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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?!
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.
This is going to be such a copout answer, but... You just cope. (ignore Amelia's birth story :lol:) 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 ;)
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 :D
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!
I thought it was, and it gets alot worst then period pain - But at least Labour has a really positive ending :) I 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.
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...
I have bad period pain too Keike. Don't worry, you'll be fine.
I found period pain to be much much worse than contractions. You will cope, you really will. Even if you do decide to take drugs to get through then that's still ok.
I guess everyones pain measure is different.
I used to have bad period pain, but not terrible enough that i took anything that often ...
Contractions started off like that, but were way more intense.... I guess at some point the pain gets so much that the body must block it out, like sort of goes into shock...
I was yelling for drugs :) but mum was yelling for a epidural for me , and DH was asleep after sampling some gas .. towards the end. but if you keep focused and dont accept the drugs... you can have the kind of birth you want....
Everyones labour is also different and im sure you will do just fine :) I suprised myself
I would have to say that my pain was 100% completely NOTHING like period pain. I have variously had crippling period pain before, but this was... something else! Worse than any period pain I've ever had, but also completely not like period pain. I also had back pain inbetween contractions, so I don't know if that made a difference, or not. I know I didn't get any rest between contractions & I'm sure that does make a difference.
Mine was like waves of intense period pain. You just do it Keike. Once it's over and the pain is gone you feel like a superhero for getting through it and you (sort of) forget all about the pain.
My labour started off like period pain but much more painful than my usual period pain I was used to..... then it eventuated into much more pain after that :lol:
Honestly though, it's so worth it and you get the best reward at the end of all that hard work.... you're working towards it the whole time.... meeting your baby. Whereas period pain is pointless pain and there is no reward at the end!!
Alot of it has to do with your head space and how you let yourself perceive the pain. "Pain with purpose" is good pain :D
It can't be that bad, I did it drug free last time and any hour/day now I will be doing it again drug free. ;) just think that if it was that bad, noone would have subsequent babies! ok at the time, you think wow this is bad :lol: but afterwards, you honestly forget the pain because you have this beautiful bundle in your arms!!
Then you will probably be prepared for labour!!
Mine was like period pain but my normal period pain wasn't that bad. As others have said, it comes in waves and as long as you get over the peak you have made it through that contraction.
Mine never felt like period pain lol
You'll do fine. Just breathe. Don't fear the contractions cos it'll make you tense up which makes it more painful.
And I'm a big wuss so if I could do it twice drug free - you'll be fine!!
It is totally different to period pain. I get severe pain from endo and I didn't find contractions any harder to deal with. When you have period pain, the pain is pretty much constant with no break, but with contractions you only have the pain while you have a contraction and even then it builds, peaks and then ebbs away.
I can say that my labours have been absolutely NOTHING like period pain. lol So don't stress on that one. ;)
My contractions did feel quite like period pain (but more intense and 'structured'), my period pain is like waves with peaks and such though so maybe I'm weird! Everytime I have period pain now I'm reminded of labour. I think it is pretty normal to contemplate our ability to labour but half the reason for fear is that it is so unknown. Labour is very unlike any other pain simply because it serves a really fantastic purpose and there is an end, you know there is an end (although I wouldn't say it is when the baby pops out as you still need to deliver the placenta and your uterus needs to contract). Also, just becomes somebodies labour is worse than their period pain doesn't indicate that your labour will also be worse than your period pain so I really wouldn't freak out about that. You can do it, trust me, I just kept reminding myself that people do this everyday and many go on to do it again!
Spose I don't really have much to worry about at this time, considering I'm not even pregnant ;) Jeez, this anxiety thing is really rad!
I agree. My early contractions in some labours felt a bit like period pain, but not the whole way through. And it's different, too.... that mindspace thing. I wouldn't be surprised if you cope better with labout than with period pain.:
i had bad endo and trust me labour is AWESOME in comparison :) (well, ok, labour is awesome full stop, but you get my drift lol).:
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 :D
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 :-)
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.
Period pain is 'yucky', labour ... I dunno, it's different and not 'yucky'.
MadB is right it's not a yucky pain, you know with the increasing intensity it's bringing your baby closer.
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!
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 :)
Always good to be prepared and I know this is something you will have a need to think about ;) hopefully soon :hug::