Honestly - tell me how painful childbirth is!

clou19750

All i can say is men wouldnt be able to cope!! Pain is forgotton once u have baby in your arms and worth it all the pain! Have 3 now x

lisaloo1977

I have to say i am totally with you and im a mother. I had to have my son by C section, and for this i will always be grateful. I had panic attacks throughout the pregnancy about the thought of giving birth and also tearing, it ruined it for me totally. I did not enjoy it one bit as i was crippled with fear about the birth. It turns out a medical condition stopped me being able to give birth naturally and i know some people would find that terrible, for me it was a gift from god himself.
I had the option of being awake or asleep and was brave and said awake. I have to say the birth was the best part of my pregnancy, i loved it. I guess it was the control and the knowing when and the no pain of course.

I can remember people saying to me when i was heavily pregnant that he had got in there he had to come out. It was awful, but my midwife did tell me if someone has a major fear they can have a section if they really are very bad with it. Its obviously a last resort but it can be done.

To back up what others said, it is so worth it when they give your baby to you, It is like no other feeling you can describe.

hellies

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!!

Sorry, i missed this bit! Honestly, I promise you, you really do not care!! when i had dd1 i had a team of medical students observing and whole array of medical staff 'just in case' who were just stood around. they all watched dd1 come out (yep, they watched from the bottom end!), waited until they had the all clear then went off for breakfast! And i couldnt have cared any less. I too hate and avoid internals, smears, anything along those lines but childbirth is a whole new ball game for the female mind.

sooz

fattyc wrote: »

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!

Forget what you've seen on tv. It's much much better NOT to be lying there with your legs up in the air. You want gravity to help you

As others have said, read up & inform yourself of the options. However, I would totally recommend a waterbirth. About to have another one . Next to zero humiliation factor, as I was in a huge bath up to my boobs in water, nearly in the dark, with my OH holding my hand. Not a leg...or any other bits... in sight (even his!)

Rikki

Its a working pain and if you work with it you'll find it more uncomfortable than unbearable.

The idea is to relax, breath calmly and move about to make your body more comfortable. I actually enjoyed both my birth experiences but I had active births and very little intervention.

98sidney

for me it wasnt labour I dreaded it was the build up as your are poked prodded and all dignity is taking away whilst you are pregnant.. As for labour first one had a epidural and didnt feel much pain. 2nd one was a homebirth wasnt my choice and delivered my daugter myself.

I like you heard so many things about the pain but its so true every birth is different and yes they are right as soon as you hold that bundle in your arms you forget all about it and you feel very chuffed with yourself for coping with labour..

fattyc

For those replies, have set my mind at rest a little. Those water births sound good, might ask for one of those. Now, all that remains is to try and get pregnant now! Thank u all again, its great to hear honest stories.

shellsuit

It was painful for me but I could handle it, until I had to push my daughter's head out, then it really bloody hurt, but only for about 5 minutes!

As soon as she was out, it was a feeling of 'ahhhhhhhhhhhhh', then the pain was forgotten!

I'm on baby #3 now (won't include son as I had an epidural and only felt a slight stinging sensation as he came out!) so it can't be all that bad lol

Rikki

I never one had my legs in the air or gave birth to either of my two on a bed.

Active Birth by Janet Balaskas was my birth and pregnancy bible. Certainly worth a read. It will dispel all the horrible myths and rumours.

Don't believe all you see on the television. There not called actors for nothing. :rolleyes:

iskc85860506

Honestly when you r in full blown labour you wont mind where everyone is looking! Well at least I didnt! Like you I hate smeers, takes me weeks 2 pluck up courage to go and I wont ever see that doctor again!!
However I have had 3 babies and I hate having the midwifes look at me. My waters broke early on all 3 pregnancys (due to complications)so I had to have check ups down below and I was very embarresed but when I was in labour I was vertualy begging them 2 check me and tell me how far along I was!!

As for pain I wont lie, Yes it is agonising but you get through it and it is true you will cope with the pain before and after the baby arrives "I say cope as there are often after pains and you do have to deliver the placenter"! But you hardily notice it once you have your baby in your arms.

I had c-sec 1st baby (definatly found this more painful than labour, I didnt find it the easy option as my mother in law keeps saying!)
natural with epidural 2nd baby, 6hr active labour(from 4cm)
natural, tens machine nothin else! 27min labour from waters breaking!! this hurt a dam site more than the 6hr labour!! I thought I was going to split in 2, with no warning! Although I did have to go to theatre and have placenter removed, told it would take 30min was gone 4 2 1/2 hours (a few complications) and daughter was taken 2 special care while I was in theatre, so didnt see her again for over 8 hours as I was to ill 2 go. When they finaly aloud me go in wheelchair it was the most heart breaking and amazing experience of my life.

But after all this I would still have more. You look at you child and the miracal that has happened. And wonder how this tiny person was made from vertualy nothing, a tiny sperm and egg. you created, carried and gave birth to this little person and you feel proud (that you managed all this) and your heart begins to melt and thats when you know this little person owns you because you will do anything for them. And if you dont relise it then, at the 3 day heal !!!!! you will relise how much you love this tiny person when you get this inner earge to hit the person sticking a needle in your child and making them screem!!

Anyway I shoudnt worry about the labour untill your pregnant as once its in there it has to come out!!

Sorry post is so long!