Pregnacy/Labor pain!!!

[MaleficentFan]

Okay... I guess I'm the one woman that others who have given birth hate. I only have one child... I had no pain meds... totally naturally... OB, in the hospital. I didn't realize I was in labor until my contractions had been going on for about 2 hours... just felt like random bouts of pressure to me. As labor progressed I felt more uncomfortable... but was never in major amounts of pain. It felt like the worst cramps I'd ever had... but entirely manageable. By the time I got to the hospital I was fully dilated... so I couldn't have gotten an epidural even if I wanted one. But to tell you the truth, I probably wouldn't have even asked for one because I wasn't in THAT much pain. For me is was more a feeling of intense discomfort. I was at the hospital for exactly forty minutes before dd was born. So I had a fast, easy labor. I had issues afterward (tearing because she came out too quickly... apparently when I push I REALLY push... the doctor was shocked at how fast she moved on down and out!)... but nothing that sitz baths and Motrin didn't alleviate.

Everyone is different... I was surprised at how easily I dealt with labor... as long as you're willing to reassess as you go and encounter new feelings and issues you should be fine.

 

[shaylahc1]

I have 4 kids....3 born w/out an epidural, 1 born with a failed epidural Worst.Pain.Ever. Bar none. I was a screamer.....screamed my freaking head off with 3 of them. My 3rd labor was "easy" if only because my water never broke. It really cushioned the pain of the contractions and I was chatting and laughing all the way up until she was born....all 8 lbs 10 oz of her My worst was my 4th, my son. He didn't want to come down and I was having double contractions with no breaks in between. I think my water was leaking slowly because the contractions were horrid. To make it worse my doctor didn't believe I was in labor and tried to send me home with a sleeping pill It's a good thing I knew I was in labor and refused to leave. I screamed so hard I was climbing the sides of the bed. Finally I asked for an epidural and it only took on one side. I tell people it was about as helpful as having half a broken arm LOL. I can imagine if an epidural actually worked that it would be delightful I didn't even feel the epidural needle and you've never seen a woman in labor hop up so fast to get one.

Would I do it again? Oh hell no I remember after DS (#4) was born I told DH "I don't EVER want to go through that again". I had nightmares for years afterwards. Now DH is "fixed" and I don't have to worry anymore

My best advice? Get the epidural Good luck!!!!!!

 

[BeckyScott]

It's bad. Yep. Like your worst period cramp ever will seem like nuthin compared.

I remember with my first, I just kept telling myself over and over, that bazillions of women had gone before me and done it, and if they could do it so could I.

Actually, although labor hurt pretty dang bad, afterwards when they start pushing on your stomach to check you... I think the nurse was trying to find my spine... that seriously hurt worse than the labor did...

 

[baloo's girl]

I have two children. My first, I did whatever the docs told me. I read all the "popular" pregnancy and childbirth books. I thought I had it covered. I ended up induced, pitocined, water broken by doc, epidural, and ultimately, a c/section for "failure to progress". It was a horrible experience with a beautiful prize, my daughter. My dd was perfect. But the c/s was the most painful thing I ever experienced in my life. My wound failed to heal (I think due to asthma meds I was on). I had a second surgery to open me back up-because they thought they didn't close me properly or something. Then, I continue to not heal. I had to be on bed rest for 2 months with a home healthcare nurse coming out to my house to pack my wound until it finally healed 2 months later. I was in constant pain, but refused most pain meds because I was breastfeeding-the only thing that went right for me. The whole experience was miserable. I felt out of control and in the dark about what was happening to me.

