Birth - So was it as bad as you expected?
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Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
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Topic: Birth - So was it as bad as you expected?
Posted By: Mrs_B
Subject: Birth - So was it as bad as you expected?
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 8:45am
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I find it really interesting to read the birth stories, amazing how different everyones experience is but I would be interested to know how did it live up to your expectations?
First baby here and I'm currently at the stage of thinking..well it's going to be the worst pain I have every imagined but it's only one day and at the end I get the best possible reward! and that women have been doing this for thousands of years so there is no reason I can't do it either just have to believe in my body's ability and that this is the one time in my life when pain is a good thing! Maybe I'm just completely naive! lol -------------  
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Replies:
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 8:52am
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Have a good read of the birth stories thread. There are so many different stories there. Both mine were fine and not horror stories. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: angel4
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 9:12am
| I was expecting the worst pain ever and like you kept telling myself that women have been doing this for thousands of years. I also believe quite strongly that we were specially designed by God to do this. My birth was not as bad as i thought it would be. Yeah it was painful but now completely unbareable. My labour was completely natural with no drugs (which im quite proud of) and within two hours i was walking around and telling my husband that i would do it again soon lol. Good luck for your birth hun |
Posted By: FreeSpirit
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 9:15am
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I thought labour was going to be crazy hard painful but it was manageable. Not easy or painless but nowhere as bad as I had in my head it was going to be. Can't comment on actual delivery as I had a c-section. ------------- http://www.babysfirstsite.com"> 
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 9:19am
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I had a lot more intervention than I had wanted due to reasons beyond anyone's control, but went into the whole experience not really caring and just figured as long as myself and bubs came out OK that was the main thing.
I won't lie... it hurt like hell but hey you have to give birth one way or another and I think we live in a society now where people try and 'outdo' each other with how bad things get not realising that it used to be a lot worse. I've always been pretty philosophical about the whole thing - my mum had a shocking experience (bad nurses etc that let things happen that shouldn't have) and still went back for another one so all in all you just cope. Anyway, I do remember telling DH quite soon after that if I didn't have to be pregnant again, I would gladly give birth as it's only a short time in the big scheme of things, and I still stand by that! I hate being pregnant 
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Posted By: DonnaB
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 9:31am
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I really enjoyed my labour.. Sick I know.. LOL
I don't want to sound like a Super Woman but it wasn't as bad as I had invisaged (sp?). I decided to stay as calm as possible so my baby didn't feel unloved or stressed when born. (I don't practice scientology but thought along those lines after reading Katie Holmes birth story) My contractions were strong but I used my breath to get through them, sounds odd but just gently sighed and breathed deeply. At the hospital, it was the same deal, my MW was very impressed. Had no pain relief as didn't think necessary. The whole pushing thing was odd and felt like I was getting no where but just remember your contractions are what also help to push the baby out. I don't think I was quite ready to push - a friend said you just get this overwhelming desire to push. So think I did some damage to self without realising. All in all, it was great. I did have some help in the end in the way of forceps but to be honest it didn't hurt at all and I wasn't scared. You have to have a very open mind and just be totally relaxed and confident in the fact you CAN do this - it's natural and a beautiful process. And trust me - as soon as you see that baby you just worked so hard to get out, you'll never remember the pain.. Look at me, I'm going back for more..!! LOL Good Luck and Congratulations... Brings a tear to my eye to think another mum to be is gonna become a whole new woman.. It's awesome..!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 9:53am
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Well I wont lie either, it hurt like a b*tch lol but it wasnt as "bad" as I thought it would be, I was sh*t scared of labour and giving birth!!!, but it was managable most of the way through.
But my labour was very very very long and towards the end my contractions were very painful and I was losing the plot big time, thats when I had the epidural(after 45 hours of labour) and then I had to have an emergency C Section as I was not progressing like I should have been. But after I had him I said to my DF and MW that Id do it all again cos I got my sweet little boy out of all of that! and Im doing it again so soon!!!! lol I mean its only a day or 2 out of your life that you are in this awful pain, but its a good pain because its doing something amazing! You just power on no matter how bad it gets cos you know what your going to get at the end of it, and also, when the times comes you just want the baby out you really dont give a stuff what they do lol You'll be fine  ------------- |
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 9:53am
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It hurt WAY MORE than I could have imagined lol
------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 9:55am
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Mine was straight forward , text book even , but I too wont lie, because hell you'll find out soon enough how its gonna feel for you .
