Child birth? Concerned

[xttcbabyno1x]

I'm 36 weeks pregnant & yesterday due to some leaking I had to have a speculum, I haven't had any smears yet as I'm 24 currently so that was my first time experiencing that. Honestly it was so painful and now I'm really worried I'm not going to cope well with child birth! I was thinking so positively and now I'm absolutely terrified

I totally get your fear. I had the same fear and had an ELCS so can’t give you any reassurance about it not being that painful or how itl all be worth it 🙈 The fear was keeping me up at night and I literally couldn’t breathe properly until a consultant had told me I could have a section.

I have had smears though and now have a bad smear result and cells needing removed on my cervix. The speculum shouldn’t hurt if they do it gently and I think they usually put some gel on it to stop it hurting. It’s usually just a kind of stretching feeling. I’m terrified of having to have the procedure done on my cervix though.

Maybe if you had an epidural you’d be more comfortable? Or do you feel like you’d rather have a c-section at this point?

Oh bless you lovely!

I've totally had my heart set on a water birth, diamorphine and gas and air but now I'm concerned, not sure why the speculum hurt so much it felt like they were ripping me apart in all honesty and it's just freaked me out! If I can't handle that, how will I handle pushing a baby out 😂 I'll speak to the midwife about my concerns but might have to talk about a c section as I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do it x

Were you given any instructions about breathing, relaxing your pelvic floor etc? Do you have a tilted uterus? I do and must have a cushion under my bum and sit on top of my hands (clenched into fists) to raise my cervix enough for a speculum to enter pain free.

I wonder if you just had a poor practitioner!

It's ok. You can still do this.

Remember the speculum was going in and your vagina wasn't expecting it.

Baby is coming out and during labour everything will open up and get ready for baby to come.

I've had issues with smears, during one they couldn't even insert the speculum due to clenching and pain. I'm 35.

Had my first natural birth last year (vbac) and it was fine. Also on diamorphine, and gas and air for the final part. The body takes over - I had precipitous labour and panicked, but despite my protests that I could hold the baby in until they topped up my morphine, it just wasn't physically possible (and they declined more morphine!). My delivery was 12 minutes including an internal maneuver for shoulder dystocia. I didn't actively push until after they freed her shoulder and told me to get her out in one go.

Birth is a very different experience to a speculum or sweep (which can also be a little rough depending on the midwife, though better than a speculum). The feelings are intense, but short lived. They fade after the baby comes safely.

Also you can't have a water birth (also my plan) after diamorphine or pethidine, in my trust at least.

I@Flittingaboutagain I was told to raise hips up and feet together which I did but it was just so painful!

@Twizbe that's true, I was nervous anyway which didn't help and then like you say my body wasn't expecting it, my cervix was tightly closed and I guess everything just wasn't ready for that! Hopefully as you say when I'm in labour as my body will be ready for it I will be able to do it

It just really worried me x

@Blessedbethefruitz I'm glad it's not just me thank you x

They said I could have diamorphine but only before the water birth and so that it pretty much stops working by the time you need to push and be in the water! Going to take it as I go I think but glad it's not just me who didn't do well with the speculum!! X

I absolutely hate that bloody speculum, it's horrible.

I had a water birth and gas and air it was absolutely fine.

As another poster says with birth your body is dilating and opening which is not the case with the speculum which is forcing you open. Don't let that put you off.

@Tryingtoconceivenumber2 thank you so much that's honestly really put my mind at ease I'm glad I'm not the only one who struggled with the speculum! X

@xttcbabyno1x your definitely not x

It's very, very different I promise!

I refused vaginal exams because I always have a bad experience with speculums and examinations etc and I really didn't want it to effect my birth.

Your body is designed to give birth, that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt but it's not the same kind of pain at all. It's purposeful, a bit like being sick out of your vagina to be honest!

I've had two babies and I still can't cope with a speculum. It's very different - not to mention you can have pain relief in labour ! It will be ok.

I had my first baby age 24 and now will soon be having my second age 25. So I've never had a smear either.

Honestly, I screamed out in pain with the speculums for the examinations 🤣 I did not expect it to hurt that much, but I completely agree with you that I felt like I was ripping open! So weird.

My birth on the other hand was fine pain-wise. I just had gas and air but I gave up with it before I got to pushing because I just was too focused on pushing to remember to use it.

I'm not worried about the pain with my next birth, but I'm definitely not looking forward to the speculums!

Hope all goes well for you ❤️

If this helps, I had a water birth with my second. It was beautiful. Honestly best day of my life.

It was quick (under 3 hours) got to the hospital at 4am and was in the water soon after.

The warm water was just amazing. I honestly didn't believe it could be a pain relief but it was. I had gas and air and a couple of contractions I felt the tightening but no pain.

I loved being in my own bubble where no one could touch me. It was dark, I had my music playing and was allowed to just be.

I experienced the foetal expulsion reflex (I didn't know about this until recently - wish I'd known at the time) my waters broke in the pool and then my whole body heaved like when you vomit, but out the other end and that was my body pushing my baby out. I didn't have to push that much.

When she was born my DH picked her up out of the water and gave her to me.

It was so wonderful.

Beautiful ❤️

This was like mine too x