Charlie horse v. Labor pain, which hurts more?

[mamathellama]

I have woken up in the night with a charlie horse several times in the past month and they just kill! It does go away very quickly if I stand up right away and press my foot down, but still it has me wincing and almost crying in pain! So anyway, I want to have an unmedicated labor but seeing how I handle this pain I'm not sure how realistic that is. I had a c-section with my first so I don't what it feels like. Can someone compare the two for me?
Thanks!

[holothuroidea]

Maybe labor pain is like one big charlie horse in your abdomen?


Who knows? You'll do fine, don't even worry about it. If you are worried, work on some relaxation techniques.

Well, that's my attitude anyway.

[apelilae]

Hands down: CHARLIE HORSE

Labor pains and even delivery was a breeze compared to any charlie horse I've ever had. I am able to "ragdoll" completely when having contractions, charlie horses, I cannot. They are just awful.

As I see it, contractions aren't what I'd call painful. They are purposeful and manageable. That's why we are designed to give birth. I do believe a lot of pain in childbirth comes from fear and the body expecting it to be very painful so the body reads it as pain.

Charlie horses are meant to be painful and the body is meant to process this as painful to tell us to drink more/get more potassium, etc. For me, it is impossible to relax with a charlie horse. Relaxing during contractions was never a problem.

[Laniemama]

I think the pain is too different to compare. Charlie horses come on very fast and very painful, then are gone just as quick. When you are having contracts, they don't start out painful at all, your body works up to it. And it is different because there is a purpose behind the pain as apelilae said. You actually want the contractions to come, as they will bring you closer and closer to meeting your baby!

[mamathellama]

Thanks everyone, yes I was afraid labor contractions might feel like a 90 second charlie horse of the uterus! So last time I had a charlie horse I did try to "breath through it" and I lasted all of 2 seconds!

[westernskies]

Labor pain is a different kind of pain to me than a Charlie Horse... Contrax don't just start off hurting like crazy- they build up and then they go back down. The whole wave analogy really is true. You will do great mama!

[~Megan~]

Labor pain is so different. Other kinds of pain tell you when there is something wrong but labor isn't about something being wrong its about opening up.

For me there was nothing to do but go with it. It was like nothing I've ever left and it was very intense. Its different than the pain of my c-section and different from my gall bladder attack (which was much worse than labor btw).

[Limabean1975]

Not in your DDC, but I had the same thoughts as you when I was pregnant - "If I can barely handle a charlie horse, how can I handle labour?". Well, dissenting to other voices here, I say labout pain was WAY WAY 100,000 times worse than a charlie horse - and really, I have had some mind-bending charlie horses!! Labour -another planet. BUT, I managed....I was in a hospital, with an epidural a moment's request away...but I never did get an epidural. While the pain was much much much worse, it was *different* - frightening but not the same way as a charlie horse...I dunno, I can't explain it, but I did it!

[homebirthing]

Leg cramps are from a calcium/magnesium deficiency. I would up both of those and they should go away. If you add red clover blossoms to your tea, that will help too!

[mamathellama]

Ugh! I am trying to lay off the calcium because I'm iron deficient and it inhibits iron absorption. Previously I was taking my prenatal (250mg calc) + 1200mg a day and I also drink a lot of milk. I cut back to just the prenatal and milk.

[holothuroidea]

Originally Posted by mamathellama

Ugh! I am trying to lay off the calcium because I'm iron deficient and it inhibits iron absorption. Previously I was taking my prenatal (250mg calc) + 1200mg a day and I also drink a lot of milk. I cut back to just the prenatal and milk.

You can still have a lot of calcium, just not at the same time as the iron. Take them at different times in the day.

[mamathellama]

Ok...thanks I will try that. I can't believe I'm iron deficient, I eat a decent amount of beef and now that I'm looking I notice I eat a lot of things that are iron-fortified like bread and cereal (of course I typically would drink milk when eating those!). So I was thinking it's mainly an absorption problem.

[Maagpie]

Vitamin C helps iron absorption. Eat some vit C each day as the body doesn't store it.

[homebirthing]

I second the Vitamin C. It will really help!

[jwpsgurl]

Completely different kinds of pain, lol...you may be dehydrated too and thats why you keep getting them. Drink lots of water!

[holothuroidea]

I cannot imagine at all that a charlie horse would be worse than labor!!

I mean, from what I've heard about labor pain...

Charlie horses are painful but I've never found them to be debilitating or anything.

[Limabean1975]

I *do* find a charlie horse temporarily debilitating in taht when having one, I can do NOTHING but writhe in pain - I don't even think I can make a sound. BUT, I maintain that labour is worse. BUT I maintain to the OP that you CAN do it!! I have a very low pain tolerance usually...if I can do it anyone can! (eta: with alot of sound. I did make ALOT of noise in labour)

[naturegirl]

I just wanted to add that with labor pain the pain builds up from minor to ALOT. BUT, your body is designed for that and releases a lot of great chemicals like endorphins to help you through it. You will be in a different realm with labor and it is completely different than charlie horse pain. Labor pain will stop you in your tracks and you will feel that it is too much near the end but that is the final stages and you can and will get through it just don't be scared of it. Embrace it and enjoy the ride!

[SMR]

When I was in labor with my dd - I explained the pain to some men I know as a charlie horse in your gut that doesn't go away that fast and keeps happening!! So, for me.. a pretty similar feeling!