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Original poster

What did contractions feel like to you? TW BIRTH TRAUMA

38 replies

Maybemaybenot76 · 06/12/2023 09:35

I gave birth to my second child yesterday. My first was born with an epidural and this one was born with no pain relief. I eventually did want an epidural, but it happened too fast.

It was hands down the most insane and painful experience of my life and I was not at all prepared for that level of pain! The midwife asked me a few times where I felt the pain as I kept saying it felt like my uterus was going to explode (and I really did!) The pain was only low in my front, nothing anywhere else. Is this typical!? The midwife said it must have been babies positioning.

I genuinely thought I was going to rupture and I could do nothing but rip at the seams of anything I could dig my nails in to, scream, and beg for help during every contraction. I can’t believe I am that person! I am normally ok with pain, but this was next level.

OP posts:
TheBirdintheCave · 06/12/2023 09:56

For me it was like a slowly gathering tightening low in my stomach that then developed into a strong tightening for about ten seconds before dissipating again. The closer together the contractions got the longer the hold before dissipation was which, for me, made it hurt more. Transition was the worst but once that was over and I was into the pushing stage I didn't feel any pain at all as long as I pushed. Those contractions felt like a downwards feeling of expulsion, like vomiting but down instead of up.

SpamIAm · 06/12/2023 10:00

Doesn't sound unusual - my contractions were absolutely fucking horrendous.

8lue8irds · 06/12/2023 10:03

Maybemaybenot76 · 06/12/2023 09:35

I gave birth to my second child yesterday. My first was born with an epidural and this one was born with no pain relief. I eventually did want an epidural, but it happened too fast.

It was hands down the most insane and painful experience of my life and I was not at all prepared for that level of pain! The midwife asked me a few times where I felt the pain as I kept saying it felt like my uterus was going to explode (and I really did!) The pain was only low in my front, nothing anywhere else. Is this typical!? The midwife said it must have been babies positioning.

I genuinely thought I was going to rupture and I could do nothing but rip at the seams of anything I could dig my nails in to, scream, and beg for help during every contraction. I can’t believe I am that person! I am normally ok with pain, but this was next level.

Sounds like all three of my labours. I was begging for them to knock me the fuck out each time.

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pickledandpuzzled · 06/12/2023 10:04

Mine were bad but I didn’t feel out of control- I wasn’t trying to control it, but to ride it, and I was able to.

It was insane though- like an impossible task, pushing a boulder uphill. I roared rather than screamed. And asked them to pull him out because I didn’t have the necessary last big push in me. They were getting a bit frantic at that point, to be fair, and he did in fact come out with a last push- but I don’t know how because I wasn’t able to coordinate it! It must have been a reflex.

Dorriethelittlewitch · 06/12/2023 10:04

My first was back to back, the pain was excruciating. Waves of pain which started in my back and then down in my legs locking my muscles up. In comparison my emcs recovery was just a dull ache which didn't require pain relief.

magicravioli · 06/12/2023 10:08

I had a similar experience in labour of the insane pain I just couldn’t handle, but mine was in my lower back. all concentrated right on my spine, as baby was back to back. I felt nothing in my stomach/at the front at all. I didn’t even have contractions in my stomach, the midwives kept asking if I go to the gym a lot or have very strong abs which is NOT the case 😂I found the pain shocked me and it took me a while to get over it. Congratulations on your babe

Wheeeeee · 06/12/2023 10:08

All my pain was concentrated right at the bottom of my bump, and it was excruciating - like I was being stabbed repeatedly with a hot knife just above my pelvic bones.

