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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

What hurts more, contractions or baby actually coming out?

112 replies

macdat · 23/02/2016 03:57

I guess contractions last longer, so that's a downside, but the baby actually coming out seems...well...horrific. I'm so scared haha. I want to know which one is more painful, just so I can prepare myself a little and sort of psych myself up for it.

OP posts:

Myredcardigan · 23/02/2016 15:14

I've heard many a woman swear the stitching hurt more than labour.

OvariesBeforeBrovaries · 23/02/2016 15:17

Ooh gunting the diclofenac up the bum was fab for me but they didn't bother with that until after the stitching for some reason! I had tried to warn them that I have EDS and local doesn't work but they just let me keep going on the gas and air and baby cuddles for being stitched up so I was happy

Botchit · 23/02/2016 15:18

The crowning was the worst bit for me although overall it was fine. It hurts obviously but you just get on with it and at the end you get an amazing little person. Try not to worry too much.

Hopelass · 23/02/2016 15:29

Contractions were worse for me. I honestly didn't feel the crowning just a huge pushing sensation that I couldn't ignore iyswim I was high as a kite on gas and air though!

Hopelass · 23/02/2016 15:32

Oh yeah and fucking stitching! Labial year, clitoral tear (didn't even know these existed!) and episiotomy being stitched up extra quick because the consultant had to pick her kids up

SweetAdeline · 23/02/2016 15:34

Contractions here. I don't really remember the crowning part hurting and I had a 2nd degree tear. Stitching didn't really hurt either but I was scared it would so I made dh hold the baby and went to town on the gas and air.

Junosmum · 23/02/2016 16:39

I ended up with forceps so for me it was the baby coming out. But the contractions were horrific too. I HATED labour with a passion, still having flash backs and nighmares now.

Junosmum · 23/02/2016 16:44

But I had no pain relief for the forceps delivery.

outputgap · 23/02/2016 16:48

I haven't felt the crowning either time. Although I think I popped a pile out the other night (am 35 weeks pregnant) and I doubt giving birth is going to hurt more than that.

Xmasbaby11 · 23/02/2016 16:48

Contractions Hurt more but only because I ended up having an epidural before they got the forceps out. The forceps delivery was awful, like having my insides pulled out, but there was no pain.

Baressentials · 23/02/2016 16:51

Contractions without a doubt. The actual crowning didn't bother me - my body just took over.
With dc4 even the contractions weren't that bad. But it was a concealed pregnancy and I was in denial that I was in labour so in a bizarre way it didn't hurt as much as the other dcs. Would love to know if my mental state at the time contributed to the lack of pain. The other 3 dc I was very vocal during contractions and delivery but with dc4 I 'knew' I had to be quiet so I was and carried on as normal until delivery. Hope that makes senses!

firesidechat · 23/02/2016 16:57

Contractions were manageable. Crowning was the worst - burnt like hell.

BrucieTheShark · 23/02/2016 17:00

Contractions so painful for me - I mean climbing the wall painful - couldn't even feel crowning/tearing/actual delivery. Like a teeny tiny drop in the ocean. But the relief at that point, now that was something good!

gunting · 23/02/2016 17:03

To add insult to injury when ds was coming out I had got past the crowning and his hips needed a wiggle out. While the midwife was wiggling him free he started flapping his arms slapping me in the clit. That is also pain I will never forget

VagueIdeas · 23/02/2016 17:03

It all hurt.

Contractions were worse than I'd anticipated (well the peaks were - I thought I'd explode with pain - but at least the peaks were over in seconds) and pushing felt excruciating from the first push. I wasn't aware of crowning whatsoever, possibly because the pushing hurt so much anyway. I tore badly and didn't feel that either, mercifully.

Allshallbewell · 23/02/2016 17:13

Crowning was the worst bit for me, in terms of pain, I've never felt anything like it (but also over much more quickly, and you meet your baby at the end of it!)

I found with my contractions, that I felt almost euphoric everytime one finished, from the relief of it being over and in the short time between contractions, could recover and then prepare myself for the next one. Also, once you get into the rhythm of them, although they're still bloody painful, you get to know what's going to happen, the contraction starts, builds up, peaks and then lessens - very much like riding a wave. I've had 3 babies, and would happily go through labour another 3 times, purely for the feeling i got when I first met my babies- for me the most wonderful feeling ever. Good luck and all the best!

PerspicaciaTick · 23/02/2016 17:19

There was a moment during crowning when I thought that if any of the MWs (there were several in on the action) touched my pubic area I would split like an overripe plum and probably die. But they didn't and I didn't and DS arrived seconds later.

ShortcutButton · 23/02/2016 19:20

I was terrified of labour. Really really terrified.

But I agree with pp, once you are in it, its totally doable. I think its one of those things that you can't adequately describe. But you'll be fine OP, really

Focusfocus · 23/02/2016 19:25

Contractions without absolutely any doubt

YokoUhOh · 23/02/2016 19:32

I am so surprised by all of the posters who found the contractions the worst bit.

Crowning was my red-hot-poker moment. But I did have a third degree tear. And I have to do it all again in a couple of months...

LucyBabs · 23/02/2016 19:32

Yes to the pps, I felt like I would explode when ds was crowning, it was the strangest feeling. At that point I tried to close my legs and told the mid wife I was going home

Ds was born 30 seconds later..
Contractions were painful and I was a little panicky when they were coming every minute but by that stage I needed to push so my mind was concentrated on getting ds out.

Good luck op

YokoUhOh · 23/02/2016 19:34

Laughing at the flapping baby slapping gunting in the clit

headinhands · 23/02/2016 19:35

Aw op it's scary to think about but remember that many women choose to have 2,3,4,5,6 etc children so there's proof it won't be as bad as you imagine. As a mum to 4 my easiest births were the ones where I was upright as much as I could be until I absolutely had to lay down, which was a few minutes at the end.

Shirkingfromhome · 23/02/2016 19:40

Crowning definitely but even that wasn't too bad. Somehow, and rather aptly, I remember the song 'ring of fire' popping into my head.

The stitches afterwards were the worst bit and I only had a few.

Fannyfannakerpants · 23/02/2016 19:44

I'd actually say the afterbirth was the worst. I expected the contraction pain abs the crowning sing like he'll but was manageable but no one tells you anything about what delivering the placenta feels like. I was adamant I was gong to do it naturally but within mins I'd had to hand baby over and have the injection because I couldn't cope.

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