Honest experience of childbirth

[BumbleAw]

Honestly speaking, exactly how painful was it? Have you experienced anything that's hurt more?
What was worse, contractions or pushing?

I'm currently pregnant with my first and expecting it to be the worst, most painful, experience ever, just wondering if that's about right.

It does hurt but it's productive and you know it's going to end.

Afterpains however. They don't warn you of them. Get painkillers.

Get a lightly dosed epidural, OP.

It's not necessary to be in agonising pain these days.

Extremely painful, and no I've never experienced anything anywhere near as painful before or since.

Contractions much worse than the actual pushing. Transition so from around 7-10cm the most painful part by far.

The actual pushing was miles less painful but I don't know about the birthing part specifically because I've only had ventouse deliveries so there's been more 'space' due to episiotomy so didn't have the burning/stretching pain people describe normally.

I was induced. Not sure if that makes any difference, but labour was by far and away was the worst pain of my life - certainly worse than breaking my collarbone and gallstones, which are the other most intense periods of pain that I can remember.

All I can remember about being in labour now is an overwhelming feeling of wanting to die so that the pain would stop. Oh, and vomiting a lot in response to the pain. None of the pain relief seemed to even touch the sides. I eventually had an emergency c-section after 29 hours of labour, and that was a huge relief.

DD was more than worth it though, and I would go back and relive that hell all over again in order to have her!

So my experience isn't comparing childbirth and contractions, but just a branch to research off of if this is something you're considering. I was dead set on no meds at all, I got to 42 weeks and was not dilated a bit so I accepted an induction. Though I was against it all my pregnancy, I didn't do research on it. I didn't know pitocin and no meds is a bad mix (or could be, not everyone experiences it) I was in labor over 26 hours, hard contractions because pitocin forces them and they can be very painful and intense. If I had known that, I would've considered am epidural. I was shaking uncontrollably and couldn't relax one but in that 26 hours. If I had been pain free (ish) I'm sure I could've managed. The contractions themselves were like crazy period cramps. It ended in an emergency c section for a variety of reasons.

My second was set to be a VBAC and I went into labor on my own at 37 weeks. Full on contractions and similar-- strong period cramps that got closer and stronger. I had another emergency c section because of hemorrhaging but for me, that was my experience. Contractions were very similar to strong and consistent period cramps.

I've had 4. Been induced every time. Two on the drip and 2 by pessary.
Always been able to cope without pain relief but I always fall to pieces at the transition stage. That's when I start crying for a C section or Epidural or simply telling them I'm going home because no one's listening to me 😂.
When I feel like that I always forget that's the hardest part and means the baby's ready to come out. And instead of focusing on that. I just fall to pieces and make my DH wish he'd never met me! So for me that's the worst part, but it's over quick.
The crowning of baby's head does hurt but it feels like a relief to be pushing. And when the baby's out it all stops and you feel normal again.
I'm due again in 6 weeks. I'm still petrified .

Mine wasn't bad at all and I have definitely had worse pain. However, a lot depends on you and your baby. If things go smoothly, ie you're in good health, quite fit, the baby is head down and not too late which often necessitates induction, it should be straightforward.

I was at home for most of my labour, walking around and up and down stairs, then went into hospital when my waters broke. My baby was born two hours later. I had no drugs or gas and air and can remember all of it. The only ;intervention', for want of a better word, was that I had a small episiotomy and stitches but that wasn't a problem. It was an amazing experience but I do realise I was fortunate. I hope it is the same for you and wish you luck.

It's completely individual. Don't panic.

My first labour was induced on the drip and the pain was unmanageable. Was in constant pain, overwhelmed and contractions felt out of control. Asked for epidural, it didn't work. Ended with a c section. Recovery was a breeze, much easier than I thought.

Second labour was a VBAC. Contractions were completely manageable. I only used TENS as pain relief. I felt "myself" in between the waves. I was totally that annoying person who just "breathed through it".

I'd recommend hypnobirthing for the breathing exercises. I wouldn't believe the stuff about a good mindset will lead to a perfect birth because it doesn't always go that way. It's important to think about the different birth options and what you'd do if need to be induced, have a c-section, etc.

The ring of fire is the worst bit but by then you're nearly done. I've had four, my first one was less than an hour start to finish, second I had an epidural and she was two hours, all I felt for her was the ring of fire. Third was induction but still didn't have an epidural, it was too quick once I started. Fourth was a c section so no labour. But honestly, no matter how much it does it doesn't hurt, once you have that baby in your arms you forget everything.... hence why there are women like me with four plus kids 😂

Everyone's experience of childbirth is different but the truth is that no-one can describe it in words you truly understand until you've experienced it yourself.

My first as soon as easy that I thought I couldn't actually be in labour. It literally was an hour and a half. I had no pain relief. Obviously it was stinging as she crowned but the rest was manageable.
I went on to have 3 more. Not all as easy but has and air is good.
Remain upright and walking as much as you can. Gravity is your friend.

I have a 2 week old and honestly I can't remember what it felt like already lol.

Both births I've had were in the pool and very quick but the pain was manageable and you do forget about it instantly.