2nd time around, I decided I was going to do things diffferently. I didn't want a c/s because I was very afraid of having a similar experience. I read the right books-try read Ina May Gaskin's works, she has a beautiful perspective on birth. I'd say the biggest thing you can do to prepare is read positive birth books. Have a midwife. Join supportive groups of women. I had a totally different attitude with my second pregnancy. I felt very much in charge and was informed as to how my body was working to bring my son into my life. I had my son at home with midwives attending me. I did all my hard labor in a birthing tub-which is simply heavenly. I got out to squat and push him out-in 2 tries. I didn't even realize that I had pushed him out. I was in such a daze. When you let your body take over, your brain checks out. This is the best way to get through labor. You just ride the waves. Yes, there's pressure. There can be unconfortable pain. But you just can't think of it. Just say I can get over this, it will pass-and it will. Loose sense of time. Breathe, meditiate, move! Follow your body because it knows what to do. Birthing my son at home was the single best experience of my life. I never felt more proud and accomplished than I did after doing giving birth MY way. The recovery time was so minor after my birth. I felt great a couple hours after he was born. No problems at all. No pain meds, nothing!!

I would recommend seeing birth as a beautiful process in which our bodies were made to do. It is the ultimate fullfillment of womanhood. Attitude is everything.

 

[WisconsinDisneyGirl]

Baby #1- labor for 42 hours. Sent home from hospital twice! Pushed for over 3 hours.

Did I forget the pain??? No way!

Baby #2- 6 years later. Memory of the pain still there. Way different experience! Had to go on hospital bedrest due to placenta previa. Had to have a c section at 36 weeks. Would take a c over a vag anyday! Having new IV's put in all the time and blood work every other day for 3 months- alot of pain along with an amnio.

Would I do it all over again??????????????? YES YES YES!!!!

 

[RMulieri]

mine was a horror story, but I would do it all over again if I could It was the worse god awful pain ever.But to be fair i was not dilating so they cranked a Pitocin drip up high..without giving me my epidural first( Pitocin cause harder faster and longer contractions...very different from regular ones) When My OB came in to see me( I was sobbing in pain could not even catch a breath since every 40 sec another contraction hit) He was upset that they did not put the epidural in like I requested.By that time it took 11 attempts by 3 different anesthesia Drs to place my epidural(kind of hard to remain still and hunched over when your insides are twisting).My epidural worked for 30 mins and then nothing.I labored for 27 hrs, and pushed for 4 of them( I had a jerk Dr who flat out refused a csection even though DD had not dropped and was still way high in the birth canal and another OB said they should do a section) Eventually I pushed her out( not before i got a raging infection in my uterus for having ruptured membranes for over 26 hrs)I tell you if I did it again(if I could) I would definitely go elsewhere for my OB care.What appalls me was I am an nurse who worked in the very hospital i was laboring in and they treated me awful.

 

[Jenvenza]

My DD was almost 2 weeks late, so I was went in to be induced. I started laboring the day I went in to have her. I was doing fine laboring on my own, and had IV pain drugs and it was all fine. Then they decided to give me Pitocin and things got really intense. I had the worst pain I have ever felt for about 3-4 hours. I never screamed or yelled, I just moaned and moaned. I got the epidural when I was 6cm and after that, it was a breeze. I didnt feel a thing. I pushed 3 or 4 times and she was out - I couldnt feel myself pushing or her coming out. My whole labor was about 11 hours and only 3-4 hours of that was bad. I havent forgot the pain, but I cannot say it was this horrible experience. I figured if I only had 3-4 hours of pain, I was pretty lucky. And it was all worth it.

 

[Camno's Mama]

I will tell you one thing...thinking about it before it happens won't make it any easier. Yes, you can take childbirth classes that help you manage the pain and inform you of your options. That's about it! Other than that, just focus on the beauty of it all. Pregnancy, childbirth and the recovery time after all have their good and bad points. But they are worth it.

In my situation, I was induced with pitocin at 41 wks and had the epidural with both my boys. The first time it was like magic. It moved my labor on when it wasn't doing much. My water broke after it was administered, and I waited a long time before I let them give it to me. It helped relax me and that was good for my laboring process. I did feel the pain after that, but it was much better. With the second I also had the epidural, but it didn't really work because they had some trouble administering it. But, again, it helped me to relax a bit and helped my labor progress. It doesn't work that way for everyone though.

