what is labour like?

[amb885]

hi ladies i know labour is very painful, but i was wondering what your personal experiences were like. i'm only about 4 months along but worrying a bit thanks everyone x

As long as a piece of string.

Every labour varies, but I would advise to maybe listen to some music to reduce anxiety, be fully informed of all choices and go with the flow as much as possible

I asked the exact thing to my sister
She said like bad period pains

Neither to say I only had the one
I’d say, speak up for yourself

But everyone is unique

Awful, not something I'd do for the fun of it it... but worth it in a way you'll see when you have your little one.

For a couple of weeks afterwards it will play constantly on you mind but you'll feel like super woman. Then the hormones kick in where you forget the intensity of it (I feel like I'm telling someone else's story when I talk about my labours iyswim)

Try not to worry (as silly as that sounds). You could have a horrendous labour or the easiest labour. Nothing you do now will have much impact on it so don't waste your energy worrying. My first was horrendous. Everything that could go wrong did...but I went on to have two more (text book labours!)

The worst period pain ever - but it is a wave and not a constant pain. If you have ever had gall bladder pain or a dental abscess it is a constant pain that subsides slowly, maybe over days. Labour however was a series of pains that finished before the next one began. And I felt much better when I was upright and able to move rather than lying down.

ooh thank you everyone that was kind of what i was expecting it to be like! am just really scared and trying to prepare

My mum rather eloquently told me it was like shitting a football and it was. I didn't have pain relief as I was determined to do it without but I really did change my mind when I was in the midst of it and they said it was too late. I didn't learn from that and did exactly the same the next time. If I were to do it all over again I would definitely go for the pain relief, so if you're wavering, go for it!

A big painful poo mixed with v v v b bad period pain.

The pain meaning contractions that come and go with the time on between each one getting shorter and the intensity increasing.

Then second experience was very exhilarating and I couldn't believe what my body was doing. I second the superwoman feeling afterwards too and also ask for pain relief

It is the most

Meant to say...

It is the most exhilarating experience. For second child I remember the pain reaching its climax then pushing where I was mentally in a whole different planet and then as soon as she was born, suddenly....no pain just euphoria and warm glow all around. So I went from screaming to laughing within the space of a minute. It's a different type of pain.

Good luck OP!

It's a bit like serious diarrhoea pains that come in waves.

very intense. I found it very painful but you know that it's not pain because something is wrong so it's different. If that makes any sense?

I would say do what feels right at the time. Try to have someone with you who knows what you want and can speak up for you.

Despite the pain it actually wasn't that bad. I found hypnobirthing really useful for my 2nd. I didn't actually use it during labour but attending the classes really helped me relax and prepare mentally.

Also pregnancy yoga was really good.

In both the classes I've mentioned above they discussed what happens during birth, the different stages, what to expect and I found that really helpful.

I'd also liken it to bad period pains. Once the head is out, it'll feel like the best poo of your life. Nothing will compare to relief!

Very painful. I thought I was going to die tbh. But that was just a mix of me being a bit of a fanny, and it all happening a bit quickly for me to get any pain relief. And as soon as ds was out, the pain stopped, instantly. Totally worth it.

The best advice I've ever had is that worrying about something only puts you through it twice. I've done it 3 times and what I can honestly say is by the end of my pregnancies I was desperate to go in to labour, I hoped every twinge I had would progress in to the pain that you're worrying about, because once you get to 35+ weeks you're just so uncomfortable with the pregnancy that you would actively choose agonising pain over constant pregnancy discomfort. It is extremely painful, but it's a pain with a purpose. Contractions themselves aren't that bad, it's transition that's hell, but all that transition means is that you're nearing the finish line and they're on their way out. The very painful part doesn't last very long.

@amb885 I asked this question a millions times during my pregnancy ... and you can’t answer it ! Labour was nothing like I thought. It’s something you can describe. It’s not very nice - I won’t lie. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done BUT I did it ! And you can too. You will be absolutely fine, I promise!

