What's Birth Like?

Question

I am 9 months pregnant and I will be giving birth to a baby girl on January 30th, acording to my doctor. But I am really scared to give birth, I won't know what It's like. this will be my first time giving birth. my friends and family tell me to stop worrying. I try to but then It just comes to mind again. I am just scared what It will be like and everything. like will I survive birth or not. I just hope that I will survive It and things will be okay. I heard from my mother that I am going to be In a lot of pain, so It scared me more, but I am being strong about this whole thing. can you people tell me what birth is like? thank you!

Answer 1

I have a 9-month-old and I was scared to death for about 6 months before the big event!

For me, the first few hours were just sort-of uncomforatble. Then, the next few hours were really uncomfortable, but bearable. The few hours after that were like a white-hot pain that was so painful it wasn't painful - if that makes any sense. I guess my mind couldn't process the pain. After a couple of hours of that, I broke down and got an epidural - THE BEST THING EVER. I napped for a couple of hours until it was time to push and then.... baby! I pushed for 16 minutes and it was over. With the epidural, it felt like a lot of pressure, but there was no pain for me whatsoever when the baby was born. Mostly, your body goes into some sort of auto-pilot during labor and you function and don't really think about anything except getting to hold that baby.

Most of the "pain" will be afterward.... Your muscles will be shaking from so much over-exhertion and your body will just be extremely tired.

If you plan on getting an epidural, go for it, but just a little advice - don't get it too early. I got mine when I was at about 7 centimeters and I probably could have gotten it a little earlier, but a friend of mine got hers at 3 centimeters and by the time she was in full-blown labor at 10 centimeters, the needle had worked itself out of her back and only 1/2 of her body was numb. I suggest waiting to get the epidural until you are in so much pain you think you can't stand it anymore. I know it sounds rough, but it worked better that way for me.

Answer 2

Giving birth is so scary leading up to it. I was scheduled to be induced so I knew the night before I was going in that in the morning I would give birth. I was so scared. Then I got to the hospital and got my I.V. and everything was going nice and slow and boring and I was amazed that I was afraid of this. Then the pain started and to be honest, it is not as bad as you have been told but it is not like any other pain you have felt. Then when the hard labor starts and your actually pushing, your body starts pushing even if your not trying, it's weird but soooo cool at the same time. And pushing is such a relief because it makes the pain of the contractions stop. Contractions are what hurt, not giving birth. Then the moment the baby is out, the pain is gone. It is like you didn't do anything and you have this beautiful baby crying and you will cry and laugh and be afraid of whats to come next. Then, most likely there will be stitches but again, you just gave birth so stitches ain't sh*t. Good luck and just know that when all is said and done you will laugh at how afraid you were before it happened. It's not as bad as you have been told.

Answer 3

She's right, it WILL hurt. but it passes. It is not that bad. I think all first time mothers worry about being about to handle labor. But all of them manage. Have you talked to your doctor about different methods of pain relief? You should become familiar with them and decide what is right for you, personally I don't use the epidural (never have). It is scary going into have your first baby. I've have 3 and am waiting for my fourth to arrive. It gets easier every time :) And don't worry overmuch about dying in childbirth, there are very few deaths attributed to this any more and most who do still die in childbirth in this day and age (in this country anyway) have not had the proper medical care. I hope this has relieved some of your tension. By the way after you have your baby you will be amazed to look back in a year or so and catch yourself thinking "that didn't hurt so much." It's nature little trick lol.

Answer 4

Imagine the worst cramps ever and times that by a hundred, that about sums up birth pain. Everyone is different though, I have a pretty high pain tolerance, I went two days of small labor with no pain meds then a few hours starting to get hard labor then they convinced me to do meds. I broke my leg and walked on it for six hours cause I thought it was a sprain... Everyone has a different pain tolerance don't be scared cause that won't do you any good and you will be tense when you go into labor which could intensify your pain.

Answer 5

I worried, worried, worried about labor and delivery on my first...until my husband reminded me that women have been giving birth for millions of years, in much worse circumstances than we have today...

I was in quite a bit of pain from my contractions once they started my pitocin drip. My labor came on fast and strong immediately, and so quickly that they could not give me an epidural. The same thing happened to my sister-in-law. My advice is to get to the hospital as soon after your water breaks as possible (as we both took our time, and ended up in the same predicament) and get that epidural! I also recommend that you practice focusing and breathing, it will help quite a bit.

And I really hate to be so crude, but giving birth is much like having a very painful bowel movement. Really, most of my pain was afterward from episiotomy stitches.

You will survive, and you will have a beautiful baby when it's all said and done. And you will agree, it is all worth it :-)

Answer 6

Birth is quite painfull, I'm not going to lie to you, however think of all the mothers out there who have made it through giving birth, some even do it again. Its about a days worth of pain for a beautiful gift from the universe. You will be fine.

Answer 7

It does hurt......a lot. But they have medication for the pain. And to be honest (with me anyways), once it starts, you are too busy and in too much pain to worry. And remember, when it is all over, you will have a beautiful baby. Women do not routinely die from giving birth, so don't worry about that at all. You can't stop worrying, it's natural, but just know that once the baby is out, the pain is gone.....poof!

Answer 8

I was very lucky and felt Nothing. I had an epidural and my pregnancy was actually fun. I got to pull on a sheet to help me push and I got to look in a big mirror as I pushed. Before the epidural I WAS shaking because of the pain I was in but my baby was a week late and they had me on pitocin to help along the contractions. I wish you the best of luck and just wanna say relax because if you're stressed during labor it may take longer for the baby to come out.

Answer 9

The question that every new mother ponders and seeks answers to. Also a question that cannot be answered til you've joined the universal elite group of women who are MOTHERS. Til then you must listen to the tales of those who have gone before you and ohh and ahh at the proper times, give proper acknowledgement to how brave the teller of the story is and remember #1 we do it over and over and over again-could our memory be that bad? #2 without pain we would lose the leverage of mothers guilt and #3 once you see that baby of yours nothing else matters....good luck

Answer 10

Birth is painful but it is also the most beautiful experience of our life. I have never spoken to a mother who has told me it wasn't worth every second. As for dying during birth, due to advancements in modern medicine the chances of that are minimal. I am sure you and your beautiful baby will be fine. Good luck!