Honestly - tell me how painful childbirth is!

Toothsmith

I remember Joan Rivers on telly once explaining she'd opted for the traditional jewish child-birth.

Knocked out on the first labour pain, and woken up when the hairdresser had finished!

michellew_2

As my midwife told me - would you get a tooth removed without pain relief?
Epidurals are the wonders of science and extrememly safe, gas & air is tried and tested but can make you feel really sick & light headed.
Humiliation wise - does it really matter? Not as if theres a coach trip from your street - unless you want to make a few quid selling tickets
In the end whatever you go through is so worth it in the end - another cliche - the end justifies the means
Oh and for an idea put a finger in each corner of your mouth and stretch your lips sideways, then imagine that "downstairs"
Hope I put a perpective on it all

JWM

I don't see why so many women feel they have to tough it out without pain relief? Taking something doesn't make you a bad Mum, and I don't believe that it harms the baby in any way at all.

My experience with DS - 4 day labour, Epidural, forceps (with about 10 doctors having a rummage), but I'd do it all again tomorrow if I could!

I think midwifes/hospitals focus too much on the birth - its just a couple of days of discomfort/pain, then you have the rest of your life to deal with a baby!

DH and I come home when DS was 4 days old (bit of jaundice) and thought - 'What the hell do we do now'??!!

No one will tell you its easy but its a means to an end, so try not to focus on it too much - having a child is the real challenge!

flaura

fattyc wrote: »

For those replies. True, it cant be that bad if women keep doing it more than once. Its more the humiliation factor, the midwife, doc etc, not to mention my other half seeing me lying there with my legs in the air, not very pleasant! It takes me months to gear up to go for a smear test!!!

Am I being pathetic!!

to be honest - and i just had my daughter 4 weeks ago today !! so it's still very fresh in my mind, i was the same with smear tests....

Childbirth really isn't all that bad... i gave birth to a 9lb 9oz baby girl with just gas and air and the support of two amazing midwifes and my other half... i did that in just a dressing gown with everything on show.... trust me... you will not be worried about anything apart from if you are going to poo yourself (which i didn't) - i hate anyone seeing me naked, i'm very shy but you'll be so engrossed in what's going on that you won't be worried about who's looking at your minky or how tidy your lady garden is or isn't !! or who's looking at what...

listen to the midwives they know what they are talking about and listen to your body...

from one who couldn't even watch childbirth on TV and was completely terrified about it....! and would do it all again tomorrow !! it's the most liberating experience ever and it's true to see your little ones face is just the greatest...

don't let it put you off... there is at some point a switch that goes off in your brain that switches off all those humiliation worries...

pingua

Humiliation Does not come into it when you are in sooo much pain..... can remember it so well. So would not worry about that. I was one of these who booked a birthing pool for home -lol.
There is no way of telling how it will be for you till the time comes. Take the drugs if you need them !!!!!!!!!!!!

DON79

I had two and both different.

No1 my waters broke and as it was my first, went straight into the labour ward. was hooked up to monitor but then baby was coming at 36 weeks so they were being cautious. was 6 hours in labour altogether. I had some drugs to help with the pain but they made me sleepy and difficult to push later on when needed.

2nd one, labour only 2 hours. had a hard time convincing labour ward to let me come in as baby was coming quickly. In the end we arrived at the hospital at 2am, got to labour ward door at 2.10am and baby made his quick exit at 2.20am! No time for painkillers or to even get on the bed, except to have the gas and air thrust into my hand and have the midwife break the kit open in rather a hurry!

Out of both I preferred my second labour, yes it was painful but it was over quicker and I recovered better.

And you do forget all about it as soon as you are cuddling your little one. Hence why I did it again. But have decided no more at present.

jackomdj

flaura wrote: »

trust me... you will not be worried about anything apart from if you are going to poo yourself (which i didn't).

