What is labor and delivery like?

Question

How much does giving birth hurt? Its my first pregnancy and I'm scared.

Answer 1

It doesn't have to hurt. Pain is the body's way of telling you something is ill or injured, labor is neither. You will feel intense cramping (like menstrual cramps) that make you feel like you need to use the bathroom. You may feel muscle cramps in your back (back labor) which can be painful but walking around helps those. As you get nearer to pushing, the cramps will gain in intensity and will feel the same as if you have diarrhea and have waited too long (not really painful but urgent). Moving, changing positions, breathing deeply and knowing what's coming will help. You do not need any medication and there are serious side effects to be considered when taking any (the worst being that epidurals have a marked increase in C-sections). Talk with your doctor (even if he is a he) about what you are thinking and feeling. Take a class, it does help. Talking with other moms can help but remember that everyone has a different pain tolerance and a different ability to cope with the work and intensity of the contractions. I had two children without any drugs of any kind and am looking forward to having my third in about 6ish weeks. The most important thing to remember is not to be scared. The body will have that baby with or without you freaking out so the freaking out will only make it harder on you and can hurt the baby. Let labor wash over you like a wave and help it when you can. Get good people to be with you (maybe a mom and your hubby etc) and you will get through it easily. Just think about the baby (bring clothes and toys to look at, it helps). You can email me if you want some more reassurance, but talking with your doctor is the best.

Answer 2

Each Woman is different and not two woman will have the same birth experiance, it is a happy time waitng for the arrival of your baby and by the way Congratulations.
I have two kids a boy then a girl with my son is was a piece of cake and no pain but with my daughter I had the Epideral two times and still went through natural labor with her but once she was born the pain was gone and I also hemoridged real bad but the fact of the matter is even though your scared, don't be because having children is an awesome feeling and a great one at that, you try to stay focused on that baby arriving and all the wonderful things to come, hang in there and you'l do great you will see. You can email me @ anytime if you would like to know anything else I will be happy to help you in anyway that I can. My Email is [e-mail]

Answer 3

It just depends. Every person is different. My first I had him in about 3 hours. By the time you get home from the hospital the pain that you encountered will be vague. The more afraid you are the more likely it's going to seem worse than it really is. I'll be honest it can be very uncomfortable but it is possible to deliever without any meds. I did. My 2nd child wasn't so easy, but I can't remember exactly how bad it was anymore. Don't be afraid, remember that the dr.'s and nurses delievering your baby have your well being in mind just as much as they do your baby. If it's too much they will administer something to help. Relax, giving birth shouldn't be scary. When you go into labor your body will be feeling all these new feelings and you won't have a ton of time to sit and ponder how much it hurts or how little. Women do it everyday and you're going to be just fine.

Answer 4

well if it was easy they wouldn't call it labor, its the most amazing, happy ,pain full ,emotional euphoric, confused time ever but i have done it 4 times now an would have loads of kids, keep an open mind on pain release, listen to your midwife, listen to your body, and stay up on your feet as long as you can my 2 best births where number 2 and 4 as i had no drugs(mental i know) but i felt more in con troll but if you need drugs to get through it then that is fine as well either way when its all over you have this lovely baby and its all forgo ten about.... wishing you a trouble free pregnancy ..... an a fast birth!!!! good luck

Answer 5

The laboring part is painful. Those contractions can be strong. I got Epidurals with all three of my sons, and I am so glad I did. I had 2 10lb boys and a 9.6 boy. The birthing was not so bad with the epidurals, and I had no complications at all.

Answer 6

Well, it really just depends on how well your epidural works. Hopefully you are getting one of those. Mine did not, but for women whose did work they described not even feeling the baby coming out or the urge to push. I was one of the unlucky ones and I did feel the pain but I made it through both pregnancies. It hurts during the labor but after the baby comes out the pain goes away. You will be fine, women everywhere do it everyday.
I got a thumbs down for honesty, get a life. Here I will sugar code it: It will be fine, not painful at all.

Answer 7

It does hurt a lot but it is worth it. Epidurals are really great. I think for every 1 horror story you hear about them, there are 100 great stories about them. I had one with each of my 2 kids, and it really made labor much more bearable. I was up and walking w/in an hour after both.

Answer 8

I won't lie...it hurts like hell... that is unless you can get an epidural, which of course i could not.
Regardless of how much pain you will go through, it is always worth it and to tell ya the truth, I forgot all about it a couple hours later. The baby just takes all the pain away.

Good Luck and Congratulations

Answer 9

I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this but it's like trying to squeeze a watermelon out the size of a lemon. Not fun, no, but I promise you when it's over and you hold that baby it's worth it.

Everyone's labor and delivery is different so I cannot tell you exactly what it's like, but I can tell you it is painful but incredible at the same time.

Good luck to you!

Answer 10

Trust me girl. It hurt's, but every labor is different just like every woman is different. Good Luck