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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

What does it really feel like?

122 replies

sweetchilli77 · 20/02/2017 15:17

Sorry in advance if this has been asked numerous times before but...

What does labour pain really feel like.Can anyone explain in the best ways possible the type of pain?

Im 30 weeks now and starting to think a lot more about labour and getting quite anxious

OP posts:

MissJC · 20/02/2017 16:15

Hi! Im actually in labour right now (on mumsnet distracting me!)

Its actually not that bad, the worse part for me was latent phase where your not yet in "established" or "active" labour. I started having contractions on Friday morning every 20 mins then on Sat they progressed to every 5 mins. I rang triage and told them I was worried and asked me in for assessment although they prefer you to be having 3 contractions in 10 mins. I went in and was only 3cm so they gave me a sweep and sent me home with some strong co-codamol. Sunday was hell on earth, contractions all in my back every 5 mins.

Woke up at 2:20am this morning with painful back labour, contractions every 2 mins, admitted to hospital at 4:30am. Blood pressure is high and baby is back to back so im on an oxytocin drip with an epidural. Im still only 7cm. Its taking ages but take my advice ACCEPT THE PAIN RELIEF. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO WIN ANY AWARDS FOR GOING EL NATUREL. Although Pethidine did make me spew my guts up. But Epidural is highly recommended.

lilyborderterrier · 20/02/2017 16:16

It wasn't exactly childbirth that surprised me, ( i had a water birth and has gas and air) it was how I physically felt afterwards ( down below) I really wasn't expecting it, it felt like I'd been kicked forcefully in between my legs! It was so swollen and sore. I suppose I did had surgery to remove my torn placenta so was manhandled a lot but wow the recovery from stitches and bruised ladybird was the worse. But I'm having another baby so it's all relative and forgotten !!

LittleMum91 · 20/02/2017 16:16

Ahhhhhhh good luck MissJc!!

ILookAtLifeFromBothSidesNow · 20/02/2017 16:18

Do you wish you hadn't asked now OP?

Whathaveilost · 20/02/2017 16:19

From my point of view I found, yes it hurt like hell but you are caught up in the moment and it was a very exciting time.
I honestly think it is pointless getting people's stories because there will be some horror ones and stories about complications. I had a complication which delayed things but all need up good.

Just have an open mind and enjoy it as much as you can. I honestly believe that if you have a positive attitude it will help see you through at least some of the way.

mistermagpie · 20/02/2017 16:21

I pooed! My midwife told me that even women who think they haven't probably have really, but the midwives whip it away before you even notice. I only know because my DH told me (kind man).

One thing I will say is that it's not like the pain of a broken leg or something, where you don't know when the pain is going to go away and it just gets incrementally better - once the baby is out the pain is over pretty much immediately. I had one more contraction for the placenta I think and it was all done.

Original poster

sweetchilli77 · 20/02/2017 16:23

you know what ILookAtLifeFromBothSidesNow i am glad, at least these are real accounts

All the magazines/booklets ive read are full of crap and mamby pamby. At least here i have the hardcore truth.

Im under no illusions its gonna hurt but at least i have a bit more of a realistic idea. Im just gonna see what my body does and have no expectations...and hope for the best hahaha.
I do have a very good supportive husband so at least that is a little bonus

OP posts:

Bombaybunty · 20/02/2017 16:23

It felt like the worst period pain ever. Slowly increasing until it felt as if I was trying to poo out a water melon!

It was such a huge relief when it was all over. I was induced with a nearly 10lb baby.

I did do a poo but I really didn't care!

CPtart · 20/02/2017 16:31

Like a vice tightening round your pelvis. Tighter and tighter each time. Then an uncontrollable urge to push. It's completely involuntary.
DC1 was back to back, 24 hours, epidural, 2.5 hours pushing etc etc.
DC2 popped out very quickly after two paracetamol.
The adrenaline afterwards made me shake violently and I had the most amazing 'high'.

MamaHanji · 20/02/2017 16:33

The worst pain for me was in my lower back. It was so intense and felt like period back ache x 30. But the contractions were across my bump as well and that felt like stomach cramps when you have a stomach bug. I had gastroenteritis last week and the stomach pain actually made me think 'shit am I in labour again'. But my labour was very short and intense. I went from not in labour to holding a baby in 3 hours so it was very constant and intense.

ChickenLicken22 · 20/02/2017 16:34

Try and stand up leaning over the bed if you can (some midwives aren't keen on this but they should support your decision). Let gravity help!

