Can you remember the pain?

bigbear · August 2012

During labor and delivery (if you experienced it at all that is)?

My friend is close to baby time and is freaking out about the pain and whether she'll know if it's the real deal. So she was talking to me and I DO remember that it was nothing like BH contractions that were painful as well in my case and it was nothing like menstrual cramps either. I know they were starting in my back and wrapping around my belly. It was a very different pain from anything else I've ever felt. But at the same time, I can't really tell anymore what type of pain it exactly was, sharp, stabbing, etc...

Can you remember? I guess nature really does take care of it and makes you forget so you want another one Stick out tongue

Brit's Luna154 · August 2012

Wow, no, not really and I didn't have an epidural. DD was 4 weeks early, so I do remember that on the way to the hospital, when I assumed that we would just get sent home, I was freaking out that I might have to go through it again. I also remember that the contractions were far worse than actually pushing her out, but I can't really grasp how bad it was anymore.

bigbear · August 2012

Brit's Luna154:
Wow, no, not really and I didn't have an epidural. DD was 4 weeks early, so I do remember that on the way to the hospital, when I assumed that we would just get sent home, I was freaking out that I might have to go through it again. I also remember that the contractions were far worse than actually pushing her out, but I can't really grasp how bad it was anymore.

Isn't it crazy how you just forget! And you are a hero!! I tried going natural and did for the first 24hrs. But my contractions were so bad that it kept me from progressing so they gave me an epidural. I never got to the transition or pushing stage where I could feel it. I'm a little sad but also kind of relieved b/c what I felt up to that point was very intense and plenty LOL

namara5532 · August 2012

It was nothing I've felt before. DH had to remind me to breathe because they were so bad I was in tears. It's more of a tight feeling than sharp or dull. I handled them better when I remembered to breathe through them and focused on not tensing up, but the tight sensation is unmistakable. Pushing felt like such a relief.

Labor is different for everyone though. Some women post it feels like normal BH contractions and didn't know they were in labor until they were almost done. I envy them.

bigbear · August 2012

namara5532:

It was nothing I've felt before. DH had to remind me to breathe because they were so bad I was in tears. It's more of a tight feeling than sharp or dull. I handled them better when I remembered to breathe through them and focused on not tensing up, but the tight sensation is unmistakable. Pushing felt like such a relief.

Labor is different for everyone though. Some women post it feels like normal BH contractions and didn't know they were in labor until they were almost done. I envy them.

Yup! And you are a hero as well!

CharlieTheUnicorn · August 2012

I remember, and I also still remember the labor I had with my 5 year old. The tightening, the rolling from back to front, the pain, transition and the completely out-of-control-kill-me-now-if-I-have-to-do-this-one-more-second-feeling. Making noises like an animal that were involuntary, and finally the pushing that my body did that was also involuntary and the relief that came with them. Yup, I remember it all, and yet my brain still tells me now that it wasn't that bad!

Izabella22 · August 2012

Yeah I remember it... mostly transition... worst hour and a half of my life. But the pushing was such a relief after the "oh please kill me now if I have to do this another minute longer" of transition... granted I nearly blacked out b/c I pushed so hard in my determination to get it all over with... but I had a horrible time w/ bp dropping and blackouts during recovery so I have not forgotten at all how much that all sucked... I just wanted to bask in the glow of DS arrival but... not so much. Good thing we only planned on one!

jodywelsh · August 2012

You ladies are heroes!!!!

I had an epidural and ended up with a c-section because he refused to come out. I did have some bad contractions and I can only imagine the pain of going all the way!

bigbear · August 2012

Izabella22:

Yeah I remember it... mostly transition... worst hour and a half of my life. But the pushing was such a relief after the "oh please kill me now if I have to do this another minute longer" of transition... granted I nearly blacked out b/c I pushed so hard in my determination to get it all over with... but I had a horrible time w/ bp dropping and blackouts during recovery so I have not forgotten at all how much that all sucked... I just wanted to bask in the glow of DS arrival but... not so much. Good thing we only planned on one!

OH wow! I had bp dropping issues during labor. That sucked! I remember that feeling like I was just fading away.

raefre · August 2012

Now that I'm starting to cramp with my cycle, I will say that my cramps are a lighter version of contractions, especially when I feel it in my back. I never really had BH that I could identify, so it is hard for me to compare it to that.

