What is the most painful part of labour?

[mummySS]

Figured you ladies would be the best to ask, hope you don't mind!

1. What was the most painful part of labour for you? (eg contractions, head crowning, other?)

2. If you had an epidural, did it work? Did it completely block the pain or could you still feel it?

Thanks so much. I'm petrified about the labour and I think having a good idea what to expect will help loads!

Xx

 

[JASMAK]

Well, I never went all the way through labour (had sections) but for me, the hardest part was expecting the next contraction to be worse. So, if you can manage to focus on the moment and not what is next to come, it will probably help. I think fear is a major factor in not being able to cope.

 

[Sarah10]

Hi I had an epidural (was induced with back to back labour and put on the drip) contractions were painful. Epidural was fantastic! Completely got rid of everything, i was so chilled out! I even managed to have a sneaky nap (ok about 10 minutes as they check your blood pressure very regularly) which i couldn't of done otherwise! It was wearing off by the time LO's head was on his way out lol, felt stinging but again it wasn't excruciating probably because i still had abit of pain relief.

Hope this helps! xxx

 

[AP]

1. Contractions i would say. delivery wasnt sore though.

2. I had an epidural with my first, defo helped.

Id say go with the flow. My first was a shock to the system and i was more tired than hurting.
I didnt even have gas&air much with my second, my body seemed to cope better on its own, i remember thinking "this is weird...."

 

[summer rain]

1. For me it was definitely the contractions leading up to the pushing stage, although it was very painful it was the intense feeling of pressure that was the worst part of it. The head crowning and the actual pushing were nowhere near as painful or unpleasant in comparison.

2. I didn't have an epidural and this is just me personally; I wouldn't have one unless it was a real emergency situation. I'm not some type of martyr but its just I only know one person who had an epidural and didn't need further intervention, and I had to have further intervention with my eldest (extensive episiotomy) and I'd rather avoid that happening ever again as it took me 8 weeks before I could even physically sit down. I also have a terrible fear of needles even when in labour. I managed on gas and air this time and with nothing last time, though doing it with nothing was not my choice and I'd rather not do that again xx

 

[CottlestonPie]

For me the contractions were the worst part. Feeling the next one coming and knowing it wasn't going to be comfortable was probably my least favourite part.
I didn't have an epidural but I found that in the pushing stage you're so focused that all your energy goes into pushing, so you don't feel the pain so much.

 

[sweetlullaby]

Figured you ladies would be the best to ask, hope you don't mind!

1. What was the most painful part of labour for you? (eg contractions, head crowning, other?)
For me the most painful part of labour was pushing with the contractions I barely even think about it now but I had back labour and every push was complete agony
2. If you had an epidural, did it work? Did it completely block the pain or could you still feel it?
N/A I didn't have an epidural but if I was going through labour again I would definately take one because I'd be petrified of going through the same thing again.Thanks so much. I'm petrified about the labour and I think having a good idea what to expect will help loads!

Xx

Every labour is different hun some will find contractions hard others pushing others crowning etc

EDIT - My answers are in red just incase I confused you a bit

 

[purple_rain]

to be honest, labour was nothin compared to baby being here. you deal with the contactions, i found me and hubby going through the experience together just an amazing time....although pushing was prob worst but you deal with it. I was honestly dreadin labour until the time came. i was induced so it was iminent, but i was talking about the next one during it. i took diamorphine and gas and air. What i read before was that the calmer you are the better it is and i agree. you'll probably shock yourself at the time. I did, i was excited while having contractions

 

[goddess25]

Mummy SS, you are going to be just fine. Labour and giving birth are painful yes but its totally worth it. I cant really answer the question it was very different both times.

My first birth, the labour was ok did most of it home. Got to the hospital at 9.5 cm dilated and pretty much started to push. He was a bit stuck so needed help and I was prepped for a section. However they managed to get him out with forceps. I had a spinal for this and it worked fine, i felt nothing from just above my belly button all the way down. The most painful part this time around was I had quite extensive tearing so the recovery was painful.

Second time around there was very little recovery so that was ace. I found the labour painful but it was more intense as it was very fast, 3.5 hours so not alot of buildup with contractions. The head crowning just felt like I was on fire down there, but it didnt last long.

