how painful is it really to deliver a baby?

Question

someone give me a horribly honest answer how painful is it and how well does the epidural thing work???????????????

Answer 1

oh honey -- its bad. I was terrified of an epidural, until the pain started. Then they couldn't give it to me fast enough. There are risks with the epidural but htey are low and it helps so much. Once you have one, if you have a good anathesiologist(sp?) you can relax. It still isn't a walk in the park, but much more managable. Without it? The furthest I have gone without one is to a 5 (I have 4 kids) and it was pretty bad. I was cryng so much I couldn't breath through my nose. There are things you can do like breathing and music and stuff, but I am not a focused enough person to make those work. For me it was EPIDURAL! Good luck, I am sure you will do fine.

BTW, some women can do it without much pain at all, they say it jsut feels like cramps. It wasn't like that for me, but everyone is different.

AND -- how can ANYONE say an epidural is for sissies. Give me a break. Why would that be true. The baby is carried the same and the mom has the same little bundle of joy at the end. It's like getting a root canal with getting numb first (my dad actually did that) Why? modern Medicine is a miracle from God, just like little babies. Put them together and you have a much easier delievery. I actually enjoyed my deliveries so much more once the epiural kicked in. I could really concentrate on the joy of bringing a little one into this world. I also wasn't worn out afterwards and could enjoy the baby after so much more than I would have without medicine.

And no, I never forgot ANY of the pain and difficulty of pregnancy. I jsut didn't care once I had my little treasure.

Answer 2

It depends on your tolerance for pain and the situation.

For example, the contractions really feel like strong menstural cramps, but if they give you Petocin to even out your contractions or induce you, they hurt 10X worse. Pushing hurts the worst because it's a sharp rather than dull pain and the baby puts pressure on all kinds of nerves on the way down. Occasionally this can cause a charlie horse in your leg or back. Back labor occurs when the baby is "sunny side up" facing the wrong direction and hurts really, really bad.

The epidural usually works on most people, but for some it doesn't or only works on one half of your body. They can tone it down these days to allow you to feel the pressure to push without the pain. There is also the spinal block but that has caused sciatic nerve problems in some women so it's only a backup for the epidural now. There are also some IV pain meds that can take the edge off while still allowing you to use relaxation techniques, walk around, change birth positions, etc.

Answer 3

Never had an epidural. They're for sissies. I delivered 4 boys - the smallest was 8# 8oz and the biggest was the last 9# 7oz. It's a pain unlike anything you'll ever feel again unless you get pregnant again! Each time I swore I'd never do it again, but nature has a way of making you forget the pain and only remembering how it feels to see your baby for the first time. It is satisfying to actually feel yourself push the baby out- and that's why I'm against epidurals. You can't feel anything- the good or bad. You don't even feel the urge to push- which is the pay-off for all the hours of labor that you go through. I used "natural" childbirth for all 4 deliveries and so I tried to focus on my breathing and stay relaxed. My husband helped a lot. He was actually sitting behind me on the bed supporting me while I pushed with the last one. It's the hardest but the most rewarding thing a woman can do. Don't let the horror stories scare you away from having children. Everyone's pain threshold is different and you may sail through without much discomfort. (as the labor coaches like to call it)

Answer 4

I'm with Danielle... yeah it's painful, but not unbearable. I didn't have an epidural because I couldn't get over the idea of having a needle getting stuck in my back-- that scared me more than having the baby. Plus I wanted to be able to feel when I needed to push. I wouldn't say I forgot it all immediately but once the pain is over you have something to show for it and you do sort of "forget" even if you waddle funny for a few days!

It's truly an amazing experience and delivering my second son (3 months ago) was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life but I feel kind of proud that I made it through and I think my husband has a new appreciation for me too!

Answer 5

I think everyone's tolerance to pain is different, so all of these answers could mean nothing to you. How is your tolerance to pain? How do you feel when you get really bad period cramps? The pain is like this: Period cramps that are the worst you have ever had, but after a minute to a minute and a half, they go away, gives you a break, then starts up again. I personally did not have the epidural cause I have a high tolerance to pain, but I hear that it works wonderful. Good luck, you'll do fine....

Answer 6

I've had four children and all natural NO DRUGS at all and believe me it is very painful but in the long run it is worth it and you will forget the pain very soon after the birth, now I also have 2 daughters and a daughter-in-law and they all had epidurals and are still paying for it, they all have back pain and one of my daughters had her 1st., one 6 yrs. ago and she still had her other 2 c-section due to medical reasons and she was awake with an epidural and the other 2,I mentioned above are having back trouble so my opinion is do you want pain for awhile or life? It's really your choice but I would go natural myself if at all possible, I hope this helps and just so you know I'm not prehistoric I am only 41.

Answer 7

Birthing is very painful. I have given birth, been in rooms for many births and I watch Baby Story all the time :-)
I have never seen anyone not be in total freaking pain. I didn't have a epidural but I heard for most women they work. Some they don't work well, but I think for the most part they do. I personally think labor pains are like your worst stomach ache I have to have a bowel movement soon combined with your worst menstrual cramps and you about have it. I think women should plan for it, and do what they can to try and handle it before it comes. You will survive it, and you will slowly lose your memory of it but when it is happening you are not a happy camper, you just want to get through it and hold that precious baby :-)

Answer 8

It's different for everybody. I've heard some really bad stories in my day. But 5 of my cousins have had babies in the last year and each of them said it wasn't that bad at all.

They say the only painful thing is the contractions, but they said they're very barable.

The epidural they will stick a long needle in the spine of you lower back and numb it so that they pain from the contractions won't be that bad.

Be sure you don't get a tattoo back there, because they will not give you a epidral if you have one on you lower back where most girls are getting them.

Answer 9

Okay here's the honest truth from my experience.........I knew it would be painful but I also thought that because I had suffered from migraines for the past 10 years as well as fibromyalgia which causes a lot of pain my threshhold would be higher........the nurses and the doctor all told me that I handled it really well........no cursing at my husband and no screaming :).....but the pain was intense.... something weird happens though and you're able to handle it........maybe it's the payoff but for me I was able to just take it one contraction at a time.........I was in labor for nearly 24 hours........12 of it pretty hard......I had an epidural but for some reason it only worked on one side :( so it was pretty ineffective...........it was painful........can't explain the type of pain......have to experience it yourself.........remember though that everyone has a different experience..........I have friends that had epidurals and did beautifully........they were able to rest, even sleep!!!!........I also have a friend who had a total of 5 hard contractions and then it was over.........you won't know how your experience will play out untill it is upon you.........just try to relax and keep your eyes on the prize :)........it's completely worth it! Good Luck!

Answer 10

My sister recieved an epidural and says she just felt pressure, no pain. However, not all cases are the same. Sometimes the epidural is administered too soon and it wears off, or the patient is highly resistant to epidurals. Sometimes the patient simply has a high pain tolerance and doesn't feel anything out of sheer willpower. No birth is the same.