Honestly - tell me how painful childbirth is!

Ms_Piggy_2

Personally, whilst it was painful (very at times!) it was the exhaustion that got to me, not the pain.

hayleyc_2

I haven't read all the replies so appologies if I'm repeating what others have said..

I would try not to get too hung up on how painful it's going to be. It's hard to understand beforehand but you really do forget about it. Yes it's very painful, but because of all the hormones it's soon forgotten about as you concentrate on your new baby. The point is that it's not just random pain like a toothache or something, it's a pain that's going somewhere - I.E towards meeting your baby for the very first time. If you concentrate on that, and work with your body not against it then your experience can be positive, or at least not negative enough to put you off doing it again!

Ms_Piggy_2

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!

In order to birth well, you need to feel safe NOT humiliated! Make sure you attend some active birth sessions. In most cases a woman doesn't NEED internal exams and you should avoid lying on your back with your legs in the air. Where possible women birth best in an upright or squatting position.

Ms_Piggy_2

Dave_®f© wrote: »

I'm only a mere man but imagine it would be like crapping a bowling ball :eek:


Good luck when it all happens...

*shudders*

It's more like !!!!!!!! a pineapple actually.

N71

Its really not that bad - honest!!

If it was that bad, no one would do it, especially not more than once, and the human race would die out!!

I'm expecting No.3 in 8 weeks - and i'm the biggest wimp ever (i cried at the dentist not long ago and i'm 36!!).

The labour part starts like period pain, which can be managed with paracetamol, then turns into bad period pain. The worst bit, as has been mentioned, is the head crowning - but it only stings for a matter of minutes. The best description i've ever heard of this bit is 'its like getting a chinese burn on your fufi!!'.

And, if its all too painful, there are wonderful drugs available - the pethadine is great!!

After 16 hours of the 'bad period pain' stage with my first, I had an epidural which took the pain away completely.

No. 2 was so much quicker, there was no time for epidural but i managed with gas and air to get me through the chinese burn bit!

I'm hoping No.3 will be even quicker, and am planning on using the birth pool and gas and air.

I think its best not to go into hospital with a strict birth plan - you'll be setting yourself up for failure.

I have my plan of the pool and gas and air, but if i need more drugs, or some other intervention, thats fine - whatevers best for me and my baby.

Good luck when you decide you're ready!

Broken_hearted

At risk of a slap from others. It was nothing much at all, never had anything other than a bit of gas and air. Have very quick labors anyway, no damage, give birth have a shower then a meal not even tired at the end of it.

lowis

my mum likened it to trying to pull her eyelid over her head.

:eek:

natalie1974

Broken_hearted wrote: »

At risk of a slap from others. It was nothing much at all, never had anything other than a bit of gas and air. Have very quick labors anyway, no damage, give birth have a shower then a meal not even tired at the end of it.

B!tch :rotfl:

daphne_descends

I gave birth without any pain relief, nothing at all.

A few years ago I had a wisdom tooth removed under local anaesthetic, couldn't feel a thing.

Of the two, I'd rather give birth ten times over than go through the wisdom tooth again!

It's alright really. My labour was long, so with time I got into a 'zone' and it just didn't hurt that much anymore. Contractions in the beginning hurt like hell, and crowning is a !!!!! but it's not so bad. I didn't have any painkillers later either. It was hard work, and tiring, but not painful like breaking a leg or falling down some stairs (I imagine!)

Now pregnancy, that was a bloody chore.

I am not evangelical about a lack of drugs though and if I did it again I'd do it differently - but this isn't the thread for that!

allIcouldwishfor

Big wuss in this corner, but both my 2 were home births because I was terrified of intervention and being rushed. When I was first pregnant with DS, I went to the midwife to discuss my options, as I didn't want a caesarean and didn't fancy a natural birth either - I was disappointed that medical science hadn't come up with a third option for me!! All the way through my first pregnancy, I kept looking at OH's head and thinking "God, that's big!" :rolleyes:

I'd second the recommendation to read Janet Balaskas and Sheila Kitzinger, great books which are very empowering for women facing the prospect of giving birth.

Just remember, it can't be that bad, otherwise everyone would be an only child!