MamaHanji · 20/02/2017 16:36

The stage I was most worried about was the pushing stage. But in a lot of ways, that was the easiest as it felt strangely satisfying to feel the baby coming out! And it did hurt but more in a burning way and I pushed so hard I don't think I could even register the pain as I was concentrating on pushing an 8lb 6oz baby out! Looking back on it, that bit was the best bit for me.

Laidbackorlazy · 20/02/2017 16:37

It felt like a squeezing pain - very intense period pain I guess.
But in my back as well. Much worse lying down, I refused to get on my back to be examined or give birth, I couldn't bear it.
Thing I found most useful was focussing on breathing and imagining each breath as a countdown from 10 to 0, like the sand in an egg timer. I shut my eyes and imagined it for every contraction & it stopped me panicking about the pain & kept me calm. So much that my dh told people afterwards that it hadn't really hurt!! I put him straight on that. That was a hypnoburthing technique - I was pretty sceptical but actually found it really helpful.

Alwayscheerful · 20/02/2017 16:43

After my daughter gave birth she said Mum "its like a bomb going off inside your body". I agreed. My daughter has three children now. They say the pain of childbirth is the best kept secret in the world.

Notlostjustexploring · 20/02/2017 17:08

I had fairly bad period type back ache from the start of my induction that made me wince but also had a TENS machine which really took the edge of nicely. Then they broke my waters as part of the induction process...
I also got the banged elbow feeling in the middle of my pelvis that was horrendously, unable to breathe painful, but he was back to back. Then I got my epidural. Lovely, lovely epidural.
It also turns out he was jammed in my pelvis so it ended up as an EMC which felt oddly relaxing and satisfying.
I can't recommend the TENS machine enough btw, it shortened the feeling of the contractions so I only really felt the peak.
Good luck! I know more people than not who found it all relatively tolerable so I think I had bad luck.

Cwtchythings · 20/02/2017 17:20

For my first two the pain was very similar to period pain. At transition it got to "fuck me I can't cope with this" levels of period pain. The pushing I actually found ok as my body kind of did it on its own, I find it really hard to describe but it was as if my whole body knew what it was doing and threw itself into pushing the baby out! The nearest thing I can describe that to is like vomiting but a hundred times more powerful. I remember being quite impressed with my body with my first, it was a skill I didn't know I possessed

I've 6 weeks left to go with my 3rd though and it's stubbornly back to back, so I'm expecting a different story this time around.. Good luck!

ExpectoPatronummmm · 20/02/2017 17:43

Very bery very bad constipation pain and the poo needs to come out NOW.

The pain is the worst ever. I'm about to donit for the third time.

ItsReginaPhalange · 20/02/2017 17:57

Mine was like really really bad stomach cramps, like IBS almost pains rather than period. Every muscle in my stomach went, like a rope being pulled around me. But, for me it was manageable. Gas and air is amazing, pushing for me, made the pain go away. You can't focus on anything else in my experience. It doesn't hurt between pushes, then it starts to build again.

likeacrow · 20/02/2017 18:03

justdontevenfuckingstart
"with my first I had my bum in the air and was sweeping around with my hand my mum was like what are you doing??? I was looking for poo. Not sure what I would have done if I had found it lol."

That's genuinely made both me & DH properly belly laugh!

Antsinpants · 20/02/2017 18:10

I made the midwives swear not to let me Fart in front of my lovely DR (had gone privately for first because of previous MC). Worth every penny when he have me a local in my foof as dd was crowning. Asked for it again with dd2 (Nhs this time) and they rolled eyes at me. Stung like anything, but I'd give birth every day over being pregnant for 9 months!

likeacrow · 20/02/2017 18:16

Antsinpants you can ask for a local anaesthetic in your foofanoof?

omnishamblesssssssssssssss · 20/02/2017 18:20

I've had c sections but my best birth was my vbac. It was very manageable and I was shocked as I was expecting it to be much harder.

MrsChopper · 20/02/2017 18:24

In my experience it felt like bad period pain, sort of like cramps, in the front and back. I was induced and used G&A to take the edge off. Ended up with an emergency c-section though which is a whole other story.

Antsinpants · 20/02/2017 18:32

like you can certainly ask, whether they give you one though.....

ItsReginaPhalange · 20/02/2017 18:57

I had local in my foof and I was NHS.... though do they just give you that if you need a snip? Otherwise, I want it again next time....

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