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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

So if you're one of those people who can honestly say "labour didn't hurt that badly"...

132 replies

Jacksmama · 18/05/2009 19:30

... REALLY???

Honest?

How is that possible?

I am not taking the piss, I really honestly want to know. I've heard from one RL friend that it felt like "strong period pains" all the way through but that was as bad as it got. And I've read a few more posters on here who say the same thing.

I am utterly jealous gobsmacked. Granted, Jackbaby was stuck crookedly between my pelvic bones, and I had back labour, but nothing, nothing, could have prepared me for how agonizingly, horribly, unbearably painful labour was.

So if you're one of those people, come talk to me because I'm really curious.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Monkeyandbooba · 18/05/2009 20:09

Tiffany its interesting you mention no stretchmarks because I don't have any either. MW reckons it's because I have a lot of collagen in my skin which makes it stretchier which might also be the reason I have had easy births. Food for thought?

Egg · 18/05/2009 20:11

Hmm. I remember during the last hour of my first labour with DS1 saying "I never thought it would hurt this much" but afterwards I did think it wasn't all that bad. I always expected the crowning and baby actually coming out to be the painful bit and didn't realise the contractions were the worst bit by far.

Second labour was twins and I think I managed the gas and air a bit better as all in all it was less painful (although crowning of DD (first twin) was utter agony).

Whilst both labours were bloody agony, I somehow think back and remember them as being not that bad . I would do it all again if it didn't mean I had to have more children to look after!

weaselm4 · 18/05/2009 20:12

Number one was an induction, then epidural (I was in terror of it wearing off because of the pain before it took effect!). Number two was still quite shockingly painful, but much quicker and I felt in control, so I do feel really positive about it. I would NEVER say it didn't hurt tho

juuule · 18/05/2009 20:14

I didn't have any stretchmarks until after my 7th. It didn't make any of the previous labours painfree though.

Egg · 18/05/2009 20:14

Ooh me too, no stretchmarks and easy labours. My mum and sister also have no stretchmarks and had easy labours.

KingCanuteIAm · 18/05/2009 20:15

My last labour was like this, I had a very fast HB (unassisted). I think the main reason it was so (realtively) painless was becasue I knew what was happening, I knew what was going to happen and I was totally in control of the whole thing. There was no point that I felt out of control, I could be how I wanted, say what I wanted and so on. I am sure it was painful but it was nothing like my previous hospital experiences where I felt that I had to please the MWs, perform a certain way and that everyone else in the room had control over my labour but not me.

I think fear has a lot to do with pain, not feeling scared makes a huge difference IMO.

plimple · 18/05/2009 20:18

I remember my birth and labour and while it did hurt, the hardest bit was just being so knackered. I could handle the pain with breathing and gas and air - although the most painful burning bit was without anything. I knew the pain would end, it was the boredness/tiredness that as tough.

smee · 18/05/2009 20:22

Depends on position of baby and how your body reacts to birth. I met someone in the ward after DS was born who came in as she felt her waters break - no contractions and she was already 6cm dilated. Two hours later her baby was born. She said it was a bit mad, but not so bad and never got close to asking for drugs. DS was born same day and also a first birth, but it took me 36 hours to get to 6cm, and I couldn't sit down or rest between contractions because DS was back to back. Sometimes life's just not very fair

LynetteScavo · 18/05/2009 20:23

My first was beyond dreadful - it hurt like hell, and I would have been happy to be shot to put me out of the pain. I expect you all heard me screaming. I sooo was not going there again!

However what goes up must come down, so I learned with the help of hypnotheapy how to relax enough to get through it with out any pain, just a very strong sensation - it took preparation and concentration though. Not being scared was also very important.

smee · 18/05/2009 20:24

meant to say I had no stretchmarks, but it was far from an easy labour..

VinoEsmeralda · 18/05/2009 20:28

My first was a very easy straight forward homebirth with no stiches or grazes (DS 8lb8oz). I remember thinking when will the real pain come then? Pushing was a pleasure, the on and off pressure on pelvis and feeling him slide/pushed down the birth canal. I didnt scream or swore (the latter was very much expected)

HOWEVER DD (9lb 5oz) also a homebirth was AGONY. My neighbour 2 houses down heard me scream . The pain (contractions) was unbelievable and I was also very tired. Both labours were the same time (8.5 hours established labour). Pushing her out was ok though.

DS was induced with acupunture as waters broke and contractinos didnt start. She also used needles for pain relief and to stay calm which might have made the difference.

BTW I have terrible stretchmarks, even going above my belly button....

sprogger · 18/05/2009 20:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TeaOneSugar · 18/05/2009 20:37

I suffer from IBS and get bowel spasms which are unfortunately very much like contractions, they start in the middle of my back and then the pain builds around my stomach and then it eases for a bit and then starts again, usually for a couple of hours.

I had a bad episode at 36 weeks pg, and they kept me in overnight, it took a while to pursuade them I wasn't in labour and that it was my "usual" pain, once they decided I could have my usual medication it eased off. They were convinced it would trigger labour, but I held out for another week.

