Stretching the truth about pregnancy, birth pains

Every woman has a different threshold for pain. I know some women who would give birth and then be walking around like nothing happened after several hours. It is also difficult to describe how much pain you feel. But for me, it was the worst pain I have experienced in my life. I had to go to labor for thirteen hours before my obstetrician decided to do a Caesarian section. I was the morphine drip to relieve the pain but it did not really help. The good thing is that we remember being in pain but not the pain itself. And seeing the baby's face just makes things better.

hm i dont think people ever really said anything about labor hurting to me.. its almost like common sence. when they were checking me for dialation, people would tell me no it doesnt hurt, the mid wife told me it didnt hurt.. well YES it hurt, it hurt BAD! lol i was like you, i was mad that they told me it didnt hunt, just to make me feel better.

Did you ever consider the fact that some of us have had far worse pains than labour, or that really, our pain receptors are not as sensitive as yours. I had 3 kids, naturally, and the pain wasn't as bad as kidney stones or a broken ankle. in fact, it was only uncomfortable, sort of like bad diarrhea cramps, until the pushing stage. I guess some of us just aren't wusses and have had worse pain.

I would prefer to know the truth so I could be prepared but I also think that sometimes the truth can be alittle too hard to handle and actually make it worse. Had I been told that labor would be a horrible,painful, excruciating experience I probably would have been more scared than I needed to be. As it is I can honestly say that labor ISN'T always very painful or hard. With the exception of one I have had very easy labors and deliveries. If someone askes me if labor is painful I will be truthful and say that I have never had an epidural and with that one exception never neededone. With my last I even labored comfortably at home for all but the last 1 1/2 hours...45 minutes to drive to the hospital and 45 minutes to get set up in my room, then devivered my son without pushing.

I'm like you. When I was pregnant I wanted to know the good, the bad, and the ugly facts about pregnancy, labor and childbirth. I went through a childbirthing class, which helped a lot. I got to learn what to do to handle the pain and the facts about what I would be going through during labor. I had a natural childbirth with my daughter. While it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, yes it was still painful. And I make sure to tell everyone that when they ask. Of course anyone in my entire family could tell you I was in pain since they were in the waiting room down the hall hearing my screams lol. When my little sister came in to see me after I delivered my daughter she was in tears thinking I was dying. She was only 12 at the time and my mom said I just gave her the best form of birth control she will ever need lol.

Yes I want the truth about things like that, but I am actually one of those people that can tell you it was really no big deal for me when in labor except on my 3rd child and that was only because I was induced. I had no pain killers, epidural, or anything to help with the pain as I didn't need them. I watched TV the whole time with my 1st baby and popped him out after being in labor a little over 8 hours. My 2nd one came in a little over 4 hours and it went by so quick. My 3rd was my painful one and that was only after they gave me petocin. Before they induced I was watching TV, but my contractions started slowing down so they felt it was best to induce me. I don't wish that upon anyone! My 4th, he came in about 3 hours time and I rested at home for about 2 hours of it watching TV and taking a bath. I guess I am one of the lucky ones and can withstand alot of pain.

i did not have epiduarl with my first of course i really did not need it .my pain was not that bad on scale of 1 to 10 it was prob between 5-7i would do it again natuarlly to

i was told they fell like menstrual cramps and truthfully they did at first then i had to get the epidural b/c it hurt so bad.

I think that a lot of people think that they will scare you and thats not a good thing. I dont think that nothing can prepare you for it, each one is different but at least after the first you have an inkling about the pain. I dont think that there are any words to describe it.

I would prefer they tell me like it is and not stretch the truth. I actually got coached by my sister who already had three kids by then with one more on the way. She calmed me down, she got me through my contractions and I just focussed on what she was telling me as we went along. I had a midwife but I felt that she was more like my midwife LOL I think I have a high tolerance for pain so even though it was painful, as soon as I focussed on my breathing and just went with each contraction, it kind of didn't seem so bad after all. When my body was telling me it was time to push, I pushed. Pushing too early resulted in a nasty tear. As soon as I saw my son, all the pain was gone, only until a few hours later did I feel the pain of the stitches LOL

When I was pregnant with my first son in 1995 people lied to me about birth experiences and I was therefore not properly prepared. In my birth plan I only knew about the things I wanted. I went to a class for pregnant ladies the second time around. I found it informative, discussing the different stages and dealing with the pain. Breathing, active positions and relaxation helped me have a quick and very easy birth. I only had strong pain for about 20 minutes the rest of the pain was moderate. One of my friends didn't even know she was in a labour and went to a midwife for a routine appointment. She was sent straight to hospital! She has a very high pain threshold.

