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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Surprises during birth

110 replies

BummyMummy77 · 30/11/2013 15:37

So I had ds a week ago and was thinking of the things that happened during birth that surprised me. Even though I've read countless books there were still things they didn't mention.

I had a home birth with no drugs or gas and air just so you get a picture. Just 12 hours of labour, 6 was full on pushing.

Shivering - for the last half an hour I convulsed and shivered. Poor dh was freaking out thinking I was fitting. Midwives didn't really raise an eyebrow, just said it was strong hormones.

The pooing - I know a lot of people poop but I pooped a little bit at almost every contraction for 6 hours. Watching dh fishing around the birthing pool with his wine sediment sieve with a horrified look on his face was brilliant.

Mucous plug - I'd been looking forward to seeing my bloody show for weeks lol. It happens way into labour near the end and came out like a rocket. There was SO much of it!

Waters breaking - I was also looking forward to this. Either a big gush like you see on the telly where you go into labour or the trickle trickle to let you know it's on it's way. What I wasn't expecting was giving a really good push, a really loud POP and half a gallon of brown smelly water flying all over the sofa (which I hated so very glad). He'd pooped inside which I knew could happen I just wasn't expecting the mess.

Anyone else get some shocks?

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Original poster

BummyMummy77 · 01/12/2013 12:57

I was shocked at the time thing too. I kept demanding to know HOW much longer it would take and needed a time by which he'd be here. I was obsessed. Apparently all I said for a space of three hours whilst I was draped over the birthday ball was 'how much longer'? It felt like 2 minutes though.

Must have been incredible boring for midwives and dh! Well I know it was because one of them started bloody knitting!

OP posts:

pixiestix · 01/12/2013 14:55

The shivering
The puking
The sheer volume of the liquid when my waters broke
Trying to literally climb the walls to get away from the pain
Not giving a shit who my midwifes were/ change-overs etc
The gas and air having no effect
The epidural not working. I thought that was a magic cure for everyone!
Being handed my daughter and then having to hand her straight back so I could puke. Not very magical.
Being thrilled that she was here but still wanting DH to hold her all afternoon so I could go to sleep rather than gazing adoringly at her

LittleTownOfBOOTHSlehem · 01/12/2013 15:10

My worst experience as a midwife is having to listen to Celine Dion (as someone's chosen birth music)for an entire shift,on repeat. This was an endurance test like Prince Harry & his South Pole expedition.
My heart literally could not go on.

LittleTownOfBOOTHSlehem · 01/12/2013 15:13

Apologies to any Celine fans

DoesZingBumpLookBigInThis · 01/12/2013 15:16

@ my heart literally could not go on!

dramajustfollowsme · 01/12/2013 15:18

I don't think anyone stuck their finger up my bum . Now, I'm wondering if they did .
Most surprising thing was the high I got when dd was born. I don't think any drug could even come close to that.
I'm also surprised that dh was much more traumatised by watching me go through it than me. I'm not bothered that I'll have to do it again in 6 months. He, on the other hand, is dreading the birth.

Layl77 · 01/12/2013 15:30

It surprised me how even though it fooking hurts you're still kind of 'you' and normal in between contractions. How much blood & gunk there is afterwards which nobody warns you about.

princesscupcakemummyb · 01/12/2013 16:04

i carried on as normal during the day as my wat i thought braxtons where contractions and i didnt feel any pain right up untill 30 mins prior to pushing to which my waters broke all over the sofa and 2 pushes few mins later baby popped out lol

oh & the after birth came out quickly without drugs

Imnotaslimjim · 01/12/2013 19:05

how loud I could yell, even with the G&A mouthpiece in my teeth!

The all encompassing urge to push, even with a MW telling me to "breath through it"

The shock of one push and he was out. Both of went into shock, 2nd stage was just 2 secs long! Then took well over an hour for the placenta to emerge

OnTheRunAndUpTheDuff · 02/12/2013 10:45

I didn't get the finger up the bum either - home birth with no tearing, so no stitches required. That definitely would have surprised me though!

I was quite taken aback by the amount of poo I produced. Two hours of pushing (Bummy I can't believe you did six! Wow) and it was still floating across the pool with every contraction. My labour started with (I thought) a good clear-out as well. I didn't go for a few days after, but I'm pretty sure that was just because there was absolutely nothing left.

Also, the sensation of having been kicked in the bum by a horse for a couple of days after.

Lj8893 · 02/12/2013 11:37

Yy the shaking and vomiting!!!

I had a very quick labour (1 hour from 2cm to 9cm) and shook uncontrollably throughout and projectile vomited loads.

The pushing stage was really quick for me too (25 minutes) so I had to ask my DH if she was here as I was so out of it!

The shaking and shivering after labour, bizarre!

And how much it hurt delivering the placenta!!

Bumpsadaisie · 02/12/2013 11:50

For me the biggest surprise was what the pushing stage felt like (had epi and forceps with my eldest so when I had my DS that was the first time I'd felt it).

I thought I would get a sensation of needing to push, then think "right, puuussh" and push.

Actually it was like throwing up, except my whole body convulsing rather than just my stomach.

