Birth? Pushing or contractions harder?

[Janedoe95]

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

Had an early epidural which was topped up. Did my nails, watched Wimbledon and slept. Had DT’s. Pushed when I was told too - no pain.

Contractions were awful! Up there will gallstones pain and sadly I've had both. I felt like I was being stabbed in the back repeatedly. Pushing was much better as you knew the end was in sight!

The whole experience was so painful, so long and so horrendous that I will not be going through labour again and my husband doesn’t want to see me go through it all again either.

I've had 4, the last 2 at home with no pain relief. I found that if I made a deliberate effort to relax during a contraction then just it approached being unbearable the pain faded away.

100% contractions are worse than the pushing bit

@lockdownbabyx be careful what you wish for. I had a back-to-back baby who was stuck; epidural for the horrific pain, which they made me stop topping up when I needed to start pushing.

Utter agony - I went from zero pain to horrific in a matter of minutes. And all for nothing: they could see and feel when I needed to push, they could have just told me!

Utterly pointless too as we were rushed to theatre, where DS came out on the fourth attempt with the forceps, after I had a spinal (gets to work even quicker than an epidural, apparently).

I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. If I do ever have any more children, and it’s a big if, I will be asking for an elective caesarean.

You don’t need to push.

Why don't you know if pushing is harder? Surely you still had to push the baby out? It's far harder to do that when you can't feel anything too.

First birth: Had an epidural but the contractions were pretty tough before that point, pushing was absolutely horrific - by far the worst part so so difficult, hated every second. (this baby was induced in hospital and was OP position)

Second birth: Contractions were worse than pushing, although not terrible. Pushing was a relief and it was amazing to feel baby coming down with my effort. (This baby came 'spontaneously' at home and was OA position).

Contractions were painful. So painful. I remember at one point declaring I couldn't cope anymore so I wasn't going to do it.....🤣
However that ring of fire you get when pushing - now that is something else. It's a weird pain as its a "ow fuck me that stings like a bitch" pain, but at the same time you know if you keep pushing through that, then all the pain will stop.

Anybody else feel a little sick remembering the contractions? 🤮

Adding that I hated my first birth, but absolutely loved my second. If I didn't have to suffer through another pregnancy first, I'd give birth again in a heartbeat if it could be like my second.

All agony for me as my labours were so fast with almost constant contractions and pushing.

Everyone thinks quick labours are better but they are scary as all the pain is compressed into an hour.

Pushing was better than contractions. But both eclipsed by the pain of having an internal examination shortly before needing to push. That was excruciating. Dd was not happy with me being flat on my back when she wanted to come out.

Contractions were worse for me. Once the transition was over and my body started pushing involuntarily it just felt really good. I loved the pushing bit as, for me, there was no pain at all. My son took 2 hours of pushing to be born following around 34 hours of contractions.

Fast labour, gas and air for pain relief here. Found pushing much worse than the contractions. Didn't help I couldn't do it properly and my energy was completely zapped. But that pain was mucb worse for me! As a PP said, it felt like being split in 2.

Pushing was easier for me, like a relief. I had two very straightforward labours though.

Sorry actually I second this! An internal examination when the doc was by far the worst part of the whole process! He wasn't informed I didn't have an epidural...

I should also say though I too would love to give birth again. The second time was lovely from beginning to end despite having no time for pain relief. With the first it was the tiredness I found hardest as I hadn't slept for 48 hours.

I didn’t actively push either time - my body did it by itself - weirdest thing. Found contractions manageable too - had 2 very fast births with gas and air in last 20 mins only both times.

But when my DC2’s head was crowning it was the worst pain of my life. Was expecting it to be easier as I’d done it before but she was bigger and it wasn’t!

Absolutely this, pushing feels like you're doing something constructive towards ending the situation, contractions is just FGS how much longer/worse is this going to be 😂

I had an epidural with my first very long labour so was totally unprepared for a very quick, gas and air only experience with my second. I'd have had some pethidine if the staff had actually listened to me instead of offering a couple more paracetamol but that's another story...

Contractions were agony, very fast labour (under 3 hrs) but two pushes and she was out. It was certainly intense and I don't think my body was ready. Homebirth, no pain relief. Tore badly and had to go to theatre. Totally killed the HB vibe 😢

Contractions are way worse. I’ve done no pain relief twice and the contractions are brutal as hell especially the ones you get in the hormone drip. The pushing is a means to getting it over with and the pain stopping but I remember one point the midwife saying ‘you just need to push her round that bend’. I was like ‘wtf there’s a bend?! Oh yes there is.’ 🥴 that panicked me a bit

@Bookerly agreed.

My first birth I had an epidural so didn't feel the pushing. Second birth no epidural and the pushing.was a piece of piss compared to contractions. I had it in my head that it would just be like really bad period pain and got a very nasty shock when the time came!

Absolutely agree with this but I actively pushed