SmittyPants · August 2012

I had an epidural, but they turned it off so I could push. I remember feeling like I was breaking in half and I remember what the forceps looked like when they were sticking out of me (why, no, they didn't think to remove the mirror...) I don't think that image is ever going to leave my mind.

My next baby is going to be a c-section. There's no way in hell I'm doing that again.

bpwife&mama · August 2012

You mom's who had a natural labor are my heros. I had an epidural at 4 cm., and they even let me have the epidural to push. Never felt any pain after 4 cm. Had a 2nd degree episiotemy and never felt one once of pain from it to this day. I had pitocin so the contraction towards 4 cm where kind of rough, but I will say to this day I had the easiest labor ever.

christsgurl · August 2012

I remember kinda what the pain felt like with my first baby, I had contractions starting Sunday night went to the hospital to get checked was only like 4cms or 3cm I don't remember & they asked us if we wanted to wait another hour and check again but DH worked night shifts at the time so we just went home they gave me muscle relaxers (which they say wouldn't stop the labor progress but I think it def slowed it down) but on Tuesday morning (7am) my husband came home we went back to bed, and I woke up around 10am-ish & was feeling that my water broke check, I was honestly thinking about going back to bed & waking up in an hour to go to the hospital (I was still tired) but I told my husband and he asked me if I was sure & I said yes even had him look at the pad & we knew for sure that it did break. & my contractions started getting worse & worse and by the time we got to the hospital I was impatient to get some pain meds becuz I was in so much pain. But once I was 10cm started pushing, DH overheard the soctor tell someone that by the end of the night she'd be cutting me open (i thought I was doing a good job) but the nurses had me get pitocin becuz they didnt want me to have to have a c-section either...& those contractions after that were alot worse. She was born though (w/o c-section thank goodness) 7Lbs 2oz She was almost a week late

2nd pregancy SO MUCH different I had BHs but than one time I really thought I was in labor because my conrtactions hurt as bad as I rememembered the first time, but nope it stopped & ended up being a false alarm. I ended up going overdue but my body was losing alot more mucus and the plug, but you can lose your plug and not go into labor for a long time, plus with false alarms I figured my body was getting ready I just didn't know how late I would be. The day/night before I had my baby I had really strong contrations so I thought maybe that was the day but they were not in a pattern (I thought they might go into a pattern but they never did) that night had to drive 2-3hrs to pick up my daughter from g-mas & g-pas & they had our guest bed ready but told DH I didn't want to stay becuz I had really bad conrtations & was worried about having the baby in that area where I didn't want to have the baby. Plus it woould have been too far away for my other fam & friends to come visit so we drove home went to bed around 3am, & throughtout the night I had some contrations, but by the time I woke up I felt normal & thought well I guess she isn't coming today but about 10:30 it hit me starting at my cervix and working its way up into my belly a almost burning sharp pain (worse than with my first) they were 1min long every 5 mins apart I had a doc appt for 12:40 that day so I went to that they didn't see me for awhile cuz I had been 10mins late but once she did all I wanted to do was get it over with & go to the hospital & get some pain killers & have my baby (she was a week late) she said I was 3-4cms dilated and she could feel my blugging water sac and to head to the hospital I was going to have her at, we had to make a quick stop @ the drive thru becuz DH blood sugar was crashed and than we got to the hospital...and I hardly wanted to move I was in soooo much pain I honeslty just wanted them to bring down a bed for me...we went up. & they checked me in husband got my prental paper work from the car (becuz I go to a different clinic than the hospital I wanted to go to, didnt want to transfer care over becuz it was too far of a drive for reg appts) they said they could feel my water sac and I was already 8cms!!!! I asked for pain meds & they said they could give me some if my water didnt break right away (ohmygoodness I was praying that it didnt becuz I need some relife becuz I was shaking when ever a contraction hit!!!) They finally got me somthing for my spine but it was just a one shot thing that lasted up to 3hrs (which it only lasted 2!!) and once it wore off it went from me being numb and relaxed to BAM MAJOR contractions They had to break my water. I pushed for 1 1/2 hours they were suprised I was pushing for so long becux 2nd babies normally come out faster I was afraid they would make me have a c-section after awhile everyone kept telling me I was doing a good job but it felt like after awhile they were just saying that & I didn't feel like I was doing a good job becuz she wasn't out yet, I guess she was crowning for a really long time though. & I knew she was coming soon (when I felt like I had a big BM in me that needed to be pushed out becuz I'm sure her head was pushing on alot of stuff so thats just what it felt like I am not comparing her to that lol) But still it seemed like it took awhile for her to come out....it felt good to finally have her out, becuz I was ready to have her, & I felt like my body was going to shut down or something if I still had those contractions.....she was born July 30th weighing *lbs 12oz (I am 4' 11" so that would prob explain all the pain & why it was so difficult to push her out) I do remember the pain for both although one is more recent than the other. Sorry so long just wanted to tell my mini stories cuz I haven't got to yet really.

