Petrified !!!!!

[jaabaar]

Hi,

I was in hospital (maternity ward) for 3 days due to high BP.

One women in my room started going into labour at around 10 in the evening (no partners allowed as not on the delivery suite)!!!! She was screaming with pain at each contraction!No gas and air or epidural etc avaialbe as she was on the ward!

Then I also hear TERRIBLE (really!!!!!) screams from several women giving birth!!

I am now back home (39+5) and absolutely petrfied awaiting to start labour. Even have thoughts of not wanting a baby anymore. Baby is also to big, head 36 cm, weight approx 10 lbs (which i am aware can be higher or lower) and also it is back to back.

Just panicking ((((

Epidural: DO THEY work???? I had one after an operation and still felt a lot of pain.

G

Dont worry!! When I was in labour with dd I thought I would be quiet - I came round from my gas and air high and was screaming my head off!!

I dont think it was completly from pain IYSWIM. It felt great to shout like that, then the mw told me to stop and concentrate on pushing!!

Seeing that your baby is big and back to back it might be good to discuss now your epidural options. I have never had one but friends have and said they are great.

Good luck and try not to worry it is normal for women to be a little loud in labour!!

Thanks Mama2moo!

What does IYSWIM mean?

I knew it was normal, but hearing those screams it was like someone had a knife and cutting of piece by piece......

Uff, thanks for your words ) Just need a bit of reassurance from moms who went through it!

It means - If you see what I mean!

It cant have been very nice to hear it like that especially so close to your birth.

Its a great excuse to make some noise though!!

IYSWIM - if you see what I mean.

That must have been frightening , jaabar. We all react differently to pain. I'm expecting my 4th and I have never, to the best of my knowledge, screamed or shouted. Grunting and mooing, yes.

I'd second mama2moo - I've never had an epidural, but with a a back-to-back possibly biggish baby, you should certainly consider it. And you'll be fine. Really you will! You'll be planning your next one before you laeve hospital.

I screamed louder than I've ever screamed before when I was pushing DD out, but it wasn't a scream of pain it was a scream of effort. Actually it felt really good to let rip like that. I did feel a bit guilty afterwards as must've scared some of the women in the hospital.

Louder screams don't necessarily mean more pain. Labour hurts, yes, but there is pain relief available and I'm sure you will find a way to deal with the pain. For me I found concentrating very hard on it and thinking about what my body was doing, as well as using breathing techniques, really helped.

I'm not one who thinks that mental attitude can cure all ills, but it does help to go in there thinking you can do it. And you can!

it's impossible to know whether you'll be a screamer, a moo-er or mute... it depends how you react to the contractions.

i found having an ipod withmusic very helpful during the early stages while bouncing on a ball- i was in the zone, man.

i had an epidural with DD1 and it half worked so i think it's luck of the draw.

I remember watching a programme with Dawn Porter about childbirth when pregnant with DD (about 2 years ago) and was so shocked when the woman in labour was screaming away and though to myself I'll not be making that racket!!!!
Well I was a screamer!!! There were people talking about 'the screamer' on the ward afterwards! I admitted it was me though but you never know what you will be like.
Sorry you feel a bit traumatised after being on the labour ward. When I was admitted for obs last time they kept me far away from those about to drop!
Good luck

When I was in labour with my second daughter, I heard the woman next door howling like one of those monkeys. It put the wind up me a bit, and made me wonder how on earth I would cope with the pain if it made someone scream like that! Later, I realised everyone is different, and I agree it was more of an effort kind of noise. By then, you won't care what noise you're making! I was told to put the effort of roaring into pushing instead!! Worked a treat.
Had an epidural with my first during an induction. And although it worked really well (like flipping a switch - pain just went 'off'), it does mean your movements may be restricted and it can slow labour down. With hindsight, I'm sure it was a factor that eventually lead to a CS.
See how you go - every birth is different.
Hope it goes well!! Good Luck!!

It's true - you don't know if you'll be completely introverted or a screamer. Whatever, don't be afraid to ask for the epidural if that's what you want, and don't forget to focus on the end result: the most beautiful baby ever (until the next one arrives!).
When I was pg with my first a random person told me that the day of the birth would be the best day of my life... thought they were loony until I held that baby in my arms.
Good luck. Good luck. Good luck.

loud screams don't necessarily mean unimaginable pain - some women just find that vocalising (i.e screaming the place down!) helps them deal with the pain and effort of child birth. I thought I'd have a nice calm and sedate birth but made a hell of a lot of noise...........my pain was managable though and I only needed gas and air. Try not to panic as everyone's experience is different!

OP-did they get the poor woman to the delivery room?

I didn´t scream at all with first-but did say a rather rude word.
With second I screamed once & it seemed to be a waste of energy so didn´t bother again!

Labour hurts, but for me was "doable" and soon forgotten.

All the best & let us know how you get on.

Please don't worry. Yes, pushing a baby out of your vagina hurts, and you might well want to yell a bit, but it is the only pain in the world that brings its own reward. It's worth it, every single contraction. Pain is subjective, and not panicking helps you cope with the pain IYSWIM. I can honestly say that I found labor pains easier to cope with than ear/tooth ache. If you need the pain relief, demand it. I think my head actually revolved at one midwife who suggested we 'just see how it goes' when I asked for drugs. You are the star of the show, demand your rider.

oh yes my MW suggested that instead of screaming I focused my energy on pushing and I asked her if she was like Tom Cruise and thought a silent labour was best was totally away with it on gas and air by then and baby was stuck!
From what I recall I wasn't necessarily screaming with pain more just effort if that makes any sense.
And whatever happens you soon forget and it'll be so worth it when you have your baby in your arms.