Honestly, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and both my boys were over 9 lbs. I will say pregnancy was harder than I thought it would be though. That varies from person to person...there is absolutely no way to tell how it will be for you. And the recovery period after having the baby was more difficult than I thought it would be as well. Take the pain meds they give you and your recovery will be so much easier. I didn't with the first one, and I didn't make that mistake again.

Best of luck with what you decide. Whatever pain is involved in childbirth is over quickly. Seriously, in most cases it is one day of your life. You can do anything for one day, right?

 

[emh1129]

My birth was aired on the Discovery health Channel on the show "House of Babies" So yes I had a whole camera crew all up in my grill while giving birth...although I couldnt tell you one second of them being there...dont remember who was in the room, what anyone said, what I said...because I was so deep into my own thought process and relaxation techniques.

Enjoy and i hope that my words can comfort you in some way

That is so awesome! I love that show

 

[emh1129]

Would take a c over a vag anyday!

Wow.. I would take a vag delivery over a c/s any day of the week. I had a 2nd degree tear with my vag delivery and it was still a walk in the park compared to the two c/sections (and I didn't have any complications with those). With a vag delivery the pain just *stops* and you can focus on your sweet new baby.. and with a c/s that's when the pain is just starting.
They are hard to compare, though.. because they are really two completely different experiences.
I am planning to have a vba2c next time.

 

[emh1129]

I have two children. My first, I did whatever the docs told me. I read all the "popular" pregnancy and childbirth books. I thought I had it covered. I ended up induced, pitocined, water broken by doc, epidural, and ultimately, a c/section for "failure to progress". It was a horrible experience with a beautiful prize, my daughter. My dd was perfect. But the c/s was the most painful thing I ever experienced in my life. My wound failed to heal (I think due to asthma meds I was on). I had a second surgery to open me back up-because they thought they didn't close me properly or something. Then, I continue to not heal. I had to be on bed rest for 2 months with a home healthcare nurse coming out to my house to pack my wound until it finally healed 2 months later. I was in constant pain, but refused most pain meds because I was breastfeeding-the only thing that went right for me. The whole experience was miserable. I felt out of control and in the dark about what was happening to me.

2nd time around, I decided I was going to do things diffferently. I didn't want a c/s because I was very afraid of having a similar experience. I read the right books-try read Ina May Gaskin's works, she has a beautiful perspective on birth. I'd say the biggest thing you can do to prepare is read positive birth books. Have a midwife. Join supportive groups of women. I had a totally different attitude with my second pregnancy. I felt very much in charge and was informed as to how my body was working to bring my son into my life. I had my son at home with midwives attending me. I did all my hard labor in a birthing tub-which is simply heavenly. I got out to squat and push him out-in 2 tries. I didn't even realize that I had pushed him out. I was in such a daze. When you let your body take over, your brain checks out. This is the best way to get through labor. You just ride the waves. Yes, there's pressure. There can be unconfortable pain. But you just can't think of it. Just say I can get over this, it will pass-and it will. Loose sense of time. Breathe, meditiate, move! Follow your body because it knows what to do. Birthing my son at home was the single best experience of my life. I never felt more proud and accomplished than I did after doing giving birth MY way. The recovery time was so minor after my birth. I felt great a couple hours after he was born. No problems at all. No pain meds, nothing!!

I would recommend seeing birth as a beautiful process in which our bodies were made to do. It is the ultimate fullfillment of womanhood. Attitude is everything.

Love this post
And I second the rec for Ina May's books. They will be books you will want to read over and over again, as you progress in your pregnancy.

 

[Feralpeg]

Well, I'll have to disagree with most of the prior posts. I would equate it to really bad menstrual cramps. The difference is the pains become continuous after awhile. I did end up having an emergency C-section, so I never got to the pushing stage. Maybe that is why I didn't think it was so bad.

