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AIBU?

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Original poster

Birth? Pushing or contractions harder?

107 replies

Janedoe95 · 05/10/2022 21:39

Posted here for traffic

I wanted to get peoples opinions as I had epidural at 10cm so have no idea if pushing is harder

OP posts:
BonesOfWhatYouBelieve · 05/10/2022 22:00

Pushing was easier for me I think because mentally I knew it was near the end, plus you can actually do something when pushing. Contractions are just something to be passively endured and you don't know how long it will go on for.

AgapanthusandAcers · 05/10/2022 22:02

Contractions much worse. I wasn't pushing long though.

MissMaple82 · 05/10/2022 22:05

Both equally hideous. When pushing I thought I was literally splitting in two, some medieval style!

bakewellbride · 05/10/2022 22:05

Contractions a million times worse than pushing.

OldTinHat · 05/10/2022 22:09

Contractions were the worst. I pushed for over 2hrs both times with no urge (no pain relief apart from a tens machine that slipped off from the sweat!) but pushing at least made me feel like I was doing something and sent the contractions somewhere.

mindutopia · 05/10/2022 22:10

I definitely found that pushing was the most uncomfortable with both of mine, just because it was so intense and involuntary.

But I really didn’t find contractions particularly uncomfortable until it got to the unable to not bare down stage. I had home births with both of mine and was pretty much on my own with just Dh until I got to pushing, so I think that made a difference. It was all quite relaxed and I just chilled in my own bedroom.

PurpleIsTheNewPink · 05/10/2022 22:10

The contractions leading up to the second stage of labour are the hardest. Mostly because they just go on and on and on. It's relentless. I have never been in so much pain and for so long. When it came to pushing I was just relieved that it would be over soon so it didn't feel that bad.

Oysterbabe · 05/10/2022 22:10

I didn't find pushing hard at all. My body just did it.

Bimblybomeyelash · 05/10/2022 22:12

Different answers for my different labours.

BigSidLittleSid · 05/10/2022 22:13

Pushing was the worst for me, was doing it for 2 hours and was actually begging to die. DC head was at a funny angle so wasn't moving with the pushing. As soon as the doctor moved their head I got that instinctive urge, which wasn't too bad. Didn't experience the ring of fire as I got a lovely big Epis 😬

HorribleHerstory · 05/10/2022 22:13

They are both the same part, same thing, for me.

I couldn’t separate the two things if I tried. How would you know what was a contraction and what was a push and how would you know when one stage ended and another began?

roarfeckingroarr · 05/10/2022 22:13

Contractions were agony

Pushing was an instinct. I couldn't not push. It stung a little bit but I also felt very powerful and in the zone.

mdh2020 · 05/10/2022 22:14

Two births with no anaesthetic. Loved pushing and enjoyed giving birth.

3littleloves · 05/10/2022 22:14

I found the pushing to be the worst bit with my first baby mainly as I had no bloody idea what the hell was happening. I did hypnobirthing with my second and third and honestly didn't find either bad. Also one of those weirdos who love labour

roarfeckingroarr · 05/10/2022 22:16

Why do contractions hurt so much? What is it that's hurting? Bloody awful things

Cas112 · 05/10/2022 22:18

Pushing fine, genuinely don't think I'll do pregnancy again due to them contractions. They are awful

scrivette · 05/10/2022 22:18

Another strange one who really enjoyed Labour.

I liked allowing my body to take over as it felt like it knew what it was doing instinctively. They were both the same sort of feelings, both very intense but I wouldn't necessarily say painful.

FlutterbButterfly · 05/10/2022 22:20

Contractions were painful and relentless. The pushing was painful, strenuous and burning sensation but didn't last as long. I found 23 hours of fast and furious contractions worse than the pushing. I'm a toughy where pain is concerned and in general but I've got to admit I found it traumatic probably as although the pain was ramping up the progress wasn't. However this didn't put me off having number 2 and i wasn't worried about the birth, she had different ideas mind you! - emergency c that time.

TheGoogleMum · 05/10/2022 22:22

Contractions harder! I found the contractions hurt so much it was making me tense up and its hard to tense up and not push?

ridemesideway · 05/10/2022 22:26

I started to vomit with contractions at 7cm so got an epidural. Pushing was fine but I did go into a panic at the crowning bit.

ItsAutumnThen · 05/10/2022 22:27

HorribleHerstory · 05/10/2022 22:13

They are both the same part, same thing, for me.

I couldn’t separate the two things if I tried. How would you know what was a contraction and what was a push and how would you know when one stage ended and another began?

It's so interesting how everyone experiences labour so differently. For me it was a very distinct change from contractions to the pushing stage. I could tell you the exact point both times. The contraction stage definitely felt more difficult for me and the pushing felt like a relief!

Namenic · 05/10/2022 22:28

Labour for me was v different from what I imagined. I think it is because I was used to Hollywood movies and a lot of focus being on the pushing part. In the films, women were often told when to push (I think it might be because epidurals are more common in us) and it seems like a lot of pushing.

from my experience of labour - the contractions built up to being v painful - right at the end I was getting to the point of begging for epidural. I wanted to push before becoming fully dilated - it was an instinctive urge to push - like you get when you need to poo. I was so relieved to be able to push - and the pushing stage was quick each time (about 20mins for 1st and about 2mins for 3rd). There was some pain (due to stretching when the head appears) during pushing but no where near as much as contractions - for me.

DiorForBreakfast · 05/10/2022 22:30

I felt like the harder I pushed, the less it hurt. Great incentive to get on and just push!!!!

maddening · 05/10/2022 22:43

Pushing was hard work, I had a tens machine on for 4 days by the time I was pushing so could not feel anything, had to get husband to tell me when the .machine said i was contracting, v hard and exhausting, ds was back to back which made it harder, it was like having the worst poo of your life 🤣

Fiftyand · 05/10/2022 22:44

AmyFl · 05/10/2022 21:44

Contractions were horrendous agony. Pushing was instinctive.

I agree!

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