Yes, it was the worst pain I ever felt, especially the head coming through, my god, I thought I was going to die (no pain relief) but ....I didn't , and the reward at the end, really does make it worthwhile , thats why so many of us do it again . ------------- 
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Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 9:58am
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and also , its not just that its painful, but that it can be scary giving up all control of your body, without any choice , unless you've been in some situation where you don't call the shots with your body, its a whole new, and can be frightening , experience .
Those contraction, once they start, will come whether you have finished recovering from the last one or not -------------
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 10:02am
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i second that Kelly!
It was the worst pain i could have imagined and i am super glad I had the epi.. and the whole experience was the most medicated just about that you could get(gas, epi, that hormone stuff for contractions, antibiotics for strep b, induced twice then emergency cs) but after all that and a baby who wasn't breathing when he was born I have a wonderful 1 year old who from the start was worth it all..so yes it may be awful but it's worth it!:) ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: Henna79
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 10:24am
Mrs B my birth experience was so much easier than I expected (I shocked the mw at how quick it was). I didn't even know I was in labor until I had my show and by then I was 7cm dilated. We thought something was wrong and ended up at the hospital to get checked out and weren't allowed to leave as the hospital mw told me that we would have a baby within 3 hours  So ended up birthing with nothing and then when Alex arrived DH had to rush home to get stuff for us (poor man had to find it all first as we weren't packed cos EDD was still a month away). I think I surprised everyone (esp Mum) as I am a bit of a softie and because I ended up having to go the natural way cos it was too late for anything I took it rather well.
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Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 10:49am
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I went in thinking worst case scenarios - extremely painful, no drugs, c section etc so my birth was 10 times better than I imagined and I am another one who LOVED their birth experience.
I am scared about doing it a second time as the first time went so well! -------------  
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Posted By: Snappy
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 11:07am
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It hurt.....
With Janaya I had an epidural, I pushed a bit and out she came. I was shocked at how easy it was, especially since I spent the entire 9 months worrying about the birth. Second time around was a different story! I had read that the pushing part was the easy part so when I arrived at the hospital 8 cm dilated, I thought I was almost through the worst of it (I do remember asking DH at one point whether I was dead though) Then when it was time to push, I was argueing with the midwife that I was not ready as I could not feel the "urge". Next thing she broke the rest of my waters and my GOD it was the worst pain in my life, it really felt like Jacksons head fell about 10cm down to my burning nether regions. I just pushed and pushed yelling in agony for what felt like forever, without stopping, just to get him out! (Turns out it was about 3 mins) Pushing in my opinion is NOT very nice at all! Then when you think its all over with, they give you a bottle of gas that is NOT working, and then stitch you up! ------------- Mummy to two beauties... Formerly Kaiz. |
Posted By: .Mel
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 12:24pm
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I had different experiences with all three kids. Conor was hard work and it hurt for all different reasons, he was a vontouse delivery and having that fitted hurt like nothing I've ever experienced before. I didn't enjoy his birth at all. There were a lot of "what if's" with his delivery, to this day I think he should have been a c-section.
Nyah was easy peasy, the only time it hurt was when she crowned, my contractions were very manageable and I walked into hospital at around 8cm! Cooper's delivery was very frustrating, he certainly took his time, I arrived at the hospital at 2am at 5cm, had my waters broken, contractions stopped at 8am and in the end I had to have an epidural (which I found very over rated!), drips and all sorts of intervention that I wasn't anticipating. He definitely threw a spanner in the works! I was also hyperventilating with him too, which was something I didn't think I'd do, after having Nyah so quickly. I think it helps if you let your body do the "talking" and just go with it.. good luck  ------------- Mr Mellow (16) Miss Attitude (8) Destructa Kid (3) 
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Posted By: busyissy
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 12:32pm
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There is no getting away from it, it is sooooo painful!!
