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Childbirth

How much did it hurt??

25 replies

3njuly · 14/05/2009 09:46

Just curious.....

I had my DD nearly 3 years ago. When we go to the hospital, I thought they would send me home again as it was a little painful...but not too painful.I wasn't aware I was actually in PROPER labour until I lay on the bed and the midwife told me not to push as the baby was THERE! My DD only weighed 3.5lb and I am wondering - could that be why it wasn't painful??

I am DC2 is due in a few weeks time and is already bigger than DD1 was at birth and I am starting to panic! Will it automatically hurt more this time as baby is bigger???

Does size matter?? Is there a chance it could be as painless - even though it's bigger or am I just kidding myself????

Anyone have a painless big baby or a really paiful little baby??

I know there can be many other factors...but just curious...

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Gorionine · 14/05/2009 09:52

I cannot remember the pain exactly, but I had a shorter labour, for DS2 who was a pound heavier than DD1 so I supposeit banlances it out. I had an episiotomy for
DD1 but did not need one for DS2 and did not tear either.

Congratulations for the baby to come and all the best for you in a few weeks!

Lizzylou · 14/05/2009 09:55

DS2 was 2lb heavier than DS1, butfar quicker labour.
I was told on more than one occasion that smaller babies can be harder to birth, not much chance of that with my whopping boys though.
Try not to worry, good luck.

InternationalFlight · 14/05/2009 09:56

I don't know the answer tbh, but 3.5lb is very tiny (bet she was a sweet little thing!!)

My first didn't hurt a lot as I had an epidural.

My second I had nothing and it was a big shock, I felt like I was being ripped in half - the worst thing was that it felt so unnecessary that it should hurt that much, or try that hard to push him out. I don't know how much sense that makes. It was as though my body was overreacting. I didn't think it ought to hurt that much.

That's probably because I was afraid and therefore very tense, which would have made it much worse I'm told.

Perhaps you weren't afraid last time?

Monkeyandbooba · 14/05/2009 09:56

DS was 9lb 13.5oz and I didn't believe I was in established labour until I started to push!

MrsHappy · 14/05/2009 09:57

I think some women just don't feel labour as massive pain.

I have a couple of friends who has experienced this. One describes it as intense and hard work, but not pain (except for crowning and that doesn't take long). The other was laughing and joking in active labour but then the baby became distressed so she had a section.

Maybe you weren't in pain because you stayed home and were relaxed for most of your labour?

I had a lot of pain when I had DD (only 7lbs so not massive), but that started once I was in hospital, strapped to monitors and unable to move, treated by a surly midwife and feeling very out of my depth. Had I stayed at home for longer I might have had a lot less pain.

Monkeyandbooba · 14/05/2009 09:57

I did hypnobirthing so was very relaxed so I don't know if it was that or whether I was just lucky - who knows.

InternationalFlight · 14/05/2009 09:58

Btw mine was 8lb10

and OP (backwards) presentation, which meant he got kind of stuck-ish and took longer. Still 3.5hrs start to finish.

myredcardigan · 14/05/2009 09:58

It may hurt more but that will be countered by the fact that second labours are usually quicker and easier.

You will be fine.

funnypeculiar · 14/05/2009 09:58

Ds was 5lb4, and dd was 6lb14 - and my labour with dd was an absolute breeze (ds was reasonable)

In fact, i was told that the pushing stage is sometimes harder with smaller babies as there is less for the muscles to grab onto, iyswim.

3njuly · 14/05/2009 10:11

Looking back I think I must have spent must of my labour in bed asleep. I had twinges from 3am, but I just felt like trapped wind. I also walked a fair bit to get to the car and paced the hospital floor while waiting to be checked.

Mrs Happy you're probably right - I only really thought it was real labour once in the hospital. Then I was on all fours...the works!

OP posts:

wishingchair · 14/05/2009 13:40

Mine were 9lb14 and 8lb11. They hurt. Second was slightly shorter (13 hrs start to finish vs 19hrs). Pushing was easier though and no stitches - woohoo!

