why all the horror stories?

Question

Why do people feel the need to scare the life out of u when u are close to giving birth with labour horror stories? Im worried enough as it is but friends, relatives, in-laws, strangers, even the childbirth classes insist on doing it. where are all the positive stories, there must be some? the only one ive heard was today from a stranger on the street and it made my day. Why are people so dammed insensitive, i don't even ask for their tales they just feel the need to inform me how much its gonna hurt etc. Im so fed up with it!

Answer 1

im with u, everybody does it to me too!! its frustrating and annoying. Good luck honey, we WILL get through it!

Answer 2

Not that you asked but I'll tell you my story. My labor was 7 1/2 hours from beginning to end. I never felt one contraction the whole time. I had an epidural due to back labor, which went perfectly and I have had no problems afterwards either. I pushed for a half hour and my son was out. I was up within several hours and taking a shower. And to boot, my son was 10lbs. 1 oz. (biggest baby of the week).

The only issue was that because he was so big, the anesthesioigist required a pediatrician in the room which I had to wait for with my son's head between my legs. So he had a low apgar when he first came out. But he is now the biggest, most active 5 year old and he is so smart. He is the youngest in his Kindergarten class and one of the smartest ones also. I hope that helps. Good luck!

Answer 3

Well not everyone has horror stories, I have had 5 babies and the only experience I wouldn't want to repeat was the first one, all the others were wonderful in their own way.
Some people just like to show how great they are by bragging how much pain they went through, it is a misguided way of drawing attention to themselves, I am sure it isn't done deliberately to scare you.
Take comfort from the fact that however bad people say it is, it usually isn't bad enough to stop them from wanting to do it again!!!
I am 5 weeks pregnant with number 6 and actually looking forward to the big day!!!
Good luck.

Answer 4

I guess everyone has their stories. When I was pregnant with my first baby, I heard all those scary stories too, but when I went into labor, I was pretty much asleep during my contractions. They hurt, but not as much as people make it seem. I was only in labor for 6 hours and I didn't even get pain medicine (epidural, etc.) because I didn't think it was that painful. After I had my baby, people would say "I bet you won't have another one due to all the pain," but now I am 36 weeks pregnant with my 2nd baby and I can't wait until I have my little girl. Maybe I had it easy because I had no trouble at all, but I think that people always try to make it seem scarier than it is.

Answer 5

If it makes you feel any better my birth experinces were wonderful. My first one I labored for about 2 hours in a whirlpool tub, and had her fairly easily about and hour after that, my second one only took about an hour and a half and it went really well too. My third was by c-section and I didn't feel anything till the day after, but it wasn't horrible. I enjoyed having my kids. I just styaed focused on seeing them and holding them and then the pain wasn't as bad. I would have all of mine over again for the experience. Best of luck and try not to let everyone scare you about a beautiful part of life.

Answer 6

I hear you loud and clear on this! It seems the closer you get to delivery, the more people feel the need to tell you every terrible thing they have ever seen or heard of in labor and delivery.....I just blow them off by telling them I have already watched a couple of births, am well aware of how the labor process goes in general, and don't need anything to concern me at this point because I am confident in my own ability to handle labor.
I am fortunate in that most of my family members have good stories, as the women in my family tend to have relatively easy deliveries, and even the few complicated ones have not been that bad. My own mother was never in labor longer than 6 hours with any of her children, so that gives me hope!
My way of thinking is, I am sure labor and delivery is different for every woman, depending on her individual pregnancy, tolerance for pain, and several other factors. You know your own body, your own tolerances, and what is available to help you through labor and delivery, should you need anything for pain. Don't let other people scare you, you can do this and so can I!! lol, best of luck to you!

Answer 7

My last birth 3 years ago was wonderful!!!!!! I had all of my family there, I had intending on having a water birth but that wasn't doable since someone was already using the pool... I labored naturally using massage, rocking and swaying, breathing, and a birthing ball... When it was time to push my midwife just let me do what felt natural to me she didn't tell me what she thought I should do, she just used some oil and did some prenial massage to help tearing ( had none) and I delivered my son shortly after starting to push..... we all cried including my midwife and my son was given to me and my husband until it was time to deliver the placenta they then cut the cord and handed him to the nurse... There was no interference from anyone until that moment when we handed him off... it was my family and I and my son... It was the most wonderful birthing experience because it was exactly what I had written in my birth plan and everyone respected my wishes..... Making a birth paln and giving it to your Dr. is very important keep a copy for yourself to take to the hospital so there is no confusion.. You are having this baby don't let someone else dictate how YOU are going to give birth...

Answer 8

Every person is different. If you plan on a natural birth then maybe they are trying to prepare you on what to expect. My labor hurt, but not to the point where I would go out and start telling people about it.. As soon as my daughter was born there was more joy then there was pain.. Try to learn excersises that take you away from the pain, and relax you.. Its not going to be as bad as everyone says.. I am now pregnant with #2 and am planning on a 2nd natural birth.. Congratulations and Best of Luck

Answer 9

I guess it is so you feel prepared for the worst? I get stories all the time but take them with a grain of salt because I know that my birth is going to be different than their birth and the lady down the street's birth and Aunt Bee's birth and cousin Jennny's birth and so-on.

Take peace in knowing that women have been giving birth for THOUSANDS of years and until just recently had to do it all without pain control.

Answer 10

I know what you mean. When I was pregnant with my first son, my cousin's wife was also pregnant at the exact same time I was. One day, she had a dream that MY baby (not hers) was completely deformed and she had the audacity to tell my mother about this "dream". Anyways, my mother almost had a nervous breakdown while my dad always said that chick is a nut case and simply jealous. I choose to ignore her comment as well. Baby was fine and beautiful!! This is why you need to experience things on your own and you draw your own conclusions. Forget the horror stories. Toxic people exaggerate about everything--- cleave to positive people.

Answer 11

I hear ya girl, like you don't have enough to worry about! Well, here's a good labor story......

I was more worried that anything about getting the epidural. I broke my back in a car accident about 4 years ago, so i was extra worried. Come to find out, they numbed my back, so i felt NOTHING, and after that it was a piece of cake. Don't get me wrong, pushing is hard work, but I felt NO PAIN. You'll be tired afterwards, but hopefully, you won't be hurting. I tore, too. Again, not painful. You'll do just fine, good luck!!