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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

What would YOU say was the most painful stage of labour?

290 replies

Dozeyland · 12/10/2010 14:27

in regards to dilation, the babys delivery, contractions etc etc

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Omarlittlest · 13/10/2010 14:12

gosh i don't remember all of these pains so specifically - i had a natural child birth against my wishes!! Live in Holland where homebirth is practically a religion... i was all for taking every drug known to man .... but the passive agressive midwives promised i would get to hospital in time but hey... not to be ...

for me partly cos i knew they are so not into pain relief here i got a great bit of advice which sounds daft but works "adrenaline is not your friend it slows things down" so if you can calm down- and to me that's the real labour (the mental labour) it can really really help with both pain managment and the speed of birth

re pain crowning hurt but on the other hand you are almost there ... what for me was really frustrating was i felt like i had almost pushed dd out and then she went back in!!! i was was yelling no no don't go back in " but in fact she was just turning and came out on next push...

NigellaPleaseComeDineWithMe · 13/10/2010 14:14

The bit when I was supporting DW standing up and she bit me hard and dug hear nails into my back as she delivered DS1 but was worth the pain .

Goooooooooooooober · 13/10/2010 14:15

The bit where they sliced me with no anaesthetic stung a bit.

LadyBlaBlah · 13/10/2010 14:15

Crowning

For a taster of how that feels, place both index fingers in each corner of your mouth and pull outwards, in opposite directions, as hard as you can

MyPrettyFloralBonnet · 13/10/2010 14:32

TBH yes labour hurt, I have joint problems too so that added to it, but it's a pain for a good reason, and there was an end in sight. I was a bit of a wuss and made a real fuss but now I can barely remember it. So if it;s your first birth try not to worry, it goes on for a tiny fraction of time in relation to your whole life, and when I first saw my ds I've never felt such a high.

So glad someone else besides me shouted 'don't go back in'

littleoldme · 13/10/2010 14:33

Sooo glad I've got a section booked on Monday

SaintEpney · 13/10/2010 14:36

After coping fine with no pain relief up to 8cm in the pool, the MW deciding that my body trying to take a rest was not an option and shoving the stent into my hand, then whacking the syntocinon from 2 up to 9 within a matter of minutes as "nothing's happening" was pretty fierce in terms of pain...

Not having any urge to push and having to try to follow their instructions whilst balancing on the birthing stool - the marks from that were on the backs of my thighs for days afterwards.

Crowning = the worst pain I have ever experienced - thankfully once I was allowed to lie on my back (which I had been begging for), DS pretty much whooshed out.

Definitely, definitely make sure you are well gone on the G&A for any stitching and insist on anaesthesia before they start their knitting...

Unprune · 13/10/2010 14:45

keepmumshesnotsodum sorry I had a bit of a moment there!

When my vile SIL got pregnant, she told me that a) she was terrified of the pain, and b) she didn't go in for any of that 'spiritual, hippy dippy nonsense' so I wasn't to say anything like that (this said nastily).

I am the LEAST spiritual person on the planet and I'm reasonably earthy but not outlandish. I mean, fine if you don't want help but the caricature was offensive and wrong. I was hardly going to do more than say 'X helped me' anyway, if she asked.

She refused to attend classes or read books because it scared her so much. I get that, but honest to god the most positive thing she did to prepare herself was to tell me to more or less to fuck off. I saw her the week before the birth and she still hadn't really found out what to do.

Then the birth went badly - not horrendous but it sounded rough - and though I didn't ask her anything about it (I knew my place!) I got it in the neck again for it all being a load of crap.

It's obvious reading this back that she just hates me - has done for years and I don't truly know why, but it's pretty much mutual!

BettyButterknife · 13/10/2010 15:02

Normal contractions were fine. Didn't notice transition. Pushing was knackering but not really painful. Crowning was ow ow ow stingy but manageable.

