What was the most painful part of labour?

[ALS17081982]

I had an EMCS 7 weeks ago after 38 hours of labour. I had an epidural at 7cm dilated which dulled the contractions and then a spinal block before failed ventouse and then c section.

I found the contractions painful enough to ask for an epidural but I wasn't at any point screaming in pain. I used a TENS machine and later gas and air. Before the epidural the contractions were so painful I was being sick a lot and could no where near talk through a contraction. I want to know how much painful it would have got so I can be prepared if I try for a VBAC next time.

Which part of the whole labour did you find most painful? We're contractions at 7cm dilated easier than at the pushing stage? Was crowning the worst bit?

Thanks!

Transition. The last bit of labour before starting to push. I felt totally out of control and that I couldn't stand the pain anymore. Getting to the pushing bit was a godsend.

Crowning was very painful for me but I did suffer a severe tear so maybe that's why? I always thought pushing was meant to be easier than contractions but for me it was the hardest, most painful part.

Yes 7cm transition was worst. It was the point at which I transferred to hospital and felt I lost control/calm. Once through that (brief) stage, everything calmed down and the last 3cm were easy and almost pleasant in the pool. Crowning was briefly painful for approximately 3 seconds (labial tear)

I had an epidural when I was induced. Those contractions after the induction were horrendous. I was in labour for 12 hours before it and they ranked up pretty quickly. I don’t know how I would have coped without an epidural, it was crippling. When I gave birth it didn’t hurt as such but the stretching pressure from her head coming was so uncomfortable and almost painful even though I couldn’t feel it, if you know what I mean.

The stage just before I pushed and baby crowned was the worst for me. Crowning wasn't really painful at all for me, although it did sting a little with DD2!

This is terrifying me. I have 11 weeks til due date but thinking I might benefit from a HypnoBirthing session...

The bit where the forceps went in....,

Crowning, easily. Everything else was manageable and that was frightening, felt like I couldn't do it. But when you're at that part you're so near the end and the only way out is through so you don't really have a choice.

But that said, there were points which felt worse than others and it wasn't necessarily the intensity of the pain/sensations which was the worst part, it was feeling out of control. I'm reading a book about birth at the moment and it mentions this and I think it's so right.

The stitches personally 😬

This is interesting to me because I didn't have long or painful labour but do know that just before I was about to push, it was worse - then it was over and I was pushing so I knew baby was on his way.

With dc 1 and 2 definitely the stitches. With dc4 it was the afterpains, but I didn't have stitches. With dc3 it was the Dr trying to shove a catheter in as I was pushing a 9lb breech baby out.

The stitches 2 hours later when the anaesthetic had worn off

Crowning definatly. I had a 17 hour labour using the drip induction and the contractions were painful as they started almost instantly. but I had pethidine and gas and air for the pain. But the time it cane to pushing I was so tired, the pethidine had worn off pretty much and I started to panic and couldn't control my breathing. Once the head is passed though you feel a massive sense of relief because you know it's only a few more pushes until the baby is here

The forceps, but that over in a minute.

The hours and hours of strong contractions with no respite was harrowing though.

When they had the drip going for induction, from 0 to 3 contractions a minute within 5 minutes at 0cm dilated. Had to wait an hour for the epidural.

Contractions with first Labour, from the beginning. Crowning was amazing. And for the second transition was just other worldly painful.

The very last bit. My transition and pushing wasn't very long at all and the end bit was the bit it hurt the most.

Crowning, didn’t feel it with dc1 as had epidural and forceps so came as a huge shock with dc2. Had blissfully forgotten all about it until Dc3, his head was massive though, and got stuck for a while which was delightful.

The bit just before my emcs. They took the gas and air off me when we left the Labour room and I remember thinking that every contraction from decision to the spinal working was completely pointless as I was going to have a c-section anyway. When I thought the contractions had a purpose I didn't mind them that much.

The contractions for me, I didn't feel the pushing part at all weirdly, if you got to 7cm and weren't screaming I think you would be ok. I was screaming by then

Transition, without a doubt. My labour progressed quickly so I was not given any pain relief at all (midwife didn't believe I was in active labour). It was absolute agony, but what made it worse was thinking that I still had hours of pain left before my baby would be born. Had I known how close to the end I was it might not have seemed so bad.

Crowning was no picnic but you're so close to meeting your baby that it didn't seem nearly as horrific as transition.

Episiotomy and forceps

Transition without a doubt. Crowning stung a bit but it was over very quickly whereas transition felt like forever!

Stitches, when I also had SPD. I feel queasy just thinking about it. DH had to hold me down.

The bit before the epidural.

Then the whole transition, crowning, stitching up bits were lovely!