Is childbirth THAT bad?

[R8ch]

If it was really that bad, women would only ever have one baby

Of course it's painful and hard work, but so worth it. I had a natural drug -free birth last time. She took her time coming out which lengthened the whole process. But I still am looking forwards to experiencing birth again, almost excited.

Rx

 

[pinkpolkadot]

Honestly for me it was the most painful thing ever and almost unbearable, I remember being on the edge of asking for an epidural. I actually found the pushing part easy compared to the contractions. But at the same time it was an exciting, positive experience, really hard to explain!

Pain wise though everyone is different, my friend who fainted when someone stood on her toe found labour a walk in the park!

 

[Mazzy17]

I thought my labour was painful, like having the worlds worst period pains. During labour i was saying "never again" but now...yeah i would happily go through it all again.

 

[lucy_x]

No labour is bloody amazing, the most empowering and liberating thing i have ever been through - fully embrace it ladies, its what we are made to do!

I however am very pro active birthing and educated myself fully on all the options etc, also my labours were only 1hr 30 and 58mins respectively. I fully believe that was all the raspberry leaf tea i consumed each time!.

I genuinely found labour more scary (as in i was vulnerable, but then my OH wasn't there so i only had 2 virtually strangers for support!) than painful x

Id do it again, a million times over x

 

[aliss]

I found it (my 2nd) to be incredible agonizing (12 hours back to back, home birth with no pain relief) but my most proud achievement. It was an experience, for sure. My 1st birth was traumatizing (awful hospital birth with lots of interventions).

 

[likeaustralia]

No, not THAT bad. My labor was relatively short and I only pushed for a little while though (less than 20mins, I think). I didn't want or need any pain relief, but as others have said, it all depends on your pain threshold and most of all, your attitude about it all. If you're scared and stressed, it will most likely be much harder than if you try to be calm.

 

[RaspberryK]

Tiring yes... 26 hours of contractions and 15 mins pushing...10lb3 baby...no pain relief. The most painful experience ever? No!
Xx

 

[ppgirlsteph]

My labour was horrendous to be honest, but i would still LOVE to do it again! I was induced which I would never want to go through again as i was in labour for days before they could break my waters and i was allowed an epidural. For me, the worst part was how tired my body was after 3 nights of no sleep and being so dehydrated as i was puking everything back up. I did go in very chilled out and positive but it didnt make my labour any nicer lol x

 

[Hunbun]

The first thing I said to my sister was 'Never do it!'... scared her half to death poor thing.

I would say it was very very very sore, but to me the worse part of it was how there was no break in the pain. It went on for so long with me and I was so tired and just wanted to sleep. There was no chance to rest and regroup.

For a while afterwards I thought LO might be an only child, but we are already planning another one.

 

[mrscitysmith]

I had a very long labour - 33 hours from the pains getting intense. Don't get me wrong, it did really hurt but the pain was not too much to bear. In the end I opted for an epidural purely as I was exhausted and that pretty much took the pain away. I would definately go for an epidural this time if I felt like the pain was too much or if I had been at it too long and needed a bit of a break before pushing! I did find it a very positive, empowering experience and it only needs to be as painful as you want it to be!

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

I had an amazing 3rd labour x

 

[Beccaboop]

I was in slow labour for 3 days with no progression but contractions sometimes 2 mins apart but no dilation at all and only paracedomol for pain relief the one the 4th day i was checked and was already 7cm and i had got there without even realising with no pain releif then the last 3cm i was given gas and air but i didnt feel i needed it and it annoyed me so i didnt use it and coped well! I didnt find the pushing painful at all but baby got distressed and i had to go to threatre to have forceps and an episiotomy so had an epidural to get him out! So although it was a bit stressful and long it wasnt anywhere near as bad as i thought it would be! I never got to that screaming and shouting bit that you see on tv!

 

[tommyg]

Remember to relax and let your body do what it's trying to do. It can't relax / open the birthcannal if you tense up.

I'd much rather give birth than have another bust appendix (if it were possible)

 

[SIEGAL]

It wasn't painless but not as bad as I thought. Mine was fast. I was 10 cm when i got the epidural. 10 cm contractions were bad but since my labor was so fast i wasn't suffering forever. I feel like if I was in labor for days I might not have such a pleasant view of my first birth. Got epidural and did not feel a thing as in pushed baby out. Had a relatively minor tear and hurt to sit up for a week but other than that I bounced right back. If you don't want a labor that's THAT BAD Take the drugs - suffering does not make you a better mommy IMO.

 

[aimee-lou]

Yes and no. It is as painful as people say, but it's not THAT bad.

When I describe the scene that was me in labour with my second. Staggering from the car to the delivery suite, waters leaking all over the floor with every contraction. 1am and I'm screaming so much that the porters come out to see what was happening. My hubby and I end up walking into the hospital followed by 3 very sheepish looking men lol. less than 5 hours later I had a baby in my arms and a smile a foot wide. Gas and air is a wonderful thing! lol

When I see on TV people walking into hospital with a smile on their face and complaining that they want an epidural because this 'is just too much' it makes me cringe. Your body is meant to do this, let it do it. Baby will come and you'll feel amazing! I so know why people have dozens of children. That initial hit of hormones....wow!

 

[RachA]

It certainly wasn't the worst thing i've ever been through.

Yes it does hurt but it's not that bad. I did my first labour without anything up until i got to about 4cm. I then went on to g&a and did as much as i could on that. I got to the point of pushing but DS wouldn't come out so had to have a spinal in order to have an emcs.
My second i did the first 14 hours just breathing. I then had g&a for a couple of hours and then went back to just breathing again. Then the last couple of hours i went back on the g&a. It did really hurt but 2nd time around i did get a little breather between contractions.

I've recently had a minor op that they had to pack with gauze for the first few hours post op. They ended up having to remove the gauze with a local anaesthetic which just dulled the pain. I screamed in pain and yet when i was in childbirth i didn't scream or shout out at all.

 

[Mummy Bean]

Same with everything ...everyone experiences is different, i know women who sale through pregnancy with out a complaint, and others who feel they are dying the whole 9 months...so same in birth....there so many variables, poisition of baby...breech, back to back, hand by face...your own size and frame...some ppl simply have better bodies for given birth, size of baby, how overdue, have u been induced...the list goes on and on.

For me was it painful...hell yea, but i was lucky 12 hrs start to finish not bad...and after 9 months of baking that baby you do anything to get it here.

And tbh if it gets too much there always drugs!!

 

[BUGaBOO]

Mines was an awful labour. Went into labour on the Sunday night with regular, painful contractions and by Tuesday morning still hadn't progressed past 3cm, waters were broken but after 8 excrutiating hours and only at 5cm, had to get an epidural, the pain was so bad I remember wondering how I was going to get through the next contraction and they literally stopped me breathing, I was holding my breath through the pain (worse thing to do of course but all the breathing exercises go out the window)
I was told to get an epidural by the midwife - and gladly agreed despite it not being on the birth plan (neither was induction or c section though)
Anyway, yes it was horribly painful for me.

Finally had an EMCS on wednesday morning at 3am after failure to progress. Doh.