low pain tollerance and natural birth

[Bathsheba]

Good idea Lori I agree, I did that too the first time around (asked for peth and gas) and yes: it only made it worse. By the time I had my third I resolved to try to avoid all that and I found that my body compensated naturally by actually giving me far superior natural "relief" in the form of longish periods of pain "lull". Just before transition I found that my body actaully gave me a break... it was weird... I felt tired but the pain really subsided and gave me a good half hours break just before it came time to push. I suspect that taking all that "pain relief" in my first two labours interfered with this process. Let me tell you it was very surprising, and very welcome!

[Lenny]

I tend to agree with most of the posts here, and i was secretly pleased to see you have your mind set on vaginal birth. Good for you.
Pain tolerance has little to do with it, it's all about your labour. For me i think the great thing about the vaginal delivery (for me) was that once it was over, the pain was all gone. Even the stitches weren't that bad. I would definitely do it that way again if i can, so that means it can't be all that bad, aye!
Yep, it's painful, but as the other's said, it's constructive pain. And you can always just squeeze DH's hand a little bit tighter !!

Good luck, I hope you have the birth experience that you dream of.

[lauren22]

thanks guys
finally getting passed one of the big decisions left me feeling empowered today.
I got alot accomplished and I feel fab
starting to collect all my info I'm so early and so excited ahahahahah.
thanks again for all your amazing advice BB really is the best for answering all the questions that you need a mothers answer for

[Rooey5]

Oh dear...

After reading all the posts about people with a low pain tolerance handling labour superbly, I'm concerned!!!

I have a pretty high pain tolerance (after all the poop I went through as a kid, I need it!), so I hope the oppsite isn't true when it's my turn and I become a blubbering mess!!!

[Bathsheba]

Hiya Rooey... I didn't necessarily handle the pain of labour superbly... it was extremely hard (and I too have experienced a fair degree of other types of pain in my life including multiple surgeries and 2 dislocated knees)... but the thing with labour pain is that you can focus on "getting through to the other side" and when you get there it's all worth it. I never forgot my labour pain... but it was more than worth it for the end result. And I also feel an AMAZING sense of accomplishment for having endured it. It made me feel like I can handle anything. That's what made it different from the other types of pain.