What’s worse - contractions or pushing?

[Bbqlady]

I had a precipitous first labour and was fully dilated when I arrived at hospital (3 hours after my waters broke and contractions started). I knew I wanted an epidural as I’d always thought I had a low pain threshold so panicked when they told me I was 10cm and got an epidural with the hope it would take hold before pushing began. It did, and I couldn’t feel much when I was pushing.

Thinking about future babies and wondering if I should’ve just toughed it out for the pushing stage and avoided an epidural. So, what I would like to know is in your experience, which part of labour if the worst - the contractions or the pushing? I’d prefer an all natural labour but worried about the pain.

3 labours and I’d say contracting were the worst part. But you kind of forget the pushing pain.

Personally I hated the pushing stage more as personally I felt more able to manage pain than the pressure feeling you get when pushing

I’ve had six children and never pushed once. Research Fetal Ejection Reflex/Ferguson Reflex.

I found the pushing just involuntary and didn’t actually involve any extra pain. I had water births though which may affect that. I was so out of it by then (mix of oxytocin and gas and air?) that none of it really mattered to me! The pain of contractions during the last part before I got in the water or got gas and air was much worse than pushing.

I’m surprised they gave you an epidural at 10cm dilated. I went in at 9-10 cm dilated with my first and said I didn’t want an epidural (for some reason I was worried I’d get given one I hadn’t asked for!) and the MW said “don’t worry, even if you were begging for one we’d have to tell you it was too late!”.

They are both the same stage in my head, there isn’t any delineation between the two. I started having the babies and the aim was to push them downward and that’s what I did and was doing from the very earliest stages.

There was never a moment of moving from one to the other and there was no difference in the process. But there was also no one directing the process or telling me any levels of dilation or examining, nor telling me what process was occuring at the time, so maybe that made it all blur together for me specifically.

Contractions, 100 %.

By the time you have to push, you’ve moved to another planet

Contractions. 4hr labour and 45 minute labour.

I always joke (to those who’ve had babies or not planning to have any!) that giving birth is like running a marathon and then being hit by a car as you go over the finish line. 😂🙈

So for me the pushing was really hard because of how exhausted I was after long hours of contractions.I think everyone is probably different and it just depends on a whole host of things including how baby is sitting (my first was back to back), how you’ve responded to whatever other pain relief you’re having (pethidine made me vomit copiously), etc etc. At least when you’re pushing you know it’s nearly over. So…both painful, just different. I think having gone through contractions and post-birth body being generally wrecked while caring for newborn, you could take the pushing no problem.

Contractions for me 100 %, I’ve had 3

Pushing is easier. I wouldn't even say it was especially painful. Although my last one just ejected without any pushing.

Is 3 hours of contractions a precipitatous labour? I had 2 labours quicker than that but the midwife said it wasn't precipitous.

Contractions

Pushing definitely worse for me. To be honest, I have always had very bad period pain so the contractions were similar to what I was used to every month.

I find it hard to say. Agee that once you’re pushing you’re just in a zone. Both of my births were unmedicated, though I did have birth pools.

The pushing stage is enormously intense but not necessarily more painful. I think the contractions at the end of my slower first labour were probably the most painful bit. The pushing felt involuntary and just very powerful.

Second labour was so quick I didn’t really have time to think about how painful it was, so you may find the same as your first was super quick and second time is usually shorter.

I didn’t research anything but also didn’t push. Or maybe gave one push? To me it felt like the baby and my body did it all. I know the nurses told me not to push…but I wasn’t?

It’s crazy how it is different for everyone

Contractions. The pushing doesn’t add any additional pain imo

Contractions definitely worse for me, by the end I just wanted to push. I was in labour for about 12 hours and ended up with an episiotomy, but the gas and air had kicked in by that point so it didn't feel nearly as bad! That's how I remember it anyway...

Crowning was the absolute worst thing for me.

Contractions 10000% worse

Contractions. I had a 30+ hour labor with a back to back baby.

Interesting mix of responses here! I think I wasn’t mentally ready when I was told I was 10cm and could push if I wanted. Certainly didn’t feel like I needed to and because I then had the epidural I wouldn’t have felt the fetal ejection reflex. Now I don’t have as much fear around birth I think I’d try and tough it out although I don’t love the idea of feeling crowning 🫠

Crowning was the absolute pits with my first - so painful, I swear I could feel myself tearing. Proper ring of fire for nearly two hours. Contractions were intense, but manageable with a TENS. Second time around was basically ok on both fronts and pushing was actually a bit euphoric - I felt like Xenia Warrior Princess.

We’ve had these threads before, and I think the consensus is always contractions!

Definitely contractions for me but straightforward births, no tears etc.

Contractions

Yeah, contractions hurt like hell but crowning oh my goodness I literally thought my pelvis is going to explode into pieces and my skin would fucking rip. Three natural births and not a single stitch phew 😮‍💨

2 labours, first was induction and epidural so took over a day in total.
Second was 4 hours from first contractions to birth. I didn't push as I was too scared to and I was on a different planet from the minute I got to the hospital but the contractions were by far the worst.
The first one was just as painful as the last one, but I did have a water birth and I'm sure that's why the 'pushing/ejecting' part didn't hurt so much.