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Childbirth

Which is the most painful... Probably a daft question!!!

123 replies

barbareebaa · 02/11/2008 14:15

Hello!
Not long to go before I hit my due date (11th) and have been thinking a lot about what's going to happen when I give birth(as you do!)

Anyway I was just wondering whether it is the contractions that hurt the most or the actual physical sensation of pushing the baby out?

Or maybe I should just wait and see...

Thanks in advance,
Bx

OP posts:

Report

DippyDora · 02/11/2008 14:16

I didnt get to the pushung stage as my labour didnt progress but I'm sure the final bit of the pushing stage is the worst

SharpMolarBear · 02/11/2008 14:19

I found the contractions more painful but the pushing stage exhausting - kept falling asleep in between contractions at that stage
Hope it all goes well and we'll be reading your birth announcement soon

mrsmaidamess · 02/11/2008 14:21

I think the contractions. But I tried to see each one as an independent thing and didn't worry about the next one (which often, wasn't as bad as previous ones)

Pushing to me was sore, but strangely satisfying, and exhilerating as I knew the end was in sight.

Good luck BTW!!.

Heated · 02/11/2008 14:21

Pretty even split for me (& possibly not the best phrase to use!)

OO7 · 02/11/2008 14:22

The actual act of pushing is fine, you do it along with a contraction and it kind of gives you something to do, and you hope know you're really getting somewhere so it seems very worth it. Also your body kind of does it anyway without your help or extra effort.

The moment the head literally pops out stretching everything is very painful and burny but it's over before you realise it. As it "Yooooowwww, wtf was that?" but it's finished, then one last push and you're there

The contractions hurt. Pain relief is your friend.

And as you've heard a million times - you forget it all straight away.

Good luck

Nbg · 02/11/2008 14:23

Contractions were the worst for me, and that was all 3 births.

I think the pushing bit is just very hard and exhausting but you can push the pain of the contraction away iyswim.

Good luck

GColdtimer · 02/11/2008 14:27

Agree, the crowning bit is by far the most painful bit but it is acute and stings but it is over very quickly. I didn't find the pushing bit too bad because like others said, you have something to focus on. The contractions are a different kind of pain but they aren't something you can really describe. Everyone finds a different way of coping with them and for me, breathing really, really did help. I did find that I found a zone where I could cope.

Good luck!

carrieon · 02/11/2008 14:28

Contractions waaaay worse. With pushing you actually get to DO something with the pain rather than just breathe through it and wish to goodness it would go away. And I thought that feeling the head crown and come out was an incredible sensation, not a painful one at all. But then i'm looking all gooey-eyed at my 5 week old right now so I would say that

mrsmaidamess · 02/11/2008 14:29

Yes breathing properly was a GODSEND

SharpMolarBear · 02/11/2008 14:35

My body refused to push - I had to take charge

DippyDora · 02/11/2008 14:38

See I pushed for two hours and nothing happened, complety exhausting and felt pointless as I could feel I was pushing against nothing.

The contractions were not as bad as I had imagined. I used G&A though.

barbareebaa · 02/11/2008 14:38

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and your good wishes!

I think it just helps to have an idea of what's coming! Yikes!!

OP posts:

RedSparklersOnHerHead · 02/11/2008 14:40

Contractions were worse - pushing was the easy bit!

Niecie · 02/11/2008 14:45

No difference in the pain I don't think, even though I felt a change in the type of contraction in the second stage. I didn't push DS2 out though, he arrived all by himself.

The problem with contractions is that you don't know how long they are going to go on for. With second stage the end is in sight.

But you can't take our word as gosple - we are all different.

Good luck.

findtheriver · 02/11/2008 17:22

Agree with those who say crowning is the worst bit - I found it excruciating - what they say about someone aiming a blow torch at your fanjo sums it up! But it's quick - usually one more push for shoulders and rest of body and you're there.
I suppose the area around the outside of your fanjo has more nerve endings,and if you tear it's just ..... fuuuuuuuuck!!

Contractions hurt a lot too, but I found them easier, maybe because they tend to build up more gradually, so your body kind of adjusts. Having said that, with dc3 my contractions during first stage were all over the place - some were frequent, then I'd have long gaps, had some really awful big ones early on, and then less painful shorter ones. For some reason my body didnt seem to get into the pattern that it did first time round, and I think not being able to predict how long or big the next contraction would be made it worse.

dinny · 02/11/2008 17:25

head crowning

contractions aren't that bad IME

dinny · 02/11/2008 17:26

can handle contractions so long as standing up!

Claire236 · 02/11/2008 17:28

I found contractions more painful than pushing. The most painful bit for me though was crowning as my contraction finished while ds was crowning & I was stuck with his head halfway out whilst waiting for the next contraction in order to push him all the way out. Makes my eyes water thinking about it.

findtheriver · 02/11/2008 17:30

Agree dinny. Standing by bed, hands flat on bed and circling my hips got me through the worst of them!

ladytophamhatt · 02/11/2008 17:31

pushing the baby out was easy peasy compared to teh contractions.

dinny · 02/11/2008 17:32

yes, FTR!!

with ds they filled the birthing pool at hosp, I got in and HATED it, go straight back out and just stood up doing circling with hands on some ledge thing

the head crowning with ds was a nightmare, as it crowned and then his shoulders got tuck, so his head stayed crowned for what seemed a LIFETIME

am pg again and v scared

dinny · 02/11/2008 17:33

I'd hae said that with dd LTH, revised my opinion after ds (see below) ouch! though pushing was fast and OK, crowning was yukky

didn't tear though, amazingly

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findtheriver · 02/11/2008 17:34

Ooh my eyes are watering dinny at the thought of head staying crowned for ages!

I'm convinced my ds broke all the rule books by having bigger shoulders than head. All the books say the head is the widest part, but I know after getting his head out, his shoulders seemed bloody massive!

dinny · 02/11/2008 17:35

mmmm, my ds was the same - rugby player!

myermay · 02/11/2008 17:35

contractions were worse for me - i was induced with that drip so very intense. Crowning did really sting - but over quickly, do listen to you midwife though and only push when she says and hopeufully you won't tear. You'll be fine good luck

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