Has anyone thought to mention the "ring of fire" to the FTM's?

LILBIT1221 · August 2012

I wasn't sure if it was ever brought up or not.

starrysmile18 · August 2012

This is a burning sensation when the babys head crowns, correct?

ETA: If so, I do believe it's been lightly mentioned here and there, but to my knowledge never a specific thread just for talk of it...

emasters · August 2012

This sounds pleasant...

MeatballEsq · August 2012

Haha I watched an episode of "One Born Every Minute" this weekend (first time I had seen it) and the woman on there was warned about this. As soon as the head started crowing she started screaming "RING OF FIRE!! RING OF FIRE!!" which was supplemented by "GET IT OUT OF ME!! GET THIS THING OUT OF ME!"

Oh yeah and she had an epidural.

Eastie156 · August 2012

I'm not sure I want to know what this is. Surprise

TaylorP5 · August 2012

I have heard of it! What's it like? You feel it even with the epi? Is it really that bad! I am freaking out here!

TaylorP5 · August 2012

tonir319:
Haha I watched an episode of "One Born Every Minute" this weekend (first time I had seen it) and the woman on there was warned about this. As soon as the head started crowing she started screaming "RING OF FIRE!! RING OF FIRE!!" which was supplemented by "GET IT OUT OF ME!! GET THIS THING OUT OF ME!"
Oh yeah and she had an epidural.

Crap.

kelbel527 · August 2012

TaylorP5:
I have heard of it! What's it like? You feel it even with the epi? Is it really that bad! I am freaking out here!

I didn't feel it with my epi, but I've learned that every experience with an epidural is different.

gingerfamily · August 2012

Honestly, I think this is one of those things that differs for every woman. With my first birth I had no epi and it wasn't that bad.

LILBIT1221 · August 2012

MrsSparklebottom:

LILBIT1221:
I wasn't sure if it was ever brought up or not.

You must be bored. LOL.

FTR, I had an epi, and I don't remember it being that bad. But I'm sure it was.

ha-ha I am. I get off work at 3:30 today & it can't come quick enough.

tarvos11 · August 2012

I felt it and I had an epidural. While it wasn't the most horrible feeling in the world it did make enough of an impression that when I found out I was pregnant that was the first thing that popped into my mind.

LILBIT1221 · August 2012

tonir319:

Haha I watched an episode of "One Born Every Minute" this weekend (first time I had seen it) and the woman on there was warned about this. As soon as the head started crowing she started screaming "RING OF FIRE!! RING OF FIRE!!" which was supplemented by "GET IT OUT OF ME!! GET THIS THING OUT OF ME!"

Oh yeah and she had an epidural.

ha-ha that is awesome!

LILBIT1221 · August 2012

intheflowers:
I felt no ring of fire and I had no meds. Don't worry FTMs, even if you do feel it, it just means you're a push or two away from meeting baby.

awe, you take the fun outta everything. Wink

Unem · August 2012

TaylorP5:
tonir319:

Haha I watched an episode of "One Born Every Minute" this weekend (first time I had seen it) and the woman on there was warned about this. As soon as the head started crowing she started screaming "RING OF FIRE!! RING OF FIRE!!" which was supplemented by "GET IT OUT OF ME!! GET THIS THING OUT OF ME!"

Oh yeah and she had an epidural.

Crap.

What a baby

What I've heard from other moms and what my midwives have told me is that it feels like when you use your fingers to pull the side of your lips apart (see image), and then the tissue goes numb not too long after that, Each time you push more, it burns again, and then goes numb.

*shrugs* I think contractions will be the most painful part of L&D, but that could be my FTM-ness talking.

MeatballEsq · August 2012

TaylorP5:
tonir319:
Haha I watched an episode of "One Born Every Minute" this weekend (first time I had seen it) and the woman on there was warned about this. As soon as the head started crowing she started screaming "RING OF FIRE!! RING OF FIRE!!" which was supplemented by "GET IT OUT OF ME!! GET THIS THING OUT OF ME!"
Oh yeah and she had an epidural.
Crap.

Yeah she claimed to be really tough and she wasn't even going to get an epidural. But she finally did and she still seemed SUPER dramatic. I honestly thought people only acted and screamed like that in the movies.

Harley86 · August 2012

Um,

what? Never heard of this. It sounds horrid.

