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.

For me it wasn't the pain although that was a thing, it was the out of control feeling, not able to control my body with the contractions. It was also really busy so no midwife with me throughout, (I heard them saying I shouldn't be alone) older 1st time mother, induced (after waters broke early) and eventually ventouse delivery and my DH got there late, not his fault but...

Edit: Hurt more an ectopic absolute agony, nearly died also.

Absolutely horrible but I had a monster sized baby who had to be dragged out with forceps after a 19 hour labour.
I then had two C-sections with the other two monster sized babies
and their births were a joyful experience

Every labour is different. Everyone copes different.

3 labours.

First bad but long which made it hard. Haemotoma after was agony.
Second fine and very fast. Shockingly easy would have liked gas and air but didn't get midwives attention in time. Managed fine without.
Third horrific but I had obstructed labour and emergency c section

I've had nerve pain as bad as the first. It was definitely worse than the second. I don't think I could survive pain like the third again- but they turned my epidural off to prepare me for surgery then left me 3 hours no pain relief. The pain was my bladder getting f**ked and it's now completely broken so it's not normal labour pain.

With proper pain relief you will be fine don't worry.

To quote @Jb2182
"I had severe toothache a few years back and I never, ever want to go through that pain again but I would go through labour again if I had to."

Yes to this.

Thank God someone said it! Reading these is just mad. Why do women do it to themselves? Op if you opt for epidural (get it early - not as a last minute emergency thing) you don’t need to have any pain. They’re amazing.

Just watch the Kardashians where Khloe gives birth to True - relaxed, laughing, glamourous, family all around… that’s what giving birth with an early epidural is like… (well just the NHS version without the glamour, Birkin bags and private jets… 😂)

I had severe food poisoning when my DC was 4 months old. I distinctly remember that being much worse than childbirth!

Most painful experiences of my life so far:

1. Dc2
2. Appendicitis and surgery
3. Dc1

Even tho dc2 was more physically painful it was better psychologically than dc1.

I've had 4 and each labour was completely different as was the pain. I only wish in hindsight that I'd not spent my 1st pregnancy worrying about it. I now realise it's one of those rare situations in life that you have absolutely no control over. Contractions are hard to explain, it's like your body is being ripped apart for those 2 minutes or so that they last, then there's this intense peace/calm in between. I'd do it all again in a heartbeat to have my DC.

I went from 0 to 10cm in 28 mins. It wasn't particularly painful. I felt like I had an upset tummy and was going to have a gigantic 💩. I can't comment on pushing. I delivered a foot and was rushed into an emergency C-section under general. My second was also breach and delivered by C-section. I've honestly had worst pain. I put my back out and that was excruciating.

I reckon it depends on the person. The position of the baby. How your feeling on the day. Your mindset.

Both of my labours (two in total) lasted <2 hours from 2cm dilated to baby in arms. Most painful ~ 4 hours of my life but at least it was over quick and the relief after is enormous and wonderful!

It's pretty bad, not continuously so though....you'll get breaks in the contractions, you will also likely forget how bad it was. It's also exciting....and that moment when they handed me my baby's at the end were honestly the most wonderful moments of my life. The tea and toast were pretty good too!

Thought I was going to die. And that was with me off my rocker on gas and air as well as diamorphine 😂 I think the pain of the head coming out was worse than the contractions, but obviously that was for a significantly shorter period of time. And I'd had an episiotomy so dread to think how bad it would have been if I hadn't 🙈

Transition was fairly uncomfortable but I felt a bit 'is that it?' about the pushing part. It actually felt weirdly familiar and 'ah, yes, this!' and I remember thinking 'well I'm sure I'd remember if I'd done this before, so I suppose I haven't...'

Done it 9 times - 1st ended in an emcs, 2nd was a vbac with forceps, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 uncomplicated vaginal vbacs and 9 emcs. I think during at least one I said I must have died by now ,🤣 Worst pain ever during contractions nearing fully dilated and then pushing isnt so painful - just hard work. Just as the head crowns is pretty uncomfortable but you're almost there at that point! It's all worth it! Good luck!!

I just had my second baby a couple of weeks ago, VBAC so it was my first labour/vaginal birth.

At the time it was obviously very painful but even just two weeks along I genuinely can't really remember the pain, but I still feel on a high and like I want to do it again. I def agree with PPs in that the feeling of being out of control and the panic of not really knowing what is to come is worse than the pain itself. I probably could have had the baby out in fewer pushes had I not been so scared about the whole ring of fire thing but it really wasn't as bad as I thought.