 

[Jenvenza]

I also want to add - and I am sure this had nothing to do with the way thingsactually came out - it is just interesting.

My sister, cousin and I were all pregnant for the 1st time at the same time. I was never concerned about labor and delivery. I always thought that when the time came, I would be able to handle the pain and never gave it a second thought. I never worried myself over it. I had a pretty easy labor and delivery and had a ******l birth and was out of the hospital the next day.

My cousin was a wreck thinking about the delivery her whole pregnancy. The thought of the pain scared her so bad. She ended up having a c-section and was in pain for weeks afterwards.

My sister was also scared to death of the delivery. She kept saying she didnt want to do it and wanted a c-section. She ended up having one and regretted it the moment she had it. She was in pain for weeks as well.

I just think if you don't worry about it too much, you will be fine. And of course, I don't mean that just because they were so scared, they ended up not doing the vag birth - it was just a weird coincedence. Just enjoy your pregnancy and when the time comes to give birth - know your body will be fine and you will be able to do it. And you will be so happy you did!

 

[Ariel'07]

Actually, although labor hurt pretty dang bad, afterwards when they start pushing on your stomach to check you... I think the nurse was trying to find my spine... that seriously hurt worse than the labor did...

I totally forgot about that!! I hated that too!!

 

[dolfinjuls]

Well I guess I should say I have a pretty high tolerance to pain. But I knew when I was pregnant that I wanted an epidural...no questions asked!

Well I labored pretty much on my own at home and when we got to the hospital I was 10cm and was told no time for an epidural. It was very painful but I don't know about the most painful thing I've ever felt? Definitely up there though!

With #2 I wasn't sure on whether or not to get an epi since I'd done it once before w/out one. Well when I got to the hospital I decided why put myself through the pain and went with the epi. Pain went away and I could still feel some pressure and a little pain when pushing. But the stupid epi gave me chills like crazy...my mom said I looked like I was a heroid addict going thru withdrawal. lol And it also made me itch all over.

 

[allyphoe]

Just how bad is the pain of childbirth?

I had an unmedicated homebirth (planned that way). Labor started about 11:30 on Thursday night, and DD was born about 3:30am Saturday.

From about 9am to 9pm Friday was utter misery. If I'd gone to the hospital, I've have gone for the whole 9 yards - epidural, pitocin, whatever - just to be done with it. It's not so much that it hurt (contractions were more like intense pressure at that point), but that it was going on forever and not getting anywhere. At 9pm, I was at 3 or 4cm, after like 20 hours of contractions every 5 minutes. (And you have to be at a pretty drug-happy hospital to get an epidural before then.) Oh, that part sucked.

But then I had some pancakes, and gave up on having a baby anytime soon, and that stubborn girl *finally* moved. And that was really really overwhelming, but not painful. I think I yelled through the entirety of transition, but seriously, that didn't hurt either. (My partner to me, while I was yelling: "Does it really hurt that much?" Me: "It doesn't hurt at all" and I went right back to yelling.) It wasn't 30 seconds after she was born that I said I'd be happy to do it all over again. I had a pretty bad tear, too, and didn't feel that at all.

I'd read a bunch of books, but didn't do any sort of formal pain-relief stuff. No classes, either.

(Actually parenting a baby? Way, way, way worse than childbirth. I'd give birth a dozen times happily, but there's no way I want to parent a second child.)

 

[allyphoe]

I was in such a daze. When you let your body take over, your brain checks out. This is the best way to get through labor. You just ride the waves.

Yes, that exactly!

 

[tazgirl1981]

I actually didnt mind the baby stage...its the toddler stage that leaves you screaming

Yea it is kinda like your mind checks out...looking back (without medication mind you) It seems like I was only seeing things from an out of body experience...Like I dont remember certain parts except what people tell me and what was recorded on tv, but certain parts I have my own mind of what was happening. I mean I can tell you exactly what I was thinking at different parts of the labor...and what was my focus point during the labor, but I cannot tell you who was there, what anyone other than hubby said to me during labor or what I said to anyone else. It was almost like someone else took over my body but my mind was seeing things from a different point of view. Very interesting experience and yes I agree with going into it NOT being afraid.