KateD12 · August 2012

Is this going to ruin Johnny Cash for me... *starts singing*

Manx4 · August 2012

I had an epi and it's the ONLY thing I felt from my waist down. Hole E Crap it hurt.

ETA: My son had and still does have, a big head. So maybe that was part of it? Plus my OB had me hold him when he crowned (no pushing) to help reduce tearing. It worked so I guess the one minute of ring of fire was worth it.

TaylorP5 · August 2012

tonir319:
TaylorP5:
tonir319:
Haha I watched an episode of "One Born Every Minute" this weekend (first time I had seen it) and the woman on there was warned about this. As soon as the head started crowing she started screaming "RING OF FIRE!! RING OF FIRE!!" which was supplemented by "GET IT OUT OF ME!! GET THIS THING OUT OF ME!"
Oh yeah and she had an epidural.
Crap.
Yeah she claimed to be really tough and she wasn't even going to get an epidural. But she finally did and she still seemed SUPER dramatic. I honestly thought people only acted and screamed like that in the movies.

I am not even going to try to go Epidural free! I am the world's biggest wuss! Well maybe not the world's biggest wuss but pretty dang close! I am not really scared of labor I am scared of the contractions and not knowing I'm in labor and stuff like that!

Maybe she was just a drama queen!

LILBIT1221 · August 2012

Manx4:
I had an epi and it's the ONLY thing I felt from my waist down. Hole E Crap it hurt.

I clearly remember all my rings. I wish I could wear them proudly, like a damn Super Bowl champ or sumshit.

MeatballEsq · August 2012

Manx4:
I had an epi and it's the ONLY thing I felt from my waist down. Hole E Crap it hurt.

Dude you had a 9 pounder. No wonder! Wink

LILBIT1221 · August 2012

tonir319:

Manx4:
I had an epi and it's the ONLY thing I felt from my waist down. Hole E Crap it hurt.

Dude you had a 9 pounder. No wonder!

9lbers are no joke, dude! I can remember my MW saying "wow this boy has a really big head" when I had Noah. He may or may not have been nicknamed "little fat head" for a while. Poor guy.

Jams1002 · August 2012

OK I've managed to get through all your "let's scare the FTM" posts pretty well but now I'm terrified!!! Tongue Tied

Unem · August 2012

LILBIT1221:
tonir319:

Manx4:
I had an epi and it's the ONLY thing I felt from my waist down. Hole E Crap it hurt.

Dude you had a 9 pounder. No wonder!

9lbers are no joke, dude! I can remember my MW saying "wow this boy has a really big head" when I had Noah. He may or may not have been nicknamed "little fat head" for a while. Poor guy.

Bahahah! Love this.

ifwisheswerefishes · August 2012

this is actually the first FTM post that doesn't scare the sh!t out of me, because i've heard of it and i'm "expecting" it. good to know that some women don't feel it, and some feel it even though the epi, though. now i won't freak out if i do/don't feel it...

linzeek44 · August 2012

KateD12:
Is this going to ruin Johnny Cash for me... *starts singing*

Last night's labor & birth class involved the instructor talking about the ring of fire and then a Johnny Cash sing along.

herlysgirly · August 2012

Med-free here, and yes it hurts. I wouldn't necessarily compare it to stretching your mouth, but it wasn't screaming-at-the-top-of-your-lungs worthy either.

Actually it was the only part of my delivery where I said anything other than a grunt. I believe my exact words were, "Ow that HURTS!" and my OB goes... "This was what you wanted!" [natural birth] Ummmmmm seriously B*@%# ...I'm gonna kick you in the face right about now. Lol, I forgave her though, even if I did end up with 3rd degree tears.

No wait, I lied... I also said, "Just pull it out!!" at one point - turns out that was during the tearing. OB just laughed and said I don't think you want that!!

It is a more intense pain than contractions... but it doesn't last as long, so that's why people think the contractions are worse. FTM's don't be too scared... it really is true that you won't even care once you're holding your baby. Smile

LegallyBlonde217 · August 2012

I didn't feel the ring of fire when either baby came out. I really didn't feel anything but the actual movement of them coming out. Buuuut, they were also small so I didn't tear. I'm guessing that's where most of the "fire" comes from. I did have an epi.

KarBear · August 2012

MrsSparklebottom:
LILBIT1221:
I wasn't sure if it was ever brought up or not.
You must be bored. LOL.
FTR, I had an epi, and I don't remember it being that bad. But I'm sure it was.