KitKat83 · August 2012

CharlieTheUnicorn:
I remember, and I also still remember the labor I had with my 5 year old. The tightening, the rolling from back to front, the pain, transition and the completely out-of-control-kill-me-now-if-I-have-to-do-this-one-more-second-feeling. Making noises like an animal that were involuntary, and finally the pushing that my body did that was also involuntary and the relief that came with them. Yup, I remember it all, and yet my brain still tells me now that it wasn't that bad!

Haha! This pretty much sums it up, except mine ended in a c-section since when it came time to push, they realized he was breech and his butt was coming out first.

But yeah, it is definitely different than braxton hicks. The contractions started coming 2-3 min apart right after my water broke, and they increased in intensity every time. I did get sent home from the hospital (even though my water broke, they said my contractions weren't "real"... a-holes) but went back 2 hours later and was 5cm. I decided to go back when I could no longer talk through them, hubby decided it was time when I told him "don't f*(#&$ing touch me!!!" when he was trying to rub my back haha. The excitement and adrenaline trumped the pain at first, but when it was bad... it was horrible, took everything I had in me just to breathe!

meg_2006 · August 2012

I never felt Braxton Hicks, I started contractions and knew immediately that was it. They were 10 min. apart, 1 min. long immediately. They were like period cramps, but started in the back, moved to the front, then down. I peed with every one because of the pressure. Eventually I just put a pad on so I didn't have to run to the bathroom every time haha.

I was 5cm when I got to the hospital and I got an epidural at that point...not because of the pain though. To me, the pain was manageable. I just needed a nap! My contractions had started as soon as I had lain down to go to bed, so I had been up all night and was exhausted. I am that person that does not function without sleep, and I still am! Not even a newborn broke me of that.

I remember feeling pain when I pushed, even with the epidural. I did have a 9+ lb. baby, but I think when you're pushing anything that large out of you the pain is relatively the same, whether the baby was 6 lb. or 10 lb. I don't remember the pain as much as the pressure. The pain wasn't a big deal, I just hated that feeling of having to get the baby out...NOW!

*Edit*- I guess I should clarify and say, yes, I remember the pain. No, I cannot imagine the intensity of the pain anymore. Right after I had LO that was all I could remember and I had no desire to have another single child. I don't feel that way anymore

sanbry · August 2012

Eh, not really. I endured a 35 hr induction, 30 of which I did without pain meds. I had tons of back labor which sucked and I ended up with a c sec which sucked. But I have a freakishly high pain threshold. I guess nature took over and made me forget

MrsKM82 · August 2012

A little bit. My first contraction was at midnight and I got an epidural at 6am when I was at 3 cm. I felt NO pain after that, even through pushing. I remember contractions feeling like very, very bad intestinal and menstrual cramps and they were coming every 2 minutes from the get go so that was a bit tough. During the contractions I remember thinking they were awful, but looking back my labor was quite easy and I would totally do it again. I was more scared then anything I was feeling pain in my back and was terrified of back labor (my DS did end up being sunny side up).

khanley1980 · August 2012

As humans, we do not have a memory for pain ....fortunately! I think it is natures way of supporting procreation

phillyfan929 · August 2012

I was induced at 41 weeks and I had short labor. They broke my wated at 230pm, got an epidural around 5pm, then i slept until about 1030. They said at 11:15 it was time to start pushing and DS was here at 11:45pm. I remeber the pushing hurt like hell and the epi wasnt helping with that but other than that I dont remeber much pain until afterwards.

talitha712 · August 2012

I remember but for me my contractions felt like bad period cramps. None of that tightening around my back like everyone said, which is why I didn't know I was in labor until my water broke. I was dilated to 8cm when I got to the hospital an hour later and the contractions were getting more painful (but still felt like cramps). I got an epidural almost right away because I was afraid if I waited it would be too late. Even with a second degree tear the pain wasn't bad.

