The ring of fire?!

[Hannahboo]

Did any body have this, I don't remember experiencing this I just remember my dr saying " well she woulda been out if you woulda kept pushing on that one! Now I have to cut you!" and I do deffinitly remember the sting/burn from that epi!!!

 

[MindUtopia]

I felt some stretching but nothing terrible. It wasn't comfortable, but it wasn't unbearbly painful either. I read somewhere the other day where someone said it's like if you put your fingers in the side of your mouth and stretch it til it hurts and it's pretty accurate. It only lasted a few seconds or so though and I was so ready to get my daughter out I didn't care (I'd been squatting and pushing for 4 hours! my legs were really tired and I just wanted to sit down!). I would have kicked anyone square in the face who said that to me though. Hope it wasn't as bad as it sounds. I can't imagine having an episiotomy.

 

[Eleanor ace]

I don't remember feeling it with my 1st, definitely did with my 2nd .
Could your doctor not have let you see how the next couple of pushes went before cutting you?!

 

[Kirsty.20]

I definitely remember having this! Infact I even said those very words to the midwife when it was happening haha i remember it all like it was yesterday, the burning & stinging sensation felt awful but it went away as soon as my sons head was out, not a pleasant experience in my eyes but I may just be a wimp!

 

[Hannahboo]

My labor was a bit hazy because it was 32 hrs long and I was awake for 38 or more and they pushed pitocen and the epidural on my, and I caved because I wasn't progressing and they kept on telling me I needed to do something.. I was so afraid my daughter would be hurt so I gave in, and my epiesiotomy took about 6 weeks to heal and the first few "marritals" were very uncomfortable and slightly painful. But the dr and the nurses were NOT encouraging. I'd say rather discouraging with say thing like that and" omg ive already pushed my uterus out , push harder!"

 

[Niccal]

I think the pain relief had worn off by the time I got to that stage, so yes I felt it!! I do remember thinking, oh god it hurts, it can't get worse than this, oh god it's getting worse!! etc... But to be honest it was over really quickly and once she was out it was forgotten.

 

[alicecooper]

I felt it yes but the contractions were so painful that they were distracting me from it.

 

[BunnyN]

I remember the MW asking sympathetically if it really hurt, I said no it just stung. It did really sting but I was just relieved the pain in my back I had before pushing was gone and pleased the baby was finally coming as I'd had a long labour.

 

[mommyxofxone]

i definitely felt it. they asked me too- do you feel the ring of fire? and i remember nodding but don't think i got anything verbal out.

 

[Hannahboo]

My pain mess wore off too, and then I pushed for two hours and when she finally came out I remember being like man!! What a relief! And I told the nurses I could get up but the wouldn't let me.. After about 10 min of me bugging them they let me up

 

[Carly.C]

Oh yes I felt it!! I had a 3rd degree tear so not sure if what I felt was the tear or whether the ring of fire was painful anyway. I describe it as someone holding a blow torch to your vagina. AGONY!!!! But short lasting.

 

[Mrs.Mcguin]

With my first..they didn't turn down the epidural so I don't remember having much pain pushing him out.

HOWEVER...my second baby I know they turned my epidural down because this time I felt everything including the urge to push...which is something I didn't experience with my first either. My second baby had a huge head so tho my labour with her was hazy due to pain and exhaustion...the ring of fire I remember clearly! Maybe it didn't last long but it felt like an eternity to me when going through it. I specifically remember saying at that moment that I would never have any more babies again!!!

But here I am...pregnant with my 3rd and attempting a home birth this time

 

[cupcakemomma]

I distinctly remember the 'ring of fire.' It's funny, I had done pretty well keeping quiet while I was pushing, no yelling or crying or anything, just some whimpers I think. Then, right as her head was about to come out, my Dr. was using her hands to help guide the baby out. And I remember saying, "Ow." Like, not yelling it, but just... declaring it I guess. Lol. Everyone just kind of looked at each other, and I could tell they wanted to smile, for me stating the obvious. Idk how to explain it, but it's funny looking back on it. You had to be there, I guess.

I ended up tearing all the way up the front (instead of toward the back, which seems to be more normal. I didn't keep silent at that point Healing from that was no walk in the park, but I'd rather have torn than to be cut.

 

[LockandKey]

every time I hear this term, I always think of the Johnny Cash song, Ring of Fire.

I didn't have this with my first, mainly because I wasn't granted the opportunity, the rubbish hospital staff working the floor the night I went into labor decided that after 5 mins of pushing and DD still wasn't out, I needed help, so they gave me an episiotomy cut. I have a MW this time though who wont intervene unless it's really necessary, so I may get the feeling this time.

 

[smileyfaces]

Had an episiotomy with 1st so didnt feel it.

Felt it with my 2nd but it isn't half as bad as people make out! Was just uncomfortable for a minute!

 

[Emma&Freya]

Yes and thats what Im scared of with this one.

I remember asking the midwife if I could scream and she said yeh so I did cos it hurt

 

[Carly.C]

I made three pacts before going into labour
1. I wouldn't swear
2. I wouldn't be nasty to anyone
3. I wouldn't scream
I'm naturally a quiet person and I successfully managed all three but the part where I could have yelled my lungs out was the ring of fire but as smiley said, it's only for a minute but unbearable for that time IMO.

 

[d_b]

I didn't get it, unless i forgot right after! I had a drug free birth with second degree tear and didn't feel the tearing. Until they stitched it up, that was terrible.

 

[Hannahboo]

I had some tearing at thetop too cupcakemomma, the ut the bottom tho

 

[babyface15]

I had a drug free, fear free birth. I felt some mild stinging during this stage. my baby was crowning for over two hours due to issues with presentation so I can attest that after the initial stinging your nerves shut down the pain receptors and the pain goes away! Try not to be afraid, it's really just such a short time and fear makes pain so much more intense.

I can't believe so many hospitals use such liberal use of episiotomy though. after my prolonged pushing stage I only had a minor first degree tear. I can't imagine if I had been rushed into getting a cut