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Original poster

Tell me honestly how bad the ''ring of fire'' is

123 replies

afternoontea86 · 12/11/2023 15:26

Expecting 3rd baby in mid December. First two I had an epidural and didn't feel a thing but for this one I've decided I want a natural birth. Friend told me she felt like her whole bum was ripping in two and was screaming bloody murder according to her husband. Please tell me honestly how it was so I can mentally prepare!!!!

OP posts:
SundayAlready · 12/11/2023 17:16

Tens machine at its highest, which is horrific if you try it at even near that strength when not in labour

Had some drug, diamorphine I think, but it was horrible, just makes you feel drugged, without doing anything for the pain, must have been thought of by a man, just to shut you up, as it’s not a pain killer.

Dont let them induce you, if you can avoid it, as that is horrific, and relentless pain.

Stopbloodybanging · 12/11/2023 17:17

I’ve had two, gas and air for both and I honestly couldn’t tell you. I remember the contractions being incredibly painful, but I must have been past the point of caring at the ring of fire moment. You’ll be fine!

ButtonDownBev · 12/11/2023 17:18

I ripped front to back very badly with both DC, but still it wasn't actually that painful...
I found the contractions and the urge to push that I couldn't control the more painful part and the actual baby coming out was a relief and I didn't feel the pain.
It signalled that the intense pain was over/coming to an end so it wasn't bad at all compared to everything that happened before.

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Original poster
afternoontea86 · 12/11/2023 17:19

@therealcookiemonster I had no idea there were any risks. I would have assumed that because they are widely available in hospitals and birthing centres they were safe, no?

OP posts:
EasternStandard · 12/11/2023 17:21

For my second contractions were fine, well as far as these things go but transition made me want to climb the walls

I nearly panicked but midwife at home used right voice to say calm down you’re stressing

Next birth was induction and I just used epidural

solosunflower · 12/11/2023 17:21

I was fully dialated by the time I reached the hospital. Gas and air for the crowning, but if I'm honest I never even realised I was going through 'the ring of fire'!

Confused2124 · 12/11/2023 17:26

Not going to lie - it was bad enough for DD to be an only child. But she was 9lb 10 and I tore from front to back

Tortoisetowers · 12/11/2023 17:34

I've had two babies and never even heard of it!

Don't let people get in your head about it. Everyone experiences it differently and have different pain thresholds

Mysa74 · 12/11/2023 17:34

My first two were water births, third daughter arrived in 20 minutes so there wasn't time. I highly recommend it. With my first my contractions after being induced were coming every minute but weren't quite good enough to progress. As soon as I got in the water they spaced themselves out and it was just so much calmer and easier, the warmth of the water and the support to move and change position was amazing. I noticed the ring of fire the first time, not so much the second. Didn't notice at all the 3rd time, I was standing and it all happened fast.
I highly recommend a tens machine. I didn't use mine for any of my births but it sure came in handy for the after pains that no one warns you about...

solosunflower · 12/11/2023 17:38

Agree with @Tortoisetowers Child birth was nowhere near as painful as I expected and recovery was absolutely fine. I think it helped that I just went with the flow.

Soubriquet · 12/11/2023 17:38

It burns but it doesn’t hurt as much as the contractions. And I tore badly

RuhRohRaggy · 12/11/2023 17:38

It's manageable unless you have an episiotomy

AuntieMarys · 12/11/2023 17:47

I gave birth to a nearly 12 pounder with no pain relief. It was mercifully very quick

PonkyPonky · 12/11/2023 17:47

As others have said the crowning part was fine for me. To be honest, it really didn’t feel any different to the rest of it. I don’t really remember the pain of the actual birth at all but the pain of contractions is seared into my brain forever

AmethystMoonShine · 12/11/2023 17:52

Water birth here, very quick delivery - didn't notice any ring of fire. Taught myself self-hypnosis, that with the relaxing effect of the warm water meant I didn't even push - the baby delivered itself. I think me being upright (on knees in pool) helped a lot plus I used some gas and air. I had to deliver the placenta out of the pool on my back on a bed and it was a bloody nightmare - didn't hurt though.

BreatheAndFocus · 12/11/2023 17:54

I’ve had 3 babies, all vaginally and I didn’t feel any ring of fire. One baby was induced. The worst pain then was the extreme contractions caused by the induction drip (I didn’t respond well so it was turned right up). Another baby was huge and, again, no ring of fire. I didn’t have an epidural for any of them.

The baby crowning is a good moment. You have a brief pause before the baby comes out and the baby coming out is fine. By the time your vaginal canal is filled by a whole baby everything is stretched and ready. I don’t remember feeling anything except maybe a very brief sting.

therealcookiemonster · 12/11/2023 17:56

afternoontea86 · 12/11/2023 17:19

@therealcookiemonster I had no idea there were any risks. I would have assumed that because they are widely available in hospitals and birthing centres they were safe, no?

everything has risks. I wouldn't say its unsafe but as someone who has spent 10 years+ as an anaesthetist on the labour ward i would never advice anyone i care about to have one.... they also may not be available so be aware of that... let me find you some literature on it so you can make an informed decision.

plenty of people use them safely obviously, and I want to emphasise that when giving my objective opinion to patients, I would not discourage it but would make them aware of risks.

Delatron · 12/11/2023 17:57

I would maybe just keep an open mind OP. Every birth/labour is different and you don’t know how it will go. As we’ve seen on here there are so many different experiences and it’s genuinely not down to your personal pain threshold. Having had 2 labours where the pain was different (both back to back though!). Trying a water birth did not work and slowed things down.

For me, the eventual (after many hours (39) of trying to have an active birth) epidural actually allowed me to relax and rest and push the baby out. Wish I’d had one from the start. Then maybe I wouldn’t have started motherhood completely exhausted.

For some the birth is easy and less painful. It varies so much but like someone said you don’t get a medal for no pain relief.

Nosleepforthismum · 12/11/2023 17:58

Anyone else thought this was going to be about the drinking game? No? Just me then 😅

neilyoungismyhero · 12/11/2023 18:02

I'm 5 foot. I've had 3 children, the lightest 7.7. I had them all in well under 3 hours. I've no idea what the ring of fire feels like.

PurBal · 12/11/2023 18:03

My entire body took over. I was 8cm when my body started pushing. No control. That was the scariest thing (because I’d had a failed epidural). I wasn’t prepared for it.

TheChosenTwo · 12/11/2023 18:04

I can still vividly recall the burning splitting pain each of the 3 times.
I’m crossing my legs just thinking about it again now 😂

imisscashmere · 12/11/2023 18:05

I literally laughed at the ring of fire. My lovely midwife had been warning and warning me, I was braced for it - and then, compared to the pain of the last 12 hours of contractions, it was nothing and I couldn’t help but laugh!

Unfortunately everybody experiences pain and childbirth differently, and there is no way to predict how painful you will find it.

Lampzade · 12/11/2023 18:06

jennyt82 · 12/11/2023 15:53

I've had 4 vaginal deliveries and agree with the others, I found the contractions worse than baby crowning and being delivered

Agree too

Covetthee · 12/11/2023 18:06

For me the crowning was the ‘easiest’ part of Labour. It was a burning sensation but for me it was the intense pressure that was more surprising but by that point you know you’re at the finish line and gas and air is your best friend.

just DO NOT like completely on your back at any point in your labour As the pain is horrendous.

i birthed on my side but also heard squat and all fours are good to.