How did you get through transition?

[OhGood]

I was fine most of the way through labour with DC1 swaying and counting and breathing and all that malarkey. Then when things hotted up at 9ish cms I really started to get scared of the pain, didn't want to have next contraction and felt like I had nowhere to go next - needed to do something different but didn't know what it was, gas and air wasn't working for me, started to panic, and it all rather fell apart.

How did you get through transition / the 9+ cms bit? Did you have a plan or did you just do what worked next?

Vomit was involved

Guessing that wasn't on your birth plan?

That's when I got in the pool. Two times. Transition happened and I demanded the pool.

Water was my help here, I got in the birthing pool around 8 and felt just how you described.
I was too late for anything else, and I started panicking about knowhere to go.
I relaxed in the pool and calmed right down. Then I got meconium in my waters and had to get out- then I got all anxious and panicky and unable to cope again.
I think if I could have stayed in the water I'd have been okay

I threw up too. All three times.

By the time I had DD it was Oh, that's my cue to start pushing then (that and the overwhelming need to push - strangest feeling ever, and one I still can't describe to DH)

No Birth Plan as such.

First time I was high as a kite on pethidine talking about chasing cats up trees.

Second time hanging onto the side of the cot marching, followed by vomiting and evacuation of bowels. Finished off hanging off the side of my mum's car waiting for the ambulance after my waters went and things started to move quite quickly.

DD1- have no idea as I was high on diamorphine.
DD2- nearly passed out, thought I was dying, panicked, came round, sucked on gas and air and pushed alot.
DD3- nearly passed out, rembered that I wasn't dying and then had lots of gas and air while pushing.

Had no plan just went with flow.

I was on the way to hospital, couldn't get in the car and was really panicking. Had to walk into hosp past a FULL reception while having massive contractions, then I couldn't get through a buzzer door. Ended up hammering on it and eventually got in. Didn't realise at the time I was so far gone, had only been sent home 2 hours earlier at 0cms, I thought I was probably about 4cms and was demanding an epidural. DD was born 10 mins later. Birth plan went right out the window!

I'm not sure but I remember feeling very delirious and thinking there is no way this is natural unless this is how I die .

I remember saying this to a midwife and being told it was all normal and keep going. At this point I remember thinking, oh well if i do die I won't know anything about it anyway. Not to dramatic of me then

booksandchoc - same here.

Second time around I was expecting things to go quickly. Lots of gas and air, breathing, and giving birth on all fours really helped. I think also that second time around I really felt in control which lessened the fear a lot.

first time - epidural so i didn't know

second (last Thursday) had only been in hospital 30 mins & in labour 1.5 hours. waters went at 9 cm & OH MY GOD!!!! I have never felt anything like it! left the TENS on boost from then til she was delivered and sucked ALOT of gas & air. It was all so quick & baby's heart rate had dropped. cue obs & paeds in the room & me pushing with all my might, so scared of her low heart rate. she was out in a couple of minutes and totally fine, all 8lb 15oz of her!!!

First time wondered where all the pain had gone, it was a proper everything stopped. I was actually with it whereas in labour I'm not. Second time was in the car and thought hmm this is strange feels like transition not realizing it actually was.

I used the brief lull that was transition to explain the beauty of sheep farming in NZ to the midwives. I know nothing about sheep. Or farming. Or New Zealand. I was vaguely aware of the midwife on the phone to her coordinator (attempted homebirth) saying a woman was about to deliver. I asked her who she meant, she pointed at me and I shrugged and continued to explain the beauty of sheep farming in New Zealand.

Transition is MENTAL isn't it? Both times I've thought I can't do this anymore but the second time around I knew that that feeling meant it would all be done soon. I remember saying to the midwife that last time I felt lke this my ds1 had arrived not long after. She didn't really believe me and had to pretend no to be surprised when ds2's head appeared!

DC3 I remember clearly. Labour just over 3 hours start to finish.

Transition: I whimpered to the midwife that I really couldn't do any more "of this labour shit" and that it was time to go home. Then waters went with an huge audible bang which shocked us all and DC was born 5 mins later.

I repeatedly said I'd had enough for today and was going home and would be back to finish it when I felt up to it, all whilst vomiting.

Love this thread, brings it all back.

My memory of transition suddently going from my 'cool as a cucumber, I'm well hard, can cope with anything' attitude to whimpering/whining "I really don't like this anymore" at the midwife, panicking madly and trying not to be vomit from the G&A. Which up until that point I'd refused as I knew from a previous spinal fracture it made me sick as a dog.

Once into second stage and pushing, I spent the next hour and half going "this is fine, I like this bit" out of sheer relief.

DS1 - told doctor to "just fucking knock me out" (in fairness he was back to back, 9lb and - as it turned out - stuck fast, ended up in theatre with a spinal.

DS2 - unbelievably fast labour (about an hour) coped with gas & air and copious swearing. Like someone else said, I knew this time that it would be over soon - he was out in ten mins & 3 pushes. Think I did some actual primal screaming though!

Just went with it. Staying calm & focusing really helped. When the overwhelming urge to push/bare down came I went with it. Kind of a nice feeling!!! Birth over pregnancy every time for me!

Apple juice in a carton and a bit of a rest.

I am such a freak i truly enjoy giving birth it feels amazing.

With dd1 transition went along the lines of

Mw- ''give me the g&a you're hurting yourself biting it you don't need it''

Me- ''i swear to fucking gid you rake this sway from me i will go hone and then who'll have the fucking baby eh??! Cos it won't be fucking me! That's it i'm going'' whilst trying to climb off the bed i got my g&a back though!!

With ds i recognised the crazy feeling of wanting to itch scratch jump hurl etc so focused on pushing and spent the whole time saying ''is he out yet?? Is he out? Still not god almighty ffs i'm bloody pushing gggrrrnnnnnnng is it out yet wheres his head??''

I'm so looking forward to dd2 in august!

Soooooo many typos it's the s3 keyboard thingy it's bloody tiny.

I didn't realise I was transitioning, thought I was only about 6cm but was on the loo because I really needed a wee but nothing was happening because 'something was in the way'. Apparently that something was DS's head and I remember feeling so tired and saying to my doula that "I don't think I can do this anymore, I want to go to sleep".

Doula took one look at me and told the midwife to get the OBGYN back in. Got me up on the bed and just said "oh there's a head, you just go right on ahead and push" which was a surprise. Amazingly, that's when I started panicking and sucking back gas and air which they wrestled off me the bastards

Really want to do it all over again, can't wait if I'm honest!

Screamed for an epidural, only to be told it was too late, and I was 10 cm already, then started pushing and was OK and able to cope again.

I "made a noise" a bit like a cow.(as had been silent until that point)
was disappointesd as had planned to be silent.

I also thought to myself (I want to go to hospital (was having a home birth))
Had my pool been ready (not 43C i would have got in) instead i went downstairs and knelt on sofa.... then a few mins later my baby flew out un caught.