Is Foodborne Illness Really More Painful Than Delivering a Baby?

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   4FoodSafetyposted 14 years ago

   I heard this statement the other day - "food poisoning is more painful than child birth". 
   
   I, myself, thought I was going to die for 3 days after some bad seafood, however, I cannot relate to the pain during child birth.
   
   Any experiences you can share?

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      sarovaiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I like prefer always fresh ,homemade food items. So far I didnot experience such like that.

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   Ron Montgomeryposted 14 years ago

   From my personal experience I would have to say..
   
   Yes.  Yes it is.

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      P.M. penposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Interesting point of view you have there…and how many children did you say you have given birth to…Ron?   

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   lrohnerposted 14 years ago

   I've given birth to three kids and I've had food poisoning. I'll take the food poisoning any day.

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   rebekahELLEposted 14 years ago

   well, I wonder if the person was male or female. I don't think I've had the severe food poisoning that puts you in bed for 3 days, but my oldest son did. he almost went to the hospital.
   pain of childbirth.. it can get pretty intense. I have two sons and I have a very high tolerance for pain, but there were moments that have no proper words for description. I guess it can only be felt! my second son came so fast, I don't remember feeling too much. he's a true new yorker, gets where he's going fast.

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      Home Girlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      If you are suffering, does it really matter why? Some people can give birth in a car like 10 minutes and it's over. For some it may last 24 hours of a terrible pain, that nothing can diminish, same about food poisoning. You can die from it, from childbirth too. It's so intense. If something goes wrong and there is no doctor near by, you are doomed. But we should not compare apples and oranges, should we?

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         Lisa HWposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         As someone who has had a variety of types of excruciating pain, I don't see a problem with comparing apples and oranges, if the apples or oranges are far bigger than whatever they're being compared to.  If my orange is bigger than your apple I have a bigger weight to carry then you do. 
         
         People want credit for their "pain points", and they want/need to know other people know what those pain points represent.  Some people even like to compete over who gets the most pain points.       THEN (and these people are the worst) there are the people who don't know what your pain points represent and who refuse to give you credit for them, no matter how bad the pain was.       Another group:  People who haven't had the same pain as you have and who just don't get it. 
         
         Just one other thought:  Homegirl, please don't underestimate the pain of childbirth that goes from zero to transition in a half hour.     Those 24-hour labor stories are usually a matter of being in first-stage labor longer.  First-stage labor is a piece of cake. 

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   Spacey Graceyposted 14 years ago

   Good point HomeGirl - no point in making comparisons - no ones the winner when you are in pain. But I shall make comparisons anyway.
   
   There will never be more pain for me than my son's birth - the details of which are far too horrific to ever share with another human being. But at least there was a point to it. With food poisoning you are just rolling round in agony trying to figure out which numpty didn't wash their hands properly before making your sandwich, or cook the chicken right through before serving it. And every time you think about the possible source it makes you throw up, but your inner detective will just not let it go, and is analysing your every move to work out how you got so ill......or is that just me

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      Home Girlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I had three of my kids delivered in my old country. No PAIN KILLERS. I should repeat: NO PAIN KILLERS! You suffer "naturally".

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   IzzyMposted 14 years ago

   I donlt think anything can compare to the pain of childbirth, but it's pretty miserable the pain you get with food poisoning too, so yeah we don't compare them. With food poisoning it can feel like you are dying with waves of pain and nausea and fever that can last for days in some case. With childbirth, you KNOW you are not dying but it feels like it. Different things altogether.
   And Homegirl? No painkillers? Arrrgh!

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      Lisa HWposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I've had pain that was worse than childbirth more than once; and as nasty childbirth was, I'd choose it over some of those others.  The thing about the other kind of pain, though, as that even if it was more excruciating than childbirth, it was less "overall disturbing" and "weird".  Maybe Homegirl was right about apples and oranges after all. 

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   westdrugposted 14 years ago

   Comparing the pain to childbirth may be an exaggeration, but it just goes to show the severity of the same in extreme cases. My advice would be for you to stay away from seafood, especially ones that you have never had before or are not particularly well versed with. Many sea-planktons served up as appetizers can kill your appetite and your good health, simultaneously!
   
   Btwn, you can also check out some of my hubs on contemporary medical issues like these.
   
   Regards,
   Phil.

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   waynetposted 14 years ago

   I don't think anyone's given birth to food as yet, so wait until this event happens and then we can discuss this most interesting subject!
   
   Did you spot my sarcastic streak there?

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      logical1125posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I spotted your illiteracy there.

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   wychicposted 14 years ago

   Even though many mothers have already replied...yeah, definitely no comparison. I've had food poisoning that put me in bed for days and I couldn't even hold down water, and I had a 35-minute, drug-free delivery. I'd definitely take the food poisoning any day...don't forget, after the excruciating pain of the birth itself comes the pain of very sensitive stitches and trying to take care of a baby when your body just wants to shut down and heal.

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    starme77posted 14 years ago

    um , really , I can think of nothing more painful than giving birth

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    LittleStashposted 14 years ago

    Well, I've been through childbirth once and food poisoning three times: once from a friend's; once from canned goods, and once from a street vendor's food.  One of the food poisoning incidents prompted us to call an ambulance.  While the actual pain of childbirth was worse, the food poisoning was by far more unpleasant.  Nausea, vertigo, shortness of breath, diarrhea, cold sweats:  food poisoning was worse.

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       wychicposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       That's a good point too, I forget not all women get the nausea, vertigo, shortness of breath, etc. after childbirth....I had extremely low iron levels so I couldn't even stand for more than 10 minutes for a couple weeks after my son was born, 'twas the second-worst part of recovery.

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          Home Girlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          It probably depends on your body and overall health. I am sure in Canada I would have suffered less. My pregnancy in my country was extremely toxic, (all 3 of them) I felt like I am poisoned;  and take in consideration: in winter we practically did not have fresh fruits or vegetables in stores from November till April-May. Only rotten cabbage, carrots, onions rarely lemons or  winter apples. Forget about bananas or oranges. First imported cucumber (English) smelled divine in April! And no vitamins either. No wonder you feel like a hungry animal and have crazy cravings all the time! When I see a pregnat girl in Canada, I always think: you are one lucky thing and you don't know that!

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