PlumpRumpSoggyBaps · 14/05/2009 13:56

Both mine were around the 6 lb mark. The first wasn't too bad but the second was induced and hurt a lot. But, the plus side was neither lasted very long- from first really painful bit to pushing them out was about half an hour each time.

Honestly, don't worry about it- it may hurt, it may not, but relaxing is the best thing you can do to help things along.

l39 · 14/05/2009 15:39

When people say smaller babies are easier, do they mean the first stage, the second stage or the whole thing?

My first stage with twins was immensely easier than with my single children. Each twin was much smaller than the singletons, but during the first stage my uterus was still coping with 10 and a half pounds of babies (+ ancillaries) as compared to around 8lb for the single babies.

The second stage was easy all three times.

I had pethidine with my single children but only gas and air with the twins.

StarlightMcKenzie · 15/05/2009 18:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Blu · 15/05/2009 18:52

I didn't find labour painful. Hard work, kind of 'massive', but not actually painful.

DS was a medium size baby, I was in labour for 28 hours and pushing for 3.5, but never felt it was all too much.

(tens, pool, much walking and staying upright)

violethill · 15/05/2009 22:21

Don't think weight is the main factor to do with amount of pain. I think the fact that your body has birthed once before is a key thing really. Your body will have done it all once before.

I guess people experience pain differenly... so when you say 'How much does it hurt?' - well, it was more painful than I could imagine! Especially the first birth! I've spoken to quite a few women who have given birth for the first time without epidural who have said the same as me - they got to the point where they thought they'd rather die!! However, once it's got that bad, you're probably quite near the end!

drlove8 · 15/05/2009 22:39

bikini waxes are more painful, trust me ive had five birth children.... and only one wax.... first baby was worst.

KerryMaid · 16/05/2009 20:51

Agonisingly painful.

But my baby's head was in the wrong position and every contraction pushed all 9 pounds 11 of her into my bladder so that was probably why.

stillenacht · 16/05/2009 20:54

I would second Kerrymaid - agonisingly painful with DS1. I thought i was gonna die (kept saying this over and over) DS1 was OP i think - lying backwards or something...hideous...epidural failed urgh what a memory - emcsection in the end

DS2 no pain bliss - elcsection

Mamazon · 16/05/2009 20:54

it feels like the worst ever period pain times 10.
then the actual crowning feels as though someone set fire to your fanjo.

MadamAnt · 16/05/2009 20:56

It definitely smarted a bit.

MadamAnt · 16/05/2009 20:58

Oh and DC1 (8lb 9oz) took longer and hurt more than DC2 (10lb 9oz).

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Amanda1977 · 16/05/2009 22:19

The only unmanageable part when I really felt I could not cope with the pain was when I was 10cm dilated and ready to push, so the way I see it when you feel it is too much take heart in the fact it is nearly over! The midwife arrived at 7.25pm to find me on my hands and knees on bathroom floor and at 7.55pm my daughter, Freya, was pushed out. The crowning stings/burns a little but by this point you actually feel that you are working with the contractions to get the baby out and, although I experienced some tearing, this went unnoticed (by me) at the time! Honestly, don't stress yourself about the pain, nature isn't going to deal you any more than you can cope with.

Smithagain · 16/05/2009 22:22

Astonishingly painful but the gas'n'air trip was AWESOME. At one point I was flying around the roof of a cathedral, looking down on my labouring self, with a strange sense of detachment. Very, very weird.

3njuly · 19/05/2009 10:40

Thanks everyone for your honesty!! I can remember the "I don't want to do this anymore" stage. This was just before I was checked by Tri-age and told the babies head was there and 'don't push'.

After that I lay on the bed and was told "OK push!!". I asked for G&A and was told it wasn't worth it as baby was practically here!!!

I was only pushing for 10 - 12 mins in total.I thought this was relatively normal. Yes thh crowning burnt like a bugger, but then I knew it would soon be over!

Blu - pushing for 3.5hrs? Now I am scared!

I feel like I am entering teh uknown this time!!

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