What was more painful?

[imblessed14]

Contractions or pushing?

How long was your labor?
Did you have an epidural?
C-section?
All natural?

 

[RaspberryK]

Back pain, then contractions buy once I was fully dilated all I felt was pressure. Pushing didn't hurt, I didn't get the "ring of fire" the worst thing was after pains for which I was given paracetamol and it did nothing.
26 hours from first contraction to baby born, 2 cocodamol 6 hours before he was born, completely natural delivery.
Breastfeeding overall was more painful as was the awful spd pain I'd had for 6 weeks.
Xx

 

[imblessed14]

Ouchie!!

Back pain, then contractions buy once I was fully dilated all I felt was pressure. Pushing didn't hurt, I didn't get the "ring of fire" the worst thing was after pains for which I was given paracetamol and it did nothing.
26 hours from first contraction to baby born, 2 cocodamol 6 hours before he was born, completely natural delivery.
Breastfeeding overall was more painful as was the awful spd pain I'd had for 6 weeks.
Xx

 

[RaspberryK]

And here I am going for round 2 :-D

XX

 

[MommyJogger]

First labor:
I was induced with pitocin after waters breaking. The most painful part was the pitocin contractions. They're absolutely horrendous. Then I had an epidural and didn't feel when to push, so pushing was straining, but obviously not painful. The recovery because of the pit and epidural was pretty bad. Labor lasted several days, I'm convinced my body wasn't ready to labor and I should have been better supported in 'watchful waiting' after my water broke to let my body prepare naturally, let baby get in a good birthing position, etc instead of rushing in to induce. It was really not a good experience.

Second labor:
I felt very little until I was already 8cm, the midwife had been supporting me for weeks in exercises to help open up the pelvis and allow baby to move into an optimal position for smooth labor. Then I had my water broken and immediately entered transition. That was the most painful part, was the time from 8cm to 10cm and in a natural labor, that's pretty normal. They were nowhere near unbearable like the pitocin contractions were and because I knew transition was the difficult and hormone-filled part, I knew the "crazy" feeling was normal. Pushing actually felt really, really good. My whole body just flexed down into my butt, I didn't have to try at all. I was more focused on not pushing and panting through to slow it down, but I really just wanted to let it happen because it literally felt so good to push. Like I'd been constipated for weeks and was finally taking a huge poop, lol. I tore a bit and because my body was so focused on pushing, I felt it without really "feeling" it and it didn't bother me. When it was over, the afterpains were worse than any part of the labor. But overall a very positive experience with a very easy recovery. It was maybe a few hours from when I thought to myself "wouldn't it be cool to have the baby tonight, but it doesn't look like it will happen" (it was DH's birthday) and baby in my arms.

 

[imblessed14]

when are you due?

And here I am going for round 2 :-D

XX

 

[imblessed14]

So, your second was born on your DH's birthday?? that's awesome!!
With my sunshine, it was more of a very similar experience of pushing with your second labor.

First labor:
I was induced with pitocin after waters breaking. The most painful part was the pitocin contractions. They're absolutely horrendous. Then I had an epidural and didn't feel when to push, so pushing was straining, but obviously not painful. The recovery because of the pit and epidural was pretty bad. Labor lasted several days, I'm convinced my body wasn't ready to labor and I should have been better supported in 'watchful waiting' after my water broke to let my body prepare naturally, let baby get in a good birthing position, etc instead of rushing in to induce. It was really not a good experience.

Second labor:
I felt very little until I was already 8cm, the midwife had been supporting me for weeks in exercises to help open up the pelvis and allow baby to move into an optimal position for smooth labor. Then I had my water broken and immediately entered transition. That was the most painful part, was the time from 8cm to 10cm and in a natural labor, that's pretty normal. They were nowhere near unbearable like the pitocin contractions were and because I knew transition was the difficult and hormone-filled part, I knew the "crazy" feeling was normal. Pushing actually felt really, really good. My whole body just flexed down into my butt, I didn't have to try at all. I was more focused on not pushing and panting through to slow it down, but I really just wanted to let it happen because it literally felt so good to push. Like I'd been constipated for weeks and was finally taking a huge poop, lol. I tore a bit and because my body was so focused on pushing, I felt it without really "feeling" it and it didn't bother me. When it was over, the afterpains were worse than any part of the labor. But overall a very positive experience with a very easy recovery. It was maybe a few hours from when I thought to myself "wouldn't it be cool to have the baby tonight, but it doesn't look like it will happen" (it was DH's birthday) and baby in my arms.

 

[Kitteh_Kat]

Back pain, because the meds they tried to give did nothing for it. I got an epidural at only 3 CM (Cervidal or whatever kicked me into active labor even though it wasn't supposed too), but contractions and back pain was pretty wicked before that. I made it around 8 hours before asking for the epidural, and I'm so glad I got it. The pain went away, I could sleep, and everything about labor was much easier. After the epidural nothing hurt, so the initial back pain/contractions was the worse part.

