Which is more painful - the contractions, or the 'exiting' of the baby?!

[hanfromman]

Hey!
Which is more painful - the contractions or the baby actually coming out? I know they may not be comparable because obviously contractions go on for ages, and the baby coming out is very quick in comparison! But does anyone have any opinion on which is worse?!
And, this is a bit embarrassing, but does having a small vagina make birth difficult?! TMI, but the first time I had sex was very painful as I was so small and there was lots of blood, and I'm still pretty small down there!! Will I probably tear? And more importantly, could the baby's shoulders get stuck? This is one of my big worries!

 

[amjon]

I was terrified I would get a bad tear because I am pretty tight down there (the GYN has had to use a pediatric spectrum several times because the other was too large). When I delivered (breech) I had no tearing at all, so size doesn't really matter all that much apparently. I think the contractions are worse just because they are constant (or at least were for me) and the exit is so quick.

 

[staralfur]

I think the "ring of fire" was the worst part for me. Contractions hurt but I had an easier time coping with them than the pushing.

 

[elohcin]

I think the "ring of fire" was the worst part for me. Contractions hurt but I had an easier time coping with them than the pushing.

This for me, too. It was actually far worse with my epidural birth than with my 2 natural births at home.

For me, I'm never really thinking much about the pain when they're coming out because I'm so excited that "this is it!!!!" and it's only seconds until I'm holding them!! But my last 2 were also born in just 2 quick pushes, too. If it had been longer I may have felt differently. LOL

 

[kleinfor3]

I had an epi both times so the contractions were worse bc that's all I felt. My docs keep telling me this is a big baby. I finally expressed my concerns with delivering a 'big' baby. When she did my internal she felt around and said she didn't feel anything that was too small or in the way of me delivering vaginally. Maybe if you express your concerns and ask them to have a 'feel' around that may put our mind at ease good luck!

 

[Betheney]

I would prefer to squeeze 5 babies out consecutively then deal with contractions. I found them horrendous!!! and way too difficult to deal with. They were mind blowingly painful. I thought i was going to pass out.

Pushing the baby out wasn't that bad at all. Sure it burns but so does a chinese burn on your arm. So it burns but it's not that bad. (wasnt for me). I don't know if i'm small down there or not. If me and hubby have sex 3 days in a row i get incredibly sore down there and can get tiny tears that heal within a day where my perinium is. Don't know if my husband is too well endowed or if i'm small. I've never had my doctor mention me being small. The first few times i had sex were near impossible though! lol. I think it's just apart of losing your virginity.

BTW I pushed for 20mins and had zero tearing, just a tiny graze.

 

[Radiance]

I loved my contractions, with my second baby I didn't feel any contractions at all! (I didn't even know I was in labor!) Both my babies were big, I tore with both of mine!! My contractions, pushing and exiting weren't bad with either!

 

[hanfromman]

Thanks guys!
I did have a nurse at a GP surgery say once that I'm quite small down there (I had commented that sex was very painful at times) - hopefully I can stretch when it comes to the birth though! I guess maybe something coming from the inside is different than something coming from the outside?!

 

[bumblebeexo]

I found the contractions worse. Don't get me wrong, it bloody hurt getting her out, but my contractions were on top of each other and it was agony!

 

[baby_maybe]

Contractions were definitely worse for me every time. I always found the pushing part incredibly satisfying compared to the contractions, as I knew it was close to the end by then and I was very soon to be meeting my baby

 

[DonnaBallona]

I think the exit is such a relief; it feels sooooo good to get the baby out!!!! like when youve been holding in a parp and then you suddenly go or something

for me, the contractions at the end hurt more but I lost my focus and decided I couldn't cope. once I'd got back into my mojo it wasn't too bad

good luck with your birth xx

 

[Bevziibubble]

Definitely the contractions! I did have an epidural though so I felt less pain than I would've done!

 

[Fuze]

The contractions were the worst for me, I was induced and ended up going from 5 to 10cm in 45mins so they were very intense for me. At first I was very reluctant to push and I even clamped my legs shut because I was so scared to push as I thought it was going to be so painful but in the end I was pushing for 30mins and it was by far less painful than the contractions. I was so scared of when she was going to crown and the ring of fire, don't get me wrong it hurt as in a burning/stinging pain but was no where near as bad as the contractions or as bad as I thought it was going to be.

 

[nov_mum]

Contractions totally. The pain with pushing feels useful and the pain with contractions was back to back intense contractions for me. Once I transitioned I pushed those babies out in a few minutes.

 

[josephine3]

Pushing was way worse for me. I felt totally out of control wheras i could still stay relatively calm during the contractions. I did have a 3rd degree tear tho.

 

[lizardbreath]

Can no longer have posts here

 

[DessyMarie]

I couldn't tell you, I didn't feel my contractions and didn't know I was in labor, and pushing her out barely hurt either, I had a pretty easy labor/delivery

 

[Niccal]

I felt that the difference was the pushing part was productive so I knew that although it hurt I was working towards meeting my lo, whereas the contractions were just a case of sit and bear it and try to breathe through them! So I found the contractions harder to cope with (I was induced too, so they came hard and fast with no real build up)

 

[stephanyox]

Im not sure really, because its a different type of pain..
with contractions its like really really bad period pain! and once they are there they are agony, but once theve gone its like it didnt happen!
With pushing, its stinging, burning pain..

I would say for me pushing him out was worse, because i wasnt allowed any gas and air for it! Where as the gas and air helped me through my contractions..

and my LO was 8lb 15oz! Big boyy!

 

[veganmama]

pushing the baby out was the most painful for sure!