Pain relief during childbirth?

Question

I thought that the hardest pain would be the second stage (when it's time to push) but pushing my baby out, was NOTHING compared to the pain of the contractions.

I was so weak with pain and exhaustion by that point that actually pushing him out was sheer relief that we were in the 'home stretch'. I was in labour for over 40 hours by that point.

What are your experiences of childbirth?
Remembering that pregnant women may be reading this....?

I'd do it again - it was worth it, but I'd want to get better pain relief next time.

Answer 1

my first baby is due 19th April. I am so scared that it makes me cry...my husband tells me that everything is going to be ok...yes, but he is not the one who is going to be in pain!!

Answer 2

My first daughter, now 2yrs old I had gas and air and in the last stage I became overwhelmed and just wanted the baby out, I was crying and exhausted, I had 2 injections of pethidine. I labour and contractions seemed to go on forever. I think it is because when you have you first baby, however much you read or hear about birth you never know what is actually happening. I have recently had my 2nd daughter, 22nd Feb weighed 6lb 12oz. Labour and birth was fantastic. I was having contractions from early in the morning but carried on my day as normal, I went shopping and pushed the buggy round, I did all my housework, I bathed my daughter and put her to bed as normal and then relaxed with my feet up. I was meant to call the midwife when contractions were 5mins apart but as I was managing the pain I called her when they were 2mins apart, she arrived at 1am and I delivered at 4.54am I had no pain relief and I had a home birth. At the end I was really tired and didn't think I could continue but I ate 3 jelly babies for an extra sugar boost and yes, out she came. I totally believe the jelly babies did the trick.I had delivered sitting on a birthing stool and I had no tears or problems. It was fantastic and I can't wait to do it all over again. I went through my contractions on my knees leaning on an exercise ball. FANTASTIC, would recommend it to everyone.

Answer 3

Transition was definitely the worst part! (To the pregnant ladies out there, it's the part of labor when you think you just can't take anymore, but then it's over in like two minutes and you get to start pushing.) I actually liked the pushing part; it was a relief at that point. And that's not so bad because the baby's head stretches you out to where you go numb (it just hurts afterwards) :)

I think a lot of it depends on who you're with and what you're doing during labor. I didn't have any pain medication (well, they did give me a couple of motrin afterwards) and it really wasn't that bad. My husband was so encouraging and supportive. And I rocked on a birth ball and laid on my side once I got tired. People told me that laying on your back makes it hurt worse and take longer, and I totally agree!

I've definitely felt worse. It hurts, but it's from your muscles working so hard; it's like running a marathon. It's not the same kind of pain as breaking a leg or something.

Answer 4

i have had 5 children and each labbour was different, i was extremely lucky that i had no real problems during labour my longest labour being 9 hours and my quickest just 10 minutes, the in between were 4 hours, 6 hours and 90 minutes, with my first i was young and didnt know what to expect and how long it would last so i had gas and air and pethidine,(it was great as allthough it was only 6 hours it hurt like hell) the second was 4 hours from start to finish and by the time i got to hospital i was ready to push so too late for any pain relief, i relied on my breathing and walking up and down the bedroom and squatting with deep breaths, that really helped the pain, my third was probably the most painfull and the longest but he was distressed in the womb, i kept asking them to break my waters as this had worked with my first and seemed to speed up the labour, ie i went from 3 centimetres to 10 in minutes and 4 to 10 with my second. they gave me pethidine and gass and air and again it helped the pain but when they finally did break my waters after several insults ( i was on pethidine afterall and in pain, thats my excuse and am sticking to it!) he was born my fourth as i say was too quick to even notice the pain, my last little chicken was my first home birth and was fantastic, the best birth of all i had all my family there including my other children and champagne on ice, it was so relaxed and i had gas and air because the contractions were the worst of them all, but i think because i had the encouragement of my family it was easier, there is no right or wrong as eveyone is different but i think start with the breathing, when that stops working go with the gas and air, then the pethidine i never had an epidural but would have definately considered it had i felt i needed it, really do try to go as long as you can before taking anything then it seems to work better, whatever you do good luck and heres to healthy happy kids.Emma

Answer 5

About the previous response, you do have to scrunch up with a spinal, had 4. Spinals are not usually given for a vaginal delivery because you are numb from the chest down and it can't be controlled like an epidural can. If you don't want an epidural, docs can give you medication thru your IV, like Stadol, or something else to take the edge off. If you want to try a natural delivery, I would say go for it, but be open minded about pain relief should you need it. There is nothing wrong with not being able to have a drug free delivery. Be knowledgable about your medication options and then just enjoy your delivery.

Answer 6

I had a very diffucult birth, i was admitted to hospital when i was 2 cm dilated, which took me a couple of days (because i was in a government hospital) to dilate to at least 5cm, by that point it was already wednesday..by thursday my labour hadnt progressed very far and the doctor induced the labour...i had a long and painful labour with NO pain relief whats-so-ever, and i felt relieved when i was fully dilated coz the bearing effect is nothing compared to the actuall contractions,....so i decided to have a caesarian with my second baby with Epidural as a pain relief, i refused to be super woman again...

Answer 7

I had my first 2 sons naturally, no meds. It went fine. The pain was bad, but bearable. My 3rd son was bad. I caved near the 15th hour of labor and had an epidural. It brought great pain relief (there was none), but I hated not being able to get up and walk around after giving birth like I had with my first 2.
Looking back I wish that I would have toughed it out a little longer, but who cares? The baby was fine and that's what matters.

Answer 8

I had a complicated birth. Had to have a general anaesthetic and a c section as I had a placental abruption which was agony!, they delivered my son at 25 weeks, he was just under 2 pounds. He's 100% healthy now tho so I don't really worry about the birth. Having said that i'd accept any pain relief you want! I don't think women should have to be "brave" and feel bad if they don't have a natural childbirth.

Answer 9

I was two weeks over due, so had to be induced. The contractions were incredibly painful once I was put onto the drip. Gas and air didn't even touch the pain, my tens machine worked for a while. I then tried a pethidine injection - it didn't stop the pain, and I felt totally out of it and not in control at all - so just be very wary of this. They say everything is personal and people react differently to medicines, but I have told all my friends about my reaction and they all have avoided it!

Answer 10

I personally think we rely on modern medicine too much these days. I gave birth to my son in a hospital because my boyfriend wanted me to. But the whole time I had very little support in my desire to have a completely natural childbirth. Very little of the nurses and staff in a hospital know anything about natural birth or breastfeeding. They are there to push meds. And that is what they did to me. They would not accept my decision to not have an epidural. As a whole, this society now thinks that women cannot give birth without pain relief. I think it is wonderful that women know have the option to have a c-section if medically necessary. And we know have the knowledge to bypass alot of complications. But pain relief should not be one of these choices. Childbirth hurts. That's just a fact of life. Women gave birth to babies way before pain medication came around. I think that our modern society has allowed women to become weaker. The only reason doctors offer pain meds is because it costs alot. That's more money for them and the hospital. But you don't really *need* it.

For my next birth I want to look into a birthing center. At least there I know I won't be questioned about my decision to have a natural birth.

Answer 11

I was very lucky because I had quick births with all of mine - the longest being 4 hours, the shortest being one and one of those was a homebirth as well. I had pain relief with the first but none with the second or third. I think the key to helping control the pain is being able to try to relax as much as possible through a contraction no matter how painful.

I'd do it again as well! Unfortunately my husband says no more!