is labour really as bad as everyone says?

Question

god im scared

Answer 1

if it was that bad nobody would do it more than once

Answer 2

Yes....it hurts like hell. No use pretending it doesn't as it won't do you any favours in the long run. However, just remember that it does end and very few labours last over 24 hoursand take whatever pain relief you can get.

My first labour was 21 hours with no pain relief (not through choice let me tell you) and to say it smarted slightly would be an understatement. Having said that, I went back for more and had a shorter labour, but a much bigger, sorer baby the second time. (again, without being allowed pain relief until the last 15 mins).

You will get to the point where you want to get off the bed and come back and finish it another day, but by the time you feel like that, it's nearly over.

My husband is always quick to remind me that in other countries, women step to the side of the field and give birth before strapping the baby on and going back to work. It is a magical, sore experience which can never be described or shared.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Dont be scared. It is painful but it is a kind of pain you dont mind so much cos you know whats happening and that it will end. With my first one I was a blubbering wreck. I ended up having an epidural and felt like i missed out in the end. With my second one I had a mobile epidural and that was good. I went home from the hospital 6 hours later. My third child was born on the lounge floor to the theme tune of Jackass!! I had absolutely no pain relief whatsoever. Not even paracetamol. Believe me when I say you will be ok and it will not be as bad as you think.

My top tip - Move around and stay upright for as long as you can in labour. Gravity really does help. My last labour was 1 1/2 hours from first twinge to delivering the placenta.

Good luck

Answer 4

God I was scared too! No 2 labours are the same. Yes it can be awful and others fly through it. My labour was TERRIBLE. The pain can just not be described. But I have to say every minute of it was worth it. My daughter is two now and dont think you every forget the pain. Regardless, I cant wait to get pregnant again ( my pregnancy was awful too!) The ten months of pain, sickness and all the other things are outweighted by the joy a baby brings. Good Luck.

Answer 5

I take it you a first time mom. The answer to your question is no. Dont get me wrong it does hurt but its all worth it. Your contractions are the worst they feel like menstral cramps. Dont worry though im 39 weeks pregnant with my 4th. Im usually a very tiny woman 110 lbs or less and i go through child birth drug free. No pain killers till after the baby is born. I believe in the old days of how it was done before they was avaliable. Plus the idea of missing my spine and rasing my child from a wheelchair kinda freaks me out. So dont be scared your gonna do great. Walk as much as you can and do squats they help. Just keep in mind woman have done this for many many years and the pain you will experience cant last forever. The beautiful gift you come home with will though

Answer 6

To be honest, its worse than everyone says! You cant begin to describe it. I had a 36 hour induction with my first with all the drugs and it was very traumatic. My second was a homebirth that was a very quick but intense 2.5 hrs. I had no pain relief second time round. Its very easy to be scared - I was both times round. I dont think you can not be scared. The thing to remember is that although it bloody hurts, you are finally going to meet your baby at the end of it. If you have a supportive birth partner that will help, but the best thing is to try and get yourself in the right frame of mind - no pain, no gain! If you are in control, the easier things will be. Its easy to let the pain take over - the key thing for me was breathing through it. I'm sure everything go well - you'll be holding your little baby soon xxx

Answer 7

Labour will be as bad as you make it - be prepared by ensuring you talk about birth options, pain relief and ensure that you have support with you throughout the labour.

A good midwife and a flexible birth plan will help allay any anxiety, consider having a water birth if you are frightened, use a TENS machine and the gas and air when the contractions get stronger.

Have things that you can focus on that keep you calm - music helps too....

PS - it's not the labour that you need to think about - focus on the fact that it WILL end and you will have your lovely baby!!!
good luck!

Answer 8

just prepare yourself for some hard work! don't get too tired before then you Will be able to cope with it! I wont lie, it's very very painful, but there are drugs to help, I'm only saying this as I think its worse being frightened when the pain gets so bad that you think something must be wrong! It's quite normal to feel that you have lost control of coping, don't worry, nearly every emotion is normal during labour, and you will have a wonderful baby at the end! Try and relax, and trust your midwives! Also have a good birthing partner.

Answer 9

I'm, expecting my first on Decem,ber 8th.

I've been reading as much as I can about labour and birth - when my mum had me she didn't have a clue what was going on and says that added to her fear.

I understand all about the stages of labour, the dilation of the cervix, 2nd stage, all that, so if the midwife tells me "you're 7cm dilated" I know I (hopefully!) don't have long left. I guess the thing with labour is that you know its only going to be for a certain amount of time. Its not like being ill or injured, when you have no idea when the pain and suffering will stop, it is natural and once the baby is out the pain is over.

I'm planning to go to a midwife led unit as I'm terrified of hospitals and hate the idea of being stuck on a bed with an epidural (I worry that would make me feel panicky), but I also know that if things don't go well or if I don't cope with it I'll have to be transferred to the hospital. I'm hoping having my BF and lots of support from midwives will make it easier for me to get through all the pain and everything.

I'm going to take it as it comes and try not to worry too much. I'm also not going to listen too much to other people's horror stories as they only scare me and don't make me feel any better.

Answer 10

It really doesnt matter at the end of the day if 100 people give u their accounts of what child birth was like for them cos we are all different.
Every one has their own pain thresholds, some are excellent and can give birth to a 10lb bouncer with no pain relief where as others are screaming for drugs at the 1st sign of a contraction.

It is perfectly natural to be feeling nervous and scared sh1tless about going into labour....we've all been there!
The thing to remember is that when the time comes.....try and remain on ur feet for as long as possible to help gravity help you along, stay calm (stressing makes it hurt more!), remember ur breathing exercises and think with each contraction that ur 1 more closer to meeting ur baby.

One last thing....dont be afraid to ask for pain relief if you feel u need it....THERE ARE NO BRAVERY AWARDS IN CHILD BIRTH!!!

Good luck xx

Answer 11

Don't be scared you can do it!
I will advise against an epidural thou. Not because I have had one but because I haven't. I gave birth naturally in Britain's top nhs birthing unit, Helm Chase, Kendal. The midwives were fantastic and really helped put me at ease. As an Essex girl myself I was worried about feeling self conscious around people I didn't know that well but by the time you know its deffo happening you really don't care about stripping off and jumping in the pool!!
I had gas and air and felt that an epidural would of confined me to the bed where as, without it I was actually able to walk around most of the time, try all the different techniques for relaxation. I did actually fall asleep through some of the pain!!! Yes it is painful but it really is forgotten about the moment you push the little monkey out, so focus on that and don't shout at any one coz it will only stress ya out more!!
Good luck, you will never know love like when you hold your baby for the first time!! x