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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Petrified !!!!!

36 replies

jaabaar · 18/01/2010 09:00

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.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

coldtits · 19/01/2010 08:27

I screamed my 6head^ off when pushing mine out, but would agree with the others that it is half a scream of effort. It must have sounded very scary but actually it was only for about 2 minutes, which isn't very long to get a whole baby out of the deal.

It was more hard work than anything else.

Please, please don't panic, because it's not like other pain, in that you will experience it but you won't clearly remember it.

Romanarama · 19/01/2010 08:31

Yes you can't really remember pain. It's like trying to think what it's like feeling hot when you're freezing cold and vice versa. It took 90mins for me to push out ds1, and I know it was total agony, plus I was puking in between contractions, but I really, honestly remember having him as a wonderful experience. The whole point is having a marvellous baby at the end of it, and it pretty much stops hurting as soon as it's out.

cory · 19/01/2010 08:37

Agree with everybody else: sounds are misleading.

piscesmoon · 19/01/2010 08:42

I was terrified to-I felt like leaving the hospital and saying 'it was all a mistake-I'm not doing it!
It is nothing like as bad as you think-once it is over each time I have immediately wanted to do it again-a bit like a scary roller coaster ride!!!

notyummy · 19/01/2010 08:50

Please dont panic! As others have said, you are right to consider an epidural in your circumstances as it may help - but think about other methods to use if you have to wait - my DH massages really hard on the base of my spine and that helped, I also used a tens machine - and the gas and air was wonderful! I didn't have an epidural, but dd wasn't back to back.

Not everyone screamed - I didn't until the last 5 minutes (and that was a high forceps delivery with no pain relief so it does kind of smart.) I mooed into my gas and air mouthpiece because that is what felt right to me. I went up to 6 cm dilated on the ward (was induced) and managed to stay quiet by walking around/sitting on the look/reading Take a Break. The staff gave me a tens machine (and 2 paracetomal!!) and then I transfered to the labour ward at 6cm when I felt I needed extra help and wanted them to phone my DH. Didn't bother before that as I couldn't see the point of both of us being up in the middle of the night.

You will be OK - and each contraction gets you closer to yor baby. Very cheesy, but true.

rachelfruitloop · 19/01/2010 20:10

Jaabaar, I'm not sure when the earliest and latest part of labour they will give an epidural, but I will persist!!! I must say I fear arriving at hospital to be told that I'm too far along in labour to have one ... I'm having a consultation at hospital tomorrow and will ask about this and let you know what they tell me.

Original poster

jaabaar · 20/01/2010 08:59

Hi Rachelfruitloop!

Thank you so so so very much for that!
I would appreciate a lot!

I am usually a very shy person with doctors etc and always do what they say and dont dare ask for things or explanations....
That's why it really would help me to know. At least I can tell my hubby to look out for it.

Waiting for your feedback with great interest.

OP posts:

rachelfruitloop · 20/01/2010 13:52

Hi Jaabaar,

I had my consultation and she said that you can have an epidural from the time your labour is active, about 4cm dilation, up until fairly late. She said that if you're 8 or 9 cm dilated and getting ready for the pushing stage, they may not recommend it. She also assured me that they won't tell me that I can't have an epidural, they would call the Anaesthetist and they would advise me further. I feel a lot more reassured having had the consultation! I was assured that even if the baby is large, a vaginal delivery is still perfectly fine and I think if I can just get my head round relaxing enough during labour that it will be no problem. So, any day for you now! If you can focus on relaxation techniques (breathing, massage, bath, etc) I think it probably makes a big difference!

nomorecake · 20/01/2010 14:01

one woman next near me was shouting, i thought that was quite 'normal' and expected it to sound like that to some extent.

but when another woman was sobbing and whimpering in pain, i found that much more disturbing.

Original poster

jaabaar · 21/01/2010 07:56

Hi Rachelfruitloop!

Thank you so much for your feedback!I really appreciated it and will really try hard to relax wiht breathing techniques. I remember some years ago I broke a leg very badly and had metal plates and pins inserted to fix the break. I had an epidural for after op pain. When takig me for x-rays they couldnt top up and I had to wait for excrutiating 2 hours. I automatically started to concentrate on every singly breath (in and out) I was taking as was distancing myself from the pain. It does really work!

Thank you again about info on epidural, i feel much more reasured!

OP posts:

lumpasmelly · 23/01/2010 15:19

I remember being 5 months pregnant with DS1 and hearing my neighbour making the most horrific noises as she had her home birth!!!! I had to flee my garden and hide at the other side of the house!!!

Don't worry though - have an epidural if you don't like pain (especially if baby is big and back to back as my babies always seem to be) - as soon as it kicks in, you can watch tv, read the newspaper and push at your leisure. When I compare myself per and post epidural there is NO comparison, and I would never ever put myself through that pain again!!! In fact, with my second birth, I actually had an epidural BEFORE I felt any really bad pain, and I watched a very enjoyable rugby match with my husband....think I pushed out DS2 just as England scored.....

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