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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Which is the most painful... Probably a daft question!!!

123 replies

barbareebaa · 02/11/2008 14:15

Hello!
Not long to go before I hit my due date (11th) and have been thinking a lot about what's going to happen when I give birth(as you do!)

Anyway I was just wondering whether it is the contractions that hurt the most or the actual physical sensation of pushing the baby out?

Or maybe I should just wait and see...

Thanks in advance,
Bx

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kitsmummy · 09/11/2008 09:49

Contractions were total agony, i was on gas and air from 1-2cm dilated! but pushing and crowning was a relief (although it was a case of 3 pushes and she was out, delivered into my knickers whilst having the epidural drugs dripped into my spine - caught the anaestist and midwife unawares!)

Sakura · 09/11/2008 11:39

In my case pushing was much much easier than the contractions. Before the birth I'd been dreading the part when the head comes out because I'd heard things like you get a 'ring of fire' burning sensation. But honestly, compared to the contractions I didn't even notice that part.
I clearly remember now that as I was going through transition I wanted to die. If someone would have come with a gun to shoot me to put me out of my misery I would have welcomed it. Then as that part ended and as I felt the babies head moving down I started to feel better because I knew the baby was coming. The rest of the labour all went in a bit of a dream. But bloody hell, those contractions...!!!

Minniethemoocher · 09/11/2008 11:53

When the baby's head crowned was total agony, not helped at all by the fact that the midwife took my gas and air away, I will forever remain deeply ashamed of myself for BEGGING her for it back, it was the lowest and most awful experience of my life. I don't know why she took my G&A away or why she wouldn't give it back to me....unless she was a pure sadist....

Then had a 3rd degree tear, awful, just awful!

HRHSaintMamazon · 09/11/2008 11:55

contractions hurt, a lot.
but the crowning feels like someone just set fire to my fanjo.
it, for me, was the most painfull part...thankfully though it is over a lot quicker than the contractions.

SlartyBartFast · 09/11/2008 12:10

the vaginal examination before labour started was OUCH, forceps not pleasant
the stiches after, the rest is a blur. honestly cannot remember. think probably contractions, feelign helpless, pushign was just a stinging feeling.

sorkycake · 09/11/2008 12:16

It's different with every birth I find, never find each woman!

Best advice I think I got was don't fight it at all. You won't win and the pain will be worse, whichever part of the process your at.

The contractions just before transition were possibly the worst ones iirc and I used G&A for them (was in a pool as well) but my 2nd stages have all been okay.

In a pool I never got the 'ring of fire' but Ds1 had a big head and larger shoulders, once crowned he was a bit stuck and the m/w had to hook a finger in and under his armpit to ease him out.....now that hurt.

imho NOTHING should be going in at that point, it's one way traffic only!!!

Good luck

Sarahpo · 09/11/2008 15:35

I 'forgot' the pain of the contractions but i really think that the drugs do that...i was so high that my brain has probably blocked the pain....once i had the forceps delivery i was laughing and joking with the doctors about it all and as they wheeled me and DS on the hospital bed down in the lift at about 1am we passed a set of double doors and i said 'ok is that it then are you dumping me outside now?' and the staff couldn't stop laughing...hehehe...

p1umpudding · 09/11/2008 17:50

I could live with the contractions, but crowning was by far and away the most painful - felt like it was burning!

happy2bme · 09/11/2008 19:34

I had planned for a 'natural' birth, however pre eclampsia decided otherwise, and I had to be induced - I found the most painful part having the prostoglandyn tablets put in (which happened 3 times) - I broke my waters the 3rd time as I couldn't keep still. I ended up with an emergency c - section which really wasn't too bad.

Lizzylou · 09/11/2008 19:36

Had 2 ventouses, 1 very long labour with DS1.
I think the stitches healing about 2 days postpartum were the worst (with the v hefty DS2).
You'll be fine, just relax and enjoy the gas and air.

elsiepiddock · 09/11/2008 19:40

I found contractions OK as I just marched around when they hit - but crowning horrific, but blessedly short-lived.

