Did you scream during labour?

[PSL1990]

I'm wondering how often women scream in labour - did you scream during labour?

Do midwives really tell you to stop ? Surely if that's your body's way of coping then it should be ok?

I am pregnant with my first and do not want to be told to be quiet. I will do whatever works for me. Wear ear plugs if needed MW!

I didn't scream with any of my 4 but I remember being in labour with my first and hearing a woman in the room next to me screaming like nothing I'd ever heard before. It really scared me and I started crying, OH has said that I'm ever whimpering , crying or swearing during labour and that my eyes roll back in my head when the pain is really bad

I didn't make much noise at all. I'm not a very vocal person though and tend to turn inwards when in pain.

My midwife told me that keeping the noises low and grunting like moos is more effective at helping yourself along than high pitched noises. I think she was right.

God only knows but MW recognised it as somebody who's about to deliver. She dived into the room in time to catch DS!

Nope, silence. I also retreat into myself when in pain....like a cat.

Frightened screaming with first DC, lots of sobbing! No pain relief- not even gas and air.
Gritted teeth up until the last 30 mins with DC2 and pain became unbearable- No pain relief at all again, back to back, 11lb 3oz and baby got stuck, partner said it was scarry growls and shouting that something was wrong.
I made mooing noises with DC3, had pethadine, gas and air and a relaxed midwife who really was quite wonderful- despite me having a small bleed and needing a drip to speed things along, still moo'd and quacked at one point. Not having any more now, frightened I would get another 11lber!

DD was straightforward delivery if fast. The Only time I was loud was during crowning.

DS was back to back. I did scream and tell. Once i got the epidural it was fantastic.

I also groaned, grunted and said quite a lot of 'sorry, I'm trying my best but I just can't do this!' (I could, it turned out). I do remember the poor woman in the room next to me wailing 'MAKE. IT. STOOOOOOP' - and then about 10 minutes later I heard her crying and saying 'you're so beautiful, you're so beautiful, you're so beautiful' so either she had the baby or she loved the gas and air...

I thought beforehand that I'd be very stoic and embarrassed if I made a sound, but in the midst of it all I didn't care. I actually regret not being more vocal earlier as I think that's why the midwives insisted I wasn't yet in active labour when it then turned out I was through transition and pushing... I still want to go back and say 'I told you fucking so' to the one who patronisingly said 'I know you think you want to push but trust me you'll know when you really need to push' who, sadly, wasn't there when they finally examined me and said they could see his head...

Not at all

I screamed. And my midwife told me off too. I don't deal with pain very well. One reason I swore I'd never get pregnant.

No. I also went into myself and was pretty quiet I think!

Yes, I screamed the bloody place down.

The epidural didn't work at all with a large baby and evil Syntocinon induction.

The midwife had the cheek to ask me not to scream. No bloody way. I had no idea pain like that even existed.

I understand now how women can be desperate enough to consider performing a csection on themselves.

I didn't scream in my second labour. I said "ow ow ow ow ow ow OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!" a lot.

Nope. Not with any of them. I did make some kind of demonic, guttural and animalistic sounds but no screams.

No, I was very quiet in both my labours. No mooing from me. I did nearly swear as my nearly 10lb baby's head came out but stopped myself as I didn't think my mum would be pleased, even though she wasn't there. I am not very vocal in every day life.

Yes.
It's bloomin painful, giving birth.

I got a bollocking from the midwife Every time I shouted or screeched or made any noise! It was insane thinking back...I was young and it just made me embarrassed.

Screamed and screamed with my second. I was also told to stop but had lost all self control by then.

I was also told by the doctor stitching my almost 3rd degree tear later that if I didn't stop crying she would refuse to stitch me. I should have complained.

I had an EMCS in the end but during the earlier part of labour I just did this kind of guttural moaning during contractions.

Not screaming but DD was getting distressed and a host of people arrived and I was told that if I didn't deliver soon they'd have to intervene (this was done in a nice way). A midwife then also said to put all my energy into pushing rather than losing said energy by crying out (again said nicely and am paraphrasing somewhat) in my uber tired state I took this to mean that I had to be silent. So I was, completely silent. I do remember at this point hearing another woman screaming and petulantly thinking "well its okay for her to make noise". But I continued my silent labour and I am still awaiting my Scientology Badge

Properly screamed my head off and screaming for help with number two from start to finish.

Apparently yes but in fairness I had no pain relief (literally nothing) and it was a fast Labour I went from 6cm to birth in 30 mins (so no fading etc)
That said I found the stitches (second degree plus internal) nearly caused me too as well local anaesthetic and gas and air did not do much for pain relief

No, like a few of the others, I was very quiet.

No, my midwife time me it was wasted energy and I know I didn't have any energy to waste!!!

Dd1 - I vaguely remember making a sound like a cow trying to turn itself inside out, swearing very loudly ("FUCK. CLARY. SHITTING. SAGE.") and apologising....whsi swearing...."I'm so fucking sorry.....I'm being such an arsehole....just tell me to fuck8ng shut the fuck up.....etc

Dd2 - I passed out and just mumbled, "what's going on? Am I having a baby?" every time I came round

D's (ELCS) - I just couldn't stop asking if I was shaking, "am I shaking? I feel like I'm shaking...should I be shaking?" (I was shaking)