hands up who thinks childbirth is awful

[candyfluff]

surely i cant be the only one who thinks its the worst thing that ever happened to them?????????

Worst experience of my life, hands down; I'd imbibed the natural childbirth propaganda and honestly believed that if I rode the surges, stayed upright, did the waterbirth and refused the drugs that my body would know what to do. Have since considered having a lovely bonfire of the natural childbirth books... What happened afterwards in order to stop the haemorrhaging was pretty bad, too - felt the most like assault that I ever want to experience. I couldn't hold my baby because I was shaking so badly; I had him in the morning, and cried all afternoon and night.

I did want two, but I can't face another labour, especially as I'm still having nightmares about the first. (Am sitting here uncomfortably reminiscing, having just had a Fenton's to repair the mess that the birth made of my undercarriage nine months ago...)

I never buy the 'oh well, women do it AGAIN' argument: so we do, but that is as a means to an end not a means in itself IYSWIM.

And don't get me started on 'it's just a day of your life'. Ahem. Tell that to DD1, who loitered her way along for a couple of days before being accelerated out by a chap who couldn't spell ventouse.

Nope. Loved it.

Mind you the last one was over 5 yrs ago so my memory might be a little hazy

yes you do forget a big deal of the pain but as soon as you start labour on ur 2nd child it strangely comes flooding back and it strikes fear into you .
never ever ever doing that again!!!!!!!!!
please remind me this if another 5 years down the line i tell you lot im thinking of having another baby!!!!!!!!!!!

Was terrified at DS's birth.

Was cool, calm and relaxed for DD's birth. I've no idea why because I knew what birth was like after DS. I think I was trying to remember that I was still alive after DS so I could cope with DD's.

I remember very little pain with either birth experience. The midwives couldn't believe I was 6 cms dilated with DD because I was laughing and joking with DH. I think the TENS machine that I slapped on at the very first twinge of labour helped a lot. And that lovely gas and air.

I've got to say my labours were very quick and not too bad really. Apart from a worrying and not too comfortable sensation that bones were moving with each contraction with ds2.

I think I actually said that at one point: 'this is the worst thing that has ever happened to me'. Through sobs.