Do labour pains make you want to run for the loo???

[Bloo]

I've been told that they are quite similar to upset stomach pains (but on a different scale!!) - does it feel completely un-natural to be anywhere other than sitting on the toilet??

Does that make any sense at all???

YES.

W/my first I had a major epidural b/c of her position and didn't feel the end of it.

So w/DD2, I felt like I had to take a s*£t in the worst way, but something was blocking the road.

Well, yeah, duh, it was the baby's head.

I was 9cm dilated when I got ot hospital.

I wouldn't describe it like that but then again everyones different when it comes to labour.
You'll know exactly what you want to do and where you want to be when the time comes.

I have heard some women sitting on the loo in labour though as it was the most comfortable place for them.

OMG yes!

Yes, absolutely. I did most of my labouring with DS2 sitting on a not-very-clean loo in the hospital! Couldn't find anywhere else to sit that felt comfortable.

YES!!!

V. similar to upset stomach pains - but much worse!

In fact with dd1, labour started with a major upset stomach - sat on the loo for 20mins.

But how do you know when it's time to get off the loo so baby doesn't fall in?? Also - I'm prone to fainting and sweating like a pig with the pain that comes with gastro things - do I stand a chance???

I spent most of Ds2's labour on the toilet.

My waters even broke down it, rather conviently!

You'll know it's time to get off hte loo when you feel the head moving through. Trust me, you WILL feel this. It burns.

It is a bit different in labour because as the contractions build up, so do your own endorphins - that's the theory anyway. I am rubbish at pain but managed to get through two of my three labours without any artificial pain relief.

I knew it was time to get off the loo when the pain had become unbearable - staggered back into the delivery suite and told DH to get the midwife, sharpish - felt very weird but when MW examined me she said I was fully dilated, so I was obviously just feeling weird because I was in transition.

Thank you all for your replies. I'm amazed that there aren't more 'toilet births' then - it's obviously the way to go! It must be very confusing for the brain, labour pains not being a feeling that you get every day...!

I think this is where birthing stools come in, if you can find one!

I sat on one of those big gym balls for a lot of DS3's labour - which was a bit slower than with DS2, and therefore a bit more manageable. That seemed a bit nicer than a hospital bog!

Nearly joined you Anniemac - twice!
Both ds2 and ds3 were nearly born on the loo. Whenever I said, i think the baby's coming now, the midwives told me I just needed to do a wee. And I meekly pottered down the corridor, saying, 'OK, if you really think so'

worst thing was that the blinking loo was down the effing corridor - so when it all kicked off, I had to unlock the door, get off the loo and run yelling back down the effing corridor with a baby half hanging out of me - sorry if TMI.
Also had to run past this other expectant dad who'd come out of the room where his wife was puffing and panting because it was all a bit much. Never seen colour drain from a man's face so fast

pmsl juliab.... but i didn't feel like that. but some hospitals have dutch birthing stools. ( a bit like the loo only much more hygenic) hth

Bloo it's not like feeling sick - just severely constipated. You'll be fine.

Thanks ladies - you have really made me laugh with all your stories - it's definitely taken some of the worry away, although I have no idea how!!!!

I have terrible pain followed by diarrhoea quite often because of IBS. When I was in labour with DD1, i said to my husband, call the midwife, then no don't its my IBS, then scraemed to call her again, he got off the phone, i said i'm pushing, then husband screamed louder than me, i said don't worry, i'm not pushing, i'm pooing, he said thats a hairy poo, the her head was out and the midwife arrived 20 minutes after she was born!