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, but it was all manageable (just). Gas & air and a home birth.

Crowning was a nasty surprise as it was a very different kind of , not pain exactly, more burning but didn’t last long and was mitigated by the fact that it meant the baby was almost there - at last!

Crowning, no question. I know they say you ‘forget’ the pain of labour afterwards, but DD was nearly 11lb and I remember the crowning. I actually thought I would die and she’d never come out. She’s 4th of 4 so I knew she was huge at that point, it wasn’t as bad with the other three at all.

The back pain! My dd was back to back so was really painful, anything other than that was absolutely fine, I used Gas and air, it's amazing!

Transition. Worst bit. I remember feeling panic as well as pain. Then the utter focus of pushing baby out. 2nd deg tear, didn’t feel a thing.
Local anaesthetic and G&A for stitches, all good. Getting into the bath after birth however, probably the worst bit

OP really don't worry about it. I had an EMCS at 5 cm dilated after 36 hours of excruciating pain with DC1. DC2 went for VBAC, she was born after a 45 minute labour of which no part (including transition) was remotely close to the pain I experienced in my first labour. Also even if it's not similarly better, you will have a much more realistic idea how to cope, e.g. how long you're prepared to tolerate it before going for epidural. Of all the factors you'd weigh up before going for VBAC, I'd put this one low on the list.

Difficult to pick just one. Episiotomy, forceps, manual removal of placenta or stitches without anaesthetic.

6cm onwards was like nothing I could even begin to describe, for me it was so painful that I kind of went into my own bubble completely unaware of my surroundings, I don't remember much of my labour but I do remember thinking I was going to die! Crowning was bad but nothing compared to the final part of labour. That was my second...

My first I got the epidural just as it was getting bad enough to make me cry, so the crowing with that one felt horrendous, but when you've felt the lot the crowing is minor in my opinion.

Makes me shudder thinking about it

Crowning without a doubt!!

I had 2 on just g and a before my sister had her 3rd baby, the first without an epi. The first thing she said on the phone to me was "omg the crowning!!!"

Not being allowed to move off my back with back labour. Having my legs put in stirrups caused a pain far worse than any of the rest it was like someone had literally ripped my leg off.

I think the contractions and transition are horrific but if you are lucky you get a gradual build up which is far more manageable than the sudden and sharp pain of crowning.

Having said that I can't remember the crowning stage with my second and 3rd....maybe they just fell out lol

Ooh also I was doing so wellin my first labour using my tens but 2 of the lads fell off and omg the pain when my input then back on!! I threw them at him lol

The worst part with my very first was going for a pee after giving birth. Deary god it felt like someone had set my bits on fire ..:.

Crowning, luckily I didn't get even a graze with any of mine but the crowning was awful. I used just gas and air which is fantastic for the contractions.

When back to back DD turned and got stuck pushing. For 4 hours, while they decided what to do with us. I was off my tits on gas and air but it did bugger all for the pain

Sorry to hijack the thread but can I ask..... how on earth were any of you brave enough to have more than 1?! I had my DS 6 months ago and I just CANNOT EVER imagine going through childbirth ever ever ever again!

kernowsailor I'm having a section this time.

I found that after the midwife examined me I was really adrenalised so it took me ages to get back into my calm breathing again which genuinely helped with the pain.
I refused any more examinations and the rest was painful but not horrendous by any stretch of the imagination.

Contractions. The crowning and actually pushing babies out bit is the easiest bit for me! I didn't really have any pain with that part.

I honestly didn't find it painful, I practised hypnobirthing and was totally in my own zone. The only bit that hurt were the stitches after I'd delivered as I had an episiotomy.

The transition was pretty awful, but nothing compared to the forceps, Worst pain I’ve ever felt. Never made it to the baby crowning, had emcs.

Kerno honestly you forget. Of a fashion anyway. I distinctly remember with my third as the pushing sensation started thinking “oh fuck I remember how bad this is now” and wanting to cancel the whole birth. She thankfully arrived 6 minutes later.

And the instant you scoop up your baby it’s all forgotten again. My husband took a picture of me about an hour before she was born and another a few seconds after and the difference is astonishing!

Having to be still while they had the monitor on me. Was pacing the room during contractions.
Had pethidine which took the edge off. Felt like I was doing something when I was pushing. Didn't feel the ring of fire and crowing didn't really hurt even though I tore. Gave me a local for the stitches.