I did not poo myself either, but with DD no2 I was adamant I needed a poo, the midwife said let me just take a look & DD's head was just about to pop out. One of the most painful bits of having her was when her head was half way out & the contraction stopped & the midwife would not let me push until the next contraction arrived....you know the expression shi**ing a bowling ball (if not I am blambing my OH for using it!) well it was like that but the ball getting stuck half way out!!! (Sorry TMI again!)

Anyone care to share any embarassing, but not painful memories?

You can lose big clots of blood after the birth. After DD1 I needed help getting to the toilet as I had had an epidural & still could not feel anything. A nurse & OH used a wheelchair to get me to the toilet, I was using the disabled rails to hold myself as the nurse moved the wheelchair & OH pulled down my pants, with that a huge clot landed on the floor & there was blood splatted everywhere - NICE! I just sat on the toilet for the next 20mins as they cleaned the floor & walls!!!

Nicky

pandora205

My first baby was breach and I ended up with a caesarean under general anaethetic, which wasn't what I wanted at all and the baby was quite drowsy for a day or so.

Second and third babies were natural deliveries with no drugs but I did use a TENS machine which was wonderful. This was so much better as I could move around, give birth sitting up, etc and I felt normal afterwards, apart from having a few stitches which was the painful bit. And the babies were so alert. I did attend antenatal classes (NCT) which were wonderful and gave me lots of confidence.

It is exhausting and I found it best not to go into hospital too early on (though I only live a few minutes away) as I hated lying down to be monitored and the first stage of labour can be very slow.

Being pregnant is very exciting and giving birth is one of those challenging life events that I'm glad I've been through, as it is all so miraculous.

fernliebee

jackomdj wrote: »

I did not poo myself either, but with DD no2 I was adamant I needed a poo, the midwife said let me just take a look & DD's head was just about to pop out. One of the most painful bits of having her was when her head was half way out & the contraction stopped & the midwife would not let me push until the next contraction arrived....you know the expression shi**ing a bowling ball (if not I am blambing my OH for using it!) well it was like that but the ball getting stuck half way out!!! (Sorry TMI again!)

Anyone care to share any embarassing, but not painful memories?

You can lose big clots of blood after the birth. After DD1 I needed help getting to the toilet as I had had an epidural & still could not feel anything. A nurse & OH used a wheelchair to get me to the toilet, I was using the disabled rails to hold myself as the nurse moved the wheelchair & OH pulled down my pants, with that a huge clot landed on the floor & there was blood splatted everywhere - NICE! I just sat on the toilet for the next 20mins as they cleaned the floor & walls!!!

Nicky

No-one tells you about the clot's! The books all say- like a heavy period. :rolleyes: I thought I had got away lightly as I was bleeding but nothing major then on day 5 I went for a walk down my road, felt like I was going to wet my self so started to rush home but was accosted by my neighbour who was cooing over baby looked down and my entire front from waist to feet was covered in blood. Hid behind buggy, fronted it out (don't know how inside I thought I must be dying as I never seen so much blood) Found a giant clot which had obviously been...ehem...holding up proceedings!!! But seriously could not believe the size of the thing:eek:

Threw my shoes away not very:money:

code-a-holic

Im expecting my 4th child - and nervous about the birth.... but i have had 3 very straightforward births. My first was 15 hours of mild contractions.... enough to make me whince..............then relax! and then the head emerged while popping the membranes and the body came out easily with the waters.
my 2nd was induced, contractions started, i managed to sleep through it for 2 hours - woke with a urge for the loo, went to the toilet and pushed out a head. little yelp to wake hubby up (we were ina private room) and he grabbed midwife and they caught baby underneath me!
3rd time. was a failed induction, and on my rest day i was setlling down to sleep when i felt the push and out she came in to my pjs. i pulled off my trousers and out popped the rest of her still in her membranes - then i shouted for help! but passed out minutes later in shock!

So for all the horrible births, it can be surprisingly straightforward. I have been lucky and i hope with number 4 its not payback time!