mumtoone · 09/11/2008 20:06

Crowning was definately the worst bit

salo · 09/11/2008 20:44

can't believe you're reading all this! we all love to share our birth stories, but as painful as it is...i'd do anything to do it again tomorrow, so please don't read any more!!! i'm the biggest wuss when it comes to pain & managed it all just with gas and air, so sure you'll be fine...(just keep an open mind and go with the flow), just remember as painful as it may be, its not going to last long...(i found the tearing incredibly painful but it only lasted seconds-i never had any urge to push so that was v hard cos i knew it was going to hurt!). ps good luck for the 11th - my birthday!!!!!!!!
let us know how you get on....
pps if you get the chance to go a pool, would def. recommend - great pain relief

MrsNormanMaine · 09/11/2008 20:53

Good luck! I have had three births - first one with an epidural - found the contractions bearable but exhausting - went on for over 24 hours and then I had a brief epidural which half wore off for pushing stage but I didn't really feel it, as I realised when I had my second - then I did feel it but found the pushing more like massively hard work than truly painful. Had third quite quickly - 4 hours - and then the problem was trying to STOP the pushing since midwives weren't there and felt I wanted to wait for them in case of a problem like cord round the neck etc.

But put it this way, after my first I felt more than happy to have my second two at home with no pain relief at all - I genuinely never felt I needed it but did have fantastic antenatal yoga that gave me confidence and lack of fear of the pain. Fear of the next contraction def makes them worse - you tense up in anticipation of the involuntary tensing. Also I was lucky enough not to need any stitches at any point so that was all good too. The crowning was a firey pain but so amazing I would do it again in an instant.

Sometimes I feel reluctant to share my birth stories because I was so lucky and so relaxed, thanks to good preparation and a kind of laid back attitude to most stuff. But met a girl the other day saying she is trying to get pregnant and the only thing putting her off is absolute terror re the birth. She asked me for all details and was in tears at one point because she said it had made so much difference to hear positive stories about the birthing experience - apparently all previous accounts had been horror stories so I hope you take heart too, from knowing it can be a lot better than you think it might be. And however painful the experience - it will end! And you will meet your little one. Brilliant!

paddleboat · 09/11/2008 20:54

Hi
You may not believe me but I didn't find contractions painful. I did a lot of work in pregnancy to concentrate on my language and thinking. I kept visualizing the sea - the waves being the contractions and each one bringing me closer into shore and closer to seeing my baby.So the contraction peaked and then there was a sort of calm like after a storm before the next contraction built up. I also swapped the word pain for pressure - that made it easier and I kept reminding myself how strong I was. The pushing was over really before I knew it, yes it does burn a bit when the head comes out, but nothing you can't handle. I think a lot of it is about being relaxed, relaxed, relaxed and prepared. So look forward to it, trust yourself and believe in yourself. And by the way this was my 2nd birth having had a c section first time around.I never did labour first time. All the best with this

LoveBeingAMummy · 09/11/2008 21:07

Contractions after waters ahd broken - oh and when she had to push my cervix back as it wasn't where it should ahve been!!!!!

likessleep · 09/11/2008 21:53

The first poo afterwards was pretty bloody painful, I cried at that!

TwilightSurfer · 09/11/2008 23:46

Contractions can make your toes curl.
The Final Push is EASY!!

feedthegoat · 09/11/2008 23:53

I thought the stitches after was the worst bit! Asked for G&A back. Though i do remember thinking at crowning stage that i surely couldn't stretch much further....

Anifrangapani · 09/11/2008 23:58

Contractions were worse..... but as house mum said keep walking.

Drugs are good

And being a hippy dippy type I found visualisation really helpful. Each contraction was like a wave breaking..... rising up and then breaking as the contraction passed. That way I was reminded each time that the pain would only get to a certain level and then subside. It didn't take the pain away but made it more bareable.

The scary bit was not knowing what to expect.

gd1976 · 10/11/2008 10:49

I was told the contractions were the most painful part, but was NOT the case for me. They were managable but the pushing was the worst for me. Only an hour of my life but pretty tough!!

StarlightMcKenzie · 10/11/2008 10:53

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bozza · 10/11/2008 10:57

With DS I had an episiotomy so had an injection of LA in my perinium so crowning probably not the worst bit. I think transition is the most painful. Because the contractions have been going on for a while and they are getting steadily more intense. It was the one moment I thought - I can't do this.

plantsitter · 10/11/2008 11:33

Am finding this oddly reassuring despite all the pain descriptions - thanks for the thread, OP!

StarlightMcKenzie · 10/11/2008 12:21

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