I woke up with contractions that were 10 mins apart. I thought there was no way in hell I would survive even until 5 mins apart to go to the hospital but once I changed positions they got better. they were bad but bearable until I got to the hospital and had my cervix checked, then they really ramped up. I was still able to push through without an epidural until about 7 cm and then I was like GIVEMETHEDRUGSRIGHTNOWORELSE. unfortunately I was able to feel contractions again after they broke my water but once it was time to push I was kind of glad I could feel them.
I had taken a lamaze class and learned different breathing and relaxation techniques and in my mind ahead of time I thought I would consciously use them...nope. the pain was too bad to think of anything but just trying to survive each contraction until it was over...and then it felt like the next one started 10 seconds later.
but now 2 weeks later that all seems like a distant memory and it's all but forgotten. just trying to put a positive spin on it for you
Regarding needles, I used to have a crippling fear of them. My veins tend to be hard to hit. After a year of going to the infertility clinic with constant blood draws, all of the self administered IVF shots for your stomach, and then 9 months of taking blood thinner shots into my stomach every night while pregnant through what seems to be the dullest needles ever, I can honestly say that I have officially broken my fear of needles! Bring on the epidural!
Regarding needles, I used to have a crippling fear of them. My veins tend to be hard to hit. After a year of going to the infertility clinic with constant blood draws, all of the self administered IVF shots for your stomach, and then 9 months of taking blood thinner shots into my stomach every night while pregnant through what seems to be the dullest needles ever, I can honestly say that I have officially broken my fear of needles! Bring on the epidural!
Oh dear lord! And I have a feeling I'll be needing to get induced. I still have 2 weeks till my due date but still.. I just have that feeling she's going to be late.
In response to the epidural question. The pain is pretty minimal, especially in comparison to labor. They have you sit, hunch over and sit very still. With my first my husband was standing holding my hands. When the needle went in there was an extremely loud popping sound. My husband fainted. I had no choice but to let go of his hands and let him fall, to keep my body still. This did not happen with our second, but I wish someone had warned us that it was a possibility. Have your hubs sit down in a chair if he is going to hold your hands, fair warning. I waited until 8cm to get the epi and was shaking pretty bad because if the contractions. I felt I couldnt sit still without him holding me.
Contractions for me started as really bad period cramps, like you know when you have "period poops?" The cramps where you can't tell if you have to poop or just writhe in pain? These lasted until I was about 6 cm and then they were so intense I couldn't breathe. Then I got my epi, which felt like a pinch, and made my knee jerk. The medicine going in was kind of like a burning tingly sensation that didn't hurt at all. Then they put in my catheter and broke my water and I had the baby about three hours later.
Forgot to mention my husband isn't allowed to be in the room when/if I get an epidural.... Just another thing to add to my concerns! And the popping sound/knee jerking...... Creepy!!!
The majority of my contractions have been pitocin based ones. They suck. Last time I got the epi by 2 cm, this time I waited until 4-5cm (currently laying here bored out of my mind with the epi haha). The last hour today before I got the epi I was crying at every contraction because they have been every 2 minutes, and I was having intense lower back pain with them all starting this morning. I would describe the earlier ones as uncomfortable and a tightening from your hips up to right under your boobs. Once they intensified it was a tightening from my ribs down to my crotch, an overwhelming pressure in your butt that you need to poop and intense pain wrapping from the front all the way around your lower back like the worst period cramp of your life x10.
The epi this time was harder for me then last since I was contracting so frequently and in so much pain by the time I got it placed. The hardest part is staying completely still during a contraction while it's being put in. Pain wise I would say a only like a 1, and it works within 10 minutes.
I went with the epidural with my first after 11 hours of hard labour. I had him 6 hours later and didn't feel much pain. Well this time around I decided to go med-free. Nothing for the pain.. And my lord did I f@ck up. It was by far the worst pain I've ever imagined. I honestly didn't think it would be anywhere near as horrifying as it was. I've dealt with severe pain in my life prior to this and nothing even compared. It felt like my back and pelvis were being crushed in a vice. There's no time to even think or breath. I wanted to curl into a ball and cry. When I started to push It didn't feel like real life. I didn't imagine the pain would be so horrendous. I'm tiny and they needed to use the vacuum and I also needed an episiotomy.. My lord, he could barely get the damn vacuum in and I felt like I was gonna pass out it was intense. The crowning.. My god.. Let's just say baby #3 I'll be getting the damn epi asap!
The epidural is seriously nothing. I cry every time I get a shot because I'm so terrible with needles and a big baby, but it doesn't hurt and you never see it. And afterwards it's glorious!
Contractions= flaming hot fire-poker being shoved into your spine while simultaneously you have a sensation of trying to pee a bowling ball out of a hole the size of a corn kernel ... That pretty much sums it up, enjoy!
Right before I elected to get the epidural my contractions felt like my back was going to split open and a gremlin jump out -_-. No but seriously...it did feel like it was going to split right in two. Of course they also had me on pictocin (had to be induced) and I heard that contracting while on pictocin sucked big time.
Re: Contractions- give your best inappropriate description.
I still have 2 weeks till my due date but still.. I just have that feeling she's going to be late.
The epi this time was harder for me then last since I was contracting so frequently and in so much pain by the time I got it placed. The hardest part is staying completely still during a contraction while it's being put in. Pain wise I would say a only like a 1, and it works within 10 minutes.