Giving birth

[maria1995xxx]

Hi I was wondering how bad the cramping is during contractions and the pushing stage. Like will I still be able to breathe if I didn't use gas and air? How many of you think it's made you neauseous? Also regarding epidural I don't think I want one because it can make you not know when to push etc I've heard anyway. This is my first baby and I want it all to be as natural as possible but with a good understanding of pain too.

The contractions were painful and on the way to the hospital I could barely sit. I had had and air was at a birthing suite and desperate for an epidural but they didn't do them there . So I just had the gas and air . Tbh it was more of a distraction for me then pain relief I did have some paracetamol too. I found the contractions worse than actually pushing the baby out it was a relief to be pushing them out although I did get the burning ring of fire! It was quick and I had minimal stitches after.

I got a minute between contractions I think but then maybe just 30 seconds the time between went very quick I would just about have chance to have a jelly belly or half of one :)

[quote racheybaby]@maria1995xxx
Hi Maria, sorry you're feeling a bit lonely through the process, when are you due?
I'm due in about 3 months and have started attending classes regarding the birth online. My favourite (in terms of information, style, how interesting they are (some send you to sleep)) have been the classes by Louise at ' let's talks birth and baby'. I attended class 1 on labour (completely free!) and despite saying I wouldn't pay for any classes I paid for the complex labour and birth class (£15) and loved that. Shes's funny and gives so much informative and will help you feel so much more in control and understand your options. There's loads of other people logged in those classes firing questions in the chat which stops you feeling so alone too.
Also maybe read up a bit on hypnobirthing if that haven't already. I'm not sure how much I'm taking on board but it's nice to absorb the overriding message which is that birth is not something you should feel afraid of [/quote]
I'm only 14 weeks ok thanks I will look into it xx

@maria1995xxx Not at all but anything extremely painfull I would describe like this. I've had spd/pgp in my last 3 pregnancies so was pretty used to tolerating pain without meds, not been too bad so far this time (20+2 now). Labor starts out just a bit uncomfortable, I thought it was just braxton hicks with our 2nd until they examined me and said I'd started to dilate. After 3 vb's I've come to the conclusion that it's not that bad while waters are intact, once they go then it's a whole other level of painful. With our 3rd I rocked up to hospital and was examined, the midwife said to me "I expected to be sending you home because you are so calm but you're 5cm so can stay". It's worth every second of pain once you get to hold your baby.
I haven't noticed anyone mention the pain after birth... you get contractions after birth especially if you breastfeed as your uterus shrinks back down, enjoy those. Manageable without pain relief but not nice either. I needed no pain relief after my cesarean but other women in my family seemed to really suffer with it after.

It is absolutely true that every birth is different, and it’s largely dependent on the position of the baby. My daughter was back to back and half turned later during labour. The pain was out of this world. I couldn’t walk, or stand, or lie down - I was just wriggling in a corner screaming the place down before I was even 1cm. It bore no resemblance to period pains whatsoever. Pethidine didn’t even take the edge off and gas and air did zilch. It took a superhuman effort to sit still long enough to site the needle for the epidural. But the epidural was amazing; my body just relaxed and did what it was supposed to do, they were able to break my waters and I went from 1cm to 10cm and pushing in 4 hours. I’m not saying any of this to scare you. On the contrary - there are an array of things available to help you - don’t decide in advance against any of them. Keep your mind open, see how you do, and don’t torture yourself in the name a of pain relief free birth. There is zero point in making this worse for yourself than it needs to be.

Maria1995 This one gives me a bit of hope because my periods are so bad that I can't get up sometimes have to lie on floor and also wear nothing in case I get really hot but then get shivers with it too. I hope it's not worse than this

A friend of mine was like this and found that improved after the birth of her daughter.

@RealisticSketch

Maria1995 This one gives me a bit of hope because my periods are so bad that I can't get up sometimes have to lie on floor and also wear nothing in case I get really hot but then get shivers with it too. I hope it's not worse than this

A friend of mine was like this and found that improved after the birth of her daughter.

Was her birth similar to her period pain as well? Xx

I had a complication free (albeit long) birth and basically had REALLY bad period pain then the actual birth was like doing the most almighty poo.
Honestly the worst thing for me was just that it was knackering.

(And at least the period pain feeling comes and goes with contractions, but actual period pain is just constant - for me)

@IHateThinkingUpANewUsername

(And at least the period pain feeling comes and goes with contractions, but actual period pain is just constant - for me)

I wish people wouldn't say this as then it is a big shock in labour if you don't get a space between contractions like you're expecting

@maria1995xxx best advice I got (I could not follow with 1st as he was too quick, but will with this 2nd pregnancy if given chance).

A random (quite young!) guy in a dance club (I was 8m pregnant) after we finished dancing looked me and said: "you're about 36w, right [he was spot on!]? Let me give you one piece of advice. Take all the pain meds they offer. Don't be a hero, there are no medals for this".

I looked in awe and he then said he is a OG doctor and not a wizard to read my mind but I found his advice so sweet and well-meant he made me feel really nice.

maria1995xxx sorry I don't know, we've chatted about our birth experiences but she has never said how the pain compared to her period pain specifically.

The contractions were very intense for me in the later stages, but yes I was able to breathe. It's important to note that even if you want an epidural you might not get one, it depends on availability of doctors and anaesthetists and beds on the labour ward...IME they're very keen to have you deliver in the birthing centre as it takes pressure off the doctors.

Gas and air didn't make me nauseous but I did get nauseous and was sick during the transition to active labour.