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

Original poster

How much pain were you in at 1cm dilated?

156 replies

whatsthetimemrwolf · 24/11/2009 23:12

I am currently pregnant with DC3 and am trying to decide whether to go for a VBAC or ELCS.

DC1 was delivered by EMCS as undiagnosed breach. I only ever reached 1cm dilated before they got me in for a EMCS but was in tears with the pain. I always believed that I wasn't dilating properly as DC1 was breach, hence my pain. However, I have had a consultation with an expert VBAC midwife this week who told me that I was in no extra pain because DD was breach, I was just being a first time mother. I would love to go for a VBAC but am scared about the pain and wonder if I just have a really low pain threshold! I would be very interested to hear how ther people felt at 1cm dilated. Thanks.

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nappyaddict · 01/12/2009 15:46

Sparkle, Star and orangina Did you ever get to the point where you couldn't talk at all in between contractions and if so how far dilated were you at that point?

MakkaPakkasWilly · 01/12/2009 16:42

mr wolf I was in labour with both my DS's for 3 days each time, each time after 3 days I was only 1 cm dilated and in agony.

1st one I ended up having to be induced after 3 days, so much pain, 3 weeks overdue and only 1 cm

2nd one, waters broke after 3 days, lots of pain, only 1 cm, ended up having EMCS due to abruption.

It's different for everyone

AliGrylls · 01/12/2009 16:55

Have you ever considered hypnobirthing / acupuncture. I am going for both next time.

duchesse · 01/12/2009 17:05

My labour pains come exclusively from the cervix dilating and referred pain in the rectum (sorry, tmi, but you may know what I mean). Once the proper second stage starts, I find the pain almost more manageable; true, it's more overwhelming, but also less annoyingly niggly and energy-draining. The first time was similar level of pain for most of the nearly three days of labour. Second one was similar, but only 21 hours long. Third was 4.5 of which the last hour or so were seriously ouchy. Fourth was induced, and on oxytocin I was getting some very strong contractions. Because the baby was nowhere near my cervix as it later turned out, the contractions were breathtaking but entirely painless. I never dilated more than 2cm anyway. Easiest labour yet... I know I shouldn't say it, but it's true. My easiest labour was the emergency C section.

herethereandeverywhere · 01/12/2009 17:12

It is different for everyone.

I was in massive delirium -inducing pain before I was even 1cm dilated and was refused proper pain relief because I "wasn't in labour". I wouldn't consider myself to have a low pain threshold and I'm very stoical but the pain was horrific. Horrific to the point where if they've have said I had to lose the baby to treat the pain I know I'd have said yes.

I was induced, that caused hyperstimulation and dd was back to back which must have contributed though.

I'd prepared using hypnobirthing and other non-medical methods, they lasted about the first 3 hours before the hyperstimulation took hold.

I've decided to have no more children as a result.

orangina · 01/12/2009 17:30

nappyaddict, the 1st time round, it was just AWFUL. I had been in hospital w contractions for something like 18 hours by the time they examined me and declared me to have hit the 3cm mark..... I had been sucking gas and air, pacing madly and howling like some awful kind of animal for hours up until then. Then the midwife said "you're doing really well, you're about 3cm dilated" and I lost it. "that's not doing really well, that's completely f*ing shite, I want to go home..." blah, blah.

So, I could say that, but I wouldn't have chatted about the weather or curtain fabric.

Then I had the epidural (would have accepted a mallet to the head at that point of someone told me it would make the pain go away), and aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Felt fab, had a laugh and a chat w dh, had a kip, and woke up later to try and push a baby out.

2nd time around, was chatting quite happily for a while, then I realised at about 8cm that I was starting to make those familiar animal sounds again, so waved the epidural man over and promised to bake him a cake (had perhaps had too much g&a by then too.....!). I do love that feeling when the epidural kicks in...

(nostalgia)

ladylush · 01/12/2009 17:49

A lot of pain at 1cm dilated - both times. With ds I was induced (drip) and it was painful straight away. With dd (who was breech) I had instant 1 min apart contractions which were extremely painful within an hour of starting though I was only 1cm dilated when examined.

