How painful is childbirth really?
Many first time mothers ask this question and characteristically receive lots of vague reassurance from friends and family – along with a host of ‘horror stories’ about their own birthing experiences! The truth is that most labor comes with some degree of pain but it varies from woman to woman and can range from mild to severe. Many women also report that, while they experience pain, it is different in quality from other types of pain – especially as there is such a great reward at the end of it. Perception and tolerance levels of pain also play a large part in how you experience your labor – there are many things that can be done to reduce pain and assist with a more comfortable delivery.
