Ok, this may be a really dumb question but... what does giving birth feel like? I've heard some women say they took an epidural and only felt pressure but no pain and others have said it was very painful. I'm TTC and I'm really worried about the amount of pain. Can someone please answer this question? Thanks.

Hi T....
This is not an easy question because each pregnancy is very different. I strongly suggest taking child birth classes while pregnant, to help you learn to be in control and breathe properly thru your contractions.
I had all my kids naturally. No epidural and no pain meds. There were times I did not think I could ride the contraction out, but i did. (I had no choice)
What I will tell you is that to me, it felt like I was taking the largest BM of my life. The pressure in my rectal area was unreal at the end of labor because of the pressure of the baby coming down.
There are many options these days T, so study them and make smart choices. You will do fine.

Susi

Hi Susi! My mom took an epidural when she had me (I was 8 lbs). She had my brother naturally with no meds (he was 10 lbs). I also heard someone say it was like having a BM because of the pressure. My ex-sister-in-law said she ate a popsicle while having her daughter. That's what I want - no pain at all and "numb from the neck down" (Blanche from The Golden Girls). LOL!!!

for me the pain was not bad but it was not fun

I do not have a very high pain tolerance so for me the pain was close to unbearable but the end result is worth it. I don't think there is any point thinking about it, you do what you have to in labour and be damned to anyone who tells you otherwise (my midwife got a piece of my mine when she told me to carry on walking around). You will be fine.
Justice

Ok this is all I have to say on the pain thing....

IT DOESN'T MATTER LOL Of course it hurts, how much depends on your own capabilities of dealing with pain, take THE worst period pain you have ever felt, multiply it by 50 or so and that is a contraction, the pushing of bub out for me just feels a slight burning but I only need a max of three pushes and bub and placenta are out and the best part is when you hold your baby in your arms for the first time after giving birth you magically forget it all..... Til you go into labour a second or third or more times then it comes flooding back LOL