Now the pain of the first 2 weeks trying to BF with LCs who were useless...that I remember clearly. That hurt more than giving birth and the recovery from giving birth.

lp0 · August 2012

No actually I don't really remember the pain lol. I do remember the soreness and swelling the days following though

footnotegirl · August 2012

Amusingly, I don't remember the actual feeling, but I do remember describing what I was feeling to my husband at first because I wasn't sure that what I was feeling were contractions (they were waaaay lower down than I was told they'd be, really focussed in my groin area rather than my whole abdomen) and then later in transition because it became really important to me that he know Just How Much Pain I was in. Honestly, the contractions for me were never that bad. Transition, when it was one constant horrible pressure pretty much psychologically broke me (I remember telling them to "Just cut her out of me!") but then as soon as I could start pushing? It was back to VERY manageable, temporary pain that was a huge relief.

Within a month, I'd completely wiped all memory of the pain out.

theladyjess · August 2012

Can I remember? Yep, every time I have an IBS attack the pain is the same as what I felt during labor--low severe abdominal cramps.

When labor started for me the first hour I had contrax every 4-5 minutes lasting 30+ seconds. The next hour contrax were coming every 2-3 min, lasting 30-45+ sec and stayed that way for the next 17 hours until LO was finally delivered.

I felt every contraction during my 18 hour labor, 4 hours of which were spent pushing. While it wasn't pleasant it wasn't horrible either. I got through it by reminding myself that it wouldn't last forever. Vocalizing during contrax really helped too.

ames243567 · August 2012

Yes...enough said!

Annya26 · August 2012

I remember but not nearly as vividly as I did right after.

I had TONS of strong BH in the weeks before I delivered to the point where I don't actually know when real labor started. I went to bed the night before my due date expecting them to go away and woke up a few hours with massive pressure. It literally felt like a bowling ball smashing itself against my cervix/pelvis.

For me it was mostly pressure and I just needed to move. I literally danced my way through contractions right up to transition. When I was almost fully dialated there was a caught lip of cervix - at that point the baby's head pulling down on the cervix with each contraction felt like a knife stabbing me and the mw supported it so I didn't tear my cervix.

I remember pushing being a very foreign concept because I started to early. At that point I was exhausted and actually fell asleep between contractions. (No epi, no other drugs - I was THAT tired), As he came down further pushing was just something that happened. I wasn't trying, my body just did it - kind of like sneezing but less fun I had a very large episiotomy and definitely felt it, but it wasn't as bad as you might think. The healing afterwards was hell.

I must've forgotten to some degree though because afterward I was totally traumatized and said I would never do it again. Now I would.

bigbear · August 2012

Annya26:

I remember but not nearly as vividly as I did right after.

I had TONS of strong BH in the weeks before I delivered to the point where I don't actually know when real labor started. I went to bed the night before my due date expecting them to go away and woke up a few hours with massive pressure. It literally felt like a bowling ball smashing itself against my cervix/pelvis.

For me it was mostly pressure and I just needed to move. I literally danced my way through contractions right up to transition. When I was almost fully dialated there was a caught lip of cervix - at that point the baby's head pulling down on the cervix with each contraction felt like a knife stabbing me and the mw supported it so I didn't tear my cervix.

I remember pushing being a very foreign concept because I started to early. At that point I was exhausted and actually fell asleep between contractions. (No epi, no other drugs - I was THAT tired), As he came down further pushing was just something that happened. I wasn't trying, my body just did it - kind of like sneezing but less fun I had a very large episiotomy and definitely felt it, but it wasn't as bad as you might think. The healing afterwards was hell.

I must've forgotten to some degree though because afterward I was totally traumatized and said I would never do it again. Now I would.

Oh wow! My close friend had a similar exprience. It went so quickly (first baby) that there was no time for epi or anything else. But then the baby wouldn't come out so they had to give her an episiotomy. She said though that she never even felt the cut b/c the contractions were just killing her. And she also said she was so traumatized and the one time was plenty. Well her DD is also 6 months and they are already talking about #2. So she must have forgotten :P

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