Is crowning the worst part of labour?

For many people, crowning is described as one of the most intense and painful parts of labor, but whether it is the worst part is subjective and varies. Crowning is when the baby's head stretches the vaginal opening to its maximum, causing a sharp, burning, stinging sensation often called the ring of fire due to stretching of nerves and tissues. It is very intense and can be frightening because of the pressure and burning. However, many birthing people say the transition phase just before pushing, when cervix dilates from 7 to 10 centimeters and contractions are longest, strongest, and closest together with little break, is actually worse because of overwhelming pain, nausea, shaking, and emotional distress. Others say back labor with a posterior baby is worse than crowning. Crowning is brief, usually lasting seconds to a few minutes, and is followed quickly by relief as the baby is born and by a surge of adrenaline and joy, whereas earlier labor lasts hours. So while crowning is extremely intense, many report that the long hours of contractions and transition are harder to endure overall. Pain perception is highly individual and influenced by epidural use, support, and baby position.