Labor Questions

PretzelMom22 · May 2011

I just wanted to ask a couple of questions about labor pains since this is my first and I'm a bit scared, lol.

-Does the pressure from the baby cause the pain during contractions?

-Will I feel more pressure than pain?

virginiagirl11 · May 2011

For me, contractions felt like really intense menstrual cramps that got more painful as time went on. I'm not sure what you mean by pressure from the baby but your uterus is contracting to move the baby down and your body is working to open your cervix.

I felt both pressure and pain. For me, it helped to try to focus on breathing patterns.

GL!

luvnunity · May 2011

Same as PP. There was a lot of pain from contractions (really, really bad cramps). The pressure came more for me when it was time to push. Pushing actually relieves the pressure and pain during the time of delivery.

Meow71 · May 2011

Contractions feel like really bad period cramps that keep getting worse. After your water breaks, the pain gets even more intense cause there is no more cushion in there. About two hours after my water broke is when I was so exhausted I got the epidural. Pressure from the baby doesnt hurt it just feels like you have to go to the bathroom. It is uncomfortable but not painful. Feeling ectreme pressure is usually when you know it is time to push. I totally ignored this feeling and didnt tell anyone cause i didnt want them to make me start pushing too early. If you just let your body do most of the work you will end up pushing less. Eventually the pressure felt like something was coming out of me, and I finally told someone, and there was a baby coming out lol. If you have an epidural, your contractions will feel like pressure, not pain.

I know youre nervous and scared, but try not to dwell on it. Get excited about it and enjoy your labor instead of dreading it. Its way more fun that way.

NurseLaLa · May 2011

A contraction is your muscle contracting on its on - think of a muscle cramp in your calf muscle. It's painful because it's the muscle working its magic.

The pressure the baby causes tends to numb rather than cause pain. Until you crown, that is! You can feel the skin stretching (hate to say it, but also ripping), but remember the pain is temporary...

If you have back labor; that's a whole new can of worms. It's when the baby is facing upward the whole time instead of facing downward and turning through the birth canal. i.e. a posterior baby. My daughter was posterior and it... It was painful. I didn't have an epi, so I felt it all. The baby is essentially pressing on your spine with every contraction.

Remember, there's no reason to lay flat on your back during labor or delivery! Squat, move around, walk, go on all fours, etc. Your body is built for this.

mari_gold · May 2011

I'm not sure how much baby contributes to the pain during contractions. I've read that sunny-side up babies cause more intense back pain, so I would think that yes, they are a factor in how painful your contractions will be.

I felt more pain than pressure - although pressure was definitely there - but I was induced and pitocin contractions are apparently worse than the natural kind.

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