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Babies: 0 - 3 Months
Most painful part of giving birth?
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Re: Most painful part of giving birth?
I puked immediately after they broke the fore-bag of water that was left and I felt the first contraction. That was brutal.
I went natural and had a sunny side up baby...every little bit was like hell. Sorry, I'm not going to sugar coat it. As soon as he was out it was pure relief.
ETA: My epi failed 3x, hence why I went natural.
With #1, I had an epi so the most painful part was contractions close together right before that.
With #2 and no epi, the most painful part was from 8-10 centimeters. Contractions were hell but the pressure and feeling like I needed to push before it was time was the worst part. It felt like I needed to take a huge poop after months of constipation and someone was saying, "don't poop!" LOL. Like that only waaaay worse. I felt his head *right there* and they were telling me not to "let" it out.
This is a scary thread btw! The best part is that, regardless of what hurts the most for YOU, when it's over you are just that more happy. You're thrilled to meet your baby and so relieved that the pain is over! GL.
Baking Blog
Doubling up contractions with an Epi that stopped working, the catheter to check for protein in my urine & some sort of excruciating pain in my back right before they started my c-section. Despite the pain, I would say that nothing compares to the pain of being sleep deprived when the baby comes home. That was tough!
The second worst part was the recovery. I had a big tear and sitting and walking was very painful for a few weeks. So be prepared, make sure you know you will have to recover afterwards no matter how the labor goes.
I went from 4cm to 10cm in about 45 minutes- and it was basically one long contraction. This all happened in the screening area for whether you ctually get admitted to L&D so they had me strapped on the bed for monitoring (i don't think there was any doubt I was in labor). Not being allowed to get up and progressing that fast was HORRIBLE. It was my hour of hell (and I look back and hope that that is how all my labors go b/c to go so quick is fortunate- but at the time I had no idea that that was going to be it).
Pushing was a relief. It hurt sure, but it felt like progress and the adrenaline was going.
Proud mama to a boys- 6/17/09 - a girl 2/23/11- and a boy 8/20/12
THIS...absolutely this. The contrax after they broke my water were JAW DROPPINGLY painful. Thing is, you do forget the pain. It's only been a little over three weeks, and I look at my little one and instantly forget the pain.
This exactly! I had an IV put in but that didn't bother me. Even the epidural being put in didn't bother me. Contractions after 7 cm hurt really bad even though I had an epidural! Breaking my water, pushing, crowning, shoulders, episiotomy, and stitches didn't bother me at all pain-wise. A lot of hard work, but no pain.
Amazingly, I had no pain during labor. I had my epidural as soon as I began feeling anything. I will have to agree with the others that the IV was pretty painfull, not to mention they had to stick me 4 different time because they blew my vein. If that happens, be prepared for a little pain because every time your blood pressure cuff tightens (which is about once every hour and a half) you feel a sharp throbbing sensation where they stuck you. I was very surprised to find out that the worse part for me came after the labor. I couldn't walk or really even move the first day because I was in so much pain. Just ask your Dr. to prescribe you something for pain right after delivery. It sounds crazy, but sometimes the Dr. won't unless you ask, then you have to wait for the hospitol to authorize it. Which can take hours! Good luck!!!!
Hi Tripps, I am currently 40 wks preggo with my 2nd boy! The only thing I was not prepared for during the first labour was when the nurse was pressing on my belly for me to pass the afterbirth...That I think was more painful then the actual labour! But again I was caught off-guard!
Good luck to you and remember, the pain only lasts for a few moments and then it's gone!!!
This...the last 2 hours of contractions, after they broke my water. AWFUL doesn't describe it (I did not have an epi). Pushing was like heaven after the dilating from 6 to 10 cm in 1 1/2 hours.
Morgan's Birth Story: http://www.fullcirclemidwifery.com/2009/06/morgans-birth/
Chloe's Birth Story: http://www.fullcirclemidwifery.com/2012/04/chloes-birth/
I would say that the IV was annoying. I had it for PIT and it was irrating but not really painful. It just kept snagging on things. I wanted to rip it out.
When you're in labor, sometimes little things bug you bc you're so focused on the contractions and your baby. My aunt gave birth on Friday and she was telling me yesterday that the blood pressure cuff really bothered her and her IV.
Morgan's Birth Story: http://www.fullcirclemidwifery.com/2009/06/morgans-birth/
Chloe's Birth Story: http://www.fullcirclemidwifery.com/2012/04/chloes-birth/
I agree with this. I hadn't planned to go without meds, but it ended up happening that way.