Me either.

Unem · August 2012

linzeek44:

KateD12:
Is this going to ruin Johnny Cash for me... *starts singing*

Last night's labor & birth class involved the instructor talking about the ring of fire and then a Johnny Cash sing along.

Games and sing alongs? Your birth class rocks!

Cheetara2 · August 2012

Say what now???

As if I wasn't already scared enough. I don't know if it's better to know these things beforehand, or to remain in ignorant bliss.

mommy510 · August 2012

I didn't feel the "ring of fire". The pushing wasn't bad at all, except I hated the constipated feeling. Tearing was by far the worst experience. I had a great labor, but the recovery was miserable. Constant pain for 3 weeks and general soreness for the next 5...

terri_doula2010 · August 2012

Harley86:
Um, what? Never heard of this. It sounds horrid.

I'm glad I'm not the only one singing the song. Every. Single. Time.

daymisty84 · August 2012

They talked about it at my birthing class but since I was already familiar with the term I believe it's probably been mentioned here before. Smile

Stasi · August 2012

herlysgirly:

Med-free here, and yes it hurts. I wouldn't necessarily compare it to stretching your mouth, but it wasn't screaming-at-the-top-of-your-lungs worthy either.

Actually it was the only part of my delivery where I said anything other than a grunt. I believe my exact words were, "Ow that HURTS!" and my OB goes... "This was what you wanted!" [natural birth] Ummmmmm seriously B*@%# ...I'm gonna kick you in the face right about now. Lol, I forgave her though, even if I did end up with 3rd degree tears.

No wait, I lied... I also said, "Just pull it out!!" at one point - turns out that was during the tearing. OB just laughed and said I don't think you want that!!

It is a more intense pain than contractions... but it doesn't last as long, so that's why people think the contractions are worse. FTM's don't be too scared... it really is true that you won't even care once you're holding your baby.

I'm going for a med-free birth and this is the main motivation that I hope to keep in mind while in labor! I'm still scared as crap though!

LILBIT1221 · August 2012

Stasi:
herlysgirly:

Med-free here, and yes it hurts. I wouldn't necessarily compare it to stretching your mouth, but it wasn't screaming-at-the-top-of-your-lungs worthy either.

Actually it was the only part of my delivery where I said anything other than a grunt. I believe my exact words were, "Ow that HURTS!" and my OB goes... "This was what you wanted!" [natural birth] Ummmmmm seriously B*@%# ...I'm gonna kick you in the face right about now. Lol, I forgave her though, even if I did end up with 3rd degree tears.

No wait, I lied... I also said, "Just pull it out!!" at one point - turns out that was during the tearing. OB just laughed and said I don't think you want that!!

It is a more intense pain than contractions... but it doesn't last as long, so that's why people think the contractions are worse. FTM's don't be too scared... it really is true that you won't even care once you're holding your baby.

I'm going for a med-free birth and this is the main motivation that I hope to keep in mind while in labor! I'm still scared as crap though!

you can do it!

alice2Bcheshire · August 2012

intheflowers:
I felt no ring of fire and I had no meds. Don't worry FTMs, even if you do feel it, it just means you're a push or two away from meeting baby.

Same here. Crowning wasn't any worse than the rest of the pushing stage. What did completely suck was getting stitched up with only local anesthetic. OUCH. I felt every.single.one.

jbBeans · August 2012

I have heard of this before but this post cracks me up. The "ring of fire" sounds like some sick initiation ritual to the mommy society or something.

I've read/heard (probably here) that a warm washcloth applied to the area at this point can provide a bit of relief. Any STMs have experience with that?

hterry85 · August 2012

intheflowers:
I felt no ring of fire and I had no meds. Don't worry FTMs, even if you do feel it, it just means you're a push or two away from meeting baby.

This. If I did feel anything the pain of the contractions just covered it up Stick out tongue

AppleMomma · August 2012

I had the ring of fire with dd. It hurt but in a motivating way, I pushed good at that point and then reached down just as her shoulders slid out and "pulled" her out. I had nerve pain the thighs that felt worse than the ring of fire for me.

gblake · August 2012

I didn't have an epi and I don't really remember the ring of fire. What I do remember is the doctor giving me a shot in my hoo-ha to cut for the episimotmy (sp?). That hurt like hell. DH said I screamed out when he gave me the shot.

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