Yes. As someone who had uncomplicated natural childbirth, in part because of my phobia of needles (IVs are torture for me), I concur. I suffered less from labor than I have from various surgeries, although the degree of pain was more intense.
I would love to see a study comparing the experience of pain in natural childbirth between women who are or have been serious competitive athletes and a “normal” North American sample group. The pain is extreme, for sure, but knowing that there is a goal (getting that baby out!) after which the pain will go away makes a huge psychological difference. Most athletes are familiar with the concept of pushing through pain to obtain a goal, and in my experience that is exactly what the pain of childbirth is like.
(And congrats and good luck Maggie!!)
