How do contractions compare to strong menstrual cramps/ ibs pain?

Question

I have always had pretty strong menstrual cramps, I've taken midol and my mom even had my doctor prescribe meds for it when I was a teenager, but what I found that worked the best for me was to just not take anything and to just walk and breathe through it/use warm blankets/water bottles and more natural remedies. I also have very bad ibs which causes me to cramp horribly. I'm planning to try for an all natural drug free labor and delivery because I had a c section with my first and hated the meds from it they made me so sick and I just dont like pain meds in general unless absolutely needed, for me personally. Ive read the pain can be similar but a lot more intense so I'm just trying to mentally prepare mysel. Obviously I know they'll be much worse than cramps, but unbearabley worse? Or just to the point of tears worse? Or?

Answer

Contractions are 100 times worse. You can’t talk or walk or even make moves when having a contraction.

Answer

It really depends on so many factors. Babies position, how many centimeters, how long you’ve been laboring, and pain tolerance. 
For me they don’t feel like period cramps, they feel like my stomach is in knots. It feels like I have really bad gas that won’t come out. And like I’m being squeezed around the waist. And it feels this way until I’m about 7cm. That’s when I black out and forget the pain because my adrenaline starts pumping.. next thing I know, I’ve given birth and all is well lol.

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Mine were completely different with my first. I had back contractions. Felt like someone was stabbing me in the lower back with a knife. Nothing like my period cramps at all.

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The pain from an unmedicated child birth is unreal. I almost passed out the pain was so bad. Not to scare you but it's nothing like period cramps. And my periods are really bad and I have endometriosis and IBS. So I know what that feels like. It's probably the worst pain I've ever gone through. I'm sure I looked like the woman from the exorcist the way I was bending my back because I couldn't handle the pain. I didn't make it to the hospital in time for my epidural and she was coming out quick! But I will say this, if you're prepared for it it's way more manageable. But definitely not for everyone and every woman's pain tolerance is different. Mines high but I still just wasn't ready and I couldn't cope with the pain. I believe if you mentally prepare yourself you can do it for sure! Make sure you breath because I didn't know that and I held my breath making it so much worse for myself. I did everything wrong. Lol. Im due in 2 weeks so bet your ass at the first sign of a contraction I will be at the hospital!! Good luck.

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For me it was like a combination of a period cramp on steroids mixed with the feeling that I was about to have explosive diarrhea x10. So similar...but MUCH more intense.

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I thought labour was better because at least you get a break between contractions. That being said. My period cramps are so bad I regularly would pass out form them and they last 12-24 hours like that. They were pretty horrible. This is my last baby and I’m not looking for the return of those after 4 years of being pregnant / breastfeeding.

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My early early contractions felt like strong period cramps. By the time I hit 8-10cm the contractions felt NOTHING like period cramps.

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I have IBS where I have literally blacked out several times from the pain. And I have a high pain tolerance. My period doesn’t bother me. 
Probably until around 8cm it feels like IBS to me. The difference is during transition and birth you’re also dealing with the pain of the baby stretching everything on the way out. So it is worse then. But until like 4cm it only feels like a period to me.

Answer

My labor started out to what felt like period cramps, I swore up and down it wasn’t labor and was just gas.... was admitted and dilating fast. However they grew stronger and are no way comparable when your water breaks. 😂😅

How do contractions compare to strong menstrual cramps/ ibs pain?

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