Stupid question from a first timer...

[Geegees]

What hurts more?? The contractions or the actual birth bit???

 

[Ju_bubbs]

You know what.. I was just thinking oh i'm on my 5th.. I can answer that...s topped to think about it, and I actually have no idea!!! I suppose it must be true when they say you forget all about it as soon as you have your baby!! lol

 

[admiral765]

I'm not sure either. For me personally the contractions as the pushing bit didn't hurt one bit for me but saying that I just breathed through the contractions and had gas and air for last 20 minutes so very good labour overall anyway. However, I think everyone is different. When I first went up to labour ward, my sister, husband and I were fairly alarmed when we heard next door screaming her head off saying 'its f**king burning' lol! I was petrified thinking I had to go through that still but never did xx

 

[Kerrieann]

personally for me its the pushing but only because i had no pain relief and the labour part was quiet quick, i think most women say the contractions though as its goes on longer x

 

[Geegees]

Ok... Is it kinda mind over matter???

 

[gk1701]

I think this is a great question, I want to know myself!

 

[Mummy of Ange]

I would say the contractions, but my babies was premature so when it come to the pushing they were a lot smaller than should be.

But contractions hurt more than i could imagine, but you deal with it. I only had gas and air just before i started pushing. Looking back now, im quite proud of myself for getting through the contractions without any relief. Hope this time is the same x

 

[admiral765]

Ok... Is it kinda mind over matter???

Yes def, if you can manage to stay calm you will be completely fine! Looking at OBEM the women that lose control have the worse time ever and the ones that stay calm just appear to breeze through it. I had a tens machine which was amazing for me and then as I say gas and air. There was a slight moment that I did panic and I felt the pain so much more so I got back into the zone again and was fine! I just think some ppl can deal with it and some can't, but either way whether your screaming, crying, silent or whatever, I think we are all amazing for getting through it and having a gorgeous baby as a result! xx

 

[lakeecho]

I had a natural labour...and I would taking pushing over contractions any day. But then again, I was only in active labour for 2 hours and only pushed for about 5 mins, so maybe my experience wasn't the 'norm', hard to say...

 

[sarah986]

For me it was contractions. plus the fact that when i needed to push the midwife told me it was 2 early and stop pushing then wen she eventually checked me she could see the head. Plus for me my body literally done the pushing for me. Its the most rewarding experience of your life and you really do forget how painful it is.

 

[Chiclet2012]

I'm a first timer too and I have always wondered about this!

For me, I am more scared of the pushing. I think it's because I can visually picture the baby coming out, the skin stretching and possibly tearing and I can imagine what that feels like.

I couldn't possibly know what contractions feel like so I'm not sure.

Here in the US, we don't get gas. I've already been told that I won't be able to get an epidural (due to a bleeding disorder) so it's going to be mostly natural (maybe some pain meds along the way) for me.

 

[emma33]

contractions were the most painfull for me, when it came to pushing you feel like your actively doing something toget the baby out so yes that bit hurts too but its different, its so hard to think back to 16 14 and 12 years ago..lol i also adore gas and air and hoping i get by with just that this time too x

 

[Nix]

I would say the contractions because although pushing hurts/burns I found that the feeling that you could finally do something about it all was a relief. I would even go as far as saying I enjoy pushing - a little strange maybe xxx

 

[jacs]

I had an epi so ignorance is bliss! Contractions hurt a lot but I never felt a thing during the birth.

 

[hnaturally]

I am most afraid of the pushing, but my mom insists that the contractions are the worst part. I have experienced the contractions, and I know I can handle that, so I hope she's right!

 

[Geegees]

Thanks everyone! Glad it doesn't seem like a stupid question after all!

 

[Sunshine12]

Thanks for asking this GeeGees. I wondered about it too particularly after getting myself in a tizz again following last nights episode of OBEM! Hope you well. xx