So that was my experience, and they were both great. The babies are so worth it in the end. You are going to do just fine. Labour and birth are fantastic experiences and its great, its such an acheivement in the end. You have grown these babies and then your body gets the babies out.

Just to let you know that before I gave birth first time around I was just as terrified, its totally normal. You have no idea what to expect. Just remember that it is painful but its pain that is going to end once you have delivered.

 

[peanut56]

My contractions were all in my back, which was by far the worst part. It was the most pain I've ever felt in my life. The pushing was incredibly painful, because the contractions in my back got even worse, and it was agony.
I had an epidural which completely took all the pain away until I was pushing, then it all came back!

ETA: It was worth every second, and I will gladly do it again and again!

 

[CottlestonPie]

It's amazing how strong you are and how well you will find yourself coping with labour...
I shocked myself... Whilst havibg strong contractions less than 3 mins apart, I walked across a car park and refused to let OH get a wheelchair and insisted on walking through the hospital, up the stairs to MAU unassisted..... Turns out I was 6cm dilated at the time and was taken straight to delivery!
You're stronger than you think!

Ps- congrats and good luck! x

 

[Shabutie]

The most painful part of labour for me was getting dialated from 6cm to 10cm and the contractions that came with it. It all happened within 30mins, I took G+A for these 30mins, and stopped when I was able to push. I found pushing through the pain to be a relief, and I focused on this instead of the how much pain it could have all been.

No Epidural, so cant answer your next question.

 

[Jellycat]

Mine was the car journey, I wished I'd been flat out on the back rather than sitting upright in the front seat.

I had an epidural once I'd reached 10cm, but seemed to only work on one side. However the gas and air on top did the trick to take away the pain

If your nervous try relaxation breathing and visualisation now whilst pregnant or listen to relaxing music. It will put you into a relaxed positive mind frame.

 

[PepsiChic]

im all for natural labouring, so thats what i did, i used breathing to get me through the contractions, and it was till i felt the need to push and was told NOT to that i felt pain, if you relax with each contraction its a lot easier, obviously you cant relax when your told not to push because your body naturally wants to push so you tense up to stop it and it hurt.

pushing was easy for me, it took away the pain instantly and only the crowning hurt for a second but if you stop pushing at the crowning and relax for a while to let the skin stretch naturally you'll have a less likely chance of tearing (and more pain)

 

[mixedmama]

Contractions were the worst for me! I pushed for 52 mins but I didn't find that stage as painful as contractions.

I didn't have an epidural.

 

[membas#1]

definitely for me was the last few hours of contractions--when i was going from 7 cm to fully dilated. those were the worst and the closer i got to fully dilated the closer the contractions got together and the more intense, so that was hard...but it's doable the pushing/crowning was not painful for me, but it only took me 4 or 5 contractions (under 10 minutes) for the pushing stage...i mean i felt it but compared to the contractions--it didn't compare.

i didn't have any pain meds, but at one point i'm pretty sure i was begging them to make the pain stop--but i still managed.

 

[mommyB]

The only part that was painful for me was the contractions before I got the epidural. I loved the epi, I still felt everything during the pushing part, it just took most of the pain away. I deffiantely could not have done it without it, but that is just my opinion.

 

[Seity]

Contractions were the worst. Got the epidural and it was fab!!! I got the walking epidural so it wore off just in time for pushing him out and the contractions for that were horrid, but I pushed him out in just 3 pushes, so I didn't have to endure it very long. I can't recommend the epidural enough. Best decision I made.

 

[Blob]

I could do labour a million times i hated being pregnant and sick but then i too was a natural birther and I just relaxed and amazingly it worked.

But honestly worst part was after the pains from your body and any stitches, the pain of peeing. Give me labour anyday. But with DD1 I needed lots of stitches with DD2 I was fine.

 

[rtracey80]

i would have thought that every labour is different.

My contractions were painful and i was surprised by how quickly they progressed, within 4 hours they were coming every 2 minutes (labour only lasted 12 hours). I have to say the most painful part was the crowning of the head.

Only had gas and air so cant answer about the epidural