I dimly remember thinking "pooh. This is not like I imagined it would be!" (in between shouting!)

Bumpsadaisie · 02/12/2013 11:50

"ooh" not "pooh" !

AmandaCooper · 02/12/2013 13:27

The degree of pain. It was far, far worse than I had ever imagined; I never expected to lose control of myself and be shrieking and shouting out incoherently during contractions and whimpering and sobbing inconsolably in between them, begging them to give me a section. Also how incredibly hard I had to push to get him out; I kept thinking if I just waited a bit longer my body would expel him - without me having to abandon all regard for my own bodily integrity.

CuppaSarah · 02/12/2013 14:21

That you can sleep between contractions! I had no clue you could sleep most of your labour away, but gas and air is wonderful, wonderful stuff. Supposedly every contraction I would wake up, sit bolt upright and stare into DPs eyes with a possessed look, whilst huffing on the gas and air manically. Only to collapse back down asleep again the second it passed.

I also didn't realize how good you could look after giving birth. I swear every woman who came onto my postnatal ward looked amazing(unlike me who was sporting a sweaty mop of hair, panda eyes and a look of mild panic)

Lj8893 · 02/12/2013 16:07

Me too amanda although I knew it was going to be extremely painful I didn't think I would lose control iyswim! But I sure did, yelling, screaming, pushing dp out the way, telling the midwife "I don't have to do shit" when she asked me to move onto the other bed after wheeling me up to labour ward.

And god, I wish I had been able to sleep between contractions!! But once one finished, the next one started!

notundermyfoof · 02/12/2013 16:52

Oops I think it might help you to post in relationships

The biggest surprise for me was that it felt like the baby was coming out of my bum! According to dh I shouted "ow my arse is breaking!" continuously for the last 20 minutes

AmandaCooper · 02/12/2013 19:42

Lj8893 I told the midwife in my most sarcastic voice, "A right load of fucking use that's going to be," when she suggested I get in the pool. I then flatly refused to be monitored for the rest of my labour, shouting "fuck off he's fine," every time she came near me with the doppler. I'm not sure why!

traininthedistance · 03/12/2013 08:31

thesebootsaremadeforwalking I think the suppository is diclofenac which is a NSAID like ibuprofen. That stuff was fab! It was agony when it wore off though (I had a bad 2nd degree tear with a "complicated" repair....)

katy14 · 03/12/2013 08:49

I ended up having an emergency c section. just presumed a natural birth would be fine so hadn't read up on sections. nothing went to plan. dd had been pushed too far into my pelvis so the docs had to push her back up and out of the c section cut. dd wasn't breathing and had to be resuscitated. she then went straight to the scbu. as for me they'd had to move my bowel to get her out which then went into spasm. I blew up like a balloon post op as couldn't poo, trump or burp for 5 days. I was bigger than 9 months pregnant and in more pain than contractions. several enemas and 10 days post op things started moving. dd rallied in scbu and we were both discharged on the same day. happy to report 7 months on we are both fighting fit but what a rollercoaster! ante natal classes didn't prepare us for that and dp reckons he aged ten years! amazingly we're talking about number two now! lol!

annielosthergun · 04/12/2013 05:07

That warm water DID NOT help!! Did hypnobirthing and was fully expecting to spend most of my labour floating around in the bath. Well - when it got really painful I took off tens and got in the bath and OMG the pain of sitting on a hard surface nearly sent me through the roof! It was so bad I couldn't even get out - DH had to basically heft me out! Baby was back to back and midwife casually commented that often b2b and baths don't mix well. I was SO disappointed!!

purplemurple1 · 05/12/2013 21:59

How quick transition and pushing were 20min also gå is really good if only they don't give you an empty one first.

As others have said I didn't need to be told to push or pant as I really could not do anything else.

The first wee an poo after we're fine which was a nice surprise.

Baileyscoffeeandcampfires · 05/12/2013 22:10

The fact that I didn't scream but did moo like a cow. I couldn't bear to be touched in either labour once it got going and broke the tens machine when I ripped it off cos it was getting on my tits.

With my second - the mess was horrific. The massive amount of waters that can come out in one go and the sensation. It was like popping the biggest zit ever but green and brown. Then I threw up on the bed that I was leaning on , bright pink cos I had Beetroot salad for lunch. Then she came out in one huge push while I was still standing up with pants round my ankles. Luckily mw was on her knee soaking up the waters with pads so she got to play catch. Seriously, I was in that delivery suite for 9 minutes before she was out but it must have taken them hours to clean the room up. Looked like a cross between an abattoir and a slurry pit by the time I was done. They moved me next door to deliver the placenta.

MillyMollyMama · 05/12/2013 22:53

I had an epidural and went to sleep. Had to be woken up as they said the baby needed to be born! No screaming, no pain, all totally calm, a bit of effort and then a baby! The only way to do it in my opinion.

DirtyDancing · 07/12/2013 23:26

I'm 39 weeks tomorrow and waiting, waiting.... Some of these have cracked me up!! I am planning a water & hypno birth.... Reading these we shall see!! ;)

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