During labor -- especially if you haven't been given pain medication -- you may find yourself screaming, crying, even swearing at your husband or doctor.
While a handful of things might hurt worse than labor, the significance of the pain caused by giving birth should not be minimized. And though labor can be a painful process, certain things can contribute to or increase the discomfort felt.
According to a survey conducted by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, around 50% of birthing parents between 18 and 39 said that contractions were the most painful part of labor and delivery.
Visceral labour pain occurs during the early first stage and the second stage of childbirth. With each uterine contraction, pressure is transmitted to the cervix causing stretching and distension and activating excitatory nocioceptive afferents. These afferents innervate the endocervix and lower segment from T10 – L1.
Some people describe the feeling as being like intense period cramps, others say it feels like a tightening or pounding feeling in your uterus or across your belly, others describe the feeling as being like very intense muscle cramps, while still other people describe contractions as being like the sort of wrenching ...
While the experience is different for everyone, labor typically feels like extremely strong menstrual cramps that get progressively more and more intense as time goes on1.
"So it may be that a baby does feel pain while [they're] going through the birth canal—but no one knows for sure." If the pain of labor and delivery does register with a baby, some experts liken it to a feeling of being gradually squeezed. "It's hard to say what a baby senses," says Dr. Auerbach.
Studies show about 15 to 22 percent of women worldwide, and possibly 50 percent of women in the U.S., experience fear related to childbirth at some point during pregnancy. It's completely normal to be a little scared about giving birth. Childbirth is a complex process and a truly life-changing event for any woman.
This is referred to as tokophobia. It can happen in a first or following pregnancy. When it starts in a following pregnancy the cause can be a traumatic first labour and birth experience. If you feel this level of terror you should tell your midwife or doctor how you feel.
The most common description of the level of pain experienced was extreme menstrual cramps (45 percent), while 16 percent said it was like bad back pain and 15 percent compared it to a broken bone.
I'll start with a summary of my perspective (which I think could really help you out if you're concerned about labour), then I'll delve into it from a couple of angles… Period pains are worse than labour. More accurately, period pains are worse than the pain of surges (that's contractions, if you're new round here).
Lochia is the vaginal discharge you have after giving birth. It contains a mix of blood, mucus and uterine tissue. It has a stale, musty odor like menstrual period discharge and can last several weeks.
A vaginal delivery is the safest and most common type of childbirth. Vaginal deliveries account for about 68% of all births in the United States. Most medical organizations and obstetricians recommend a vaginal delivery unless there is a medical reason for a C-section.
The potential for a quicker labor, delivery and recovery – For some people, a natural birth may go more quickly. While it depends on several different factors, like how relaxed you may be, in some cases medications can interfere with contractions and prolong labor.
In nature, when a laboring animal feels threatened or disturbed, the stress hormone catecholamine shuts down labor. Similarly, when a laboring woman does not feel safe or protected or when the progress of her normal labor is altered, catecholamine levels rise and labor slows down or stops.
We are born with only two innate fears: the fear of falling and the fear of loud sounds.
Ultimately, a natural birth may be more painful than a cesarean section. However, the pain after your cesarean section combined with the heightened risks to you and your baby may outweigh the initial pain of childbirth. Make sure you consult with your doctors to get the best possible advice for you.
Natural birth is an unparalleled life stressor. Labor induces the production of fetal stress hormones including catecholamines, cortisol, and vasopressin1.
For you, early contractions may feel quite painless or mild, or they may feel very strong and intense. The pain you feel can also differ from one pregnancy to the next, so if you've been in labor before you might experience something quite different this time around.
How long it lasts: Active labor often lasts 4 to 8 hours or more. On average, your cervix will dilate at approximately 1 cm an hour. What you can do: Look to your labor partner and health care team for encouragement and support. Try breathing and relaxation techniques to relieve your discomfort.
As you heal from a vaginal delivery, you'll likely experience a few weeks of swelling and pain in your perineum (the area between your vagina and anus).
Benefits of laboring in water
A positive birth experience: Women who have labored or given birth in water say they had less pain and a greater sense of control. Less pain medication: Some studies show that women who labor in water need less pain medication and may have a shorter first stage of labor.