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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Giving birth

40 replies

Mumzieto2x · 16/08/2013 21:23

So how many ladies think that giving birth is very painful? Or some women think that other women make it look more painful than what it I'd for instants ( one born every min) obviously its not gonna be pain free but it's interesting to get some ladies reviews :) x

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redcaryellowcar · 16/08/2013 21:29

My experience was it was painful, mostly in the lead up as contractions got stronger. My baby was induced and back to back so whilst I have nothing to compare to apparently it's not the most comfortable way to pop your baby out, the actual pushing bit I found fine and its so true when people say you forget it all almost instantly as you have gorgeous little mini person to cuddle.

sarahleanne · 16/08/2013 21:38

i found it so painful, no pain relief apart from gas and air, and i was induced on a drip. I don't think the women on one born every minute exaggerated atall lol, I was in agony haha.im guessing you have kids already because of your name? :)

thisisyesterday · 16/08/2013 21:50

IMO/E it's incredibly painful! like nothing else you can describe really. But it wouldn't put me off doing it again

Fifi2406 · 16/08/2013 21:57

I only found it really really painful a couple of times when I got the initial shock and panicked the first few seconds of each contraction near the end and I found panicking made it worse but as soon as i relaxed after a couple of seconds and breathed properly the pain was gone even though the contraction hadn't finished was just a bit uncomfortable! What was worse for me was how my bits felt after!!

Fifi2406 · 16/08/2013 21:57

Also I had no pain relief at all until my stitches then I had gas and air

Sarahmains40 · 16/08/2013 22:03

I'm 6 weeks and I have to say I've wanted a baby for year but labour has put me off for so long its a really big fear.

What is the pain like my friend told me the week up to labour she felt like her back was going to give way. And she said the contractions were once top of her bump if that makes sense were as I thought it would be around your groin area.

I know further on in pregnacy this will keep me awake with worry,I'm such a control freak and this is all out of my control

mamamidwife · 16/08/2013 22:10

Very painful, with the drip more painful than I could have imagined, and then I shouted at them to turn the drip off
In some ways it's not how painful it is, it's how well you cope with pain, everyone's different

sarahleanne · 16/08/2013 22:11

sarah try not to worry, this is what our bodies are designed for. and if its the pain that scares you then theres so much pain relief available these days. contractions are painful (obviously), I had all mine in my lower back but one way or another your baby will have to come out and you just need to stay calm and literally breathe through the contractions.

LoveBeingItsABoy · 16/08/2013 22:17

Breathe and focus on something, for me it was a figure of 8 with my hips.

Ok so yes it's not a pleasant feeling, being tense and fighting it if you like does make it worse IMO.

Everyone is different.

KirjavaTheCat · 16/08/2013 22:17

Induced on the drip, gas and air. It was pretty painful. They didn't let me move around so I was on my back with SPD, and they had the drip on the wrong setting for about an hour - I was getting rolling contractions with no break!

Pushing was very pleasant for me, strangely. Almost comparable to that feeling you get, the pressure just before an orgasm. Very very strange.

LittleMilla · 16/08/2013 22:22

I'm 4 weeks post birth with ds2 - had ds1 via elcs as he was breech.

Would choose a 'normal' delivery again. Contractions bloody hurt but as someone said, the more you fight them the more they hurt. Would highly recommend an active birthing course as this helped me psychologically this time

Pushing was almost exhilarating. Without sounding odd. It's as if a higher being takes per your body and makes it do things you didn't know possible. Then afterwards you look back in awe at what you've achieved .

Original poster

Mumzieto2x · 17/08/2013 08:49

Sarahleanne yeah I have but unfrotantly didn't get the chance to go for virginal birth, but this time round I'm
Trying for a vba2c and I can say I'm very nervous!!! X

OP posts:

princesscupcakemummyb · 17/08/2013 16:30

im on my 3rd although my 1st was painful speeded up contractions my a drip and she was in the wrong postion so they turned her back which hurt like hell but no other then that i dont think labour is painful at all my 3rd is due november 2nd

LittleMilla · 17/08/2013 23:05

Mumzie - my second was vbac and I'd wholeheartedly recommend it. My recovery has been a squillion times quicker, despite a 2nd degree tear and v straightforward c section first time. Tummy has also shrunk a lot quicker .

Would highly highly highly recommend a natural birthing course of some sort. I was quite scared and this helped me a lot. I had pethadine so it wasn't hypno birthing, but helped me stay on top of contractions and generally rationalise everything, to a degree.