DD1...back labor. It's hell on Earth and nobody warned me about it. I was begging God to just let me black out because I couldn't take it anymore. I still don't know how I survived that pain for over 20hrs. A close second with that delivery....the catheter I had to have when my bladder had to be drained. My stupid epidural didn't work, but they still wouldn't let me out of bed to pee. Out came the cath and I screamed and screamed and begged them to take it out. They did it twice.
DD2...that was pretty easy. The most painful part was when I ended up with the worst 'roids ever. I had no idea what was coming out of my a$$, but it felt like a beach ball.
DD3....transition. I was jacked up with Pitocin because I was induced 2wks early because of PIH and Pre-E. From about 6cm on, I was in a world of hurt and, really, I don't remember much other than cracking some jokes with my doula and my OB on the bed with me hugging me (her shift was over, but she stayed in an unofficial capacity and another one of my OBs did the delivery).
Given my prior experience with the epi, I didn't get it with DD2 or DD3. My 1st was, by far, the worst of the 3 and that was the only one that wasn't an induction.
They all had their unique, fantastically painful moments!
This is a scary thread but at least you have people willing to talk about it. When I was due with my first child it was like a veil of secrecy with all the women in my family and friends. No one told me about the yucky parts or the painful parts it was all "it's worth it" and "it's a joyous experience..."
I think being prepared is best.
Someone posted about hemroids. Not only embarassing but by far the most painful thing I've ever been through. No one told me I would spend the last three months sitting on a donut pillow everywhere I went.
And I did have a C-section so more on that in a minute--the gas pain afterward was really bad and it traveled up into my chest (or so it felt) I thought I was having a heart attack. They gave me a suppository after the third day with nothing because I was so bloated with gas. It's so embarassing to be asked by everyone who comes in "have you passed gas?" and to have your DH there while they roll you over to stick something "up there" to get you to pass gas.
Good times and with the roids there it was good fun too.
The C-section happened after I failed to progress in my induction. I had an epidural though I never felt contractions--the pain was because I had to lay only on my left side for 13 hours becaues if I moved the baby's heart rate went up and my blood pressure went up (blood pressure issues were why I was induced at 37 weeks). All the blood pooled on that side and first everything goes to sleep and then it just hurts! I felt like a baby gettig an epi for that but I was miserable.
When they finally decided to go C-section I was sort of prepared but my epidural wore off on one side so I felt a LOT of pain during the surgery. They kept upping whatever they were dripping in that IV and it didn't help so they finally put me under and I got to sleep through the rest.
This is NOT the norm. Only a small percentage of people have this happen. Most just feel pressure and pulling and the pain is more like discomfort.
It was kind of sad because I didn't get to have the bonding right after with my daughter.
They did bring her to recovery right away so that was good.
I think you just have to be prepared. Ask your doctor questions too. If you're prepared for more outcomes they won't be as scary.
This. Although I can't complain about five hours of labor and 20 minutes of pushing with my first. Except that the nurse thought I was a big ol' baby in the early stages of labor when I was actually fully dilated.
?Don't grip the side of the bed if you can help it - I suggest prenatal yoga to prep yourself a little - it helped a ton!?
Labor & Delivery sucked. I was induced for pre-e and went into the induction with a headache that even morphine wouldn't kick - I labored for 28 hours, my epi failed and I pushed for 2 1/2 hours with back to back contractions almost the entire time. It hurt like h-e-l-l, I think one of the PPs described it best as being stabbed in the back and crowning was awful.
However for me the absolute WORST part of the whole experience was having my OB push on my stomach right after with one hand, and have her other hand up my vag massaging my uterus back down. Everyone told me "Oh once you have that baby you'll forget about the pain" - SO not true in my case, I would take contractions and crowning over and over again over the post birth stuff. Every time a nurse or OB came in to check on where my uterus was for the rest of my hospital stay I'd literally curl up in fear.
OMG... I had almost the same thing. I've never known anyone else with a similar birthing experience. I kept telling the nurse I felt so much pain and she kept telling me it was normal and it was "pressure" (yeah right). Once I kept feeling that "ring of fire" crowning and tearring, I figured that something was up. When the docs started stitching me up and I screamed I think they all finally figured it out. But IV twice and massive bruising and a level 3 tear. Oh and when the nurse was looking at my monitor to look for contactions and I was already getting ready to push, you'd think I was a pro, lol. I was also bruised internally for over 4 months (I only know this b/c when we tried being, ummm "marital" I'd have so much pain that it would take us another month to go again!)
I had someone come into my recovery room and do an "epidural followup" (I'm guessing since it didn't work) and then tell me that if I ever had another to say that I had a "challenging epidural" so they could go a different route. (whatever that means). But I too was told that what I experienced wasn't normal.
I'd say if you want to be prepared, read, A LOT, but be open to pain management and whatever is thrown at you. That baby is running the show and the better off you are with that, the better things will be.