Good training for labour, thankfully an IBS episode doesn't last as long, and you don't have all that pushing to do.

naughtymummy · 18/05/2009 20:37

Another one here, no stretch marks and didn't find it too bad (2DCs with gas and air). I did yoga from 14 weeks in 1st pregnancy which involved lots of breathing through pain (held arms in air for progressively longer periods whilst breathing)I thought that helped. Also I had used G&A before when I had a burn, so maybe I knew how to use it ? Would quite like a 3rd, but I am very aware of how lucky I have been and think it might not be so easy next time.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 18/05/2009 20:47

DS1 was induced and I was told to expect prostin pains which is what I though I was having - they were in fact labour pains and I got to 9cms without realising! He was delivered with gas and air and though the crowning was painful it really wasn't all that bad as it didn't last long.

DS2 I laboured at a friends house while ds was playing with my TENS machine on. The contractions suddenly strengthened so we made a move and dropped of ds at in-laws and made our way to hospital - ds2 was born 5 minutes after we arrived! I remember as he crowned thinking "bugger, I didn't like this bit last time!" but then he was born so that was that!

The afterpains that I had with ds2 were worse than the labour.

I'm planning a homebirth with dc3!

Rolf · 18/05/2009 20:49

My labour with DC4 didn't really hurt too much. I was at home and was able to stay relaxed. I was able to walk down the stairs immediately afterwards, unsupported, and sit down without wincing in the ambulance. Hardly any blood loss, felt fabulous.

DC3 (induced, in hospital) I thought I was losing my mind, it was so painful. Awful experience.

GypsyMoth · 18/05/2009 20:53

yes,mrs mattie......5 wonderful births,with large babies. but what i failed to mention was the horrendous all day sickness to 28 weeks with the lot of them!!!had to have medication,i lost so much weight. horrific!

SallyJayGorce · 18/05/2009 20:55

Millions of stretchmarks but three good labours. All painful but no stitches or grazes - and DS was 9 and a half lbs - born at home. 2 with no pain relief - no hero but didn't need it. I enjoyed the second two labours even though they were painful - felt fantastic during them and would certainly do it again - although no guarantee it would get better!

Original poster

Jacksmama · 18/05/2009 21:43

Huh. Wow. Just goes to show you... what, exactly? Dunno. Anyway... cool to hear good labour stories. I never posted mine because I'd need therapy again after writing it down... or you'd see me on the front of the local paper, because I'd have gone to find and choke my widwife...

Egg - I'm sorry... what happened was I sort of got bogged down in RL (had my op to put my shredded pelvic floor back together and that took a while to recover from) and when I revisited the Feb '08 thread, I couldn't get caught up because too busy and felt awkward about popping in again not knowing what was happening with everyone. What is the thread called now? Things are calmer in RL and I would love to see how everyone's babies are doing.

BTW - I don't have any stretch marks either. But I don't think there's a correlation between having stretchy skin and stretchy bits, mine pretty much exploded when they dragged Jackbaby out with forceps.

OP posts:

neolara · 18/05/2009 22:04

First birth was hideous. Fast, back to back and no midwife until one hour before baby was born. I thought my back was going to break. Was very scary. No one had shown us how gas and air had worked despite being in hospital for 2 hours.

Second birth was honestly OK. I was at home, felt very well cared for (unlike first horrible birth), had great midwive support (unlike first horrible birth) and felt in control (unlike first horrible birth). It was quick though - about 4 hours from first barely unfeelable twinge to ds appearing. I had gas and air for about 40 mins and miraculously the pain STOPPED between contractions (this hadn't happened in my first birth so I was completely delighted and couldn't believe how easy it was by comparison). Pushing him out took 5 mins. About 10 mins later I was saying to the midwives "Oh yes, I'd do that again". Also no stiches.

Am about to do it again and feel very lucky that I don't have any particular fears about the actual giving birth business - just getting a midwife to arrive in time.

Original poster

Jacksmama · 18/05/2009 22:34

Gosh, Neolara, that's lovely. Am but happy for you. Good luck with #3!!

OP posts:

feedthegoat · 18/05/2009 22:55

I can honestly say I didn't think labour was any worse than bad period pains but I suppose it is all relative. I've suffered very badly from period pain and used to faint and vomit from the pain when I was younger.

I've always been made to feels like a bit of a wimp for it. I actually remember asking a (female) Dr if bad periods could be hereditary and she replied 'Yes, in the same way as any other learned behaviour'. . I was very young at the time and said nothing, I think these days and have got up and walked out at the very least. I was dreading labour for these reasons as I was convinced I wouldn't cope but if anything it probably prepared me!

slushy06 · 18/05/2009 23:02

feed the goat me my mum and my nan have all suffered from bad period pains it IS hereditary but unusual. Also you can get extra strong prescription pain relief for it.

theninthtailor · 18/05/2009 23:15

Why are the wonder women the ones who didn't find it painful? And are the ones who found it agonizing and had to get through hours of hell the wimps then?

feedthegoat · 18/05/2009 23:20

Hey I'm not saying it wasn't (nearly 25 hrs) of hell, just no worse than the monthly crawling across the floor an my hands and knees kind of hell . Thanks slushy - you do sometimes wonder if you're making it up and the rest of the world is like the Tampax ads!

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