traumatizing to be in the labor ward and hearing all the screaming

[dsbeH]

I went last night to get checked out and I must say I am now petrified to give birth. I am hoping the screaming was coming from ladies before the epidural but I have never done this before and now all I can think about is what it feels like. is it really that bad????

 

[thefirstbaby]

Lol screaming is always before the epidural. I waited til I was crying and screaming before I have into the drugs. You'll be ok. After you get the epidural it's really not that bad. Giving birth I feel is less painful than contractions.

 

[Hayleyemma]

Oh bless u hun. Yea it is scary hearing people screaming. I didnt even feel my epidural go in, i was prob to drugged up lol. And before i had my son i wasnt scared, i was shocked how painfull it was, but its so worth it xx

 

[jen1604]

For some women the screaming is just a release of tension. You know how when you're angry you can have a good shout or cry and feel tons better? Like that. Some women just cope with the pain better if they're screaming.

Oh and lots and lots of people give birth without an epidural with no screaming,and some will have an epidural and still scream,its not linked

 

[dsbeH]

thank you ladies- but what, exactly, does it feel like? probably hard to explain but it sounded like a TORTURE chamber

 

[Seity]

I never screamed before the drugs, but I'm not a screamer. I sure as heck was moaning though. Everything was brilliant once I got the drugs. Not worried about this labor at all, I'll just get the drugs as soon as I check in.
For me, all the pain was in my belly. It was like the worst gas pain you can imagine, plus some, coming in non stop waves. I didn't get that break between contractions you hear so much about. That's also probably why I was only in hard labor for 3 hours before my son was born.
The pain I experienced before getting the drugs was enough to convince me that I never, ever want a 'natural' birth.

 

[Bec27]

not everyone has an epidural!! I didn't. My first trip to the labour ward was when I was in labour and I heard screaming then which scared me a lot- at least you have a bit of time to know that you will most likely hear screams when you go back in labour. I didn't scream at all until I was pushing- yes it is painful and I had no pain relief other than gas and air which they took away from me for the last half an hour/hour (you have little concept of time when in labour). If you know you're choosing an epidural then relax- you won't get the pain as women experience it who don't have the epidural. Agree with Jen1604 about it not necessarily being linked to the pain too- for me it was but I'm sure for some it is just a release. I was desperate not to scream as I didn't want baby to be born hearing screaming and sense the stress of the situation but I couldn't help it in the end. The crowning was the worst bit- the rest was manageable- just! Planning on doing the same again with no pain relief so it can't be that bad!!

 

[tntrying22]

This is my first one but I have had two ovarian cysts rupture and I can tell you that I thought I was dying. I've had women who've given birth who've had the same thing tell me it was damn near close to the contractions pain. I had a morphine drip once I got to the hospital but I didn't scream - I could barely move and was definitely making some sounds though...

 

[dsbeH]

how long do you have to wait to get an epidural? can you get it as soon as you get to the hospital?

 

[Bec27]

thank you ladies- but what, exactly, does it feel like? probably hard to explain but it sounded like a TORTURE chamber

For me the contractions started in my tummy and spread round to my back- felt like the worst back ache I'd ever had and I couldn't get comfortable- I couldn't sit, couldn't lie down and as I had an all night labour I was shattered. I just kept walking around and leaning over things to support me during contractions. They get closer and closer until they're constant. The crowning for me felt like someone was holding a bunsen burner to my vagina!! That was the best way I could describe the burning sensation of the stretching. You really can't know what it feels like till you're in labour- it's the same for every first time mum and it makes it scarier I think. This time I feel a lot more prepared.

I have to say the best thing for me was the water (had a water birth)- as soon as I got into the warm water that supported my weight and let me lie down and float/rest.

 

[Seity]

I've heard that some places make you wait until 4 cm to get it. I don't know how far I was because I asked for the drugs and then had to wait 30 minutes for the anesthesiologist on call to drive to the hospital from his house. I was the only woman in labor that whole day, so he wasn't at the hospital. I was not amused at the 30 min wait. I was 3 cm when I checked into the hospital and I got the intrathecal (one time shot to the spine) vs the epidural which leaves a catheter in.

 

[EverythingXd]

Everyone's labour experience is different although most women will agree it's the most painful thing you will ever experience - and the most amazing thing as well

I can't even describe what it feels like, nothing else has compared for me. As someone else said, if you're planning on having an epidural you are likely to escape the worst of it!

I personally didn't scream when I was in labour with my son. I must've said "I can't do this" about a thousand times though! I am planning on a drugs-free birth this time (I just had pethidine last time but about 30 minutes before I started pushing so it shouldn't have been given to me as it just made me and baby lethargic for the pushing stage without relieving the pain).

