was unbearable, but it sounds like you bore it pretty well if you laboured without drugs. Good stuff.