Can you actually remember what labor felt like?

Tomkat8403 · March 2010

I can definitely describe it to people because I remember HOW it felt in comparison to other things. But I can't actually remember how the intense pain of those contractions actually felt even though I know they were horrible enough to make me groan through them.

I know I'm weird for trying to remember something like that, but I was reliving the whole thing last night on our home videos from that day. I labored for a long time at home, and my parents and sister were there with me videoing from time to time. I can see in close-ups of my face, my eyes roll back in my head and see myself go into this trance and shake and moan during contractions. It's crazy.

But I really can't remember the pain, and the longer things go on, the details of the actual birth are fuzzy too.

FrickandFrack · March 2010

I still remember it.

meryltheresa · March 2010

I can really only remember right before I Ick!

. I just remember feeling like someone was stabbing me in the gut. I couldn't sit still, I had to keep moving.

SWMcFarland · March 2010

Not really, and the whole thing was pretty traumatic. I'm sure it is supposed to happen this way, otherwise people wouldn't have more than one!!! ;-)

RD'sgirl · March 2010

I don't remember how the contractions felt but I do remember they HURT ALOT (I can't really complain though because I was only contracting for an hour by the time I got to the hospital and they checked me and I was 6-7 cm, so it went by pretty fast)! As far as actually giving birth, I didn't feel a thing, the epi worked f*cking wonders!!!!!

Heather577 · March 2010

Yes I remember. And that was 12 years ago (this Friday). I never went into labor with the newest DD, because I had a scheduled c/s, but I remember very clearly what labor was like and how intense it was with #2.

I don't remember much about my first labor though. It was almost 15 years ago.

ksayles · March 2010

I still remember it.

My BFF has a 4wk old and every time we talk I shudder from remembering the pain. I am talking about healing, not pushing. I had contractions for 4wks before I actually went into labor... that will never be forgotten.

lwrigley2000 · March 2010

Yes. That's why (amoung other things) I'm in no rush for baby #2 just yet...

josswhedon · March 2010

I THINK I remember it, but in all honesty I think my brain is only recalling the good parts! I remembering there BEING contractions and begging for the EPI after my water broke, I remember that I was shaking uncontrollably from the IV, but mostly I remember the sense of relief when she came out and seeing her little face for the first time and grabbing her little hand. that feeling totally trumped the pain.

ladysingstheblues · March 2010

I remember, although it's starting to get hazy because I told myself immediately after giving birth that I would just ask for the epi as soon as possible next time, and now I'm all like "Oh, I'll try again for med-free."

I remember feeling like my ass was going to explode, I was going to vomit, and then die. And they'd have to cut the baby out of me.

Tomkat8403 · March 2010

I was in labor (REAL labor), with contractions three minutes apart for almost exactly 24 hours. I think I was just so tired by the time it all happened that things got fuzzy. I did finally cave and get an epidural around 12:00-2:00 (can't remember exactly when right now). After that I got rest from the contractions until it was time to push and then things got intense again. But maybe because it was so long things got fuzzy for me at some point.

Tomkat8403 · March 2010

ladysingstheblues:

I remember, although it's starting to get hazy because I told myself immediately after giving birth that I would just ask for the epi as soon as possible next time, and now I'm all like "Oh, I'll try again for med-free."

I remember feeling like my ass was going to explode, I was going to vomit, and then die. And they'd have to cut the baby out of me.

This. I was all for med-free. BUt after 18 hours of those contractions and only being dilated to 4, I told them to bring me something NOW. I had the baby like 5-6 hours later so the rest went pretty fast.

chickiesha · March 2010

Yessssss I remember ... those pitocin induced contractions HURT

margeincharge2 · March 2010

No, but that's because I didn't get to labor.

I do have trouble describing the paralyzing pain I felt from haing HELLP/pre-e. I feel like I can remember the pain but I can't really describe it very well.

danamite14 · March 2010

An emphatic YES. Yesterday i had my 6 mo post delivery checkup with my OB, and while waiting for her to come into the room I started having very irrational thoughts that maybe I was pregnant again and that's why it was taking so long for her to come in. I almost had a panic attack. Seriously. All I could think about was how painful my delivery was. I mentioned it to my husband last night and he dismissed it saying that people don't really remember pain. I told him that the aches I felt "down there" yesterday say differently.

ALittleBirdy · March 2010

Absolutely. I remember all of it.

Steffsjet · March 2010

Never really had labor. BP spiked at 38 w 5 days, they tried to start and induction that failed, quickly had a C-section. Still get woozy from the first look at my incision. Yuck!

jamie.renee · March 2010

I still remember all three of my labors. The first and third were totally med free (also the shortest 2) and those are the ones that are the most vivid. I remember the second just not as clear as the other two. I had pretty good labor and deliveries though, yeah I was in a lot of pain but for me it didn't seem as bad as I have seen other people go through.

MamiJam · March 2010

My memories are a bit fuzzy too but I do remember the feeling, especially the rise and fall pattern of the contractions and being inwardly focused. Transition contractions were the toughest but I remember the crowning part was the worse pain I could ever imagine!!

BeanieWeanie · March 2010

I remember it pretty well. I had my eyes closed the entire time and I was screaming and cussing. I couldn't speak. It's hard to describe just how painful it was though.

It's given me a whole new pain threshold, which is kinda good. I broke my arm and couldn't go to the doc for 16 hours but when they asked me, on a scale of 1 to 10, how painful it was, I said 4 or 5. Before DS, I would've said 9.5. lol.

NDwife07 · March 2010

ladysingstheblues:
I remember, although it's starting to get hazy because I told myself immediately after giving birth that I would just ask for the epi as soon as possible next time, and now I'm all like "Oh, I'll try again for med-free."

I remember feeling like my ass was going to explode, I was going to vomit, and then die. And they'd have to cut the baby out of me.

Love it. I mean, I hate it, but I love your description. I could have written this word-for-word!

mrs.tashnash · March 2010

I can remember everything but weirdly enough I would still do it over again in the exact same way.

I went med free so I felt everything but I knew well enough going into it how much it was going to hurt and other than transition everything was just how I thought it would be. Transition was WAY worse.

Mrs.C042807 · March 2010

I do remember the pain, but at the same time, I can't remember how intense it really was. Does that even make sense?

I remember everything from being in labour, but can't imagine anything comparable to the pain of it.

mj0612 · March 2010

I can't and always try to. Not that I really want to remember the pain, but I hate that any parts of that day are fuzzy. I remember writhing and screaming and cursing, but not the actual feelings.

MrsV092207 · March 2010

I had a c-section and YES I can still remember and I'm still nervous about having another one (if we are ever blessed with a 2nd). I could move my leg during the surgery and I remember hearing the dr freak out at the anesthesiologist, and I had a SHOOTING pain in my vag the whole time. I kept saying really loud "I HAVE PAIN IN MY VAGINA! I HAVE PAIN IN MY VAGINA!" Looking back it's hilARious but it was not really fun at the time. I think MH was trying not to laugh.

Oddly enough, when I was actually in labor (the c was unscheduled) I was not in any pain. The nurse told me I must have a high tolerance for the contractions. Dang cervix.

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