For me it was how I approached the pain, and even tho it sounds really cheesy, its how you talk to yourself during labor. For me, they way my thought process went, it was like having that little devil on one shoulder and the little angel on the other! Everytime the little devil said "its too much", "i can't do it" the little angel would then say "don't be silly of course you can do it", "don't worry your baby will be here soon", "its not going to last there will be a break soon, you can do it". To which the rational part of my brain would respond "not like I have a (insert very bad word!) choice". Both my labors were uncomplicated though and very fast. Dom took 3.5hrs and Isobelle took 1.5hrs. I had no intervention and no drugs (no time for drugs!). The only thing I really needed was my DH to hold me up as I gave birth standing up both times. It hurt so much more to be lying down. My midwife didn't have to do anything, easy day for her! Although she did try to help with Isobelle but apparently I smacked her hand away! As soon as my babies were out the pain was completely gone, yay for endorphins and adrenaline! Those first moments are so amazing and beautiful. I'd go through it all a million times over just to have that again. My advice would be to trust your body, don't be talked into a position or anything else that doesn't feel right, be positive (sounds like you have a great attitude anyway) and hold on to the fact that it won't last forever, thank god! 
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Posted By: palomino
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 12:35pm
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i wanted a natural birth, with maybe a bit of gas if it got bad.
i ended up with drugs galore (hormone drip, antibiotics, pethidene, gas, epidural) and then had to have an emergancy c-sect. So it was not what i was wanting, but it wasnt too bad, contractions were pretty horrible and spending 12hours labouring only to have my cervix shrink sucked. But as they say, its all worth it in the end! |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 12:36pm
| Most of it was pretty much what I expected. I worked through the contractions on gas (it gave me something to concentrate on and laugh about when I sucked too much in and started feeling high lol)... but the pushing part was way harder than I thought it would be. I was pushing for an hour 40mins which was way longer than I expected to be, that exhausted me and I didn't appreciate an episotomy but overall it was fine. |
Posted By: palomino
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 12:43pm
| haha yes i remember bursting into giggles and saying i felt like i was stoned to my mother (who no doubt probably had a mini heart attack) |
Posted By: Nic01
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 12:46pm
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It wasn't as bad as I'd expected. I'd talked myself into thinking it was going to be absolutely horrible horrible pain & that I'd end up crying out for an epi. While it was still really painful, it was manageable & I only ended up using a bit of gas. And the pain I did have was forgotten pretty damn quickly when my midwife put my new little baby on my chest & I was gazing at him & just amazed that we'd created something so perfect!!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: first
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 12:47pm
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It hurt but like you say it was a good pain. With every contraction I just thught about how my boy was one step closer.
What I wasn't ready for was to be 3cm dilated and having contraction 2-3minutes apart only to have things slow down to 20mins apart for a few hours then back into full swing. I did this for 3 days and 4nights and I hadn't mentally prepared for that. I had mentally prepared for a day but not three. It was so worth it and the pushing was actually REALLY enjoyable. When it was over I told my DH I'd do that again in a heart beat. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/"> 
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Posted By: FionaO
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 1:18pm
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I can't remember who said it earlier in this post but for me I was more scared than it was about the pain.
It hurt, it hurt way more than i could have imagined, but as everyone says 4 months later I want another 1 and although I can't say I want to give birth again I'm happy to do it. My problem was it happened all too quickly and I spent far too long thinking it was just a false alarm, by the time I called my husband and mw and they both turned up I was 6cm gone and I had been alone for too long and got spooked. Pushing is just so hard, its physically just such hard work. My only advice try not to think about it, everyone has such a different experience, just try and relax and go with it and no matter how hard or painful or long it may be it will end and the end result is amazing. ------------- 
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Posted By: mamazozo
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 4:28pm
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Just thought id add my opinion.
I was expecting it to be the worst pain ever and yes it was uncomfortable but it just felt like a really paid period cramp for me. I know everyone has a different experience but for me it was nowhere near as bad as i thought it was going to be and i im sure everyone says this but it was TOTALLY worth it. The second u see your baby its a distant memory lol. ETA: It is super hard work though, i felt absolutly pooped like i couldnt do anything. I had a swiss ball though and i would recommend it to anyone coz you can jus flop over it and put all your weight on it and its great to have a rest and a gr8 position for giving birth! -------------    |
Posted By: sottise
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 4:42pm
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Interesting reading the different experiences!
