Okay, is delivering a baby really scary?

[theSurlyMermaid]

Hi, everyone. No, I am not expecting a DS or DD anytime soon, but my DH and I have started more seriously discussing kids, especially after one of my colleagues became pregnant and just had such a good time with it. I found out she delivered a healthy baby boy but the labor was "excruciating."

This worries me a great deal, because I am SUCH a baby, you wouldn't believe. I think I would just be way too scared to go through this, despite the fact that I have had kidney stones and the doctors assure me that sort of pain is at least as bad.

I don't know. The whole idea of so much pain scares me very very much.

 

[browneyes]

There's an old adage that goes something like "If childbirth hurt as bad as everyone says, human beings would become extinct."

Every childbirth experience is different. Not just by woman by woman, but by child by child. Both of my birthing experiences were totally different. The pain is bearable. And well worth it.

 

[Disfan1]

Also, if you choose to be medicated you might not feel anything at all. I didn't- I had to be told when to push since I couldn't even feel the contractions!

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Whatever pain there is....it's all worth it in the end.

 

[monkeyboy]

Woman gives herself a Caesarean


Baby was born healthy
A woman gave birth to a healthy baby boy after performing a Caesarean on herself with a kitchen knife.
It is thought to be the first known case of a self-inflicted Caesarean in which both the mother and baby survived.

The unidentified 40-year-old, lived in a rural area of Mexico without electricity or running water, and eight hours from the nearest hospital.

The International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics reported the case.

The woman performed the operation when she could not deliver the baby naturally, having lost a previous baby due to labour complications.

Hard liquor

Dr R Valle, of the Dr Manuel Velasco Suarez Hospital in San Pablo, Mexico, said: "She took three small glasses of hard liquor and, using a kitchen knife, sliced her abdomen in three attempts and delivered a male infant that breathed immediately and cried."

This case represents an unusual and extraordinary decision by a woman in labour

Dr R Valle
Before losing consciousness, the woman told one of her children to call a local nurse for help.

After the nurse stitched the wound with a sewing needle and cotton thread, the mother and baby were transferred and treated by Dr Valle and his colleagues at the nearest hospital.

"This case represents an unusual and extraordinary decision by a woman in labour who, unable to deliver herself spontaneously, and with no medical help or resources, decided to perform a caesarean section upon herself," he said.

He added that a mother's instinct to save her child can move a woman to perform extraordinary acts but said it would not have been necessary if adequate medical care had been available.

Professor James Walker, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at St James's University Hospital, Leeds, said he had heard of cases in the past where farmers had performed Caesareans on their wives after having previously carried out the operation on animals.

But he said it would not happen now. "In this country, there is virtually never a situation when an individual is totally isolated from medical care even in the most outlying areas

 

[C.Ann]

Yes - it's painful - most of the time - but there are many, many ways to minimize the pain and as soon as you hold that baby and begin to bond you'll forget all about it!

New terrority is ALWAYS especially scary!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I had a 10 lb 7 oz baby with no medication at all, so I would say no. It is what you make it. I must say also, that I did not have a long labor, so that could make a difference.

 

[ColoradoBuffaloMom]

About a month before I had my DD (who is now 14) I called my Mom in a panic saying there was no way I could have this baby. I am such a wimp when it comes to pain that I knew I couldn't go thru the surgery of a C-Section and knew I couldn't go thru a ******l birth. My mom being the kind compassionate person she is said "Get over it. People have babies every day."

To make a long story short, I had ******l births with both my kids and yes it is painful (ask for the epidural!) but you truly do forget about it or else we all would be only children. Also the best part is you go home with wonderful baby. As a friend told me, it's not like a broken leg where all you go home with is the pain and a broken leg.

I am the world's biggest baby when it comes to pain and if I can give birth, anyone can! It is all worth it. Well maybe not when they are 14 and have a comment and give you "the look" for everything

Elise

 

[Melissa R]

I am a huge wimp - I cry like a baby when I am even told that I need anything done that involves a needle, and I must be lying down before that needle touches me or I will pass out.

