2007-04-10 10:15:41 · 24 answers · asked by nikki b 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
You could get a response from everyone on here and you still won't know what to expect exactly. I am not sure if you are asking about childbirth or motherhood, but either way, each experience is different. Although you should prepare yourself for changes you're about to face, there's no one who can prepare you. You will be amazed how different your life is after children, and how rewarding. You can always come back and ask if you have a specific question, but as far as an overview of what's to come, that is unknown. Motherhood is a wonderful experience and you learn as you go.It's scary to think that very soon you will be responsible for a new life, but we've all been there, and you too will do just fine. Good Luck!
2007-04-10 10:30:58 · answer #1 · answered by Krissi 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had a baby 7 weeks ago. Labours, like pregnancies differ for everyone but its no walk in the park. I had an epidural which was great but i shook violently the whole time and when it was over i had a big headache and vomitted and had stiches and arrrrggghhhhhhh (sorry its all too fresh in my head).
7 weeks later the stiches have healed and i feel pretty good but after 24 hours of labour i feel like i was severly jet lagged and then been beaten up (the only way i can describe it).
It is true that you forget the pain but the exhaustion memory will stay with me forever - all i wanted to do after i had my son was SLEEP! And i didnt until about 5 days later when i was out of the hospital and my hubby could take a feed.
Good luck - there is no sugar coating it - its hard work.
Oh and the labour is the easy part - trying to work out what a screaming baby wants when you are exhausted is way harder!
I am still tired - but probably will be for the next 18 years.
2007-04-11 05:00:29 · answer #2 · answered by Boo Boo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The brutal truth! Nah ... Here's some advice though ... Don't let them send you home from the hospital if you think you're fixing to have the baby! :o) Just hang out in the waiting room! Seriously! And the contractions are not that bad ... I didn't have an epidural until I was 9 1/2 cm. Then they gave me one. Another bad idea from the doctors. AND ... Try not to sneeze or laugh if you have to have an episotomy ... My stitches ripped open and I had to go back and have reconstructive surgery. :o) FUN!!! :o) Let me just tell ya ... BUT I can say this, when I finally laid my eyes on JD 4 hours after giving birth because he got stuck and got fluid in his lungs, it was all worth it! I don't remember the pain at all ... He's 12 months old and literally the reason I breath. I LOVE MY KID! The best feeling is when he looks at me and smiles *tear* Seriously ... And now that he says mama ... omg, I melt.
Enjoy your baby. Enjoy your baby! ENJOY YOUR BABY! lol ... They are truly a blessing. You'll see ....
**www.happysahm.com**
2007-04-10 17:24:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
About the birth, or being a new mom?
Nothing was like I expected, except the pushing part. They tell you pushing feels great, and it does, because you know you're finally almost done and the baby is almost there, and the pain has a purpose!
My labor started a month early, I didn't get to have the kind of birth I wanted (a water birth), I had back labor, my labor was not consistent, so they couldn't have given me an epidural even if I wanted one, I had a preemie and had to stay in the hospital for a week. I wanted to breastfeed, but my baby was too small, so I had to pump every 3 hours around the clock and feed her with a tube attached to my finger, for several weeks. She broke my tailbone coming out, and I had other complications.
But, I love my baby so much, and would have gone through anything to bring her into this world.
Breastfeeding is hard sometimes, and it doesn't always come naturally for you or the baby. For us, it took about 6 weeks for her to get the hang of it. If you have any problems, make sure to rent a hospital grade pump and keep pumping to keep up your milk supply and prevent getting a plugged milk duct or mastitis, and you'll be able to feed your baby that important colostrum and breast milk.
You can also get a lactation consultant or a post-partum doula to come over to your house once the baby is born and help you with feeding, holding the baby, swaddling, etc.
The baby will sleep a lot during the day, and then wake up a lot at night at first. Try to sleep and nap during the day, so you won't be too tired to deal with them at night.
They will start sleeping more at night after about 3 months. Mine didn't sleep THROUGH the night until after 1 year old. So, prepare yourself for that.
My baby was sick all the time, but she was a preemie. Having a sick baby is so hard, and you feel so awful for them. It's also hard when you and the baby are both sick. But somehow, you pull through!