Waitingfordoggo · 06/12/2023 10:09

I found them unbearable too with DC1. Like you, I felt like my body was coming apart in some way- splitting or breaking. I felt out of control and terrified and that made it so much worse. When I had DC2, I felt a lot more in control because I knew what was coming. It still really fucking hurt, but just felt more manageable. I had one toke of gas and air with DC1 and just tens machine and pool for DC2.

chillin12 · 06/12/2023 10:10

Congratulations on your second baby!
What you described sounds about right from my experience. I was not expecting that level of pain either!!! I was shocked, screaming and grabbing onto everything. I begged for pain relief; gas and air made me sick and light headed, and worse actually. I opted for pethidine, which wore off after a while. The pain was absolutely next level, I’ve never felt pain like it! For me, I felt it through all of my uterus I think, hard to describe, as it came in waves during active labour. I felt like I was going to die. But it’s amazing when the baby is finally delivered, and it all feels worth the experience. 😂 I want more children now. Still terrified of labour, but the result is unbeatable and most rewarding thing in the world.

Overthebow · 06/12/2023 10:12

Yes sounds similar to mine. I don’t think anything can prepare you for that level of pain, and a very fast birth can concentrate it.

Original poster
Maybemaybenot76 · 06/12/2023 10:14

Thanks for the replies. I had seen (and heard) these types of labours but didn’t expect it to be my reality. I felt absolutely out of control and would have done anything to make it stop!

I was 4cm when they checked me and things were already bad, then I had the urge to push about 10 mins later which I was encouraged to do as they said my body knew what it was doing and they were right. Jesus Christ though.

I keep thinking about the women that do this at home peacefully in their birthing pools! How?? All the fancy breathing in the world couldn’t get me out of that, I ditched the gas and air straight away because I was in too much pain to even concentrate on it!

OP posts:
chillin12 · 06/12/2023 10:15

Contractions were the most painful for me, I couldn’t feel the transition as much, delivery happened really fast when I crowned. Midwife asked me to push on my next contraction, when baby was about to be born, so contractions are the only pain I remember. But wow, there was a point I genuinely thought I wouldn’t survive. I’m a first time mother, and have newfound respect for all mothers since. 😂

ActDottie · 06/12/2023 10:19

I’m giving birth next month for the first time eeeek! This thread has been really interesting. Did anyone find it really painful tearing? That’s the bit I’m most anxious about.

The contractions I was hoping I can breathe through and hoping for a water birth but the idea of tearing is the bit that makes me terrified!

chillin12 · 06/12/2023 10:20

Maybemaybenot76 · 06/12/2023 10:14

Thanks for the replies. I had seen (and heard) these types of labours but didn’t expect it to be my reality. I felt absolutely out of control and would have done anything to make it stop!

I was 4cm when they checked me and things were already bad, then I had the urge to push about 10 mins later which I was encouraged to do as they said my body knew what it was doing and they were right. Jesus Christ though.

I keep thinking about the women that do this at home peacefully in their birthing pools! How?? All the fancy breathing in the world couldn’t get me out of that, I ditched the gas and air straight away because I was in too much pain to even concentrate on it!

Wow, I totally understand. I was completely out of control too, being my first birth, in pieces, and went into alternate reality almost. I had mild contractions to begin with for a few hours, and thought, “this isn’t so bad, it’s bearable.”
Midwife then broke my waters, I was 3cm, and after the waters broke, little did I know that the earth was going to break down on me. I was not ready for that! 😅 I went into active labour, and my goodness, nothing could’ve prepared me for the intensity.

Issummernearlyover · 06/12/2023 10:21

I've had two fast labours and a slow back to back one. All were excruciating. I just wanted to die. The pain was in the front with all of them and as I was at a birthing centre with the third and worst one, just got gas and air. I suffered flashbacks from the first as it was such a shock. I had no idea the pain could be like that. It's quite normal OP.

LittleBoPeepHasLostHerShit · 06/12/2023 10:22

Like my uterus being cut in half by a chainsaw, from the inside. Apologies for the horrible description.

The second time, I had an epidural and it was nothing like that at all.

chillin12 · 06/12/2023 10:25

ActDottie · 06/12/2023 10:19

I’m giving birth next month for the first time eeeek! This thread has been really interesting. Did anyone find it really painful tearing? That’s the bit I’m most anxious about.

The contractions I was hoping I can breathe through and hoping for a water birth but the idea of tearing is the bit that makes me terrified!

