Did you feel the ring of fire?

[CheeseFondueRocks]

Because I don't think I did when DD was born and I had no pain medication at all. Am I deluding myself and have just forgotten about it?

I had a natural birth too, with dc2. No I didn't feel 'the ring of fire' pmsl. When pushing him out, it did feel like I could crack in two at any minute though. Orgasmic yet excruciating at the same time. Awesome experience compared to epidural with dc1.

I couldn't possibly ever forget it. Ever. It was horrific. I only had gas and air and was induced with syntocin. Active labour was 41 minutes so she burst into the world, ripping muscle and skin as she shot out.

That ring of fire was followed by an hour and a half of stitching where the local didn't work.

Twasnt fire, it was a sodding inferno.

No, definitely didn't. First labour was epidural so doesn't count. But second had no pain medication at all.

Early stages were agony - like being kicked in the back by a horse. Then DD2 finally turned from back-to-back and I literally did not feel any pain for the rest of the birth. Don't know if it was that it didn't hurt, or that they drop in pain was so massive that the massive endorphin levels I had previously been building blocked it out!

Absofuckinglutely I did! I don't think its something you forget.

Yes with DS, no with DD. She was smaller and I had gas & air whereas DS was bigger and I didn't have pain relief. When they handed DS to me I told them to sod off and didn't hold him until a post-birth painkiller had kicked in!

Yes, both times. It didn't happen at the moment of crowning - it was a few seconds before, as the head was coming down the birth canal.

Very distinctive feeling.

First time, I remember shouting "It's burning!" The midwife nodded knowingly. Baby was born within minutes.

Second time, when I felt the ring of fire I shouted "It's coming now!" and the midwife had a quick look and said "Yes the head is right there." Baby was born in minutes.

yes! and I was telling the midwife all about it lol

Didn't with DS but he was forceps delivery. Did with DD - was a really positive feeling of pain if that makes sense.

Nah not burning but the 'shit i hope that my bits hold up while i push this bugger out'

No, nope
I must have very numb nethers

Yep I did. It was the only one time I swore in the whole labour and then apologised straight away!
This time round at least I.know it'll mean that dd2 is very nearly out yay!

Same as amandapand...excruciating back to back labour with baby turning right at the end. That last little bit felt pretty good after he turned! Do remember thinking I needed to slow right down so as not to tear, and felt like I was turning inside out like a Popple, but no ROF.

No I didn't feel it (9lb 3oz baby, gas and air during contractions but nothing for the pushing stage).

I do remember when DS was crowning feeling very clearly that my whole pelvis was FULL of his head, like I could feel it bone on bone. It didn't hurt a such, just a rather unpleasant overwhelming feeling! It was over quickly though. I had a 2nd degree tear which I didn't feel happen either.

Dd- no I didn't, but she was 2 months early and only 3lb + I was on so many meds trying to prevent her being born I had not a clue what was going on!

Ds- no pain relief, stupidly quick labour and yes I had the fire thing, my body still shudders at the thought of it! Yikes!

Yes, I also had a 2nd degree tear I didn't notice.

So it seems like some women feel it and others don't I'm just hoping I will be lucky again this time around. I'm also wondering if a water birth would help.

I can deal with the contraction fine, no problem. It's the crowning I'm a little apprehensive about.

Not with ds as had an emergency spaniel.

But with DD, oh my god yes, makes me wince thinkng about it.

No. I delivered in the pool

yes I felt it!! wasn't too bad but definitely knew then what people were talking about

I remember laughing hysterically at the sheer impossibility of the baby every coming out......seconds before she did!

GobblersKnob how do I get an emergency spaniel?!?

I got it, and I felt the 2nd degree tear I got the full length of the birth canal as he forced his way out. Don't think I'll ever forget it

Yes with DS1 - that was the only point I thought I couldn't cope anymore. I was on my back being monitored at that point though.

DS2 was in water and no burning feeling - though there was a definite painful peak when I could tell the head was there ready to push through, then just an overwhelming whooshing feeling I couldn't control, just had to go with the flow.

You are not delusional. I didn't feel it either. Mine was a ventouse birth but I had no pain relief. I'm not sure weather they gave me a local before episiotomy, but by that point, it would have pass the ring of fire, isn't it? I was so exhausted after over 2 days in labour by that point that I'm probably hallucinating about things . I don't remember it being really painful at any point, except the episiotomy.

I do think they gave me a local when they stitch me up, so that's why I'm thinking I didn't get one when they cut me.

No, I just felt like I was going to break in half.

I had an epidural with the other two. Nothing with ds2. (homebirth)

I thought I was going to die. I really did.

I only felt it with my first, I was so out my face on pain relief though I thought it was his hair tickling me [hmn]

He was bald!