Long story short, a friend of mine doesn't want children because she is scared to death of labor. After a few glasses of wine last night she decided she wanted the down and dirty of my labor experience. I didn't get an epidural or have any narcotics, and while I think that labor was really hard work, it wasn't unbearable. I feel like the natural endorphins really helped and when I think of my birthing experience I don't feel like it was the worst thing I've ever been through. There's numerous emotional things in my life that I feel like were much harder than the physical pains of labor. I tried so hard to explain to her how I felt but I just didn't feel like I could articulate the true experience.
So how do you describe your labor?
Re: How Would You Describe Labor?
She definitely doesn't need to hear my story then. I prepared for labor to be this wonderful, amazing experience and I planned on going natural. She was face up so labor was THE most painful thing I've ever been through... After 29 hours of med-free labor and only progressing to 6cm, I gave in to the epi and had her 4 hours later. During labor I was throwing up and having to poop all the time. It was terrible, but totally worth it lol. I'm definitely not afraid to go through it again though.
So I guess without telling my experience to her you could say from me:
Labor, for me, was the most challenging, exhausting, yet so very rewarding thing I've ever experienced, and I'd do it again and again.
Mikaela is going to have a little brother!
Both of my labors were induced, so it may be different from someone who went on their own.
But with my LO, my labor was pretty easy. I was 3cm when I arrived, so I was techinically able to get the epi then if I wanted. I decided to wait, and opted for a pain reliever at first. Once I had my epi, labor was a piece of cake. I had a pain pump for when I felt I needed it, and before I knew it, it was time to push.
Bar tab = $156,000, Bus to Foxwoods = $0, Puking in the Stanley Cup = Priceless
DD#1 is 3! And LO#2 is on his/her way! Due Feb 26th, 2014.
BFP#1: EDD 5/7/2010 born on 5/20/2010. A little girl named Emily.
BFP#2: m/c 10/29/2012 EDD was 6/21/2012 Baby Hope was 6 weeks 3 days.
BFP#3: Twin B stopped growing at 8 weeks and 5 days. Found on 8/10/2014. EDD was 2/26/2014. Twin A is still doing great and due date is 2/26/14.
I kind of took it this way too, but after talking last night she seemed so relieved that it's not this horrible experience. I guess some of her co-workers told her horror stories and she's just not sure that it's something she can handle.
Mikaela is going to have a little brother!
Oh so, so true! I only had a valuum and novacain when I had my wisdom teeth removed and I literally sat in the chair crying from the pain. Then the pain medicine after made me throw up. Yes, I'll take labor over wisdom teeth extraction any day!
Worst pain i've ever experienced? Yes.
Was it honestly that terrible? No.
Even though I had back labor and was puking and shaking, I'd still say it was tolerable. I did not get the epi, and after 20 hours of labor she was born. That about sums it up in a nut shell.
Non-existant. I waltzed in at 11, joked with the nurses and DH until 3, and had the babies at 3:04 and 3:05. A scheduled c/s is the way to go. Tell her she can cross her fingers for that and not have to worry about pushing anything out.
Now thinking back on it (only 7 months ago, seems like forever) it really wasn't that bad. I was lucky that it only was about 4 hours total, but we didn't have time for epi so I just had the nubian(sp). I was up and stading up in my cousin's wedding the next day. Knowing how quick it went for me, I'd probably go without the epi next time, but def. take more relaxing time immediately following.
I loved being pg and labor was so quick I kid that I'd have babies all the time. (if my DH would let me!)
I know it can be way worse, but the outcome is unbelievable.
I, too, had awful back labor, vomiting, etc--but my labor was fast and I can barely remember what the pain felt like when I look back on it now.
Pushing her out, however, was the absolute hardest thing I've ever done in my life. It was terrible and I will never forget what it felt like--and I had an epi. It's the only thing in my life that I've ever been 100% sure I absolutely could not do, and then did it anyway.
I had a pretty easy, non-medicated labor.
I thought labor felt like I had to take a HUGE POOP. Ha!
Mikaela is going to have a little brother!
EDD- 06/13/2017
**Stinkerbelle-8-27-10 * Mr.P's 2nd Mama 7-27-07**
way easier than going to the dentist. surreal. and totally worth it.
I was nervous about Labor too. But had a birth plan and wanted to stick with it. I was in "Labor" for 18 hours, no drugs, no interventions. I pushed for over 3 hours. I broke my doctor's records. The next day the nurses would come in and say "Oh, so you're the one." I guess I was the talk around the water cooler.
Although I had a lengthy recovery (pushing that long has consequences) I would/will do it all over again.
I hope she gets over her fear because the birth of your child can be a beautiful and empowering experience.
Similar experience. Only novocaine and had to have teeth cut out and broken up. Ugh I was awake the whole time. I went through 3 bottles of Vicodin, was off work 5 days and took Motrin for about a month. I only took Tylenol after having DD and was out walking in the park 4 days later. Wisdom tooth extraction=worst physical pain of my life.
Horrible here.....planned on all natural but after LO passed her due date and how small I am they induced.Got cervidil. Beginning contractions were fine and even once they broke my water everything was bearable. I was using the ball, walking the halls, getting massaged....no meds. After a few hours I deveolped back labor pretty bad but stayed off the meds still. After 13 hours they started pitocin and then labor got bad. Since I had the pitocin and the baby had a head monitor on
(they couldnt accurately monitor her heartbeat from outside) I had to stay in bed and even had to have nurses reposition me. By this point I got the epidural. Only numbed my right side......so I was laying on my side, feeling half the side of my pitocin enraged contractions. After 22 hours of labor I was still at 2 cm =( They had to preform a c section where they discovered she was sunny side up(which is why she wouldnt dilate me). Worst pain of my life......but still tolerable and I will do it again very soon. Going to start TTC by the end of 2011. So worth it