People would constantly ask me if I was scared of labor (especially as the months closer to labor came) but I never was scared, even when my water broke...I knew my body would know what to do...and I had to trust it. The best secret (not really a secret) is to just let your body do what it does naturally and not fight it. When I just breathed thru the whole experience it made it go by faster. Water helped me to relax although it was WAYY too hot in my opinion (I get overheated easily). But what helped me is that my hubby was there in the tub holding me thru the whole process. I only made a noise once and that was because....my hymen wasnt completely torn and during labor they had to tear it to get Chris' head out. That was the worst part. But nothing that I wouldnt do again. But each labor is different and each person is different so who knows....With Chris my water broke at 8am on a sunday morning....I didnt give birth until 11pm that night...although I had been having labor pains off and on for about 2 weeks before giving birth, once my water broke, NOTHING...I didnt get the slightest cramp until about 8pm that night...the midwifes were starting to get a little worried but everything happened and we all turned out fine.

The episode on "House of babies" was called "Body Image" in case anyone runs across the reruns on discovery channel. Chris saw it the other day and was so excited to see it Who would have thought that 3 years go by so fast!! Shari our midwife was the best...we still go and see her once in awhile

 

[delmar411]

Well, I'll have to disagree with most of the prior posts. I would equate it to really bad menstrual cramps. The difference is the pains become continuous after awhile. I did end up having an emergency C-section, so I never got to the pushing stage. Maybe that is why I didn't think it was so bad.

I agree with this. I don't equate labor with actual pain. The 3x they had to stick me to start an IV was more painful than labor and delivery. Labor was more of an acute ache/cramp that wouldn't go away.

The delivery part wasn't an issue either as my kids are little rockets. One or two solid pushes and they are out.

No epidurals with my kids and I've had 4. Smallest was my last at 8lbs 8ozs and my biggest was my 2nd at 9lbs 3ozs...all 4 induced(first 3 w/ pit) and all 4 born at 38wks.

ETA~ I might of had a different view point if I had to labor for long periods of time. Outside my first baby which was a 6hr labor, my last 3 were born in 90mins or less.

 

[*Seanaci*]

Labor with my son wasn't horrible. My water broke at 7am and by 10 I was at the hospital walking the halls trying to get into more intense labor. The contractions weren't horrible, and I would stop and just breathe through them. However, by 3pm, I was ready for the epi. Best thing I ever did. Kind of. My contractions slowed down and it was taking forever for me to dialate. It was also causing my sons breathing to slow to the point where the nurse would come running in like every 10 minutes to have me lay on my other side so they could get him back on the monitor.

Very scary.

Anywho. 16 hours after my water broke, my doc came in and talked to us and said that he'd rather go ahead with a c-section to ensure my health as well as my sons. Good thinking doc. They gave me another HUGE dose in the epi cath and that made me ill and shakey (totally normal is what the anthesioligist told me).

I couldn't feel anything from below my ****s down. And was sooooooo tired and out of it I had no idea what was going on. A nurse who'd been keeping an eye on my vitals at my head congratulated me and asked if I was alright (as my eyes had been closed). I was fine. Just tired.

Anyhow. It wasn't bad. And recovery actually wasn't bad either. In fact, all the nurses that were in my post partum room (after my 2 hours in c-section recovery) to move me from the delivery bed to my PP bed were impressed with how much I was trying to move on my own to help them get me to the bed.

All in all, I think it depends on your pain thresh-hold, as well as what your doctor/midwife/whomever prepares you for the labor and delivery. If you have a good doc/midwife, you're labor and delivery will be fantastic.