Menstrual pain compared to labor - Page 2

[littleteapot]

I was hospitalized more than once for the pain of my period and given a number of Rx painkillers (this was back before I became a more crunchy person, and before I had kids or even got married). So with that said...

The *worst* labour pains were kind of like the worst menstrual cramps except more centered in my back/spine. HOWEVER... they were much easier to handle, mentally. Period cramps have no point, labour pain means a baby. Also, labour pains have an end in sight. Period cramps could go on for a week, continually, with NO break. No peaks and valleys, no nothing. Labour pains go on and off and generally last less than two days. You clearly see yourself getting further and further to the end.
So in that sense I think I actually find a period WORSE than giving birth.

Like, the other day I was talking to my best friend on the phone about this HUGE canker I had on my inner lip that was about an inch big. My friend said the cure-all was a slice of raw garlic applied directly. I whined to her that it would hurt a LOT to do that, but she reminded me it was only a little bit of pain and then it would be over.
I told her I was a wimp for pain and she goes, "Childbirth, woman!"
"But childbirth is easy, canker sores are serious business!"

I honestly find the idea of putting raw garlic on a canker WAY more scary than the 44 hours of labour I had with my daughter.

[sebarnes]

I had pretty bad menstrual cramps pre baby. Labor was a lot like them until the pushing phase. And to add my voice to others - I got my period back at 18 months pp and had NO cramps whatsoever. Oh my, it was heaven!!

[Jilian]

I have had serious menstrual cramps in the past and a few ovarian cysts that have ruptured. Labor felt similar to what it feels like when a cyst ruptures, except you get a break between contractions and no break with a cyst. I guess you could also compare it to menstrual cramps too.

Unfortunately my PP period (at 17 mos pp) came with some serious cramps. I hope they go away this time around.

[sweeetpea]

I had a client, pregnant with her first child, a few years back, who was ADAMANT about planning an epidural during labor. She was absolutely convinced that there was NO WAY she would be able to handle the pain.

When she did go into labor, she breezed through the contractions, saying "This is NOTHING compared to my monthly cramps". By the time she thought about drugs, she was 9.5 cms and pushing. She has no pain meds, and wondered what all the fuss was about!

Sweetpea

[cottonwood]

Contractions (not counting back labor) were exactly like menstrual cramping for me in terms of type of pain, although with contractions it ebbs and flows rather than is constant. For me it got intense, but never like the OP describes.

I have to comment on what bookgoddess said about her menstrual periods getting less painful after birth -- mine got *more* painful. Before I ever gave birth I rarely had any cramping during menstruation and no PMS. Afterwards I started to get PMS and sometimes serious cramping.

[hubris]

My labor pains had a similar *quality* of pain as my menstrual cramps - very low and achey. The duration and intensity was very different. The fact that there's the excitement of a baby coming (as opposed to, well, a not really exciting period) also changed my perception of the pains.

[Finch]

My sister had periods so bad they made her vomit and have to stay home from school sometimes. She got to 6cms on pitocin without any drugs. Pit is evil, getting to 6 cms on it without ANYTHING, I give her huge props.

[BusyMommy]

Well, I've never had PMS cramps and my labor was pretty mellow until it got totally underway and turned into back labor.

[Shawnee]

My mum told me that having a baby would cure my menstrual cramps, and she was right! It also cured the pain I had from adhesions from a pelvic infection.

On the other hand, the terrible afterpains I had after dc#2 may be the tradeoff for no more menstrual cramps.

[georgia]

Originally Posted by fourlittlebirds

I have to comment on what bookgoddess said about her menstrual periods getting less painful after birth -- mine got *more* painful. Before I ever gave birth I rarely had any cramping during menstruation and no PMS. Afterwards I started to get PMS and sometimes serious cramping.

Me, too. Exactly. I'd never had a cramp or hint of PMS in my life until after birthing. Sigh....

[Finch]

Originally Posted by georgia

Me, too. Exactly. I'd never had a cramp or hint of PMS in my life until after birthing. Sigh....

Me too. Damn it.

[savithny]

I kept waiting for labor to get as bad as my worst cramps ever.

When it did, that was transition. I thought I had to go to the bathroom, I sat on the toilet, my water broke, and the cramps disappeared.

I had kind of atypical labor pains though, because with #1, I felt NOTHING across my belly, just a rising wave of stabbing into my back, that subsided again. The midwife had her hand on my stomach and said, "there, you're having a contraction," and I said "really?" With #2, there was less of the back stabbing, but I still felt everything as waves of tense and release across my back (and she wasn't posterior, unlike #1). Again, with her - just as things got to be about as bad as my worst cramps I can remember - my water broke, and because she wasn't posterior, it was pretty much all over at that point.

[boobjuice]

i rarely get any menstral cramps. labor contractions was very similar to cramps but more intense. i had a faily pain free birth.