Was transition the worst part?

drpayne

Please say yes

I planned to go natural last time.  I made it through transition plus 5 hours of pushing at the birthing center.  DS was OP and pretty big.  I was transferred to the hospital because he wouldn't descend.  The OB didn't rush to a c-section, thankfully.  He felt that if DS just had some time to move into a better position, I'd be able to deliver vaginally, which I did. 

So, I'm planning a natural birthing center birth again.  I like to think I'll be fine for #2, since I've heard a million times that transition is the hardest part and I labored for so freaking long before getting the epi.  I obviously have no idea what the pushing phase would have been like med-free.  Was transition the worst part?

StefandTodd

Most definitely.

wifeofadam

With my OP babies (I've had two) transition and pushing are about a tie.  They were equally painful, just in different ways. 

With #2, who wasn't posterior, pushing was definitely a relief.  It felt amazing.  So in that case, transition was the worst part.

mystrana

I have no comparison babies, but for DS, transition was horrible but pushing was even worse. I thought that I was going to die when I was pushing him. After laboring and starting pushing, I ended up with an epidural to be able to finish pushing him out. However, I've heard time and time again that 2nd and subsequent babies are easier to push. I've also heard many times that transition IS the worst for many moms.

mrsodonnell12

I would say transition was the worst for me. I thought pushing was a dream... I could finally *do* something!!

aylafsu88

For me transition was not bad at all because it happened so quickly.  I arrived at the hospital at 6 cm and my water broke in triage.  Within 2 hours I had dilated to 10 cm and pushed my LO out.  The worst part for me was pushing.  I was totally unprepared for the amount of pressure I felt and I freaked out!  I pushed my LO out in a few contractions and got a second degree tear because she had a nuchal hand.  I told me DH I can do first stage all day long, but second stage was the worst!!

superned

With DD, transition was definitely the worst.  I had a 15 hour labor with her and transition lasted at least two, almost three hours.  I felt more in control when I was pushing.

With #2 I never felt any real contractions until I was in transition and at that point things went really fast.  Pushing was way more intense and painful, but the whole thing went by so much faster than the first time.

vintagejjane

Yes. Definitely the worst.

mAnYaSha

It depends on how you look at it

When I hit transition I did not think I could do it any longer without help, but transition went very very fast for me. Don't be a chicken, it will be fun ! LOL

 

mb314

Transition was hard, but it wasn't the hardest part for me.  I labored in the tub, and that made things bearable.  The worst part was when I felt the urge to push (which was "overwhelming") and they made me get out of the tub and move to the bed for a cervical check.  Moving was super painful and they wouldn't let me push until the midwfie came in the room to check my dilation.  That was an excruciating wait and the check was super painful.

 My entire labor was quick and intense, and I think my transition was quick too.  

sschwege

Pushing was a lot of work, but felt pretty good!  While I was pushing I couldn't really feel the contractions.  I would say the worst part for me was 'the ring of fire' right at the end, but that's over so quick!  So I guess second place would go to transition

3GirlsMama

Transition is the worst part for me!  It's the only time I *know* I can't do it and think that I might just die!  Fortunately it goes quickly...hopefully you won't have to endure such a long transition period this time!

annabelle.27

Definitely.

LaurelBee

I agree with sschwege that the ring of fire was the worst part for me- I think it was the hardest part mentally too. Transition went quickly for me (1 massive contraction) but was told to hold off on pushing until my OB could get there, which was difficult too. For some reason I can forget that pain, but I can still remember the RoF...

sschwege

LaurelBee:

I agree with sschwege that the ring of fire was the worst part for me- I think it was the hardest part mentally too. Transition went quickly for me (1 massive contraction) but was told to hold off on pushing until my OB could get there, which was difficult too. For some reason I can forget that pain, but I can still remember the RoF...

Me Too!  It's so funny you should say that because as I was typing those words I thought, "God, I still remember exactly how that felt!"  ::Shivers::  

BelleIsa

sschwege:

Pushing was a lot of work, but felt pretty good!  While I was pushing I couldn't really feel the contractions.  I would say the worst part for me was 'the ring of fire' right at the end, but that's over so quick!  So I guess second place would go to transition

I had a similar experience. My labour was so quick and I was with midwives who didn't do cervical checks so I have no idea how many centimeters I was etc.  I remember it all being pretty easy until maybe 20 minutes before DD was born.  Then I felt overwhelmed and felt I couldn't do it, but by then DD was crowning (and that was the worst for me - they don't call it the ring of fire for nothing) and it was too late for an epi.

 

So for me, ring of fire was #1 most painful, then transition.  

Klikina

I always respond to these posts because I'm possibly the lone voice of dissent on this topic. For me, I didn't even know I was in transition. My Bradley instructor told me that some women just don't feel anything differently from active labor to transition, and that was true for me. The contractions were no fun, but they were manageable.

Pushing for 3 hours, that was awful. I do think if I'd changed positions it would've helped (I was sitting up straight, legs bent), so I've drilled it into DH's head to remind me to do that this time. It was by far the worst pain I've ever felt in my whole life, and it didn't help that DS was a big boy (8lbs9oz, 14 cm head circum.)

I'm not trying to scare you, but I just know that I was totally prepared for pushing to be a relief, and it was not.at.all. Everyone is different though! What got me through it was knowing I was almost done, and DS was almost finally out of me LOL.

Jess084

Absolutely.

nosoup4u

It was the hardest part emotionally because I was convinced I wasn't going to be able to go med-free after all, but I think pushing was harder physically.

ETA: Pushing didn't feel good, either, though. I pushed for 4+ hours with my first (ended in a c/s), and a good 2 hours with my second, so it's probably the fact that I have to push so freaking long that makes me dislike it the most.