That said, I've had two children. I had one awful dose of demoral with my first son that wore off way before delivery. With my second son, I labored most of the day at home and got to the hospital for the last couple of hours and had no medication at all.

Yes, it's painful. But it's nothing that can't be done. And while I chose to have natural childbirth, you certainly don't have to. There are lots of pain medications out there. I personally was too creeped out thinking about the procedure involved in getting an epidural. I just can't handle needles, so the pain of childbirth was nothing compared to how traumatic it would have been for me to get that thing stuck into my spine!!

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Wow, such quick and knowledgeable replies! Actually, I feel much better. It's just that doctors have actually looked at me with concern because I get faint, nauseous, you name it...and it all doesn't have to be excruciating pain...anything associated with the....ah....woman's doctor....and I seriously am 2 seconds from passing out.

But we as women are far more resilient than most men I know, so I guess it's best we go through the process! I just wish I was a little braver, because at my age (30) I should be over some of my squeamish-ness about this stuff.

 

[Boo'sMom]

I remember very clearly saying to my DH about 1/2 way to the hospital with our first that I'd like him to turn around and go home....there was no way I could deliver a baby.
Low and behold, it was the most pain I've ever endured....I ended up with more stitches than they could count.....but ended up having 2 more after him.


You forget the pain...til someone asks

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Yes it hurts. EPIDURAL, enough said.

Lori

 

[two4ruff]

Actually, the raising of the baby is a lot scarier than the delivery!

 

[Nette]

Yeah I'd have to agree. Labor is hard, but even me, who I think is a major wimp, made it through 17 hours of labor with no epidural.

And there is nothing that says you can't have the epi.

 

[CamColt]

Originally posted by two4ruff
Actually, the raising of the baby is a lot scarier than the delivery!

Agreed!

Yes childbirth hurt like heck(did it twice with no pain meds),but that was a piece of cake compared to dealing with the kids as they grow up.

Just remember, the pain will eventually end.

 

[Nancy]

I ahd 3 with no medications for any of them. All 3 were different. With #3 I would have had the drugs if there was time, but she was born 1/2 hour after we got to the hospital. #'s 2 and 3 were both over 9 pounds...#2 had a big head! There is pain involved, but never anything that I couldn't handle. I have a higher threshhold for pain then some people do. Each pregnancy was different too. Having a baby is the most rewarding experience I have ever been through. All the pain was definately worth it.

 

[Jeafl]

It depends. My aunt, who is a size 2, had 3 large babies and swore she never felt anything worse than mild crampng. The funny thing is, she has whined about her medical maladies all her life. Childbirth, however, didn't bother her.

I have had 3 children, the first a c-section, the last 2 v-bacs, and each experience was totally different. Trust me, when it comes down to it, you can and you WILL do it.

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

It is not as chaotic as they portray on TV either. Trust your birthing team to take control.

 

[kasar]

Okay, here's the truth that I wish someone had told me. It hurts. A lot. It's also very scary. Sometimes I surprise myself that I actually DID that. But I'm also prouder of myself for deliverying 2 babies than anything else I've ever done.

On the other hand, my SIL just delivered a baby without pushing once. Her DD kind of just "fell" out (luckily at the hospital!). So, hopefully you'll be lucky enough to have an experience like that. If not, once you see your baby, all pain and fears will be long gone.

 

[missypie]

I have 3 lovely children...with each I had 4 1/2 months of 24/7 "morning" sickness...I'd choose 8 hours of painful labor over 135 days of nausea any time.

The first two babies were huge and were scheduled c-sections. The third was a VBAC...at that point it had been about 4 1/2 years since I took the childbirth class.

I was induced. Pitocin contractions are a major b**ch. I was truly amazed at how much it hurt.

I had always thought "Thousands of women do it every day..how bad can it be?" The answer for me, with Pitocin, confined to a bed and not able to move around at all was... A LOT! An incredible amount.

But then...you have this wonderful baby. And guess what? The pain stops. Shuts off like a faucet. They bring you the baby. It's beautiful. They bring you a meal...you wolf it down because you realize that it's been 18 hours since you've eaten. You chat. You smile. You're not sick...you feel great. Most women think it's very much worth it.