Do labor contractions have to be painful??

[MandyPriess]

I'm definitely in early labor (I have been). My question is if contractions have to be very painful.  I'm getting them every 4-6 minutes, but they aren't particularly painful. I'm definitely uncomfortable and they are making me nauseous, but everyone says "you'll know.". Has anyone been in labor without being in significant pain?

[Heatherm4]

No it doesn't. I was in labour for one night and didn't really know it. I had the start of back labour, it lasted all night and went away in the morning. The next afternoon it started up again and kept on going stronger. It's like it eased me into it. I knew it was labour because I had to focus. It was painful but bearable.
Not knowing what labour feels like is the worst part of a first pregnancy I think. There's nothing that can really prepare you, no matter how many people you ask because everyone is different!
Good luck!!

[Ashelen]

To be perfectly honest...it all depends on YOU.

I had back labor with my son (my 2nd baby) and it was excruciating and the epidural failed...

HOWEVER...with my first, the epidural was given so early that it wore off and I never pushed the button to renew the medicine and the contractions were never all that painful...even up to the pushing...and the epi was completely worn off.

So I would say..depends on the baby, depends on the woman ,depends on the labor situation. WIth my daughter even right up to the moment I pushed it wasn't super painful (well, compared to kidney stones at least it was a breeze lol)...with my son...ok yeah excruciating.

I always HATED that thing the nurses told me "when you can't walk or talk through a contraction, you're in labor"...well..that never happened. Even with my son, EVEN with the back labor and the bum epidural...I could still talk and shift my body pretty well...but you'll know. you may not know because the pain is great, but you'll know in your heart. trust your instincts!

[Clysta]

I knew when I was in labour, because it was the worst pain I'd be felt--that and I had bloody show. I felt like I was being stabbed in the back, and I would feel sooo sick with each contraction and things would go black for a second.

[NicoleW09]

Lol, I honestly thought that I was hurting because of my SPD!  I remember arguing with my DH and my MIL about going in for pain meds. I feel kinda silly now.

[heatherw26]

When I was in labor it felt like someone was ripping out my spine and twisting my stomach into knots while prying my pelvis apart.

Needless to say...it hurt like h3ll.

[NicoleW09]

When I went into labor, I went to L&D because I felt like my pelvis was being ripped apart and I was having back pain that came in waves and felt like horrible menstrual cramps.

I left my bags at home bc I was positive I would be coming home after they gave me some pain meds. I had been stuck at 2 cm for over a month and had just hit 38 weeks that day and an hour after I got to L&D I was at 3cm.

I could say you just know when you're in labor, but I honestly didn't think I was. I was waiting for the traditional stomach tightening, bent double pain, and I never had it. I even managed to sleep through most of my 18 hour labor with the help of stadol, it only lasted 45 minutes at a time, but it took the edge off and eventually I just refused it.

[luvmy2girls]

GOod luck!! Mine don't get unbearable until my water breaks.....just breath and trust your body :)

[justice6920]

I know it never helps when people say You'll know, and you just sit there and think well what if I dont.... BUT you will know.... Mine are much like yours in the early stages, when they get closer together is when mine get worse... Im thinking when yours get closer they will probably get stronger as well! Good Luck

[Michele, Katy, TX]

At that stage, I would say no.  When mine are that far apart, mine are much like yours.  Def there, uncomfortable and annoying, but I'm not like dying in pain or anything.  If they are that close, you may want to call your healthcare provider.  I know mine would want me to head in at that point.  Good luck and keep us posted!!!  I always get so excited when another MH baby is being born :)