I knew it'd hurt but didn't psych myself up or freak out over it. I ended up having a back labour and felt everything in my lower back (silly me thought it was all about the bump). In the end I had an epi since I'd basically seized up and despite the contractions hurting like a mofo, nothing was happening. I've forgotten what the pain felt like, but I haven't forgotten how much it hurt. I was definitely in the "NEVER! EXPLETIVE! AGAIN!" camp, but I'm starting to come around.  ------------- 
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Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 6:58pm
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I had contractions in my back , tummy and legs , and I asked my mother to drown me in the spa bath (she wouldn't *grumble grumble * thannnks mum )
I do not recall saying I would go and do that again , in fact I believe I swore off sex( for all of 3 months ), but then I forgot that cos, heck , I like sex
Im scared of doing it again BUT at least I know what the pains about this time , last time I didnt, im hoping i'll be more prepared this time . -------------
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 9:41pm
Great advice Saffron....exactly what I did, although not quite as fast as you did. One thing I will add was about focusing energy down out your Hoohoo instead of screaming out your mouth while pushing & again that is a devil/angel thing too. Devil's saying go on scream it hurts & the angel says focus through that pain & use the energy to push that head down. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Saffron wrote:Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 9:44pm
Congrat on your boy Kelly, one thing that I wasn't expecting second time around was shoulders....boys are definitely broader & this time I had to push out shoulders as well. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com">
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 12 February 2009 at 10:38pm
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ssssshhhhh ...you have to humor me , I know what you really meant to say was "oh kelly , labour with my boy was so easy , I would highly recommend it " -------------
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Posted By: Chickoin
Date Posted: 13 February 2009 at 8:27am
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I had to be induced which I was scared of as I had been told it is more painful.
I had a very open mind about the whole experience and the mw had told me it will most likely end in a c-sect so I was prepared for that. I had no rules as to what pain relief I may need as I had never gone though labour before so I didn't know if I would need drugs. Just no pethidine. It was more painful than I thought it would be, especially pushing her out, but like everyone else said, all the pain stops instantly as soon as the baby is out. I am quite jelous of ladies about to have babies now as it is such an amazing experience. I was also suprised that there was no pain at all between contractions, except at one point I think the baby was coming down as I got leg cramps. The gas is fun, the first sucks weren't but my mw told me to try it just for 2 more contractions and then I was hooked. Away laughing. The only thing I wasn't expecting is just how much blood there is afterwards, I could actually feel it coming out for the next few hours, gross! -------------   
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Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 13 February 2009 at 9:34am
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I spent alot of time reading about 'active' labour, so that i felt more in control, rather than just being subjected to the pain! and to be honest i wasn't worried about labour at all - I mean there was no way out of it, so i figured what was the point of stressing about it...and at 9 days overdue, all i wanted was to avoid induction and get the baby out!
For me the worst pain was the contractions, (especially when I was in the hospital bath, and went from 3cm to 10cm in 2 hours). the pushing was really hard work, as it took over an hour of pushing to get her out, but apart from the 'ring of fire', it definitely wasn't as painful. I think the great thing about your body is that the process of labour/pain makes you produce endorphins, so your body is kind of self-medicating!
The best piece of advice I was given is that when the pain gets so bad you think you can't cope, then that actually is the worst it is going to get! (of course at the time, i was thinking "give me the drugs!") but i'm really glad i didn't, and the low-intervention birth meant i was able to go home within about 12 hours. i fully recommend "the big book of birth" by Erica Lyon as it contains empowering information, but is also really non-judgemental and factual as to different pain management options. i do remember afterwards telling everyone i was NEVER having another baby and just how painful it was, but as happens, the memory of how bad it was fades (although not the knowledge that it was painful)....and I'm sure we will have another baby! -------------  
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Posted By: james
Date Posted: 13 February 2009 at 10:13am
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yep and i was mess afterward aswell i was induced my waters broke while in labour owweeyyyy i had gas and a epi which hurt but not as bad as the contractions then they tried to make me wait 2 hours fully ready and the a vontures the baby out 3 times they knocked me out for the c-section as i was fully over it by then and then i lost the frist hour of james life as i wouldnt wake up i didnt bond stright away i did after ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a> |
Posted By: bext1
Date Posted: 13 February 2009 at 10:19am
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My first born was a 3 1/2 hr labour, and i don't really remember much `cause i was woozy from gas, after draining nearly two bottles... opps!!! Felt a bit of pain but it was ok, the twins were a C-sec and that was painless!!
