Labor is supposed to be painless?

Let's keep this civil ladies, I know Sloan will come in here and debate with us, as I wish her to do. But to everyone, Sloan included, be civil. I am genuinely interested in the responses.

In another thread we're debating about wether or not childbirth can be painless. I honestly believe it was meant to be natural and drug-free, and too many women think they can't do it without drugs, myself included, but it was never, and can never be natural and painless.(IMO) In the debate I asked her to site a source. She spoke of the Bradley and Leboyer methods of childbirth and how they teach about how childbirth can, and is supposed to be painless. I have looked this up and nowhere that I can find on either of these 2 websites says they teach about it being painless. They say they teach breathing and relaxation methods etc...

How do you feel about this. Is there a way childbirth can be natural, and painless? If so why?

HAhahaa i had an epidural and felt everything. Even when I tore and when they were stitching me up

Sure, why not - of course someone would need to hit me over the head and then push the baby out for me!   I think that there is not way it could be painless. I think individuals can learn to control the pain and focus away from it, but it would still be there!

I've seen many labor stories where the women choose "alternative" birth plans where they "control" the pain. They always seem a lot more calm and in less pain than how it is normally done. Idk if it works obviously because I have never been in labor lol. I don't know if it can be FULLY pain free either. I am however planning on a natural birth.

painless my ass! (this is meant to be funny, not mean) before i got my epi it was NOT painless. once i got the epi it was nice though, i could relax and actually enjoy and look forward to pushing my son out.

All i know that if it is that bad of pain I will take advantage of what is available these days to relieve it.

I just thought I would throw my opinion in there. I had drugs.... almost every kind they could give me. But before they did I was far from confortable. It was one of the most painful experiences of my life!!!

I have read that labor and birth can be very orgasmic. And a woman can have multipule orgasms. I love mulitpule orgasms but I sure didnt have one while in labor.

lol I am laughing. I too had an epidural and still felt my contractions! I dont think its possible to be painless....well maybe if they knocked you completely out....

Speaking strictly from a religous point of view (forwarned so please don't throw anything at me  )
The bible says that punishment for sin (at least woman's) was pain in childbirth which insinuates that from this perspective there was no pain in childbirth before this point and that there would be after that. So I think that there is such a thing as painless childbirth but that it is no longer a possibility.

Quoting Mommy of a giggler!:“ Sure, why not - of course someone would need to hit me over the head and then push the baby out for me! ... [snip!] ... it could be painless. I think individuals can learn to control the pain and focus away from it, but it would still be there!”

  and lmao!

I don't think so. I think there are ways to help you get through it and reax you as much as you can but those things don't make it painless. I had an epidural and i felt everything but the contractions from 5-10 cm. Once I got to 10 it started to wear off. I can't imagine labor being 100%pain free.

"painless" is too extreme.
childbirth is painful.
It's a "different kind of pain" if you will, but painful nonetheless.

I know my epi didn't stop all the pain I felt so I'm only assuming that natural childbirth cant be painless. But honestly, if someone thinks otherwise I'd love to know why

you know.. i wanted the epi but it didn't work.. so i had no choice.. the nurse was telling me that you push through the pain and it gets better.. It hurt like hell. but relaxing and pushing good actually did relieve the pain.. and when they got the placenta out.. it felt so freakin good to me.. like a huge relief.. ya know?