Hi, I pushed my DD out pretty easily, she was back to back, and had a head Circ. 35cm.

The noises are a lot to do with the effort, and I found they helped me. It isn't all pain.

Even with just stubbing your toe.. one person may make a racket and hop about,
another person may just go ouch, shake their foot and get on with it.

On another note...
Have you being doing your perineal massage? I found that really helped me, I stretched easily for the babies head, and it has had no negatory impact on my sex life

Also, a lot of babies turn in labour, or just by themselves.

Good Luck with the birth, and don't worry too much, your body is made to do this.

Thank you all very very much for taking the time to reply. It puts things a bit into focus and makes get a grip...

OP - the woman who started labour finally got a bed in the labour ward at around six in the morning! (note that she was 2 days in early labour and very strong contracions started at around 11!!!! and no partner or anyone to encourage her through it!) She gave birth at 12.45 to a baby boy!

I wish that labour starts soon, as baby can only grow bigger.... Due date is 21/1 and if I dont give birth have appointmnet on the 26/1 to discuss.

Cant wait for the moment all is over and I can tell you all the story!!

Thanks again.

G

I can sympathise... I was in being induced being 2 weeks overdue.

I remember seeing my DH's face when hearing the other women screaming their heads off. I dont think he was fully prepared!

My DD was back to back and after about 22 odd hours of labour, going through gas and air, then pethadine, I gave in and had an epidural. Made such a difference!
I ended up with it being topped up 4 times! and my god I knew when it was wearing off!
I wasnt so much screaming but sobbing at the MW to make it stop!
Ended up being a 27 hour labour and I really dont think I could of gone on much longer without the epidural!

Im due my second in May and still pooing my pants about the labour again!

I actually remember the MW coming and seeing DH's face and saying how her last two ladies just gave birth, hardly making a sound.

I just remember thinking Mmmm.. No pressure then!!

I was epiduralled (new word?) right up for my first birth so didn't feel anything until the big push, by which point the epidural tube had come out of my back without anyone noticing and the midwife had been topping up the pillow and by god did I know about it and did I scream like a madwoman.

The thing was I'd gone from nothing to insanity inducing pain without a build up so never able to get on top of it, delivery ended in forceps as I just couldn't stop wriggling and shouting and sart pushing - worse case scenario by the way!!! Epidural = good, just make sure that you keep on top of getting it topped up and get them to check it if not working.

Second delivery - no pain relief, not even gas and air (2 1/2 hour labour), managed to breath through first hour of contractions and then mooed/screamed/shouted through the rest, not because the pain was horrendous, it was always manageable it's just that that was what my body did IYSWIM - my body makes a noise, and my body cannot refrain from pushing under any circumstances - at least not during that delivery.

I actually enjoyed the birth, and can't wait to do it again, as soon as DH gives the green light. Can you tell how broody I am!!! So jealous of you!!!

Good luck with it all.

I was birth partner for a friend while ttc. Friend was utterly silent throughout, woman in the next room sounded like she was dying a horrid death. I was terrified.

I still got pg and had a baby though.

Did I make a lot of noise? Erm,

I did push for 6hrs after a 2 day labour and no baby appeared. They brought out the big guns soon after that.

Just a gentle warning. I needed an epidural (dd was very, very stuck and needed an em cs) but the anaesthetist was busy with an emergency following a bad accident. I had to wait for 2hrs. Be prepared for that and think about other options for pain relief in case the epidural isn't available straight away/at all. There's water and massage and hynobirthing etc as well as other drugs. Keep an open mind.

A big baby doesn't necessarily mean more pain. In fact gravity might help.

And SIL had a baby last month, all sorts of threats of oh it's a 10pounder, big head etc. She was a titchy 6 and a half pounds!

IMO an epidural is great!! I went into labour with DS1 thinking I didn't want an epidural because the idea of it sounded yucky (needle phobia). I wasn't able to stop my body from pushing at 7 cm dilation and was generally panicky so the midwife suggested I have an epidural and I heartily agreed. That's when DH got scared because he knew I must have been in a lot of pain to go for it. I didn't scream in labour, but I agree that it's an individual thing, and probably more in effort than pain. Overall, I thought the epidural was such a relief, I was able to top it up every 10 minutes by pushing a button. I also had gas and air during contractions which helped as well. DS1 was 9lbs 12oz, head circumference 38. I did get him out eventually! I'll be asking for an epidural straight away when I get into hospital to have DS2 in May.

Thanks for sharing your experiences!
rachelfruiloop when you say you will be asking for an epidural straight away when you get in hospital, do you know whne is the earliest and the latest they will give you one?

Or will they just say let's wait and see how it goes.....

?

G

I've had an epidural 3 times. The first time, there was a bit that wasn't numb which hurt a lot, and it had worn off by the pushing bit, which also hurt a lot, but I watched a movie in stage 1, so it can't have been that bad. The second one was great - no pain, but I could feel everything very well just it didn't hurt (dh was cracking jokes and I was laughing as I pushed baby out). 3rd one I can't remember really, though I remember I was crying from the pain of the contractions when the darling anaesthetist came in and stuck the needle in. An anaesthetist has to keep topping it up or it wears off by the way.

I loved giving birth, I would have another baby just to be able to do it again. It's not awful for everyone.

agree with everyone else, combination of pain & effort
would rather have labour than the appendix pain i got 16weeks later, even though on a pain scale of 1-labour it was a 5