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!

For me the 1st stage of labour was the worst as I was induced and had regular strong contractions immediately. They didn’t believe I was in labour so wouldn’t let me have any pain relief!!! Pushing was no where near as painful - and they allowed me some gas and air! However, DD was stuck so ended up with forceps and episiotomy but couldn’t feel a thing as I had a lovely spinal

Going from 6cm to pushing to being rolled up to free a shoulder dystocia to baby in 45 minutes.

Stitches with ds1. I broke two stirrups and ended up with two feet on two midwifes shoulders, whilst I screamed the place down. All the while being told it couldn’t hurt as I’d already done the hard part and managed with only gas and air.

Fast forward 12 years and the Rhumotologist asked if I’d ever had a local anaesthetic and it not worked. I explained. She told me it wouldn’t have worked properly as I was extremely hyper mobile. I knew it! I knew I wasn’t being a wimp!!!!

When they checked afterwards if I needed stitches. In the end they numbed me from the waist down and did it that way.

As for the actual birth... the worst was when I was checked to see how far along I was. 9cm when I got to the hospital. Don't remember a thing after being given gas and air. The last 3 hours of constant back to back contractions got to me though. No wonder I threw up...

My daughter was born hands first, a bit like she was diving, I had no pain relief so that pretty much sucked but it wasn't unmanageable I used a birthing stool which I think helped.

Honestly, my two births were fine the worst pain I had was being stitched up after a tear

I got induced at 42 weeks- once they inserted the gel i had contractions every 3 minutes for 22 hours. I felt like i was being tortured as there was just no break in between. Finally dialated 1cm and was brought down to labour ward where I asked for epidural which made such an amazing difference. After that the next 5 hours were just uncomfortable and pressure but I can't imagine doing that without epidural as baby got completely stuck (almost 10lbs) and finally delivered with 8 people assisting & suction, episiotomy etc.

Oh and then infected stitches & an abscess afterwards...cried every time I peed and DH had to hold my hand every time until I finally got antibiotics a week later

Crowning for sure. The ring of fire where your labia stretches to its limit or beyond. I howled when my babies crowned. They were 8lb14 and 9lb9 though

The two hours of excruciating back pain during labour while DD1 was lying occipito-posterior. The relief when she finally rotated to anterior was incredible. The contractions, episiotomy and crowning were nothing by comparison. Even though DH fainted on the floor at the mere sight of the episiotomy being performed ...!

I had a back to back labour with no water from the start so it was all pretty bad but I do agree that when I was getting towards 7cm it was out of control painful and obviously you're exhausted to add to it.
They kept trying to get me on all fours as it's a better position to labour in but the pain was so bad that I couldn't support my own weight and had to lie on my back. That was definitely the worst.
However the burning when crowning is quite something. If it had lasted anymore than the 30 seconds it did I'd have probably said that!