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.

No i didnt feel it either with or without epidural

For once I think 'vagina' actually is the correct terminology.

Never heard it called that but yes I did - crowning was indescribably agonising but felt like literally being split in two. Though as I had 3rd degree tears twice perhaps because it was! I found contractions also very painful but in a completely different way. In fact I found it so agonising I pushed hell for leather to get it over with and then look what happened - oops!

I had it once and not the second time...I wonder if it depends on your birth. My second was more natural I think my hormones were probably doing their thing - although I had a tear I didn't feel it happen and I'd say I felt intense pressure rather than pain. My first took 3 days and by the end even though I'd had an epidural the crowning BURNT. It was so painful ring of fire 100%!

I can't vote because I've never remembered feeling it with baby 1, but very definitely did with baby 2. No pain relief either time, tore both times.

The crowning, it was like cystitis x1000. I remembered it when labouring with DD2 to the extent I was trying to reverse what my body was doing 😂

As soon as I'd given birth though I was so sensitive and struggled to hold still for stitches even with gas and air.

I spent a long time umming and ahhing about which one to use. I’m still in two minds.

Yes! Actually, what's worse than fire? Whatever it is, I had that.

Maybe lava, ring of lava.
Ring of fire direct from the sun..

I felt it the first birth but not the second. Only gas and air for both

All different. With 1 and 2 I didn't feel the ring of fire. Didn't feel the pushing part at all really.

With 3 the pushing was agony and I felt the ring of fire.

So I think it depends.

I remember I had it with epidural with my first. I didn't ever get an overwhelming urge to push in any birth either, my third I had no pain relief and everything hurt so I possibly had it and don't remember! I did needs stitches so probably.

It seems to be a half half split almost. I'm surprised how many people felt it with an epidural. I guess it depends on the timing and might have started wearing off by then? I had an epidural with my first then slept until I was woken up for a check and was fully dilated, coached to push and had an episiotomy, and stitched up after and didn't feel a thing.

How fascinating that everyone's experiences have been so different. Very real for me with both births, a very distinct burning sensation and clear feeling of stretching.

I genuinley dont know what that is, I had an epidural and had no feeling during or after labour, when it wore off my legs felt a little wobbly that was it then back to the way I was before pregnancy

What a ring of fire? Sorry if I sound stupid asking. One dd quick normal none complicated birth. It certainly wasn't mentioned at any of the classes I went too...

I don’t specifically remember a ‘ring of fire’. But i do remember feeling as though baby just wouldn’t fit. I struggled a bit to get him through my pelvis as it felt to me as though he kept slipping back. I remember saying over and over ‘it won’t fit and I’m going to die’ and the midwife looking me straight into the eyes saying ‘it will fit and you will not die’

Correct. I'd had a suppository to clean me out, and that it did - I had nothing left to give by the time DD arrived 😂

Feel like vulva is correct - from my experience anyway - it definitely felt like it was stretching as well - probably because it was. One side was swollen and sore after. Lovely!

YANBU

I never felt it. I just had gas and air for pushing DS out (I'd literally just got to hospital!). I had 4 different tears. I never remember feeling the ring of fire. The contractions are the only pain that sticks in my mind. Once it was all over I immediately said I'd do it all again. Which was a relief as I was terrified about how bad it was going to be!

I didn't have it either. no epidural or even gas and air when pushing (had it for contractions) but i had a small baby who came out fast and no tearing!

Never noticed it with mine either 2 home births, no pain relief , 10lb and 9lb 7

I didn't shit myself and was lucky not to tear either so no stitches. DS was 6lb 6oz.

Never heard of ring of fire in this context. I didn't have an epidural and remember feeling like a burning hot hoop covered in shards of broken glass was pressing all round the inside my vagina. So I guess yes, I had it?