------------- 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Twinboys2b
Date Posted: 13 February 2009 at 11:52am
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I always played it as "be prepared for the worst & hope for the best". I wasn't afraid of it & I'm pretty good with pain. I only got the all clear to choose natural birth (epi of course with twins) 2wks prior otherwise it was going to be CS.
I borrowed Blondy's book "the big book of birth" by Erica Lyon which I found good but a bit too much to take in & prepare for in 2 wks but worth a read I think - especially good to give DH an idea on how to help with the back pain etc (not that DH did any of that). It did make me choose to go into the spa pool thing which helped with the pain enormously. anyway.. Two things I was least prepared for: 1) Was just how hard it was to get any breath between contractions, which is why I think I had my out-of-body experiences as I was hyperventilating between contractions a lot. I don't know how I would have coped without an epidural, I had a hard enough time pushing two out without having to deal with the pain but in saying that If I had just had 1 baby I think I could have managed. It was just trying to push the second out that I found the hardest but that was due to him rather than me, poor we man. 2) I had an awful afterbirth that both DH & I were not prepared for at all. I see myself as pretty resiliant but I took a battering afterwards. Both DH I thought once the bubs are out we can both concentrate on getting them healthy but I went through a lot emotionally & physically afterwards - took 2 hrs to stitch me up, I lost a lot of blood/ fainted etc, had a very bad experience with my blood transfusion, mastitus & other things... oh the memories come flooding back - stop!! But as most have said I would do it again in a heart beat but if I had twins I again I think I would elect for a CS but mainly for the babies health as the second (Eli) had a very bad start to life. ------------- 3yr old gorgeous ID twin boys. |
Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 13 February 2009 at 2:01pm
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I recall that I fainted later that night, I went to the bathroom and I remember saying to myself "just wait , just wait " but me being me, and never listening to anyone, let alone, er , me , I got up , next thing I hear this big bang (that would be me hitting the ground ) and I woke up and was on the floor .
I thought 3 things 1) wow I fainted 2) cool, Ive never done that before ! 3) the carpet at Birthcare is really quite hard .... I had after cramps as well, despite her being my first baby (but second pregnancy ) and I hear that subsequent pregnancies after pains are worse ,....yaaayyy.....  -------------
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Posted By: happymumma
Date Posted: 13 February 2009 at 3:18pm
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I found the pain of contractions manageable - and like someone else mentioned, the fact that the pain disappears between contractions is great (for some reason I hadn't expected that!). My labour was about eight hours all up and I had no pain relief. I do wonder how I would have felt if labour had been longer, but I went into it with no hard and fast plan. I just figured I would wait and see what I felt I needed at the time.
I found the book Ina May's Guide to Childbirth helpful. A lot of the ideas were a bit airy fairy for me but the way she talked about focus and breathing was stuff I definitely used in labour. |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 13 February 2009 at 3:45pm
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My pain barley went away during contractions, they were just one after the other, and SILL wernt dilating my stupid cervix lol ------------- |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 13 February 2009 at 8:18pm
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I'm a bit of a freak coz I actually enjoyed giving birth to the gremlins. I felt 100% in control the whole time and it was a hugely empowering experience. I'm sure it hurt, but it wasn't that bad - I had an epi which failed and when I was asked if I wanted it resited I said no so effectively I had no pain relief, if it had been that bad I'm sure I would have said yes!
Maya was a different story - I was young, knew virtually nothing about birth other than what I'd heard in antenatal classes/read in the Bounty book, and I was terrified of this giant, posterior baby. After 36 hours of contractions I lost the ability to cope and had an epi and after that it was much more manageable. I was still scared tho, right up until she was actually born and I think that slowed things down a bit. I remember definite ring of fire pain, and the contractions were wickedly intense. And lil miss was different again - all done and dusted in 1hr 45 mins with no pain relief at all and a 2 min second stage and it hurt like buggery! I had always planned not to have drugs but I think having it happen so fast made the contractions a lot more intense so I did feel like I was out of control and started asking for drugs. I didn't get them coz there was no time, but even the midwife was surprised when she did an internal and I was 7cm and a couple of minutes later I told her I wanted to push and lo and behold there was lil miss. I didn't 'enjoy' the experience as much as I did with the gremlins births and I went into shock afterwards coz it was so fast but it was still a really positive experience. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 13 February 2009 at 9:35pm
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I loved my labour with Paris, seriously i remember my friends coming to visit after i had her and telling them "i don't know what the big fuss is about - it's not that bad" (ok ladies, slap me...) seriously wasn't as bad as i expected.
