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!

A back to back Labour is the single most painful thing I've ever experienced.

My second Labour was normal and I actually coped really well, plus it was 2 hours from first contraction to birth which so I knew I wouldn't be in pain long. The quick Labour made it very intense though.

Surprisingly, the 4th degree tear didn't hurt at all.

No one tells you about after pains, with each subsequent baby they are more horrific.

MaddieElla oh god yes, my after pains for DC2 were worse than the actual labour. I was totally not expecting that, but the midwife just nodded and said ‘wait until you get to dc4....!!’ Er, no chance!

Well I just had a baby 2 hours ago who presented with his hand up by his face and I can tell you the crowning was the worst! My first baby was a walk in the park compared to this!! I thought my clit was gonna fall off

Congratulations Grumpy - I think!

Definitely transition. I could manage the contractions with just breathing and moving around but once transition hit, it was horrendous and relentless. In my case, it lasted a blissfully short time, at least. Pushing is kind of scary as it feels impossible but it doesn't hurt as much as transition.

Oh God, the afterpains! Yes! I had these for a bloody week, every time I breastfed so constantly, then

Different bits with all three of mine -

Induced with eldest and I wanted an epidural the contractions were so painful I couldn't manage and I am sure I passed out at one stage but it was too late.

Middle child natural labour the contractions were fine but the crowning was awful!

3rd I struggled right at the end with the contractions and felt like I couldn't carry on but had a water birth and found the pushing/ crowning part absolutely fine.

Due my 4th next year and I think I will go for a water birth again!

No pain relief for transition as I was in the car to hospital. Worst bit was crowning for me, hiddeous and felt out of control as I had to be on my back for medical reasons and didn't want to be. But I had three bad tares so that may be why.

Somewhere after being 6cm dilated and not knowing I was allowed to push if I felt my body needed to so I was trying to stop my body from pushing. The pain was unbearable and I asked for diamorphine.. 45 minutes later she was in the world - the midwife told me it was 4 hours before pushing could even begin!

The crowning bit is a proper stinger though but that relief when the rest of the body follows.. there's nothing like it.

drip to speed up.contractions. which made them continuous for 28 hours. no epidural service

@Momo27 my midwife told me you could ask and have the anesthetic before crowning (after I was hysterical with my second - she said it reduced your chance of tearing too as your more relaxed. Not sure how easy that would be to do in the moment though! I found a water birth helped lots - my daughter came with her hand by her head superman style and I tore for the third time but I didn't feel a thing in the water and was quite relaxed!

Pushing is ok - it’s just hard work. Crowning is scary, I’m not going to lie.

MW burst my waters and that sped things up, contractions noticeably more painful from thereon.

Having a poo after the birth of DC4 stays with me as the most painful, frightening thing I have experienced.

None of it. I loved every single minute of all three of my labours. I know this is unusual...

I was admitted at 9cm and the worst pain was at home just before we left for the hospital, so 6-8 ish I guess. The pushing bit and crowning wasn't too bad.

Crowning I would say, I had an extended second stage, with DS1.

But overall I found labour ok, not the worse pain I have ever been in, managed fine no gas and air, or pain relief.

I have experienced gall bladder pain and if you said to me give birth or have another bout of gall bladder trouble, I would take birth every time.

Tbh I don’t remember but both transition and pushing were horrible things. “Thankfully” when they happen there’s nothing you can do but go through it. Not like you can push the baby back up inside. And by then it all goes pretty quick (or did for me).

My first was back to back, they gave me diamorphine straight off, when that wore off they gave me pethidine which didn't even touch the sides of the pain, I was vomiting. I don't know if back to back made it more painful but they gave me a spinal block (which is just as well as we ended up with ventouse/forceps/cut).

My second I couldn't dilate due to scar tissue over my cervix (from a loop colposcopy) so I spent 54hours having contractions with no pain relief before a doctor came and cut my cervix/broke my waters. As I was not dilating I was not allowed pain relief so the second they did that I had a mobile epidural so again I didn't feel the end pain.

Contractions were bad enough 🙈 no more kids

DS arrived 6hrs after arriving at hospital, I didn't find any of the labour itself painful, no tears or interventions though.

You know what did hurt? The midwife breaking my waters 4hrs in. I swear to god that fucking crochet hook came out of my nose

The ring of fire! My births were fast though so intense.

I had a wonderful experience. My baby was luckily in the perfect position and I hypnobirthed. I literally breathed my baby out and didn't feed any pain at all.

Until the CHECKS. And the midwife gives DD to DH, wraps two fingers in dry gauze and shoves them inside me to check for tears... that hurt.

No tears btw 😁

@spacedinosaur I also hypnobirthed and breathed baby out. It still hurt!

Have you prepared somehow for the act of labor itself? Any massages or something?

Not pushing when I felt the need to push because they wanted to give baby a break.

The first poo! Honestly with DS1 that was worse than labour for me. Don't leave it 5 days through fear, it does not help. 😬