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You know what scares me?
So many birth stories say that the pain is similar to period pain, only worse. That scares me, because me period pain is insane - I've been chowing down on Panafen every 3 hours on the dot for the last 2 days, and I'm still right at the edge of being able to cope. How the frick would I ever be able to go drug free in labour?!
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I wouldn't say it was like period pain.
When I've been induced both times its starts off like period pain/cramps but the "middle and the end" aren't anything like period pain...well for me it wasn't.
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This is going to be such a copout answer, but... You just cope. (ignore Amelia's birth story) It is a lot like period pain, but it's different too itms? Period pain is just the closest approximation because it's so different to anything else you'll ever feel
Sent from my iPhone so forgive the speelung misstacks
2014 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.
For me, it was about my headspace. I rarely have period pain, so can't really compare there, but once I realised that all the drug options were out for me (after trying every single one), my head got into a better place and I realised I could do it, simply because I had to. Next time around, I'm going to make sure I have DH equipped to keep my brain in the right place
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It was to me, but I also knew it would be over in several hours and at the end there would be a beautiful bundle of joy to behold. I was also so over being pg and having painful SPD, in a stragne way, it was kinda good to have that different pain, lol!
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I thought it was, and it gets alot worst then period pain - But at least Labour has a really positive endingI put myself in the right headspace - And i did the drug free birth.
But I really am a sook when it comes to pain! I think its just the mind and how you perceive it.
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for me, the relationship to period pain wasn't about intensity - more where the pain was. i ached in the same places i had ached on the few times i'd had pain during period. labour (for me) was induced, and the pain was less than when i'd had an early second-tri loss. i had laboured for that, and the pain was more for that than the induced labour i had to deliver DD.
as has been said, there is also a very different headspace when you are about to give birth! right now, you are going through an induced AF, where your body is being forced to shed your lining, with no real build up, and definitely none of the happy/anticipating hormones flowing (no pre-labour either!) - your body is being forced to do something it doesn't want to, because of the drugs you've had to take. even when the p4 drugs didn't force me to have a visit from AF, the cramping etc was really ordinary because it was my body fighting against itself - labour and birth, if your head is in the right space, doesn't have that fight. it's what your body is meant to do...
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I have bad period pain too Keike. Don't worry, you'll be fine.
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i had bad endo and trust me labour is AWESOME in comparison
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It's really important with labour pain, to try to focus on the 'wave' of the pain and it's progress with each contraction, I call it "riding the wave" and when I was in labour, as a contraction started, I'd imagine riding up a wave and reaching the top of it at the most painful point then as I felt the pain disappearing as the contraction left, I would ride the wave down and enjoy that feeling of relief and the 'break' until the next wave came. HTMS!!
I truly think that helped me with each one. And I'll do that again this time.
And yes, having fear of the pain, only makes it more painful. Rather, try to embrace the pain. It's absolutely amazing and wonderful how powerful our bodies are.... you have to let your body take over really. Don't fight it
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I liken my contractions to a bad case of gastro, you know when you get the waves of pain. That's the best way I can describe it. Except at the end of it you have a bubba :-)
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I've always had excruciating period pains that would have me vomiting, fainting & shaking in pain & for the most part labour was more manageable than this. I would say it's similar up until transition. Transition for me was when it got tough but you need to breathe calmly. I found moaning helped me to distract my mind from the pain. And moving my legs helped too. Labour is an amazing experience. Ppl love telling you horror stories when you're Preg but I do believe it's alot to do with how well prepared you are as in knowing what your body is going to be doing and why so that you don't panic. It's about confidence and being in a good head space.
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Period pain is 'yucky', labour ... I dunno, it's different and not 'yucky'.
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MadB is right it's not a yucky pain, you know with the increasing intensity it's bringing your baby closer.
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Keiks, I had horrendous period pain. Labour was not painful. It was uncomfortable, but I could walk, talk... think! And it actually served a purpose, unlike period pain (unless the purpose of period pain is to make us feel crappy, in which case it succeeds). And because contractions aren't continuous, it isn't 24-hour period pain.
Best thing - post Liebs, very little period pain!
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Don't worry Keike. Yes it is like very bad period pain I thought but it's also different. With period pain you just feel crap, you don't get anything out of it, it just feels like a bad pain. With labour, it's a strong kind of pain, it's your body working and you think about it differently. Your body is working really hard to get your baby out and at the end you get to meet the little one you've been carrying around for 9 months. You can think about it differently because it has a purpose and that makes it much easier to cope with. You'll be fine
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