Be honest please-how bad is the "ring of fire"?

[babyjan]

I definitely didn't think it was the worst bit... definitely not. Yeah it was bad, it feels like you're splitting in half, it does burn... I yelled out "its STINGING!!!!" with my second �� But it doesn't last long at all and it's the last bit before you get your baby! I definitely think transition is worse than the ring of fire

Agree with this. Transition was the worst part for me too!

It felt weird plus I had midwives stretching the area with their fingers then I ended up with a huge injection to the area to get an episiotomy :/

 

[lenorajoy]

I honestly didn't even feel it! I was kind of waiting for it, but it never came. I think the whole area must have gone numb or something because I had a pretty bad 2nd degree tear and I didn't feel a thing. I pooped all over the place, though. I knew I had to actually poop early on and it wasn't baby pressure I was feeling! But they wouldn't let me go to the bathroom anyway.

And I'd have to agree, transition was the hardest part! I had an overwhelming urge to push well before I was fully dilated (I believe it started around 7 cm!), and my body actually started to push on its own and I had to stop it. That was pure torture! Thankfully the last 3 cm went fairly quickly compared to the 4-5 cm stage, which seemed to last forever.

Nothing can describe the sense relief and joy the moment baby is born. It was so surreal for me, and so beautiful.

 

[swampmaiden]

Nothing can describe the sense relief and joy the moment baby is born. It was so surreal for me, and so beautiful.

I second that... the immense feeling of relief was probably the most intense feeling I've ever had.... no drug could ever recreate that... its one big reason Im planning another drug free birth, just to chase that high again.

Ring of fire is bad but honestly you are so saturated with natural chemicals from your brain that its not like you are exactly experiencing it sober. You enter Labor Land around 6-7cm and your body&brain really kick in with the hormones and biochemicals and endorphins so its a very unique state of mind you'll be in.

Good luck, you can do it... women all over the world do it, have been doing it and will continue to do so... you gots this! 😃

 

[lenorajoy]

Swampmaiden is right, you really do enter Labor Land! I didn't think about what other women usually act like during labor, I just did what came naturally. Apparently what came naturally to me was to breathe deeply and focus on each contraction. I was apparently so quiet and calm everyone talked about it for at least a month! I was induced, so my experience was probably different from a lot of women that go into labor naturally, but you can do it, too!

 

[WackyMumof2]

And I'd have to agree, transition was the hardest part! I had an overwhelming urge to push well before I was fully dilated (I believe it started around 7 cm!), and my body actually started to push on its own and I had to stop it. That was pure torture! Thankfully the last 3 cm went fairly quickly compared to the 4-5 cm stage, which seemed to last forever.

I have to agree with this though I didn't find transition overly painful. Uncomfortable but not unmanageable. My midwife spent half an hour trying to get me NOT to push and had to give me Gas just to take the urge off. It's not something you can control which is the frustrating part. Your body wants to push and you can feel it happening no matter how hard you try not too. The Gas was good. It gave me enough of a distraction that she was able to put some pressure on my cervix to dilate that last little bit so I could push.

 

[lenorajoy]

Yeah, transition wasn't much more painful, it was just the torture of trying to convince my body to stop pushing! You're right, it's like something completely out of your control, but you have to control it. Practice your kegels, they will help! I'm sad to say I didn't do mine religiously and I wish I had.

 

[Mrs. MB]

Mine hurt like hell but it was over with very quickly. I had staggered contractions that took my breath away and I cussed like a drunk sailor so starting to push was a relief. I then distinctly remember the "mother**** this hurts moment" and my nurse telling me to let the baby stretch me before pushing her out. F$$$ no, I pushed that sucker out. Apparently I may not have had a tear if I held off... I was over it though as I had no pain relief. Also immediately after the relief of the baby coming my doctor kept pushing me to deliver the placenta and I had to yell at her to give me a break because I was in so much pain. Once they cut the cord they gave me IV drugs and I delivered the placenta.

 

[Ames333]

Maybe it's just me, but Contractions are so debilitating painful that I never notice any pain at all from the baby coming out and my 4th was 10lbs5oz, no meds, no tearing.

 

[happycupcake]

I found the head part made my feet feel white hot, which was weird. But I find that part a relief, you know it's almost over and you're moments away from meeting your little one

 

[Reiko_ctu]

My first 2 I don't remember it being that bad but my third, holy cow it was bad. I was screaming and saying "I can't do this!" And they were getting me to do the panting pushes... oh dear!! Frick I don't even like remembering it. But it only lasts a minute or so and then the baby is OUT!!

 

[ManicsGirl]

I don't remember it being that bad when I had my two. Yeah it hurt, but I knew what it was and the relief I felt when the baby is out was pretty instant.

 

[Suggerhoney]

For me it was awfull. Also the contractions very very very painful.
But on a brighter note even tho it hurts like hell it is worth it and u feel so much relief ans when u get the head and shoulders out the rest of baby comes out real easy.

 

[Deethehippy]

I don’t remember it specifically, just the overwhelming urge to push.
I was in the bath when I got that urge with my home birth and I waddled to the bedroom and my daughter was born with me standing up....I’m not sure if position makes a difference but I always like to be mobile and active in labour.

 

[Twag]

So both of mine were natural and only G&A and a TENS machine and both big babies and my son (1st baby) got his head stuck and I had to be cut and tbh I didn't even feel that - yes it hurts but it isn't that bad I would say standing on a piece of Lego hurts way more

 

[Katiedw21]

I've had 6 births with an epidural and my last birth #7 was natural(not by choice just didn't make it in time) It hurt so bad I was crawling back on the bed refusing to push I refused for like 30 min as my daughter and dh became quite annoyed with me but that was by far the most painful thing I've experienced! My mind was telling me not to do it but my body said otherwise! At one point I begged her to pull him out she said you get his head and shoulders out and I will pull him the rest of the way so I mustered up the courage and pushed him to that point she stuck her fingers in his armpits and pulled him the rest of the war out lol BUT as soon as he was out it was all over no more pain and I forgot all about it! I was honestly proud of myself because I really didn't think I could do it but I did!

 

[Katiedw21]

For me the contractions aren't that painful so I didn't get that relief with pushing that so many talk about

 

[Dommy]

I definitely didn't think it was the worst bit... definitely not. Yeah it was bad, it feels like you're splitting in half, it does burn... I yelled out "its STINGING!!!!" with my second �� But it doesn't last long at all and it's the last bit before you get your baby! I definitely think transition is worse than the ring of fire

That's the exact explanation!