I think a lot of people saying it doesn't hurt is because we all have different pain tolerances. Like me, I have none!!! I do not tolerate pain at all. So had you asked me. I would have told you "IT HURTS!" Luckily for me. Everyone knew a head of time that I don't do pain very well, so they warned me of the pain. I have had two kids. The first one, the epidural blocked. So I ended up giving birth naturally anyways. The second one, was all natural with no other options. I was 9cm dialated by the time I got to the hospital. I had no choice. Needless to say. I had my tubes tied 6 weeks after my second child was born. *Just on a personal note! Ignore Judy, she is not worth getting upset about! From the different discussions I have seen her post to of yours. She is just doing it to make you mad and since you keep responding to her, she is getting what she wants. A reaction out of you! So you know what. If you ignore her, she will go away because she won't be getting any reaction out you anymore. I know it is hard but believe me you will be the one winning the battle.

I believe that the pain of childbirth is one of those things that the human psyche makes us forget exactly how painful it really is.... I hope that these people who told you that were not trying to be malicous about it...I am like you in that I want to know the truth when I ask someone a question....if they can not answer truthfully...then I would prefer that they just not even answer me at all...lol

There are some people who do have quick unpainful deliveries and other who have horrible rip someones arm off kinda pain. I have 3 children and I've experienced alittle of both. My first child the labor was very painful..my second child came so quickly they didn't have time to give me an apeseotomy (sp?)..and I had one labor pain with my son that lasted two hours straight and my (ex)husbands hand was purple from me squeezing. So some people may be sugar coating it and others may be telling the truth. I tend to sugar coat it unless there is not a pregnant woman around, then I say it freakin hurts!!

I think everyone was pretty straight up with me about it. If someone did tell me it wasn't going to hurt I wasn't about to take their word for it. I had a c-section though so I was only in labor for about two hours.

I'm the type that wants it all on the table, so I can be prepared. It's a little different when it comes to labor, because some women do tend to forget how much pain they went through. I had an epidural both times and it wasn't that bad, but I remember all the pain for the weeks afterwards. Some women say that the reward of a baby is so special, that they forget about the pain they went through. I don't understand why someone would out right lie to you, because hiding the truth never helps anyone.

Well some people see it differently, and once you have the little baby in your arms, the pain seems to fade. For the past several years, I have had pain that makes labor feel like nothing. I think if I was to have a baby now (Heaven forbid) it would be like falling off a log.

My wife wasn't much pain. Both my daughter (still born) and my son was fairly big babies. chloe was 5-6 and to say she was very early she made me proud as I knew she was strong :) Jake well he came out over 10 :) which is the same as myself when I was born. I guess some people have a large pain freshold and are able to manage it. Some being weaker find it more painful, I'm actually surprised though because I wouldn't like to do! :P ~Joey

I think it is too hard to describe to others, and as others mentioned, some can endure more pain for longer periods. In addition, succeeding births will usually be less painful than the first, and if the baby is turned the wrong way, or there are other complications, the pain will be different for everyone each time. After having my son naturally without any pain meds, I can now FINALLY describe to the doctors - in a way hopefully they can understand for once, that the pain I have experienced during menstruation is roughly six times WORSE than giving birth without any meds. Until a few years ago, it was dismissed as nothing significant.

i think it is up to individu itself. like me, while i was waiting to be admitted into the labour room, there is this one women who looks so calm, she even can smile and talk to me. but within a minutes infront of me, she delivered her baby naturally! no epidural, no nothing...the doctors didn't even get the chance to examine her... and for me, i fall asleep within my contarction times from 10 pm to 7 am...i've delivered my baby at 7.07am and in my scale, it is not no bad... no epidural too :)