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!

crowning and the episiotomy stiches

Transition for me with Dd2. I didn’t realise that’s what was happening as I went from 2cm to 10cm in about 45 minutes. So I was chilling out reading heat magazine before suddenly being struck by the most intense pain. I was completely panicked and the midwives has both left the room while this was happening. When they can back in one said “are you pushing?” At which point it was evident that baby was about to crown

From that point I remember feeling her moving down and being absolutely focussed and in control. It did hurt but I was completely in control of it and managed to breathe her out.

I hope any pregnant ladies aren’t too freaked out. Labour does hurt but actually with dd2 all I really remember is this fierce sort of determination once I knew she was on her way. I felt very strong and empowered however stupid that sounds

Being completely honest (and I'm sure sounding like a dick and not everyone's experience by a long shot, but in the interest of balance) none of it hurt that much for me. Genuinely the worst part was the car journey to hospital with strong contractions and probably about 6cm dilated after my water had broken a few hours previous. That's the only time I felt out of control.
Used a tens machine at home/in the car then a water pool and gas and air. Transition wasn't a picnic but it felt good because something was finally happening!!! And I knew that she was on the way out!
I'm pretty sure a midwife said at one point 'if you reach down you can touch the head' and I think my response was something stupid like 'I'M BUSY!!!'

Your labour sounds like my first back to back labour op - utterly agonising contractions, couldn’t lie down stand or sit, vomiting etc. This was at 3-4cm. Then I got into a hot bath and felt like my body started to push almost instantly (though it wasn’t quite that quick!). Can’t remember crowning that time, though had 3rd degree tear.

Second time completely different, totally chilled out watching clouds through the window between contractions. The pain of crowning was something else, literally felt like being ripped in two. 3rd degree tear again, though I don’t think that makes a difference, all of the pain and pressure was at the front not the perineum. Lasts only a few seconds though!

Oh and I did tear and need stitches but the midwife did a great job and the gas and air worked well when she was doing the local anaesthetic for the stitches so again not something I have horrible memories of

Passmethecrips I know what you mean about fierce and determined. I agree with others about transistion. 1st labour I would say last 2 hours were tough. 2nd labour maybe about 20 minutes ?

Stitches with the first one, after bearable episiotomy and forceps.

@Passmethecrisps totally agree on the focus and empowerment feeling, felt a real sense of purpose once things got close to the end

When the obstetrician had to manually turn ds's head just before crowning.

I was induced and requested an epidural before the drip (so it never really hurt, I even had a nap) but they had to turn it off so I could push. That was erm, unpleasant...

The rest of it I could handle if I didn't speak but the head turning had me literally crawling up the bed.

Dc1 - 22hr Induce labour and every contraction was as intense / painful as the next. Genuinely the first hurt as much as the last. No pain relief.

Dc2 - I'd been in stop start early labour for two weeks (didn't realise ) had waters broken and then did without pain relief until 4cm. Them wham! Intensity quadrupled and then kept getting worse. Epidural placement was the actual worst bit but totally worth it because after that was a doddle.

Congrats on your baby x

Transition.. aka the bit where I said I give up give me an epidural NOW.. (until that point had been coping ok with gas and air). After that awful bit then I suddenly needed to push and it wasn't painful just weird and uncomfortable

Dc2 due in 2.5 weeks so praying for another quick labour!

I'm due any day now with my second, why the hell am I nosing at this thread! .

Transition. No pain relief in my labours and coped ok. At transition the pain ramped up, felt like my insides were being squeezed out, my legs went to jelly and I couldn't stand up or sit, cold sweat, physically sick. Didn't last too long though luckily.

My midwife stitched my 2nd degree tear up completely wrong, so the senior midwife came in, took it all out and re sutured after the local had worn off and first midwife had given me all I was allowed 😭

When my coccyx dislocated. It is the clearest memory i have of labour. The pain and the loud snap it made is unforgettable.

I went to hospital at 7cm with my second, for me the pain between the contractions at 7cm is like my worst period pain (I remember noting that first time round too, when I was on a drip). Transition was the worst bit. But the absolute worst pain was in my first birth when I was on a drip but told not to push despite the baby coming into my vagina as I wasn’t dilated enough. An hour of not pushing, lying on my back to discourage baby’s movement, whilst feeling the baby coming down - that was the worst hour of my life.

30 weeks pregnant for the third and absolutely final time.

The labours etc weren't that bad. Pretty intense but exciting and luckily didn't last that long 6-7 hours. Afterpains/recovery much worse as no gas and air just paracetamol that didn't touch the sides and lasted 3 days.

Actual labour/birthing - painful but manageable and nowhere near as bad as I'd expected. Transition bit was the most painful part of that.

For me - stitches after. Lots of gas and air helped.

I think you did the worst bit. Being sick with contractions is basically as bad as it gets.
Crowning stings, not hurts. Totally different pain. Pushing ghrough your bottom is painful though. You are busy breathing. Pushing feels flipping brilliant. Like a cow grunting.

Having a consultant doing a James Herriot to manually remove my placenta, after it failed to come out naturally. Was on gas and air to start with but then the midwife took it off me, think she thought I had had enough.

Crowning for me, definitely. 9lb baby and her head got stuck halfway out. I had an awful few minutes (felt like FOREVER) of thinking I just couldn't do it, like I was going to rip apart but having to push through the pain. 2nd degree tear in the end.

All the rest wasn't fun but I coped with fine, it was very bearable besides that.

Seeing the midwife offer my partner the bed because he looked ‘exhausted ‘ after Labour 😂

The 18 years after they were born

Seriously, my labours weren’t that painful and I had an 11lb baby, forceps and episiotomy.

I had an epidural with DC1, and I had a hypnobirthing cd that I listened to during pregnancy with DC2, maybe that helped. I can honestly say not one part of it was unbareable, and it was probably my favourite part of pregnancy!

Around 6cm to 10cm. Christ.

Just the one kid for me.

Totally agree with people describing the sweet sweet relief when the head pops out!
It’s like “BURNING BURNING PAIN PAIN PAIN!” and then “ooo. It’s gone”