I had been reallllly active thru my preg with her so she was as far south for the winter as she could be . lol. plus i think the big difference was that my waters fully broke (i literally heard and felt a huge pop in my belly - weird as heck) before contractions started, so all that pressure from them was totally gone. 1 hour after waters broke, contractions started and for the first couple i was joking around (we were making fun of the hula-dance type movement that we'd seen on birth videos at antenatal classes...) but pretty quick i realised they were getting a bit more intense and hurtyish and omg were straight away 5 mins apart so i was a bit confused. I plonked myself in the bath and there i stayed for another 2 and a half hours till my midwife got there to check me out (you know, the casual ... "i'll pop by and see how you're doing, then come back later") she and mike had to drag me from the bath, and help me to the bed so she could check to find i was at 8cm. I didn't get to go back to my nice warm bath dammit! I ended up at the hospital. It was a weird feeling like nervous cold shaky feeling with each of my contractions by that stage, so didn't really hurt hurt, but wasn't pleasant. And pushing wasn't too too bad, but again, no pressure and i had no urge to push either. the burning sensation was interesting cos they put a cold compress on so i was like "what the? is it hot or cold?!" lol. to be honest, man the stitches hurt worse, and i finally got pain releif as i'd had none(well, i decided the stitches hurt enough to need it!) and was glad i hadn't used the gas during labour cos it was foul.. made me feel spaced and icky. but again, it's not always too long... i had 5 hours start to finish, and 2 of that was pushing. so, #2, completely different. it hurt, ALOT. much quicker labour, 3.5hrs start to finish, waters had to be broken for me, contractions much more intense, full on very quickly. went from niggles at about 1am, to getting stronger (thinking maybe might be real labour this time) at about 2.30am, to going up hospital at 4am cos i sooo knew something was happening. it hurt more, and actually made me physically sick. i had waters broken and man that was sooooo the bestest feeling in the world by then, cos all the pressure was gone all of a sudden, was sooo releived... for a few minutes till i realised that owie ow, that meant she had dropped right down and was on her way. And then I just felt out of control cos i just wanted to lie flatter and put my legs up like i had with Paris but my midwife made me sit up a bit more (worked well, but you couldn't tell me that at the time) I was very angry and noisy and she had to tell me to be quiet and get on with it. lol I finally understood what they meant by the urge to push too... cos i hadn't had that last time, that is the most overwhelming feeling ever. so number 2 - hurt more than i had expected simply cos i had a good experience the time before. thank goodness though, it was over quick. very very intense. just go into things with an open miond and take things as they come. it's hard to stay calm...but it does tend to work better... tensing up just stops your body doing what it should. lol hence why my midwife told me off. once i got over myself and got on with it and went with my body instead of tensing up and going against it - it worked so much better. I think the best piece of advice i could give is to breathe like a dragon, seriously, instead of vocalising... just breathe, deeeeply, and try to imagine breathing out all the pain and concentrate on breathing until everything else is fading into oblivion. distraction works well is you really find something to focus on. ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja 
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Posted By: scribe
Date Posted: 14 February 2009 at 12:58am
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The short answer to your question is worse, much worse. I say, take the drugs!