Make sure if you have a husband or partner to have them hold the baby a lot and if possible get the baby to take a bottle after a few weeks or months so that the dad can bond with the baby and you'll be able to take a break. My baby is almost 2 and she still favors me so much it's hard to ever get a break.
2007-04-10 17:19:49 · answer #4 · answered by purplebinky 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My labor was so easy and all natural 6 hours and she was 9 lbs. 9 ounces and 21 in long so so so cute... But that is not the case for everyone... What i did was I kept telling my self that it was going to be the worst thing in the world that I would ever experiance... That way when it came to it didn't hurt as bad as I imagined that it would... Sure it is scare cause it's not like a test that you can study for or do a trial run through.... But, if you just remember to stay calm remember it's just pain and soon it will all be over... plus when you see your beautiful baby you will say that the pain was worth ever moment of it... I hope that you have a smooth and easy delivery and remember you rule in the labor room you don't like something then make them change it, at that time it's all about you....
2007-04-10 17:24:46 · answer #5 · answered by evepineda02 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My labor was super fast - I dilated to 7 cm in 30 min and 12 contractions. By the time I wanted pain meds, it was too late!! The pushing wasn't so bad, except my back was cramping up afterwards. I was a little screamer when he was actually born.
The most disturbing part was feeling the umbilical cord before the placenta was delivered.
The most upsetting part was my tears being stitched - I couldn't feel anything, but needles freak me out.
The best part was holding my son for and hour and a half after he was born and before the nurses weighed him.
Expect the worse and you'll be pleasantly surprised!
2007-04-10 18:30:15 · answer #6 · answered by buterfly_2_lovely 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't belive all the horror stories that you hear I had both of my children natural. When you feel like you have to poop after your water breaks thats the baby ready to come out everyone failed to tell me that part with my 1st child. Everyone's pain tolarance is different so find out what your pain med. options are and choose what you feel is right for you. It's really not al bad as alot try to portray with your 1st child. I heard so many stories it almost made me afraid to have my child. It is not a walk in the park but it is also not so bad and when you hear your baby cry for the first time and they lay it on your stomach it makes the pain worth it! congrats and good luck to you!!
2007-04-12 12:18:16 · answer #7 · answered by Southern_Lady 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i just had my first baby boy Feb 8 and i got induced. i thought i was going to have it easy because i got an epidural at 2 cm before i even had any contractions. sooo basically i felt nothing until it was time to push. well by then i was soOoo tired because it was 30 hrs later i had a extremely hard time. my mom told me it would be the hardest thing i would ever have to do and she was right, it was after 3 1/2 hrs of pushing my baby boy was here and i forgot about all the pain and work that went into having him. im sure for everyone its different my advice to you would be to make it fun. and dont think about stuff untell it comes just go with it. ~good luck to you !!
2007-04-10 17:27:47 · answer #8 · answered by [♥] KaDeN's MoMmY [♥] 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eek, don't ask for the "brutal truth" as many women like to scare newbies and embellish their stories with as much pain and gore as possible! There are plenty of birth story websites out there, just type in "birth stories" into google. Look for positive ones, there's no point in scaring yourself with what "could" happen. Most births aren't horrific. The more relaxed you are for the birth the more you will cope. Best of luck! x
2007-04-10 17:22:15 · answer #9 · answered by MooBaaQuack 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First off HAVE an Epidural!!! I have done it with and without!
With my first baby I went natural. I had broken blood vessles in my eyes and on my sides from straining so hard. It was a long painful delivery because I was in pain and the stress wouldnt allow me to get to 10 cm.
With my second baby I had an epi first thing. After only 2 hours I went from 2 cm to 10 cm!! They had to wake me up to tell me it was time to push! I was that relaxed! I only pushed for 15 min then we were done! I got to enjoy it that time!
You are sore after and make sure you get Dermaplast and stool softners!! They are LIFE SAVERS!!!! You can get both at a drug store or super market. The hospital can et these for you as well!
Dont stress about it because all in all you forget about the pain after you see your baby!! I am 20 weeks with baby # 3 and cannot wait!!
Good Luck!
2007-04-10 17:27:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