The horrors of giving birth? Calling all moms!

[Tigger&Belle]

I'm going to cut to the chase. Childbirth was the most awful pain I've ever experienced. Terrible. Horrible. I had natural childbirth and yes, I could have had drugs, but the first one I didn't know, the second was the easiest and fastest and the only one I didn't really want the drugs for. And the next 2 were in a birthing center where the "good" drugs were not an option without transferring to a hospital, which I was not willing to do. So, I went the natural route 4 times. Yep, 4 times.

It couldn't be so bad if I did it 4 times, right? Wrong! It was horrible! But I'm a slow learner and I really wanted my babies. And was it worth it? You'd better believe it! Has it been bliss ever since? Hell, no! My kids are 6, 12, 15, and 18, and there are good times and bad, but they are 4 of the best decisions that I could have ever made and I don't regret them for a moment, even when they are driving me up a wall!

So don't concentrate on all the gory details of labor and delivery or you'll never want to do it! Yes, prepare yourself, but prepare yourself for the good and the bad.

 

[ZachnElli]

Probably way too late into this thread to say this, but don't listen to any of the bad labor stories! It most likely won't happen to you! I was panic stricken with my first. Everyone who has a horror labor story comes out of the woodwork and tells you about it! Scary! But I didn't have any problems with either of my labors. My worst problem was the nurse not finding a vein! LOL! Yeah, it hurts, but it's definitely live through-able! Of course, my youngest's birth was the best, he's adopted!

 

[hydster]

I would rather have given birth any day over being pregnant! I HATED being pregnant but really did enjoy the labor and delivery. Of course I had an epidural with 2 and 1 natural though not by choice and honestly I thought the 9 months of pregnancy was waaaay worse than the hours in labor! My doctor told me if I could make a living as just being a labor and delivery woman for people I'd be a billionaire cause until I went into labor I was so grumpy and snapped at everyone but once I started into labor I was actually quite pleasant and my dh agreed!

Once you go into labor you will just do it....as you won't have a choice! It may hurt like hell but your body will just do what it does and if it can't finish it naturally there is always the c-section.

 

[princesscj]

My wonderful son was a surprise, I was terrified of child birth. My mom said, "You don't have a choice, you are going to have to go thru it so don't work yourself up about it!" That was great advice!!

It's so true, I know I was in pain, (I did it all natural 9 lb child), but once I held him, I really can't remember the pain.

My delivery was a nightmare, I pushed for 2 hours!! Afterwards doc said I should have done a c-section (Ya think???).

But, TOTALLY worth it!!!! Don't be scared, it happens every minute of every day, if it was so terrible people would quit getting pregnant!!

 

[mannasn]

Birth - different for everyone. Don't listen to the horror stories.

My pregnancy, labor and delivery wasn't bad at all. Are there things I would do differently? Sure! Is the outcome worth the disappointments/difficulties? Absolutely.

Things I'd do differently:
Actually finish my childbirth classes (Bradley method)
Give birth at a birthing center with a CNM instead of an MD (or find a low-intervention MD since both of my pregnancies were very low risk)
Avoid induction like the plague! LOL
Hire a doula (my husband wasn't much help!) LOL