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.

Had about 12 hours labour with both DC. Contractions with DC1 were manageable with just G&A because I stayed on top of them, pushing was the worst. DC2 contractions were the worst I lost control and I was begging for an epidural, when the pushing came I felt such relief I just wanted him OUT. I will say crowning is awful, I could literally feel myself tearing!

I don’t think you can have a specific comparison because it depends on how you are coping with the process and how much control you have in doing what you need to do may make a big difference…being able to be mobile/ in water for eg.in comparison to being forced to be flat on your back for monitoring / access…the latter was by far worse for me as I knew I wanted to be upright pushing downwards! I didn’t need an epidural for either of mine which shows that I was managing contraction pain, and the issue was the position they made me be in for pushing. If you were fully dilated the first time round on arrival at hospital ( you really don’t have a low pain threshold if you’ve made it to 10 cm without any pain relief!) you may find it happens pretty quickly and easily this time so you may have no time to get the epidural anyway.

Contractions. Felt like my pelvis was in a metal car crusher. Absolute agony, so bad I was vomiting and was barely conscious. So awful I didn’t feel crowning at all, wasn’t even aware it had happened.

Pushing feels good because hour body wants to get the baby out. For me the most painful thing was contractions past 8cm and transition, when I lost my mind and started screaming. Pushing was the best moment

When I had my fourth son I had previously had a fairly good experience with my third so decided on just gas and air. Oh boy! When I was pushing him out I got such a painful burning sensation I was trying to close my legs! The midwife told me “baby isn’t going to come out if you do that” I never had an epidural just pethidine but I had been very naive about how much it actually helped! 😂

Contractions as go on for so much longer .. like days !

Pushing felt more bearable than the contractions, I think because at that point you feel it's almost over, I remember crowning with my first and it really burning and wonder if that was to do with the small tear I got, with my second I didn't feel it at all and no tear, I could be wrong though. Other than that pushing gave me something to focus on

Pushing for me but on both times pushing lasted almost four hours and both babies were back to back. Crowning was fine. Contractions manageable.

Contractions. At least at the pushing stage I felt every push was productive and closer to meeting my baby. I had hyper-contractions one after the other and needed medication to slow them down. Pushing was far more bearable.

Contraction worse 100% - I feel like once you’ve started pushing, you’re there

The ring of fire! Otherwise pushing is fine. Contractions not super pleasant without something to take the edge off ( but time limited).

Contractions 100%. Pushing takes stamina and I would like to be fitter if I am lucky enough to go again. But from a pain perspective I can't remember being in pain at that stage as all focus was on the pushing. I was lucky my midwife did give me local anaesthetic so I didnt feel any tearing etc when baby was coming out.

Contractions were worst! I pushed for 2 hours and was relived when the pain was gone and it was pushing!

For me definitely contractions because they last a lot longer.

I was 10 cm when I arrived at hospital with my daughter. I got in the pool straight away and she was born half an hour later with a bit of gas and air.

I found the crowning stage to be a real mental battle. I liken it to trying to move a car that is stuck in mud.

I had my second by induction and the contractions towards the end were more painful but this was because I had to be lying down and I labour better on my feet. The water did help with the first birth. The crowning stage was identical to my daughter and my partner knew that my second was going to be born in a couple of minutes once I started saying i can't do it I can't do it as that was what I was saying moments before my daughter was born.

Both labours were with paracetamol and gas and air. 4 stitches with the first none with the second.

I had a precipitous labour too, contractions were the worst for me (no pain relief at all) I didnt really even feel the pushing part (people talk about the ring of fire etc) I think i was just out of it by that point!

Contractions were the worst but I was in labour for a long time with DC1. Once I got to the pushing stage it become almost involuntary and I was just so pleased we were finally at that point I kind of blacked out!!

6dc. First dc wasn't painful to push but all subsequent dc were excruciatingly painful to push, thankfully all relatively short second stages.