Way longer than I expected. Pick out some box sets to watch while you wait.

[quote Johnson10]@amb885 I asked this question a millions times during my pregnancy ... and you can’t answer it ! Labour was nothing like I thought. It’s something you can describe. It’s not very nice - I won’t lie. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done BUT I did it ! And you can too. You will be absolutely fine, I promise![/quote]
** can’t describe

Hello, I'm 36 weeks pregnant with my first so not experienced labour yet but I was really terrified and read every labour horror story I could find after finding out I was pregnant. But I've been watching hypnobirthing videos and am feeling much calmer about it now. Although I'm not sure how much help they will be when I actually go into labour

I suffered and still do with awful period pains and I found labour was easier, and the pain is more intense but it gives you a break between the waves.

I hadn't appreciated I needed to actually push as my body was off doing it own thing, I was just going along with it, they were saying push push and I was thinking iam? Until a midwife actually said push down like you have a massive poo, the second she said that I understood through the fog of gas and air I actually needed to put my back into it 😂

So my first was a few hours slower than he needed to be, my second once I had this knowledge was out in 40 minutes.. just the luck of the draw but I do joke about it.

Well - it is jolly hard work!!!

And it is painful (a bit like period pain) but having something to do - i.e. push through the pain - does actually help. When you have period pain you just have to grin and bear it, but labour has action and that really does help. And we're in the 21st century and you will no be asked to bite on a towel, but given proper pain relief where needed.

Please do not let your worries spoil the next few months - enjoy them - this is the last peace you will get for a long time!!

Being torn in two. Crowning - ring of fire. Closest to death I have ever felt and would happily have been shot on the spot to end it. Still waiting for the magic tossing endorphins to magically erase the horror. 18 years later.
Myth 1 - everyone has a natural urge to push
Myth 2 - second time is quicker
Myth 3 - you forget your experience
Myth 4 - interventions worse than birthing without epidural
Myth 5 - pain relief will be given right to the end if requested
Myth 6 - your body knows instinctively what to do
The above six things might be true for some or even many women but not all. Birth trauma is a real thing and there'a a reason why so many obgynaes decide on an elective. I hope you are one of the luckier women OP but prewarned is prearmed - have an advocate in place and a flexible birth plan. x

@MissJacksonIfYoureNasty

Being torn in two. Crowning - ring of fire. Closest to death I have ever felt and would happily have been shot on the spot to end it.

Yep, yep and yep. 😂

I have to agree with this completely 😂 I would have happily cut limbs off to stop it and OMG the burn 😳

But OP you will get through it. To be completely honest is the most powerful, painful thing you’ll ever experience but once it’s over absolutely no pain, you’ll be in awe of yourself and it is honestly worth every second. Transition is the hardest part but then your almost done. For me it felt like a vice around me constantly building with awful period type pains but with what felt like hot knives being twisted in my hips more my right one not sure why. But it comes and goes and you need to try and get yourself in the mindset to deal with the next ones. It’s powerful and fucking intense but it’s not called labour for nothing. And that’s how I try and think about it now. The sheer power your body is capable of is pretty incredible.

I did it naturally because I wanted to feel what it was like🙄 It’s one of those things no one could possibly explain unless you experience it and it is very different for each woman. There is nothing to compare it too. Gear yourself with knowledge, it really does help. The Positive Birth Company do a brilliant digital pack. The science part is really good at making you fully understand what is happening with your body. You’ll be fine x

It's amazing . So painful and scary but equally one of the best experiences of your life!

I would say if you panicking have a look at things that "could" make your labour easier, raspberry red leaf tea, certain exercises... everyone will have different opinions on whether they work or not but if you feel they will it may help with your nerves

It was crazy painful but there’s an end point which is good to focus on. The pain will end. My first I had an epidural with at 3cm so that helped, with my second I requested one 100 times but the Hospital was full so by the time they came to do it, it was too late. But...
I wonder if I recovered quicker from that birth as didn’t have one? But not sure! Basically it’s painful but it’s manageable as you know the pain will stop.