I am still haunted by my birth experience, and it was 7 months ago. Maybe 'haunted' is too strong a word - my cousin gave me some brochures on PTSD and that was kind, but unneccessary - but I am scared of doing it again and that fear may affect my next pregnancy. Going through this pregnancy, I was all 'oh, I'll have a lovely water birth and no drugs and it'll be painful but wonderful and empowering' - which it wasn't, I didn't feel in control at all. The only part that came true of my birth plan was the 'no drugs' bit, and that wasn't entirely by choice. But it all depends on your situation. I was induced two days after my waters broke and the contractions had started (but weren't getting any closer). I heard that when you're induced your body doesn't have time to naturally build up your resistance to pain? (Although you'd think 35 hours of slow contractions would be enough time!) And after the scintocin (sp?) started, the contractions came on very strong (too strong in fact, the MW didn't think they were that strong and kept turning them up but didn't have the monitor on the right spot! When she realised she finally believed me that it hurt big time!)... and of course I was strapped to the bed, so I wasn't able to move into any positions to eleviate the pain... I'm sorry to be negative, but a lot of people on here have had really good experiences, so think positively and you'll be one of the lucky ones! Yes, women have been doing it for thousands of years, and I have wondered (Angel4) why all the pain, when God/Allah/whatever designs everything so perfectly? ... I think it's so that we'll treasure our babies; going through all that pain makes us value them even more (well, of course their smiles are enough, but it's God's insurance policy )
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Posted By: kakapo
Date Posted: 14 February 2009 at 8:04am
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In the year since giving birth I've had three experiences involving pain that felt much more intense and more overwhelming than any pain I felt in labour. The worst was when I had some work done on the bones in my mouth (had tears streaming down my face and was thinking please, someone, kill me now!). Another time I had the most intense stomach cramps one night - must have eaten something bad, and the pain was excrutiating and inescapable. And finally, a few months ago my horse trod on my foot - she had metal shoes on and weighs half a tonne, I only had rubber gumboots on and have had a sore foot ever since. I did experience some pain during labour - especially nearing transition when the contractions were strongest. Had a natural birth with no drugs, but felt like my body took over and mind zoned out - which might have helped to dull the awareness of pain? I was really surprised to hear I had a third degree tear, as the pushing part happened quickly and relatively easily. Thinking positively also helped. Eg you can think of each contraction as one less you need to experience before your baby will be born. For me, the most painful thing about labour, birth and beyond was the emotional pain associated with not managing to breastfeed my baby successfully. Labour and birth seemed so insignificant in comparison! |
Posted By: lisa85
Date Posted: 14 February 2009 at 9:29am
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I was lucky with the girls I got to elect a c-section which went about as straight forward as it gets. I was even first on the list for the day. I know alot of women worry about recovery time with a C/S but I had no problems I never touched the morphine drip they gave me and I was up walking around, holding the babies and showering the next day. I stayed in hospital for 5 days but only because my milk didn't come in and I didn't want to leave until I was confident feeding 2 babies.
I guess at the end of the day everyone is so different and yet we all cope with what ever we're delt with and survive those first few weeks only to look back and wonder where the time went and how we got to this place where we truely feel like a Mum. My first REAL Mum moment was when the girls were a few months old and had a cold I rubbed some baby vicks on them and suddenly realised I'm a Mum I think everything prior to that was just a muddled, making things up as I go along blur -------------  
TTC #3 since Jan 2010 - PCOS MC April 2010 |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 14 February 2009 at 12:25pm
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I reckon the afterpains after lil miss were worse than any labour pains coz afterpains feel like contractions but without the peak so they go on for ages and are excruciating. I had mild ones after Maya, hardly any after the gremlins but with lil miss it was awful. Apparently it was coz my uterus was so stretched from having the gremlins then lil miss is such quick succession that it was harder for it to contract back down again. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: busyissy
Date Posted: 14 February 2009 at 12:31pm
| Oooh, I'd forgotten about the after pains. I didn't have them with Dominic and so when they came after Isobelle I thought something was horribly wrong. |
Posted By: xox6Girls1Boyxox
Date Posted: 15 February 2009 at 6:50am
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I think if you go into labour with a positive attitude & open mind you should be fine....Everyone is different and I tend to have real fast labours & births so my contractions are pretty intense from the word go, but with each contraction I just tell myself that my baby is gonnna be here soon, I think a punch in the nose is more painful than contractions. As for pushing, I love the pushing part & as soon as your baby is in your arms you forget about the horrible intense pain you were in just moments ago.... I agree with maya also about the afterpains, Jeez with my 1st daughter I was feeding her I started experiencing the pains and I actually thought I was gonna have another baby, I was hard out questioning the MW asking if they were sure theres not another baby in there? I was soooo sure she was wrong LOL.... Oh and when you go for your 1st wee beware coz that stings like a B***h.... No one told me about that.... ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com/"> 
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Posted By: Chickoin
Date Posted: 15 February 2009 at 7:55am
Drink lots of ural and touch your toes... don't try sitting straight again until after you've wiped! (or dabbed very gently lol) At home I kept a pump bottle with water and a drop of tea tree oil for squirting after a widdle. -------------
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