But transition - a bit of a mindf*ck.

Temp76535187505890

Klikina:

I always respond to these posts because I'm possibly the lone voice of dissent on this topic. For me, I didn't even know I was in transition. My Bradley instructor told me thatnbsp;some women just don't feel anything differently from active labor to transition, and that was true for me. The contractions were no fun, but they were manageable.

This was me as well. Labor was only 4.5 hours total but it all was about the same for me. There was no no ramp up of contractions. They were intense and difficult from the very beginning.

The very worst part for me was the one cervical check I had when I got to the birth center. Laying on my back was excruciating.

pixieprincss

Yes. Physically, pushing may have been harder but transition messed with me mentally so much that I simply didn't think I could go on. I remember telling my MW and DH that I was done and needed to run away, I was angry, I couldn't go on, I was afraid, etc.

KelliLynee

You'll be fine. Transition was the hardest... I kept feeling like I was about to lose control, it was so hard to keep it together. Pushing was intense, but I was so excited to be almost done and to meet my baby. You just do it. No worries mama you've got this.

footnotegirl

For me, transition was most definitely the worst part. It just broke me. Pushing was great after transition, I felt in power and very successful with it, and the break in the pain between contractions was such a relief after the non break of transition. 

That said, LO was only 7 lbs. I had only a single 1st degree tear. So the ring of fire did not feel that bad. To the point where I actually said "Oh, so /thats/ the ring of fire. Not as bad as I thought." when I was going through it.

I am told I made some really ugggggggly faces though.  

jinnymb

I think you will do great a second time!!

I would say transition was the worst, I was tired in pain, and felt like I couldn't go on.

Pushing was the absolute best part of labor for me both times.  With that being said I only pushed for 20 minutes with DS1 and 5 for DS2. 

However, pushing for me was relief and felt good.  I felt back in control and re-energized and so happy to be close to actually having the baby.

The ring of fire hurt like hell but only felt like a few seconds and then the baby coming out quickly after made it nothing.  I don't remember feeling any tearing, but the stitching did hurt.

 

ashmin

Transition was definitely the worst for me.  Pushing was a relief and felt great!  The pressure was nothing IMO compared to the pain of the contractions in transition.

balibaby

I had very fast labors (under 3 hours for baby #2 and #3) and transition was the worst for me. I felt wild and out of control with baby#2 because I was progressing so fast, and with #3 it was just intense and I wasn't sure how long it would last. Pushing for me was no biggie, 2 pushes for baby #2 and 1 push for my big baby #3, all 9lbs 8oz of him and he was out!

GoldenPeaches

Yes, definitely.

For me delivery was cake. I had to ask the midwife if I was crowning. I expected so much more. I didn't feel any pain during delivery and as he was descending, only during transition. 

anna7602

Transition was terrible. I had no idea what it was, just that I was suddenly really uncomfortable and nothing my doula or DH could do made me feel better at that point.

Pushing felt like sweet relief. The fact that I a) knew exactly what it was and that b) I knew there was an end in sight probably helped a lot. I remember being in transition and thinking "omg, this could go on forever, I'll die!"

LadyMadrid08

Not for me.

The two worst parts were

1)when I was at 5cm for hours with very intense contractions coming right on top of each other.  My midwife thought I was in transition-I wasn't.  After this discovery I took an IV dose of drugs that helped me relax/sleep between contractions for about an hour.  Then I went into transition energized and ready to go!

2) The last 15 minutes of pushing.  I pushed for 2 hours and when I finally was pushing her out I was exhausted (well, who isn't?) and begging for drugs because I just "couldn't do it!"  Of course I didn't get anything because I was already at the very end.

Anyway, those were the absolute low points of my labor--especially the first one I mentioned.  I felt completely out of control and terrified because I wasn't even in transition yet so how on earth was I supposed to cope?  Duing transition I actually was pretty good--vocalizing, sitting on the yoga ball, getting back compressions, and having a heating pad rubbed into my back during contractions.   

Dman85

Absolutely!  I remember telling my husband I can't do it anymore, and less then an hour it was time to push. I just have to remind myself that when I hit that wall this time around, it means I'm almost done....of course I will forget that by then!

kdjudd

Transition and pushing were pretty equal. I pushed for four hours. I was exhausted, hungry, and never made any progress. A vacuum had to be used to get my baby out. She was sunny side up and had a hand beside her head. 

cautionwillburneyes

I just had my LO yesterday so it's pretty fresh in my mind.  I had a short labor (7 hours start to finish, but on Pitocin the entire time).  For me, transition was pretty bad and I started to feel out of control towards the end.  I don't think I really realized just how close to pushing I was though.  

Pushing was also quick, 3 pushes, but they hurt like hell and I would say that the relief of being able to push was negated by the ring of fire.  Baby was 9 lbs 10 oz and he didn't feel so good coming out!

 

jlh2716

Uh...that would be a YES! Transition sucked--it felt like someone was trying to rip my lower back open. It wasn't that bad before then, and pushing was a breeze in comparison.

mjcleve

Your birth story sounds like my second.  He was sunny side up and his head just wouldn't come down and I was 9/10 cm dilated for 5 hours before he finally came down.

I was so worried this time because of the pain of being stuck like that for 5 hours.  But this time my contractions started hurting at 6:30.  We got to the hospital at 7:00 and I had her at 7:30.  Transitional labor was so fast and so painful I was asking for an epidural when I got to the hospital because I figured I had 5 hours to go.  Clearly and luckily there wasn't time for an epidural.

Anyways...I would say with all three that transition was worse than pushing.  I kind of always thought that pushing was a relief.  I mean, it definitely hurts BAD but at least you're doing something and know that you're almost done. GOOD LUCK!  I hope this goes faster than your last...I know how horrible that can feel.