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Mine was manageable until I got closer to 10cm. From then on out, it was like being ripped in two.

my contractions at 7cm started to be really painful, I got the Epi and it stopped my contractions. DD was stuck and the doctor practically had her arm in me and even with the Epi it was super painful.

When I was 6-7 cm my contractions started double-peaking, so just as I thought one was over it would start again. Between that and the fact that I was only getting 30 secs to 1 minute between contractions it became unmanageable (maybe could have powered through if I'd been further along, but I'd stalled for HOURS and was so very tired).

Having said that, mine was not a "normal" labour - if there is such a thing. I was induced at 42 weeks, my membranes were ruptured artificially and I was given IV oxytocin at levels way higher than normal as that was the only way they could get my contractions to come regularly and strong enough....normal max is 20 and I was up to 28!

I was induced due to low fluid and HR decels (LO). When the Pitocin kicked in, my contractions were double and triple stacked and they were intense . . . and I had back labor due to LO's position. So my pain was intense from the beginning, and while the epidural helped to take the edge off for a while (I had a loooong labor), it wore off while I was laboring down so I felt way more than I should have while pushing.

With my first birth, my water broke 18 hours before baby came, at about 3 cm., but the really hard part was the 7 hours it took to get from 7-10 cm. It was like one solid contraction that I had to keep focusing and breathing through but it peaked every minute or so. Delivery itself was a breeze and so much less painful.
With my second birth, my water didn't break until 2 hours before baby girl was born and it was definitely easier laboring the whole time it was intact. The contractions were strong enough to have to breathe and moan through, but I could hold a conversation in between. Then my water broke and I went into heavy labor land. The last few centimeters (transition stage) are definitely the most "wowza" part for me and most women would say the same. The lucky part is that it's generally the shortest part of labor and then you're pushing. Which, for me, feels beyond amazing and incredible and no longer really hurts.

My labor got to the point where I couldn't manage it alone 6 hours in. Dropped to hands and knees, needed counter pressure. But then my contractions and pain sped up and slowed down for a long time.

My water broke naturally at about 45 hours in but nothing changed pain or progress-wise. The midwife further broke my water (re-broke, finished breaking?) my water at 50 hours. That made my contractions speed up so much that they had to give me a shot of terbutaline to slow them down. But I don't remember the pain increasing. LO was born 51 hours in.

My water never broke but LO was posterior so I was having back labor. I'd say it got excruciating around 7-9 centimeters... I have no idea where I was dilated bc I was in too much pain to let anyone check me. I was basically acting like a wounded animal after 6 cm lol

about 2 hours into back labor, which started about an hour after my water broke, which was about 4 hours into active labor. It felt like my hips were shattering b

Transition. My water broke and although my contractions were strong after that, I could get through them. By transition I needed all the help I could get through them! I got the epidural at 8/9 cm'a with both.

My water broke before contractions started. The doc told me I had to come in five hours later (fam history of infection in the same situation) My contractions were just getting going when I got there, but pitocin definitely took it to terrible and fast.

I knew i was in labor when my cramping was getting more intense and a shower didn't help. The pain was excruciating when I got to the hospital at 7 cm. Transition is the worst. Thank goodness by labor wasn't terribly long (15 hours). My water broke when I started pushing.

@FarmWifeGina: I don't want any after 5 cm next time either! IF my MW feels they're needed all I want to be told is I'm doing great & she can talk to DH about any possible concerns she has!

@runsyellowlites: Yeah, if I was having prolonged transition or pushing or something I'd want to find out if something is up, but other than that, no thank you. I went from 6 cm. to baby in arms in 20 minutes last time and was so discouraged at that last check, even though I was exhibiting classic transition behavior. It means nothing compared to how I'm acting.
Actually, I just doula'd a birth last week where there were no internal exams and the midwife and I depended on the mom's behavior and mood to gauge where she was at and it was freakin' awesome.

I got to 8cm and could still breath thru my contractions and rock (it is very soothing to me). But I did get my Epi at that point so not sure when or if they would have gotten worse. But my water didnt break until they broke it at 9cm (after Epi). And once they did that I was 10 and ready to go.

I got an epidural at 3 cm with pitocin contractions. The epidural was the worst pain I felt. But when it wore off around 7 cm the pressure/pelvic pain was so bad!!! Thankfully the anesthetist came back and gave me more. I was in agony!

I don't know what is scaring me more - this or the colic thread. Oh sweet lord.

My contractions felt like really strong menstrual cramps until my water broke at 6 cm. Then I suddenly felt like I was dying and it was terrible. I asked for the epidural around 8 cm but labor moved so fast that I didn't get it.

contractions were manageable until i got pitocin at around 5 cm. the first contraction after the pitocin was terrible. i burst into tears after it was over.

I felt like my contractions were manageable the entire time. The painful part was when he was crowning. That literally is the ring of fire.