StarExpat · 01/12/2009 18:09

nappyaddict I could walk and talk between ctx but NOT during - even at 1cm . They kept sending me home between 1-3cms and finally let me stay when I rang and said i was coming in and would not go home! It was a looooooong labour. ending in ventouse after a few hours pushing.
They kept telling me to ring back or come back in when the pain became "unbearable" I kept saying "it IS unbearable!"

StarExpat · 01/12/2009 18:12

and I agree, when the epidural kicked in I was in heaven. I was given pethadine first since the anaesthesiologist was unavailable sorry for spelling errors! pethadine was good, too

JamesAndTheGiantBanana · 01/12/2009 18:13

I wasn't in any proper pain at 1cm (just manageable period type pain) went into hospital when it all got a bit stronger and was told I was 4cm, but still wasn't in massive amounts of pain until they made me lie down flat then I was delirious with it.

I really feel strongly that it isn't anything to do with pain thresholds and bravery and birth preparation (although I do agree that fear and anxiety increase pain) There are so many nerves and pressure points down there, who knows what is getting pressed on, with what effect! No-one can tell a labouring woman that she isn't in pain if she's insisting otherwise. I'm sure it's only a very small percentage of women who are dramatic/nesh enough to demand drugs when they aren't in any discomfort.

GinGirl · 01/12/2009 18:15

First baby, needed TENS machine at 1cm, gas and air at 3cm, pool and g&a at 5cm, epidural from 6cm til end

Second baby, TENS machine at about 3cm, pool and g&a from 8cm til end

Depends on you and very much on the baby. DD2 was 2lb lighter but back to back...

Hoping for small baby AND correct presentation next time...

pumpkinsoup · 01/12/2009 19:48

Hi, I've not read all of this...
... but I was in excruciating pain at 1cm in tears like you with my first child (I think I was unusual in this but it definately was a very real pain! My waters also broke at this stage making it even worse). With my second I was in none at all at 1cm, or 2cm, or 3 lol and much much less throughout.

I wouldn't necessarily say I have a low pain threshold, but did worry I might have after my first baby. The second birth just goes to prove that I needn't have worried.

Please don't let this worry stop you having a normal birth, it was enormously ermm cathartic to know I could do it after all!

StarExpat · 01/12/2009 19:57

Maybe that has something to do with it? Waters breaking?? My waters broke before I was even 1cm dilated. In fact that's the reason I went to the hospital. I didn't start having contractions until about an hour after my waters broke, but still was less than 1cm and once I was 1cm they were unbearable!

mrswill · 01/12/2009 20:11

Induced and back to back labour, the pain started within half an hour of pessary being inserted.
They checked me after a few hours as i was in agony, and i wasnt even dilated 1 cm. When they told me, my face must have been a picture, I thought i was about to give birth with the pain I was in! 1cm wasnt a barrel of laughs for me neither.

loulou77 · 01/12/2009 20:18

I haven't read the whole thread BUT with DS (DC2) who was breach and premature, I was in proper labour, needing gas and air and was saying it felt like when I got near to the end with DD (DC1) but when examined I was 2cm

However, the registrar said she believed I was going to go quick because he was breach (and premature)...something about not putting enough pressure on my cervix or something (I was too out of it to get the whole thing), HOWEVER...my point, if I can remember it, is that she said that it WAS something to do with being breach that I was in established labour but not dilating very rapidly...and I got to 5cm within 20 mins of her saying this (and then had EMCS).

From 3 labours (SVD, EMCS, VBAC) I can say that I DID get proper labour pains without actually being very dilated...dilation only seemed to happen properly once waters gone

PS my VBAC was fine and much easier to get over than EMCS...best of luck

crankytwanky · 01/12/2009 20:21

Don't know with DC1.

Lots with DC 2. I was in labour all day, had had an oxytocin pessary, been writhing about for hours when the MW had a butchers...Nada!

I cried in frustration!

It all went super-quick after a wee walk though! Went from 0-baby in about 4 hours. Pain was more managable though.

Was fab!

Go for a vbac! You can do it! You may really suprise yourself!