I will say I had a small baby and a relatively quick active labour. I did intend to get an epidural but I reached 10cm very quickly and then it was too late! But hypnobirthing breathing techniques really do help. Also a tens machine is amazing for the earlier stages of labour.

Had three, first induced on a drip, used gas and air which didn't help with awful pain but made me care less about it😵‍💫
Other two no pain relief as prefer to move freely about ......... none of them compared to pain experienced with an abscess under wisdom tooth, only time I've cried with pain! Honestly op it's bad but can't be that bad otherwise everybody would stop at one child😉

I've had two csections and gall bladder pain was worse than them!!

Only with DC3 did I agree to an epidural.
If I had known, I'd have had one each time!

I have had 3 DC,

1 / first one very manageable pain at home, pain came in waves built up and then subsided, the intense tensing didn't hurt me until midnight and then I paced up and down watching the good wife and re-packed my hospital bag inbetween contractions. went in at 5am as they were hurting a bit more and was told i was 6cm, I had an epidural as I was very tired at this point as hadn't slept at all in almost 24hr, so it was very chilled after that, pushed for 20 min and he came out at 9.20, they broke my waters at 10cm as they were not breaking by themselves.

My 2nd DC I felt a very tense like a bowling ball in my uterus but no actual pain in middle of the night. It felt so weird, but it went away and I went back to sleep.

We got up in morning took oldest toddler to nursery and went to hospital for midwife check (37 week check im not in UK it is standard to have this at the hospital normal). I was examined by a student dr to check how cervix was looking and she called over the dr and asked him to check something, he then announced I was 6cm and needed to go to delivery, shocked doesn't even cover it. Zero pain I had another epidural as i was scared of pushing. 5 mins 3 pushes and he was out 4 hours after i was told i was 6cm.

3rd DC was a different story, I had gestational diabetes, at 31 weeks I had what felt like regular contractions which they saw on monitor so spent a week in hospital with meds to stop labour, I was also already 4cm but not in active labour, still had to be at home resting not allowed to go walking etc until 37 weeks.

At my 38 week appointment they checked I was 5cm but not active still and she warned me when it starts which was amazing it happened to get to hospital fast. We went home, partner went for lunch with a friend I was at home eating something whilst texting a friend about the morning when I suddenly had the most painful contractions I have ever had, it was v v intense very close together and very painful.

I had only been home about 40 mins, i called partner he was in middle of eating and said we have to go back now! He finished and we went back, luckily close to hospital. Partner trying to ask me about name on route I shouted very angrily what her name was and I wouldnt discuss it more, he got the message and said ok, great name lol. It was extremely painful I won't lie. At hospital I had to sit on the floor a few times, I was 8cm, had an epidural which took edge off contractions. I thought great will be like last 2, no pain pushing, unfortunately it didn't work like that this time. The epidural didn't work same way, too quick she was coming and not enough time for more. I felt all the pushing, and I did say I refuse to push her out, no, I won't to the nurses.

Baby had other ideas / body took over and she pushed herself out, I have never been so relieved for it to be over.

For me personally I would take up all offers of pain relief, my first 2 labours were so peaceful and calm, laughing and joking compared to unmedicated pain of my 3rd no comparison in how I felt about it. I know most will say to avoid epidural but I have no complaints.

Good luck and congrats.

I think I asked them to put me to sleep and cut him out of me at one point. Son was born at 28 weeks at 3lbs 3, back to back and it was the most painless experience of my life. Felt like someone was literally tearing me apart.

Second was emergency c section where it went wrong and healing was a lot harder.

So both rubbish.

I didn't find it too bad. Had gas and air for both, but for my second only for the last 40 mins. Contractions are the more painful, pushing is like diarrhoea cramps - you have to push and it's a relief to do so! Contractions felt like a bad calf or toe cramp for me. Unpleasant but definitely manageable. I never felt out of control or like I needed more pain relief. Hypnobirthing helped. Good luck!

I found it totally manageable without pain relief, only the transition was difficult as the contractions were so close together. When the pushing phase started the pain was completely gone. To me that bit just felt like throwing up... just down instead 😂

After my son was born I said 'Eh, I'd do that again.'

Birth was 36 hours long in total, 33 of which were at home. It was a very easy birth. I ended up with a 3B tear but I still feel like I lucked out with labour.

Second is due any day now!

I would take childbirth over toothache any day! 3 children. It's more of an intense pain than a pain pain.

The worst pain I've ever experienced. Feel nauseous even thinking about it now 🤢

The contractions when they get strong feel like an elastic band tightening across your belly. I have never felt pain like it.. but.. and you must know what's coming next.. after she was out it was forgotten!