No ring of fire

[Bramblecrumble22]

Am I the only one who had no ring of fire giving birth without an epidural.

For context second vaginal birth, first epidural so also no ring of fire. Felt contractions pain in my back and abdomen, had codine. Used gas and air. I felt the movement but no burning. I was shocked when they said that I had 2 minors tears as the baby's left had came out on his face. He also got a tiny scratch by his ear.

Iabu ring of fire was very real
Ianbu I also didn't have any burning during crowning.

I didn't notice it with my first but I definitely did with my second...it felt like someone had a blowtorch down there!

I had 2 vaginal births I had ring of fire with the first one but my Mw at the 2nd stabbed me with something like lidocaine in my perineum before I was pushing and this reduced it but she came out so fast with 2 involuntary pushes so I don’t think it was worthwhile having

I’d imagine that medically it might say something about the ‘flexibility’ of your vulva 😬

Never heard of this & didn't have it either. No tears for me on any of my 3 births BUT the overwhelming feeling of needing to poo in all of them. First birth I was sat on the toilet thinking I was trying to poop. I was not. When I begged the midwife for an enema she was like 'uh... Let's just have a little look down there shall we?' & sure enough, no poop but my son's crown.

2nd & 3rd births I knew exactly where I was cos of that feeling & in 2nd's case realised something was wrong cos it was there but he wasn't - he was so wrapped up he couldn't get out.

No ring of fire. Only gas and air both times. Episiotomy with my first, slight tear with second. Big contractions in a U shape under my bump, and involuntary pushing, but no ring of fire (despite second being very fast - 2cm dilated to holding her took 40 mins).

Vividly remember 3 rings of fire. Worst pain imaginable, the burning and splitting is etched in my mind forever. What I will
say though is that it’s a pain that went again fairly swiftly!

I felt like mine was in my bum as well. Happened very quickly. One minute alls well, the next second it felt like I was about to shit a football.

I dunno.. I think I felt what would get called that but personally I wouldn't label it as such... it barely registered compared to the pain of contractions.. in fact it was a relief as I was so happy the babies head was coming out. So I wouldn't call it such a dramatic name. I did feel myself tear slightly but that was good as I was able to slow down and halt pushing in order to stop myself tearing further. In the end I did not need any stitches and I do think that's because of being able to feel it all and able to adjust pushing accordingly.

At that point I was so euphoric due to it being the end and finally getting to meet my baby that it did not feel like 'burning' or 'pain' at all.

For me, transition contractions were the most painful part of labour. Not the actual delivery. I wouldn't even describe the delivery as painful in any way.

I didn't experience the ring of fire with either or my girls. With DD1 I had an epidural so didn't feel a thing to be fair, it worked marvellously, but DD2 I had absolutely no pain relief at all as it all happened so quickly, she was out in 2 pushes in less than 5 minutes.

I felt a lot of pressure, and could obviously feel the contractions prior but no ring of fire, it just felt like I needed a huge poo! DD2 was born with her right hand up by her face, squawking and wiggling at 8lb 7oz. DD1 was 7lb 7oz and very awake and aware but no crying 😊.

Zero ring of fire despite 2 big babies & 20 min pushing each time & second degree tearing each time!

For me personally the contractions were hell so I think my body just kind of went numb all over pain wise (no drugs) as bizarre as that sounds. Like my brain just couldn't process any more pain.

Nah it all hurt but I don’t remember a particular fire as the head popped out. Also didn’t have proper contractions but did ‘need’ to push at some points. First tore naturally and the second just a minor graze (sure being in water helped).

@TallulahBetty Do babies come out of the bottom?

Obviously not but as people who have never heard of ring of fire it is quite plausible that someone may think it's some birthing related diarrhoea problem

I didn’t, to the extent my first words after DS was born were “is that? Is it over??” To the utter hilarity of everyone else in the room. I’m a midwife.

I also had those sensations! All my contractions were in my arse every time. My first was back to back but none of the others but that’s how I felt it.

Same!

Depends what you mean by modern. I remember people talking about it when I had my kids 20+ years ago.

Smug.

Don't know about ring of fire but I definitely felt the forceps 😫 those things are like medieval torture

I'd describe it more like a feeling that i was trying to pass a beach ball out of my arse so I was too distracted by that feeling both times to think of the ring of fire 😂😂

What absolute bollocks.

I had it both times I gave birth, with just gas and air. Like a massive burning and stretching pain as babies were crowning. Only minor tears both times though.

I dunno like, I’m definitely not as tight down there since VBAC second child . After the c-section for first child I felt no different

My boys were 9lb and over 10lb. No epidural. Absolute ring of fire for both.

No - vulvas