- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Babies: 0 - 3 Months
What hurts worse - labor or delivery?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: What hurts worse - labor or delivery?
I really didn't think labor hurt that much at all (I went med free and stayed at home till 8 cm). I just remember thinking I was not in real labor yet because it didn't hurt as much as I though it would.
I wouldn't really say pushing hurt. It was just an uncontrollable urge, but pain doesn't quite describe it.
I said labor only because I didn't feel much during delivery...thank you epidural!
Agree! Even the epidural didn't ease the pain of back labor. Terrible!
For me getting to the first 3 cm during labour was almost pain free. But once I hit active labour, that changed. I started vomitting with every contraction. When I got to the hospital this time around, the anestisiologist was busy and couldn't give me an epi so I felt a little out of it during the transition period and could barely breath during delivery. I hope this doesn't scare you. My last two deliveries were great. I got an epi by the time I hit 4 cm and felt almost no pain. Good luck!!
This. I went from 2-8 cm in 2 hours before I got the epidural. Worst pain ever! I really don't even remember anything during that time except the pain. I couldnt talk or communicate in any way and was throwing up like crazy. I knew I wanted to remember the delivery a little more fondly so I got the epidural and don't regret my decision at all!
I can't pick one or the other because they were so different. Labor was tough because there was nothing you could do but get through each contraction. It was more mental than physical though, trying to stay relaxed between and during contractions. I went med free and was on pitocin since my waters broke before I got into labor so the contractions were intense, but I could handle them, especially with the help of my doula and husband talking me through each one.
I got lucky and while my contractions were really tough during transition, they spaced out and I got great rest in between, almost losing consciousness. Vocalizing low really helped me get through those.
I pushed for 4 1/2 hours before we called in the vacuum for help. When I started pushing I felt awesome about it because I could actually DO something and being more athletic I liked having somewhere to put my strength. But that many hours of it was mentally and physically exhausting. I'm so thankful I was allowed to push for so long though, because I got her really close and the vacuum worked beautifully. If it hadn't I would have had to have a c, which I really didn't want. I got her out on one contraction once we used it on the fifth or sixth push. I remember it hurting a lot when she came out, but I was just SO excited and relieved that she was making it out ok that I didn't care. The pushing phase is sort of like that. It hurts but you know you have to push as hard as you can.
I had back labour. Contractions were pretty bad but the epidural made labour doable. Pushing/Delivery wasn't bad. I had a second degree tear (doctors were discussing if it should be a 2nd or a 3rd degree tear. It was a bit messy down there) and even though that was tender, it wasn't too horrible for me. Once I rested a bit after delivery and ate, I was up and walking better than when I was when I was pregnant! (This is coming from one of the biggest pain wusses around.)
What was horrible is what PP I quoted; that first post birth BM was worse than anything else. TMI- I spent more time trying to birth that than the baby. I was severely constipated right before I had the baby...I didn't even poop on the table during delivery. Take the stool softners, eat a lot of fiber, stay hydrated. That was something I wish I would have done. I didn't want to do the stool softners and that was my biggest regret.
I voted for delivery. I had some back labor (she was turned with her spine facing my right side) that really sucked but was manageable with my doula applying counter pressure while my husband and I swayed. Honestly, when I went totally limp, and swayed, and let out a loud, low grunt with every breath and with music playing - I could almost ignore the pain while I concentrated on everything else.
I delivered in a tub, and man, surrendering to the urge to push felt so great, but crowning SUCKED. After her head was out, my contraction was wearing off, but I just pushed harder than I ever had just so it would be over. And oh man, that feeling of relief is the best physical feeling I've ever had.
However, the real worst part for me came after, when my placenta wouldn't deliver. One midwife had her hand in my uterus and another was massaging my abdomen as hard as she could - I swear, that part hurt more than a 9 cm contraction. That lasted a few minutes before they could put in an IV and the fentanyl started working - worst few minutes of my life.
Some of the earliest contractions during active labor were the worst for me. I hadn't gone to the hospital yet, and my stomach was voiding its contents at the same time I was contracting. SO uncomfortable. My whole body, up to my throat and face, hurt like crazy.
Once I got to the hospital, I was better at handling the contrax, so even during transition, I felt okay. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't pleasant, but I knew it wasn't anything my body couldn't handle.
Delivery was just *weird* -- like taking the biggest BM ever! The only part that actually hurt was when LO's shoulders got a little stuck. But even that only resulted in a single first-degree tear.
I agree with this, but otherwise I think labour hurt more for me. My contractions were coming every 3-4 minutes, but lasting 1.5-2 minutes, so I wasn't getting any kind of break between them and they were INTENSE. Delivery only took about 20 minutes. Pushing was tiring, but didn't hurt except for when she crowned.
My recovery wasn't too difficult, either, but I'll repeat what others said: take the stool softener! I was taking it and the first BM wasn't too bad and then I forgot once or twice to take it. The second one was horrible. Remember I said I pushed for 20 minutes to deliver my daughter? Yeah, pushed for close to an hour with that second BM and it hurt! (Sorry, TMI)
Good luck! And don't freak yourself out too much. I don't think there's any real way to prepare yourself for what's going to come, and you certainly can't predict what your labour/delivery is going to be like.
BFP #1: July 12, 2010 Natural M/C: July 26, 2010
BFP #2: January 30 ,2011 Born: September 29, 2011
BFP #3: January 5, 2013 Born: August 25, 2013
Agreed! I was induced and got my epidural right after they broke my water, so I really didn't feel much labor and felt nothing during the delivery. But recovery was hell, which I wasn't prepared for! I also had 2nd degree tears.
This. Although, I didn't go med free, I didn't get to the hospital until almost 7 cm and though it was painful, I actually expected much worse as well.
I'd go through L&D 10 times over those first few weeks BFing! Haha!