 

[starlight2801]

Aw it must have been really scary for you to hear but please try not to be too scared.
Fear of the unknown is powerful. When I was expecting my daughter I really wanted someone to explain to me what labour felt like (not least so I could recognise it when it started happening) but its frustratingly difficult to explain. It varies so much from person to person too that everyone one of us replying on here probably had a very different experience of it and your experience will be different again.
So how was it for me? I won't lie to you I found it very painful, probably the most pain I've ever been in (although my sister said she's had worse!) BUT there are drugs available to help if you feel you need them (I gave in and had an epidural and it took 100% of the pain away ) and whether or not you take the medicated option the old cliche is true. As soon as I held my baby in my arms I forgot about it.
Hey, look how many of us ladies are here again with number 2 (or more). If it wasn't all worth it we wouldn't be back x

 

[little_lady]

Haha - I didn't scream, I hummed a note really loudly! The midwife was laughing at me but it was the only way to control the contractions.

I had an epidural after 12 hours of labour and I never screamed... but it was painful enough to want the drugs even though I wanted to go all natural!

 

[sargentgirl]

It normal to feel frightened of giving birth especially if you have never done it before. Labour is very difficult to explain, it begins as period like pain in you lower tummy and lower back and gradually increases along with the tightnings in your tummy. As the pain gets stronger the pain kind of takes over the whole of you tummy and back area. You do get a break inbetween contractions where the pain completely goes away and you can relax and get your breathe. As you progress to fully dilated the pain comes one on top of the other. I wont lie to you, it is the most painful thing you will ever experience. Staying in control of your breathing is important. If you opt for an epidural, you wont have to worry about the pain anyway lol.

You can only have an epidural after you are in 'established labour' and that is when you are 3+ cm's dilated, but they rarely give you one if you are over 6-7 cm's dilated, so timing is important if you want one. xx

 

[britgirl82]

You might have heard the screaming but did you hear the babies' first cries?? Makes it all worthwhile...

The pain would be unbearable if it continued forever. But it doesn't: it comes in waves, and just when you think you've reached your limit, it dies down again and you have time to recover.

The thing which helped me is remembering that each contraction is bringing you closer to meeting your baby for the first time. And that once a contraction is over, you never have to experience it again!!!

Don't go in wanting an epidural from the start. There are downsides too (eg you'll need a catheter and might not be able to walk for a little while after), and babies can be drowsier after them. I had one and it was a lifesaver after 36hrs of labour, but see what you can do - you might surprise yourself!!

Labour is tough but it's worth every second (can you tell I'm quite hormonal today?!)!!

 

[Amy_T]

Again it's impossible to describe and no amount of words from us will prepare you for the pain of labour - or the immense feeling of joy when you hold that baby in your arms.

I am expecting baby number 3 and I won't lie, I am still scared of labour but I did it drug free with my second which has given me the confidence that I can do it.... But I'm not afraid to ask for drugs if I need them! (I had everything with my first although the epidural didn't work properly!!).

 

[Eleanor ace]

I can't really remember what it feels like exactly, its crazy but true- you do forget the pain as soon as babies out! But I remember that it would start in my stomach, spread to my back and feel like a painful tightening band around me, it would increases and I'd think "ah crap, it actually really hurts, I want some drugs " and then it would fade. I screamed once in labour because I thought I saw a spider , the rest of the time I mooed- no idea why but it felt good . For a lot of people making some noise to verbalise and focus on the pain helps, some people scream not because the pain is so bad but because it helps them to make noise and screaming is a noise we know!

 

[lucy_x]

There was a woman screaming very very loudly when i was being induced.

Honestly everyone copes differently, I really didnt think it was that bad, infact i thought the healing process was worse (actually, iv had more painful ear piercings!), but that depends on how well you cope with pain, Remember, the screaming is a coping mechanism, everyone deals with it differently x

 

[Kyla]

I was a screamer when giving birth I couldn't help it, I just found it came out naturally with each contraction and helped me cope and focus. I suppose it's like those tennis players who scream and grunt when they hit the ball. My MW told me off, saying I'd get a sore throat, but I felt I needed to make that noise! Then a woman in the next room started screaming and it was a proper scream-off between the pair of us. She said later she felt the same as me, there was this primal urge to yell, rather than it being because of the pain Anyone visiting the labour ward at that time would've been petrified I'm sure.

I didn't have an epidural, just gas and air and a half shot of pethidine. Yes, it hurts, but it's not that bad and even though I screamed last time, I wasn't scared and I'm not frightened to have to do it again. If you're using gas and air, ask the MW to show you exactly how to use it, as it helps you focus on breathing. As soon as baby is born, the pain all stops and the feeling of elation, achievement and love that takes over makes it all worth while.