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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

What do you wish you'd known about labour?

189 replies

MrsBumblebee · 19/07/2007 09:31

Nervous first-timer at 32 wks here. I've read loads of stuff on MN about how nothing can prepare you for the pain, indignity etc of labour (maybe not such a good idea in hindsight ). But is there anything you really wish you'd known about childbirth? Particularly anything that would have made a differenc to your plans, preparations, expectations etc?

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KerryMumbledore · 13/08/2007 14:19

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mumbleboo · 13/08/2007 14:29

My labour did hurt as much as everyone said but it was still so enjoyable, because the pain was forgotten as soon as the baby showed up, and i felt so proud. So just focus on the happy bits as much as you can

muppetgirl · 13/08/2007 14:35

Peterduck -It sounds an awful time you had. I felt this way (and have done for 3 years since) I felt it was horrendous.

What helped was talking it thorugh and also going through my labour notes to find out why things were done.

I found out only today that I had a ventouse because my son was getting distressed....nothing to do with me 'failing' to push him out as I had thought.

I am prgt again -28 wekks today- and really thought I would never do it again but I feel more informed about what could happen and I know I can ask questions. I have planned carefully and already feel that I am more assertive than last time.

DaphneHarvey · 13/08/2007 14:45

I wish I'd known how acute the pain of contractions was going to be. I was induced and, unusually, the first pessary started working immediately. Perhaps I therefore didn't have a gradual build-up? But I'm afraid I recall the shock of the type of pain it was very vividly. I had imagined painful cramps across my whole abdomen, a bit like leg cramps in the night. Nasty but not unimaginable. What I got instead was a feeling like someone inserting a sharp instrument up my vagina and scraping at my cervix with it. Sorry but you did ask!

What I also wish I had known was that I should have started using my TENS then. I waited a couple of hours because I didn't realise I could start using it at the very start of labour. TENS was brilliant for me, it got the pain down to a bearable level. I'd highly recommend.

Meggymoose · 13/08/2007 14:51

I wasn't allowed to eat or drink during labour - is that normal?!? After 20 hours I was given a lucozade sweet!?

muppetgirl · 13/08/2007 14:51

Yes, I didn't realise that induced contractions are full on and very painful from the begining...there was no gradual build up as my friends descibe during their labours (walking around, going out to luch and walking the dog as one of my friends did during early labour!!)

muppetgirl · 13/08/2007 14:53

Meggy -Yes I didn't eat from 6pm thursday till 5am sat mroning. Only allowed ice cube chips not even water!!

Is this normal with induced labours?

Meggymoose · 13/08/2007 14:55

I don't know about induced labours, I wasn't induced. It was just all very normal until it was noted that DD1 wasn't going to be taking the normal route out! (becasue she hadn't turned herself around enough, or something like that)

lennygirl · 13/08/2007 15:02

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Mumie · 13/08/2007 15:08

I wish I'd known that labour pain might not be in my belly! At my ante-natal class I was told that when contractions started I would feel a "wave" going down by belly. I had intense pain in the top of my thighs and nowhere else and didn't realise that it was really labour. It wasn't until I felt like pushing that I thought maybe it was time to go to hospital.

MKG · 13/08/2007 15:45

I wish I'd known how much I would love it in retrospect . . . every time.

StarlightMcKenzie · 13/08/2007 15:48

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muppetgirl · 13/08/2007 15:58

I founf not knowing what I didn;t know difficult.
When I went to get my food on the second day all the other mummies had wheeled their dc out in their cots into the corridor so as not to leave them, they balanced their trays on the top of the cot. I came out on my own and said rather loudly 'Oh, should I have brought the baby too?'
I felt awful...

When ds wet the cot I asked a rather harrassed looking mw where I could get fresh sheets from and she loked at me and pointedly said 'over there'.
I felt so out of my depth and like I 'was doing the wrong thing' I couldn't wait to get home where I knew where everything was.

I know these are little points but they make a huge difference when you have gone through a great change, been left alone and have NO IDEA what you are doing!

VeronicaMars · 13/08/2007 16:02

That projectile vommiting could occur and it did, 3 times.
That my midwife could be a man.

muppetgirl · 13/08/2007 16:04

Your mw was a man?

Was that weird?

littlepiggies · 13/08/2007 16:05

I wish I'd known that it really could last for days and hadn't believed all that guff about dilating a centimetre an hour - I know it's true for some people but definitely not for me. All worth it though!

VeronicaMars · 13/08/2007 16:08

A little, I know there are plenty of male midwives but I just didn't expect it, he was finishing his shift a few hours later and I didn't want him to go!!

gillhowe · 13/08/2007 16:09

Haven't read all the posts but I'd recommend taking some paracetomal or something in with you for afterwards (just a bit achey), I asked for some and they said they would have to get it prescribed and grumbled - I never got any!

Charlie999 · 13/08/2007 16:12

quite how much it farking hurt

I don't think anything or anyone can prepare you for what labour is like - I really thought I was prepared, but OMFG!

Worth it though

VeronicaMars · 13/08/2007 16:14

I got morphine (sp?) because I had a section after being induced. It obviously wore off during the night because DD cried and I jumped out of the bed and that pain that hit me made me what to be sick and put me into a cold sweat. I would have taken painkillers everytine they were offered to me.
I wish I had of known that the first 'bowel movement' afterwards would feel like my insides falling out.

MrsMcJnr · 13/08/2007 16:22

MrsBumblebee ? really hope it all goes well

I have some silly questions 1st pregnancy!:

Daisypops ? do you have to have a catheter in labour? Or does it depend on drugs taken/sections etc?

Lwandlottie ? what?s the drip for? Does everyone get that?

StarlightMcKenzie · 13/08/2007 16:26

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muppetgirl · 13/08/2007 16:36

VeronicaMars- ooooooo the joy of that 1st poo!

I remember it well

MrsMcJnr · 13/08/2007 16:44

StarlightMcKenzie - used to have a needle phobia but as I have to inject myself everyday now and have regular bloods taken, that has waned a little really scared of the idea of medicalised birth though, I know sometimes it has to be that way but I am really scared of the interventions you hear of and want to avoid any that are not strictly necessary (sure everyone does but you know what I mean - friends have told me their tales and how they found out later they didn't really need to be induced/constantly monitored etc)

Lucylou21 · 13/08/2007 16:50

That you need to be reminded to breathe! I kept holding my breath during contractions (until I started on the delightful gas and air) and my Dp had to remind me.
I cannot recommend gas and air enough as long as it doesn't make you feel sick, it made me giggle through the first half of my labour.