Are you giving birth in an environment where you feel safe?.Have you had a traumatic experience with pain in the past?.Do you feel confident or fearful about the idea of giving birth?.There are many factors that can influence your perception of labor pain, such as (1): That’s because pain is a physical experience that’s also influenced by emotions. Who should she believe? How painful is childbirth? It turns out that everyone processes the pain of contractions differently and perceptions of contraction pain are all over the board. Who should I believe?!” Women experience contraction pain differently But my own mom says it’s the worst pain ever and I should get an epidural. Crying gently, she said, “My mother-in-law says birth is nothing more than hard period cramps. I clearly remember the conversation I had with one tearful mom. So, how bad is natural birth, really? Moms ask me this question all the time. How painful is childbirth? Contraction pain: Strong period cramps or worst pain ever?! Stretching out of the pelvic floor during pushing.Pressure of the baby’s head pushing on the bladder and rectum.Tension as the ligaments of the uterus and pelvis are stretched.The pressure of baby’s head pressing onto the cervix.The stretching of the cervix as it dilates from 0-10cm.Reduced oxygen in the uterine muscle, creating a build-up of lactic acid.The following physical changes contribute to the pain of childbirth (2): Finally, baby’s head crowns, and the head, shoulders, and body are born. With time, you feel the urge to push, and baby moves down the birth canal. As labor progresses, contractions grow in length and intensity. Each contraction brings your baby closer to you.) Why is childbirth painful?įor most women, the contractions of early labor are mild and far apart. Childbirth is one of those rare times when discomfort is a sign of progress. N – Normal (Pain is usually a sign that something’s wrong. Birth is not hours of unrelenting pain, like the constant throbbing of a broken bone.) For most of your labor, those breaks will be long and pain-free. I – Intermittent (Labor pain comes and goes in short, minute-long waves with breaks in between. Much better than giving birth to a kidney stone, right?!)Ī – Anticipated (You know a contraction is coming and you’re going to be well-prepared with tools to decrease the pain. P – Purposeful (The goal of labor is to give life to your baby. While contraction pain is often severe, I’ve learned that the pain of childbirth is different from the pain of a broken arm or a kidney stone. I load up on Motrin when I have my period and use heavy Novocain when I have dental work done, just like every other normal person out there. I’ve had 6 natural births, and believe me, I’m no masochist.
So it’s wise for all moms-to-be to anticipate pain and learn to cope with it. And we know there’s nothing pain-free about healing from a c-section, either. Most women experience hours of contractions before they get an epidural. It’s rare to have a completely pain-free birth, even if you choose to use pain medication. For the vast majority of women, childbirth is painful.īut before we go any further, it’s important to recognize that pain in labor is not exclusive to women who have natural births (birth without an epidural or narcotics). When your ultimate goal is to remove a 7+ pound baby from your body, some measure of discomfort is unavoidable. Here are some other birth articles and stories we know you’ll love.How painful is childbirth: Comparing birth to running a marathon.Women experience contraction pain differently.Contraction pain: Strong period cramps or worst pain ever?!.
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