With DS1 the most painful stage was trying NOT to push when I was 10cm dilated but there was a lip of the cervix still there. Like trying not to do a poo for an hour. Horrible. Rest of the labour was pretty good, painful but not overwhelming. Managed just with G&A. The feeling when he was born was euphoria like I've never experienced before or since.

DS2 was induced, and consequently my experience was fucking awful completely different. That synto drip is a motherfucker - pain that made my brain go to a whole other place, complete with near-hallucinations. Also only with G&A. Midwife even commented on what a high pain threshold I had.

But nothing compares to the pain of breastfeeding! Pain like I've never experienced before or since

lovesaruby · 13/10/2010 15:10

With dd3, (born 6 weeks ago so still fresh in my mind) worst part was midwife breaking my waters - it was so painful I was hallucinating and it took me several seconds before I realised I wasnt actually at my desk at work 13 years ago and was instead having a baby! Lord knows what she done to me but good god! Makes me feel a bit sick thinking about it..

susue · 13/10/2010 15:10

You would think from reading all the comments that the human race would be extinct by now but most of the posters go on to have atleast one more child if not more. I didn't find the transition painful, never felt a thing on the crowning bit and went on to have another baby. I'm by no means super woman and when I was a first time mum to be I was petrified I wouldn't be able to ' get through labour' but we all do. I bet the OP wishes she'd never asked the question! We are all so different, you will do it how your body wants to do it, good luck luvy

Omarlittlest · 13/10/2010 16:05

well all i can say is what amazing strength women have - kinda sets them apart in a good way no?

keepmumshesnotsodumb · 13/10/2010 16:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Southwestwhippet · 13/10/2010 16:29

definately the crowning - horrid horrid horrid. I had an easy labour otherwise.

Contractions fine, transition fine once I got the G&A going, pushing hard work but not painful... but the crowning was horrific. thankfully only lasted a couple of minutes and that was only because I was too scared to go the whole way for a couple of contractions.

Igglybuff · 13/10/2010 16:54

crowning and when I tore (OUCH). That was the only time I swore during the whole thing.

Contractions fine, transition I got a bit scared, pushing was hard work.

civil · 13/10/2010 17:03

Is transition the bit where you think you're going to die?

molejazz · 13/10/2010 17:10

The bit where the horrible midwife examined me on arrival at hospital and did a membrane sweep to help things along. And then showed me her bloody hand.

Igglybuff · 13/10/2010 17:11

Yes civil!

MrsvWoolf · 13/10/2010 18:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

deliakate · 13/10/2010 19:32

I feel really stupid/cheated sometimes because I just can't remember much about any distinct "stages" at all. I just remember it all hurting a lot, and feeling really pissed off, then frightening everybody with my soaring blood pressure and having interventions galore until my son was born. Maybe I was blanking it all out, but I'd be such a bad ante-natal teacher, because I just can't remember.

PANCHEY · 13/10/2010 19:37

All I can describe transition as is the part when you feel as if you just aren't going to do it. My sister who is a midwife told me when you get to this bit you just need to gird yourself further as this is a sign that the end is in sight. I am glad she told me as this piece of advice got me through it.

GiganGORE · 13/10/2010 19:43

crowning.

baby just sits there with its head half in and half out, stretching yoru fanjo even further. i swear it felt like my fanny was on fire! midwife says don't push. you are having a laugh love. push it in pull it out i dont care JUST MOVE IT!

so yes, crowning for me was the worst

mrshewitt77 · 13/10/2010 19:48

Transition - I just went inside myself, remember begging for an epidural in a voice that did not sound like mine and canny MW played along and said she'd get onto it whereas really she knew it wasn't going to happen and DS was in my arms less than 30 mins later....

Heathcliffscathy · 13/10/2010 19:49

transition and crowning definitely. don't get me started...

missmoopy · 13/10/2010 19:50

I didn't labour for long as ended up with emergency section....the most painful bit? Standing up for the first time the next day. Ooouuuucccchhhhhhhh.

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