TotalChaos · 01/12/2009 20:28

I was in a lot of pain, apparently the position DS was in meant I felt a lot of pain because it was putting a lot of pressure on my cervix (mw told me that).

TotalChaos · 01/12/2009 20:32

oh and DS was back to back.

figrollinthehay · 01/12/2009 20:52

I would imagine it was the fact that he was breach that made it painful.

I was in a bit of pain with DC3 and went into hospital because I know I labour very quickly. I was told I was 1cm but that most women having had 2 children are always 1cm dilated. It turned out he was back to back and my body was trying to turn him (which it did) - was turfed out of hospital for not being in labour but was holding my lovely baby less than two hours later, having come back in again.

With you I imagine your body was trying to do likewise, or just struggling with the sheer size of a bottom and back rather than head.

booksgalore · 01/12/2009 21:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Scillybee · 01/12/2009 21:21

I think I was in quite a lot of pain early on, but to be honest I've kind of wiped it from memory... dc1 was eventually sucked out with a ventouse (yep he had a big head just like his dad grrrr...). I was worried about dc2 & offered ELCS due to dc1's size & 3rd degree tears, but someone lent me this amazing book www.amazon.com/Active-Birth-Approach-Naturally-Revised/dp/1558320385 & it really helped me figure out what to do & how! Of course it's not for everyone but a real inspiration if you're feeling unsure about what path to take. dc2 was born in hospital with minimal intervention, I told them my very specific worries early on whilst they knew I was still capable of rational thought! - & managed with considerable pain but only gas&air. Good luck with whatever you choose.

beakysmum · 01/12/2009 22:03

This make really interesting reading!

I would say I had pretty painful labour with DS 1, but my waters went before my contractions started, he was back to back and his head was in the wrong position to put pressure on my cervix, hence dilating very slowly.

Second child was MUCH easier, I do think your body knows what it is doing.

I'd love to say go for the VBAC, but the reality is (certainly in my hospital) that you are not guarenteed epidural/ drugs when you do ask, depending on Doc availability and I do find that scary.

Flame · 01/12/2009 23:06

Oodles.

I do the whole pain thing for ages, they announce I am still only 2cms and nothing is happening (not effaced or whatever), then within about half hour I am holding a baby.

That has been 3 babies now, so not exactly a one off Take heart!

Oh and all 3 have been just gas and air (the last being 9lb 10

MissGreatBritain · 01/12/2009 23:23

At 2.30 am I was 2cm dilated and in screaming agony (although the midwife thought I was exaggerating). And half an hour later I was 10 cm and wanting to push (only just made it to delivery). Was told by the (very young) midwife that perhaps I should put more effort into pushing and a little less into screaming . I would have punched her if I could! DS was born just before 4 am.

WhoSleptInMyPorridgeAndBrokeIt · 02/12/2009 02:52

i was 8cm dilated and my waters had broken when i got to the hospital and i used virtually no pain relief (they told me to take paracetamol so i could "sleep" the night but so far as i'm aware it made no difference whatsoever apart from maybe disrupting the pattern of my contractions). I coped by just finding comfortable positions and trying to breathe slowly and deeply. TENS became too irritating when my contractions got stronger. I was quite shocked when the midwife said i was 8 cm dilated. I never got to the notorious obnoxious stage when women get nutty, either.

In fact i walked all the way up from the car park to maternity wing (about 500m) stopping for contractions 3 times as i was too terrified to go in on my own while DH was parking the car. Someone spotted us and sent a rescue party of 3 midwives who'd just finished their shift we all laughed so hard over it i nearly stopped feeling any pain at all.

For the last 2 cm I used gas and air and the birthing pool - the pool was bliss! Such a shame I had to get out for 2nd stage i managed with just G&A in the end although i nearly asked for something stronger twice but TBH i think it would have been too late by that stage.

TBH i even had to stop breathing G&A a few times bc it was too distracting.

But you're right to say everyone's resources are different and your pain threshhold may be much lower than average. That said, there may have been some other factors at play so don't panic and if you want to try and avoid CS there are things you could try like hypnotherapy, birthing pool, etc

Best of luck