Moms please explain to me...the 'Ring of Fire'

foxxy1 · October 2011

Quite a few of you had mentioned in another post about the 'ring of fire.' Can you explain what that is for us new soon-to-be first-time mommies? I know nothing can really ever prepare you for the pain of labor and childbirth but I'm curious to hear your take on it.

Unknown · October 2011

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dixee.deluxe · October 2011

The only thing I felt was my vagina feeling like it was stretched so far that I couldn't even push because I thought my whole body would implode through my vagina. My OB was also doing perineal massage the whole time I pushed, so that didn't help the pain!

(My delivery was med-free - but I did have an epi for labour)

Kristin83 · October 2011

Ok, please tell me you can't feel this ring of fire if you get an epidural?

dixee.deluxe · October 2011

Kristin83:
Ok, please tell me you can't feel this ring of fire if you get an epidural?

If I didn't feel it, I don't know if I would have had the motivation to push her out.

Unknown · October 2011

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gisa886 · October 2011

I have no idea. To me the Ring of Fire is a chain of volcanoes in the Pacific.

Mrs.Teddy · October 2011

its when the perinuem is stretching as baby is crowing/being delivered.

I had an epidural, I felt incredible pressure (which is overhwelmingly painful) for the last several hours of my labour despite top ups, pressure is hard to control. I did not however feel the "ring of fire" or anything really vaginally. I felt DS coming out, and I felt him wiggling in my birth canal as I was pushing but no dreaded burning!

Tambcat · October 2011

lol, a lady I work with was telling a hilarious birth story at a baby shower once, and she was like "I looked down, and I swear I saw smoke. There was SMOKE!"

Lina1030 · October 2011

It is a strong burning feeling in your lady parts (I actually said "It burns! It burns!" but it was so fast (seconds) and once the head is out it goes away instantly (at least for me). Nothing really that bad....trust me, or else I would not say I want another vaginal med-free birth.

CTri17 · October 2011

I didn't feel the "ring of fire" but I was in water so that could have been part of it

Lina1030 · October 2011

Kristin83:
Ok, please tell me you can't feel this ring of fire if you get an epidural?

some of my friends that had an epidural felt it...but they had either a walking epidural (not as strong/numbing) or it did not take good or wore off. I had an epi w/my 1st and did not feel a thing.

On the note of perinneal massage...my OB did a fantastic job putting pressure against my vagina when I was pushing and that explains (IMO) why I only had a tiny tear since DS came in 1 push and my labor being so fast and that he was a big baby.

elainej · October 2011

Lina1030:
It is a strong burning feeling in your lady parts (I actually said "It burns! It burns!" but it was so fast (seconds) and once the head is out it goes away instantly (at least for me). Nothing really that bad....trust me, or else I would not say I want another vaginal med-free birth.

Yes, for most people it's over fast. However, if you're unlucky, like I was, it can go on for a couple hours. (Hence my plan for an epidural this time.)

KFCupcake · October 2011

Aaaaaand this just strengthens my decision to get the epidural.

I'll never look at Johnny Cash the same.

dixee.deluxe · October 2011

On the note of perinneal massage...my OB did a fantastic job putting pressure against my vagina when I was pushing and that explains (IMO) why I only had a tiny tear since DS came in 1 push and my labor being so fast and that he was a big baby.

I had a 2nd degree tear, but it happened really quickly and as she was coming out. Her head was down there a looong time (she had a hematoma on her crown because of it) and my OB knew I wanted to avoid an episiotomy/vacuum so she just kept massaging.

I can't even think about it now because it hurt so bad. I can still feel it, I swear. Not literally.

BUT I DIDN'T HAVE TO BE CUT! I pushed for 2 hours and did it myself!

Patella1129 · October 2011

I didn't feel it and I had an epi. I just felt pressure, like I needed to poop really bad.

pensparade · October 2011

Yea I really don't remember this because my stomach was cramping up so bad, that's all I could feel. Total suckage.

nzmum · October 2011

CTri17:
I didn't feel the "ring of fire" but I was in water so that could have been part of it

This just eased my heart a lot haha.

MsNessa · October 2011

I honestly never felt anything I would describe as a 'ring of fire'. I had a med-free birth and pushed for 2 1/2 hours. But I ended up with a tear, so who knows, maybe I would have felt it without the tear.

learningfromlife · October 2011

I had an epidural and I didn't feel crap. I don't really remember any pressure, couldn't feel my episiotomy (or the stitches after) and I certainly didn't feel her come out. It's actually part of why I am planning to go without one this time... I had no idea if I was pushing enough because I literally could feel nothing. It freaked me out. I managed to get her out in only a few minutes of pushing, but I remember being terrified I was doing it wrong.

As odd as it sounds, I'd rather have the pain so I know I'm doing what I'm supposed to.

MsCat19 · October 2011

That would have been the point where I scared the woman in the next room who was having the New Year's baby - by yelling at the top of my lungs "GET THIS THING OUT OF ME." It was at this point they realized I may need a doctor in the room... not my shining moment... I did have an epi as well...

TeamHayes · October 2011

I really wish I didn't open this post. I think I am going to need fire starter or some other so g about fire on during my delivery so I can try to laugh at the irony of the situation

Laouli · October 2011

KFCupcake:
Aaaaaand this just strengthens my decision to get the epidural.
I'll never look at Johnny Cash the same.

THIS! If I could get TWO epidurals, I would!

starshollow · October 2011

TeamHayes:
I really wish I didn't open this post. I think I am going to need fire starter or some other so g about fire on during my delivery so I can try to laugh at the irony of the situation

I was thinking the same thing too. Some things are probably better left unknown.

JFH2010 · October 2011

Laouli:
KFCupcake:
Aaaaaand this just strengthens my decision to get the epidural.
I'll never look at Johnny Cash the same.
THIS! If I could get TWO epidurals, I would!

Amen! I'd like to roll around in a big vat of epidural. Think they'd let me do that???

mamabear0813 · October 2011

I had an epi and I felt it. I'm ridiculously jealous of everyone with an epi who didn't feel it! I tore a little and it still felt like I was pushing out a flaming coal. I had a full epi, on a machine controlled drip (like it didn't push some, then stop. It just dripped a little at a time whatever that's called) and it ran until after my stitches were done. It definitely helped with contractions, but nothing with the pushing pain.