Good luck x

Blonde1982 · 18/08/2013 00:13

I was fully expecting to be in pain for hours and even days. in fact, looking back after 3 months, I can remember it being moatly hard work rather than painful. Don't get me wrong it does hurt, but it's not the same pain you get when you hurt yourself. It's so hard to explain but you will get through it because your body is built for this and is busy getting everything ready for you. Good luck, you will be amazing x

StarlightMcKenzie · 18/08/2013 00:16

My first birth was so painful that I continue to suffer PTSD from the experience at only 3cm.

My second birth didn't hurt much at all and when the time came I was surprised to be pushing the baby out. Stung a bit then as she came out superman styles and ripped a bit.

My third birth hurt quite a bit, but not enough to need any drugs. Pushing was nowt more than uncomfortable.

thecakeisalie · 18/08/2013 07:37

I found the pain difficult with ds2 but mainly because I'd been told I wasn't in established labour which made me panic as I thought I had hours to go yet. I coped without pain relief though and would have coped better if I'd known he was going to make an appearance in under 2hrs. I remember thinking 'you never want to be in this pain again, ever' during my contractions but looking back I think I was in transition at the time. I'm now 9wks with my dc3 so it can't have been that bad lol! The pushing with ds2 was amazing though because I literally got the urge to bear down and my body took over. I couldn't have stopped pushing if I'd wanted to. Just 3 minutes of pushing and he was out - the relief was immense.

I would suggest not having too many expectations of the birth you want to avoid disappointment as labour is so unpredictable. I think being open minded helps adapt to any difficulties along the way. Its an amazing experience and well worth the pain. Good luck with you vbac.

urtwistingmymelonman · 18/08/2013 07:46

I remember it being exhausting and very hard going more than painful but I may just have a selective memory.
now the stitches were a different matter.
they were horrible.

212VIP · 18/08/2013 08:14

Well said blonde and urtwisting!
Honestly OP try not to worry. The only reason people use the word pain is because there's no real alternative.
It is tiring. But only because it the equivalent physically of running a marathon (except you can't choose to give up!!)
However, the contractions don't hurt, in the proper pain sense of the word. It's a muscle contraction pure and simple. It feels like a sit-up to start with and then they build like you've done hundreds more. But with all those exercise freaks out there it can't be that bad a feeling can it.
The only thing I might describe as pain is a classic ring of fire. But you're guided through it by the midwives and it lasts SECONDS!

maja00 · 18/08/2013 08:16

It is painful. Really painful.

But it won't kill you, it isn't continuous and it won't last forever, so it is manageable.

TallulahBetty · 18/08/2013 08:28

For me it wad painful, but not as horrific as I thought it would be. And I say this only having had 10 mins of gas and air right at the end which did nothing as I was so far gone

TallulahBetty · 18/08/2013 08:30

And the type of pain was exactly the same sensation as a period pain, a cramp that makes its way over your uterus. But obviously a lot worse pain than a period pain.

212VIP · 18/08/2013 16:58

It's like the hardest sit up you've ever done mixed with the hardest poo you've ever done. Its not pain like a broken arm or earache...
Currently coping with labyrinthitis and would rather do through three childbirth than this!!

Bejeena · 18/08/2013 17:34

Ok so I had my baby three weeks ago so it is all fresh in my mind.

Yes it was painful but honestly it is a pain you can bear as you are so caught up in the fact that the baby is coming. The contractions were more uncomfortable than painful.

I had no pain relief at all, so not sure if this means my pain was not as bad as others but can't say.

Also my baby was almost 4 weeks early which had meant I hadn't done any sort of plan (would recommend not having birth plan) and also not had time to worry myself about it and I think this helped me. So try and relax about it all

Oh and at the end when you are holding that little baby it is worth everything, I can't describe the feeling

beckie90 · 18/08/2013 18:29

Think everyones different too, everyones labour doesn't feel exactly the same. I've had 3 boys and all my labours have felt very very different pain wise, my first was induced and unbelieveably was my least painful labour out of the 3 although it still bloody hurt I had pethadine, at the time I thought it was hourendous, until my second sons birth, 5 days long back to back and a big baby for my size, from 3cm it was hell, had half a shot of pethidine on the 4th night to try get some sleep, it didnt work. My 3rd boy is 3wks old today, he was a 3 day labour and I went without pain relief till the last 15mins of him been born, and I had gas and air it was really really painful and contractions were just one after another without a break but I just tried to relax as much as possible. I think the key is relaxation :) but yes it hurts, but thats all forgotten xx

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