I had a sinus infection in last 2019 and the pain was much worse than my first birth.

The strangest thing about IMO, was that you just had no control over your body at all.

It was like being possessed or something. Nothing would stop it.

my only advice would be - be open to pain relief. There is so much pressure to not use any, and that is obviously crazy.

No, I've never experienced anything that was more painful. But I didn't have any pain relief (for various reasons, not an anti-pain relief stance or anything) and it wasn't that bad. With DD1 it was worse because I panicked a bit which didn't help because then I was just stressed at the level of pain. The second time I was more like "yep, I remember this, no need to panic".

Pushing was much better than the contractions beforehand, mainly because it felt like I was finally actively doing something, rather than just having it happen to me. Plus mentally it was easier knowing I was in the last part (even though it took 40 mins of pushing with DD1).

I did have a haemorrhage after DD1 which wasn't great. But tbh I don't really remember it as I was a bit out of it from blood loss. I had a 2nd degree tear both times but didn't feel it happen, so don't think it made the pain worse.

Fortunately for me, the recovery both times was quick and not particularly painful beyond a bit of soreness from the stitches.

Absolutely this about it being "intense".

For me, pushing was not painful as such. It was just very, very intense. I was making quite a lot of loud noise but not from pain, more from a position of needing to release this intensity somehow. I didn't have the "ring of fire" sensation that some people talk about.

Just thought I’d share a positive one - I had 3 days of back it back labour but it wasn’t induced, so it was honestly fine. I managed with a tens machine and then had a pool when it got more intense. I was ‘saving’ the gas and air for when I felt I really needed it, and I never got to that point. It was very powerful and very intense in some ways but the pain was way more manageable than I expected. I felt like an absolute badass superwoman afterwards too.

The amount of people who told me; it's just like a really bad period cramp - but a little bit worse; oh if they'd have been anywhere near me at the time I think I'd have tore their faces off!

Yes it hurts, I've never broken a bone or had any similar pain to compare it to. Research all types of pain relief. For me the constractions were painful, especially towards the end. First time I was induced with pictosin and had an epidural a few hours after. I could not cope. Second time, keen to try a more natural birth I used gas and air. I was expecting crowning to be painful but it was not at all. Neither did I get after pains either time. Second time I remember calmly telling the midwife, I can't cope, I can't do this, between constractions.

I’ve had 3 babies. Contractions were horrendous and pushing was too. Second birth was the most painful pushing but I had no time for pain relief to kick in. Third was induction that went from 0 to 100 very quickly and ended in EMCS. I was begging them to just put me under after they decided to give me a general anaesthetic. My body was trying to push him out at 5cm. When I came around after the surgery, I needed the maximum dose of morphine because I was in so much pain.

Labour has definitely been the worst pain I’ve experienced and it’s a very different pain from anything else I’ve ever felt. Worth it for my 3 perfect children though.

First birth was an induction and I had an epidural so was dreamy, however I tore quite badly so was sore the following day and for what felt like ages after.

my second was a breeze, contractions were painful but manageable with gas and air and she came out with two pushes, didn’t feel any ring of fire and the contractions were worse than the birth itself. Don’t scare yourself, birth is different for everyone xx

The night before my waters broke (at 36 weeks!) I had one of the worst IBS attacks I'd ever had. I was really panicked, because I tried my breathing exercises, only to find that they didn't help.

When I actually went into labour, it was nothing like the pain of my IBS cramps.

@BumbleAw even if it's painful, you are always aware that it's a productive pain, and there's a baby at the end of it!

Please don't focus too much on the negative stories here. There's actually, even if it doesn't sound like it, a lot to be enjoyed about the process of giving birth. There's nothing like it.

Good luck to you

I was induced and it caused my contractions to be constant with no break, and no time for pain relief apart from gas and air.
It was the most incredible life changing pain, but you get through it - because you have too. I have a low pain threshold and I got through it, you will too! Women are amazing.
The contractions felt like when you have a stomach bug and those horrendous stomach cramps you have, but worse.

Like others, the actual pushing (even with the ring of fire) was a relief.

Childbirth sucked for me. The 2nd time was worse. A lot faster and a lot more painful.

But everyone's pain threshold is different.

Do what you have to do to get through it. If you need/want the pain relief, take it.

It will hurt. But you will get over it and be ok. Just try not to panic. Good luck 🫶🏻

I didn't push either of my babies out but experienced labour with them both. With my first I was induced and managed for a very long time just using breathing techniques before moving onto gas and air. I actually found those contractions to be not as bad as I was expecting. But when they increased the drip, my contractions were back to back with only around 10 seconds break in between. I had to have an emergency c-section for other complications but I was ready to ask for an epidural at that point. With my second I went into labour naturally, and I feel like those contractions were WAY worse. I think possibly due to the fact I had scar tissue from my c-section.

Everyone handles labour differently and has different pain thresholds. I was pleasantly surprised by how well I handled the pain the first time around. I highly recommend looking into breathing exercises/hypnobirthing.

Good luck when the time comes!

Worth considering what options will be available though.

A lot of people like the idea of a pool - but most women I know couldn’t access one, as it was already in use!