I had a vaginal birth and C-Section or intervention was never mentioned. My OB was determined to help me have a vaginal birth, which is why he gave me the epidural early so I could rest up for pushing.

 

[RaspberryK]

when are you due?

And here I am going for round 2 :-D

XX

6th Feb ... roll on February, I'd rather be in labour and give birth with no medication any day than put up with all this hip pain etc I'm having every single day.

Xx

Xx

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

With #1 I was pushing for about 45mins but with 2 and 3 it was like 5mins max lol so not bad at all x

 

[emyandpotato]

Contractions or pushing? Transition, so the last twenty minutes before pushing. But what hurt the most was the examinations and the placenta delivery.

How long was your labor? Three/four days.
Did you have an epidural? No.
C-section? No.
All natural? Yes.

 

[Carly.C]

I've Just experienced a 90 minute labour. I'm not sure where the stages fit into each pain I had but pushing felt like a huge relief, it takes the immediate pains away and gives you something to focus on.

 

[rwhite]

I'd say the contractions were more painful overall, but the ring of fire when crowning was the absolute worst

My labour was 12 hours from first contraction to birth of the placenta, and I had gas and air

 

[MindUtopia]

I didn't find labour to be especially painful, but personally I did think the contractions that came with pushing were more intense and pushing was definitely more work and more tiring. I did have a 4 hour 2nd stage though, which involved a lot of walking and squatting and unnecessary flapping about of midwives who kept disturbing me and interrupting what I was doing. The contractions leading up to being fully dilated were totally manageable though and I was generally very comfortable. I had a totally natural home birth with just a TENS and using natal hypnotherapy. My labour was 11.5 hours long. For me, the only really painful bits were having a vaginal exam and getting stitches for a small 2nd degree tear. That hurt! I used my breathing and relaxation techniques much more consciously to deal with that than I ever did during labour!

 

[Eleanor ace]

Contractions or pushing? Pushing for sure both times.
How long was your labor? 6 hours with my first, maybe 9 hours with my 2nd.
Did you have an epidural? Nope
C-section? Nope
All natural? Vaginal deliveries with gas and air.

 

[JessesGirl29]

I remember feeling focused on getting fully dilated and was so excited when I got to a ten and was like 'yes! I get to push soon and everyone says that is such a relief!!'

I literally made it through transition strong and pushing was the worst! I had back labour and (sorry to be literal) it felt like my butt was going to explode out of my body. Scared me and I fought it so hard I ended. Up pushing for two hours.

I can only speak for my own experience but if you've ever experienced being really constipated and your body goes in to a 'push' you can't control to try to get the poop out but nothing happens......that's what pushing a baby out felt like for me x20.

 

[Eleanor ace]

I remember feeling focused on getting fully dilated and was so excited when I got to a ten and was like 'yes! I get to push soon and everyone says that is such a relief!!'

I literally made it through transition strong and pushing was the worst! I had back labour and (sorry to be literal) it felt like my butt was going to explode out of my body. Scared me and I fought it so hard I ended. Up pushing for two hours.

I can only speak for my own experience but if you've ever experienced being really constipated and your body goes in to a 'push' you can't control to try to get the poop out but nothing happens......that's what pushing a baby out felt like for me x20.

This was so me, I'd read so many birth stories on here where women said that pushing was a relief, that it felt so much better than contractions... when I started to push I was so pissed off . With my 2nd I hoped that it would be different but pushing hurt more, I was extra mad

 

[GI_Jane]

Contractions were more painful for me then pushing.
Labour was 10 hours long from start to finish and was a natural delivery.
Actual pushing stage was very short, out on the 3rd push.
No epidural.
Needed a few stitches (not for a perineal tear). These were incredibly painful- worse then the labour in my opinion!

 

[Feronia]

I had a home birth with no meds. 56 hours. Only 20 minutes of pushing though.
Everything was so gradual and I did hypnobirthing that contractions weren't really painful. I just needed to concentrate and breathe. It was exhausting, but not painful, and neither was pushing -- that was the most exhausting part but it didn't feel like anything. I didn't experience transition or the "ring of fire."

In terms of pain, the worst was the abdominal massage afterwards, but I was totally out of my hypnobirthing state of mind so that may have influenced it. After pains weren't fun either!

 

[smileyfaces]

Contractions or pushing?

How long was your labor?
Did you have an epidural?
C-section?
All natural?

Contractions. The baby actually coming out doesnt hurt that much, just stings.

1st labour was about 7hrs from first contraction to delivery. 2nd was about 2.5hrs from established labour to delivery but Id been having contractions for about 36hrs before i was established, they just werent effective.

No epidurals with either of my babies

No c-sec

All natural apart from G&A