Why is giving birth so painful

Every delivery is as unique and individual as each mother and infant. Each woman may have a completely new experience with each labor and delivery. You've been dying to know whether everything you've heard about childbirth is true. Moms spill the beans, once and for all. Labor and delivery tends to occupy the minds of expectant parents the most. Read on if you have questions about the signs and length of labor. Ready to deliver and welcome your little one? As pregnant women get closer to the time of birth, their water doesn't always gush dramatically like you see in the movies or on TV.

A new study finds that epidurals do not affect child development in their later years. A fetal arrhythmia is an irregular heart rate — too fast, too slow, or otherwise outside the norm. It's often benign. Postpartum diarrhea after a C-section is normal. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.

Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. Understanding the pain Contractions and more Pain management Share on Pinterest. How painful is childbirth? What does giving birth really feel like? What can you do to decrease pain during birth? Parenthood Pregnancy 3rd Trimester. Is It True? Labor and Delivery. Did Your Water Break? Read this next. At this point you're focused on your newborn anyway.

Some women feel guilty if they opt for labor pain medication, as though they've somehow failed or put their babies' or their own well-being at risk. In fact, epidurals and other pain-relief drugs are quite safe, says William Camann, M. What's more, the benefits of epidural may last long after your baby is born. According to Gilbert Grant, M. Even if you opt for an epidural or other medication, using relaxation techniques can boost your ability to handle the pain, says Leslie Ludka, C.

Rhythmic breathing, visualization, meditation, self-hypnosis, and other relaxation strategies taught in classes such as Lamaze , Bradley Method, or HypnoBirthing may help keep your mind calm and your muscles loose.

Other effective techniques include massage, walking, taking a bath or shower, and applying ice or heat. Whether you plan to use labor pain medication or go natural , try to be flexible. While medication can take much of the pain out of giving birth, delivering naturally can give you a great sense of accomplishment.

Here's her advice: "Differentiate between pain and suffering. Pain can be managed, but if it becomes overwhelming, medication may prevent suffering. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content.

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There is one thing that almost every pregnant woman believes: Childbirth is the worst pain you could ever feel. Television shows about labor and birth are quick to highlight images of women in labor writhing in pain. And almost every pain you can imagine is compared to the pain of childbirth. However, there are some things that women who have experienced both say hurt more than giving birth. Everyone experiences pain differently, so what might be more painful for one person may not be for another.

Breaking a bone is painful. While not all broken bones are the same, some, like a compound fracture of a femur, will knock you off your feet for some time. In addition to needing to wear a large cast for a long period of time, compound fractures may also require surgery to place hardware, like pins and screws, into your body.

The location of the break and how you use that part of the body can also determine how painful it is. A broken rib might ache every time you take a breath, whereas a pinky-finger fracture might be fairly well stabilized and not as painful once it's in a splint or cast. Some broken bones require weeks or months of treatment and years of residual pain.

Childbirth, on the other hand, only lasts several hours, and even very long labor rarely lasts more than a weekend. Headaches can be severe—beyond the typical ones where you pop an over-the-counter pain pill and continue about your day.

Many people with migraines wind up taking prescription pain medication to both prevent and treat these symptoms. Another type of headache is said to be even worse. They can also cause itching, nausea, and headaches in the mother. The risks to the baby are minimal, but include problems caused by low blood pressure in the mother. These drugs don't relieve pain, but they may help to calm and relax women who are very anxious.

Sometimes they are used along with analgesics. These drugs can have effects on both the mother and baby, and are not often used. They also can make it difficult for women to remember the details of the birth. Discuss the risks of tranquilizers with your doctor.

Some women choose to give birth using no medicine at all, relying instead on relaxation techniques and controlled breathing for pain. If you'd like to experience childbirth without pain medicine, discuss this with your health care provider. You'll want to review your pain control options with the person who'll be delivering your baby. Find out what's available, how effective they're likely to be, and when it's best not to use some medicines.

If you want to use pain-control methods other than medicine, make sure your health care provider and the hospital staff know. You might want to also consider writing a birth plan that makes your preferences clear.

Remember, many women make decisions about pain relief that they abandon — often for very good reason — at the last minute. Your ability to endure the pain of childbirth has nothing to do with your worth as a mother.

By preparing and educating yourself, you can be ready to decide what pain management works best for you.