Honestly, I couldn’t feel myself tearing at all. It was only after when the midwife told me. I had a third degree tear and an episiotomy for my first birth, but I had no idea at the time. The contractions overrode it all. I was the same as you, and thought tearing whilst pushing would be the worst part. But the contractions were so intense, it was the only pain I felt tbh.

Also, congrats and good luck!!!

chillin12 · 06/12/2023 10:26

ActDottie · 06/12/2023 10:19

I’m giving birth next month for the first time eeeek! This thread has been really interesting. Did anyone find it really painful tearing? That’s the bit I’m most anxious about.

The contractions I was hoping I can breathe through and hoping for a water birth but the idea of tearing is the bit that makes me terrified!

The pushing felt like a relief in comparison to the contractions, as you know the pain will be over soon.

Original poster
Maybemaybenot76 · 06/12/2023 10:28

@chillin12 i had a second degree tear with first, they stitched, unstitched and re stitched me with that one but didn’t feel it due to epidural, thankfully!

this time I didn’t tear at all but with no pain relief I could feel everything and can say that the crowning and delivery pain was a complete breeze compared to the contractions so i would probably agree that a tear would be minimal worry for me. Though I won’t be having another, so not a concern 😅

OP posts:
TheBirdintheCave · 06/12/2023 10:29

ActDottie · 06/12/2023 10:19

I’m giving birth next month for the first time eeeek! This thread has been really interesting. Did anyone find it really painful tearing? That’s the bit I’m most anxious about.

The contractions I was hoping I can breathe through and hoping for a water birth but the idea of tearing is the bit that makes me terrified!

I had a 3B tear and didn't feel a thing :)

supercalifragilistic123 · 06/12/2023 10:30

I had a very quick intense labour second time round. And yes it was excruciating. I felt like my insides were being twisted and rung out. I couldn't move but I couldn't stay still. And I definitely couldn't stand up as the pressure was unbearable.
I did get gas and air for the last 10 mins and the relief was immense. It was just over 30 mins in total.

dixeypeach · 06/12/2023 10:31

My 5th labour was just like that. In the car on the way to the hospital I was screaming and pushing the roof of the car. By the time I got into delivery they put me straight onto the bed and told me I was 10cm I started pushing and omg I really did think the pain was going to kill me. I went into another universe and was almost hallucinating. No time for any pain relief and I remember pleaded with my husband to help me. Id had 3 natural births before that but that last one was something else. The midwife told me afterwards that fast births are the most painful because your body doesn't go through the process of gradually getting to that point. Honestly women are amazing.

BlowingAway · 06/12/2023 10:31

My second labour felt that bad at the end.
My first was in hospital with an epidural and the second a home birth so no epidural. Large baby, massive head. Felt completely out of control for the last pushing bit and actually bit my partner several times which now years later I find it hard to comprehend - but it shows how bad it was. That was with loads of gas and air too.
If I ever had another it would be back in hospital with an epidural for sure!

BlowingAway · 06/12/2023 10:33

I also remember people saying well done afterwards and I felt like I didn't deserve it (!) because I was out of control and felt like I was just riding the pain and had no choice in the matter.

Wishing you the best for a speedy recovery, and congratulations on your baby.

TheBirdintheCave · 06/12/2023 10:36

dixeypeach · 06/12/2023 10:31

My 5th labour was just like that. In the car on the way to the hospital I was screaming and pushing the roof of the car. By the time I got into delivery they put me straight onto the bed and told me I was 10cm I started pushing and omg I really did think the pain was going to kill me. I went into another universe and was almost hallucinating. No time for any pain relief and I remember pleaded with my husband to help me. Id had 3 natural births before that but that last one was something else. The midwife told me afterwards that fast births are the most painful because your body doesn't go through the process of gradually getting to that point. Honestly women are amazing.

Yes, I think this is true as well. My labour was the slowest build up ever. It was about 30 hours of contractions that were 40 minutes apart, then a few hours of 20 minutes apart, then it went down to 15 then 8. By 36 hours son was born. I had a long and gradual build up in the intensity of the contractions which I think played a large part in how I coped with them.