So, 1st, keep in mind these are my personal thoughts/feelings based on the choices i made with my first labor and if I would/would not do them again.
As a first time mom, you don't know what to expect (obviously) and I found that while reading and researching HELPS A TON, you can't be completely prepared.
My doctor was really wonderful and warned me the pros and cons of each "option".
I had to be induced at 39 weeks due to LO's size. He was a monster, and almost didn't fit out anyways
He told me induction would make it a longer labor than natural. For me--- while I will never know for "sure" I'm pretty sure it did. Because my labor was 22 hours. I wasn't dilated when i went in at all so I was literally starting for nothing.... In the future? I probably won't induce unless necessary. Although, if you're a planner it's kind of handy having a "date".
Paid meds: (on a side note-- god I would love gas and air here in the US) Since I was induced and was having crazy pitocin contractions-- I wimped out and got the epidural. God--- it was wonderful. For the 12 or so hours it worked. Then it stopped. Right in time for me to push. Would I get it again? In theory, I'd love to go the natural way, but if it's another long labor I would. I feel that if I had to go through the 22 hours of labor with no pain meds, I would have ended up in a c-section. I was already so exhausted at the end they had to use the forceps, and a vacuum. If it was progressing quickly? Probably not... or at least I'd try. End thought? If you want the epidural, ask when the "point of no return is" and try to hold out as close to possible to it. You want it to work when you REALLY need it.
Walking didn't help me with the pain, but it did help things "move along" I'm planning on doing as much walking as possible with these.... a 22 hour labor with TWINS does not appeal to me.
With your contractions-- someone told me to find something you can focus on--- I thought they were full of it, but it worked. For me, I had my mom read me the contraction "reading" if I heard her saying "decreasing" numbers I felt like I could relax. The contraction WAS going away despite how it felt.
You'll hear from people that you "forget the pain" after it's all over. Again--- I though they were full of poo. I remember holding my baby and the contractions were still going a bit, the placenta was coming out... I needed stitches.... I felt everything but it was so much in the background. Focus on that little face. Best medicine.
If you would have asked me for the next month when the next child was--- I would have told you he was my only one--- but the memory fades and it really IS worth it.
So try not to stress, don't rush the pregnancy, enjoy it.
