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

[afternoontea86]

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!!!!

I agree.

The contractions were awful.

It felt like I was going to poo myself and my DD ripped out of my vagina and I needed stitches but it was the contractions that were unbearable.

If I had to do it all again I would get an epidural.

Take ALL the the drugs they offer you.

Just saying.

@afternoontea86 I found this pdf published by one of the trusts in my region. it provides information and practicalities - just things for you to be aware of if you are planning for a water birth.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=www.sath.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Waterbirth-New-Template-3.10.14.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwid78r9hr-CAxVdWkEAHa4BBag4ChAWegQIBhAB&usg=AOvVaw24XnJPh79MCb8qYjYrS5B-

I hope everything goes well for you, whatever kind of birth you end up having. :-) xx

I don’t really remember the ring of fire ooops!

Had a 9lb baby without pain relief (NOT on purpose- I got caught out by a rapid labour and didn’t have time for the epidural I desperately wanted!). To be honest the pain of the rapid contractions and the intense pressure from pushing are the things I remember- I don’t think I had any burning at all, just so much pressure in my bum!

I found it bad. 4 kids. I've never had any pain relief. I managed contractions in silence for hours with breathing alone. Never made a peep.

But will all 4, when they crowned, I screamed the house down. I felt like I was being ripped apart like something from an alien film!

I thought it was going to be about a new fantasy series or movie. lol

I found it easy in the pool with DD1.

I needed gas and air for DD2.

@therealcookiemonster I'd be interested to see the literature (as well as OP), please (as someone planning water birth number 3 next spring). Also your thoughts on why you personally wouldn't advise friends/family to have a water birth? I've not heard a medical professional vocalise these thoughts about water births before.

My understanding is that the risk of serious complications for mother or baby as a result of using the pool is very rare (as long as the pool is used under medical supervision and in a low risk pregnancy/labour)?

One additional thought... it occurs to me that as an anaesthetist you probably see a higher percentage of complications etc, which may be swaying your view? I'm not asking this to be confrontational, just genuinely interested in open discussion...

It may sound strange but I really like that part. It means it's nearly over! My last two were pretty straightforward forward though. I never tried an epidural as it scared the life out of me.

@Poppins2016 no you've hit the nail right on the head lol anaesthetists are always looking for ways for minimising risk or as is perceived by others, we are paranoid... that's why I emphasised its my personal opinion and when actually advising patients, I wouldn't discourage them from waterbirths unless they had relevant risk factors.

here is the link I shared with the OP https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=www.sath.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Waterbirth-New-Template-3.10.14.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwid78r9hr-CAxVdWkEAHa4BBag4ChAWegQIBhAB&usg=AOvVaw24XnJPh79MCb8qYjYrS5B-

my main concern with waterbirths is that if things start to go wrong, I can't do anything until the patient is back on the bed. and if they bleed its impossible to estimate the amount... have been in a few hairy situations where the patient deteriorated in the pool and I would not want a friend or family member to run that risk...

the other thing is, yes it gives some comfort but it's not proper pain relief and does nothing at all for the second stage. I would prefer for any woman I know to be pain free or at least as comfy as possible and obviously epidurals are not possible if going in the pool. and at the end patients have to get out anyway to deliver the placenta..

My mum and sister both tore really badly and had extensive stitching
I was terrified of this and had read up at the time about massaging your perineum staring at about 35 weeks with (I think) almond oil daily.

I did this and had 1 stitch and no real tearing.

I dont know if it was fluke or it helped?

I also don't really remember a ring of fire. I was induced. Everything was quite slow and peaceful, I was checked and told it was going to be hours before the baby came. A few minutes later I was in a lot of pain, DH was sent off for some dinner. I begged the midwife to have another look and it turned out I'd been holding DS in. So 10 mins after being told I could push he was out.

I thought this was going to be a thread about curries. 😄

I had a birth with no pain relief (not being a martyr, they had no room for me on the ward and I ended up having him in the corridor!) and tbh I can’t even remember the pain when I pushed him out, it was that unremarkable.
The labour and contractions were FAR worse, I literally thought I was going to die. I remember needing to push and thinking ‘shit! I’m going to do this with no pain relief, it’s going to hurt!!’ And it didn’t really 🤷‍♀️ in fact, after the contractions, it was quite a relief!

Same as others have said, not as bad as contractions and it was over quite quickly. And I had zero pain relief for 2 births, and the last baby was 9lbs. Had a tear with first baby but not the second. I didn't find labour too bad at all, painful yes, but mine were quite short which definately helped!

I had a second degree tear with both of mine but didn't find the ring of fire especially painful. I mean, I felt it, and it wasn't pleasant. But I didn't find it more painful than the contractions. Just a different sensation if that makes sense.

There's also some relief that came from it, in the sense that you know it's nearly over.

I found it stung a bit but not much more than that. Contractions are the painful bit. I've had two vaginal births and emerged without injuries from both.

I didnt feel no ring of fire! The contractions were the worst part for me. One the baby's head is out all i felt was relief it was nearly over! X

If everything has been stretched by 2 already it really shouldn't be too bad. My first was back to back and was pretty painful, my 2nd however just seemed to slip out with very little pain at all. Both births were in water which probably helps.

Also this. Contractions felt far worse than the crowning/pushing.

Me too I was going to be all reassuring and recommend wet wipes and nurofen

Have also done it 4 times and the crowning part I didn't find as bad as the contractions and transition

Didn't have it either either baby just felt the need to push and they popped out.

With DD1 it was an intense burning sensation, with DD2 I didn't feel it, DD1 no pain relief, DD2 gas and air until I started pushing

You don’t get any medal for giving birth without an epidural, especially if you have found the pain too unbearable on previous births. I don’t understand why you would intentionally do that to yourself. I’ve given birth to 4 babies and each time the pain was absolutely unbearable (particularly the last hour of contractions, pushing and excruciating crowning). I begged for an epidural all four times but each time the anaesthetist wasn’t available 🤬 and so I did it on gas&air each time. I would have given anything for extra pain relief and I was honestly traumatised by the pain (not so much that it stopped me doing it four times though I guess haha!).

My epidural failed twice so I had DD on just gas & air and crowning and pushing her out was a doddle compared to contractions.