Labor question???

Question

What part of labor is worse the contractions or the actual labor, like the baby coming out. When people say they were in labor for 14 hours or whatever they are not always feeling pain right, just the contractions every few minutes.



First time mommy soon just wondering????

Answer 1

The contractions were much worse than the pushing. I was only in labor for about 7 hours, I don't know how women do it any longer than that! Oh and as far as not always feeling the pain, my contractions were back to back. It seemed like I only had 30 seconds in between. I couldn't relax between them b/c I was just waiting for the next one! I'm not sure if every woman's labor is that intense but mine was.

Answer 2

Congrats first time mommy. To answer your question the contractions are hard to handle yes. If you have ever experienced menstral cramps that is what contractions feel like in your lower abdomen. You are not always feeling pain no pressure maybe when babies head moves down into the pelvis to be born. The worst pain I found of labor was after my water broke. The contractions were more painful and harder. When baby is being born when the head comes out is the most painful but it didn't hurt so much when the rest of the body came out. Good Luck and I hope this helps

Answer 3

The most intense pain is the crowning, when the baby comes out. However, that only lasts for a couple of minutes. I don't see the need of a bunch of a pain medicine for a couple of minutes of pain. The contractions hurt some people worse than others. It depends upon whether your uterus is cramping. If it is cramping, then it must really hurt. I used the Bradley method with all four of mine. It uses total relaxation to prevent the uterus from cramping. The cervix stretching is a dull ache that comes and goes with the contraction. The pushing contractions did not hurt at all. I have had some hunger pains before that were worse than labor.

Answer 4

Depends. My first child, I didn't have medication to help with pain. You fall asleep between contractions (your body makes you do this) only to wake up in agony for a few minutes, then back asleep you go, over and over. 17 hours of contractions hurt the worst, because by the time I felt like I had to push, it was almost uncontrolable and I barely remember any pain with the baby comming out, all the pain was from the contractions. With my second child, after 8 hours of agony, I went for the epidoural because I don't have a fast track record with labor. Everyone reacts to anesthesia differently, but I felt nothing from the boobs down. It was great, I just sat there and watched Ghost Hunters untill the doc checked me and told me to push.


Ps, I would not compare labor contractions to menstrual cramps. Take the worst leg cramp you have every had and multiply it by a hundred, and put that in your abdomen. Oh yeah, it's fun.

Answer 5

I have five children, and my labors have been 8 hours, 5 hours, 14, 18, and 14 hours in that order. Ironically, I always feel like going to the hospital about 4-5 hours before they end up being born. That means, with our second baby after the second contraction I told my husband I wanted to be at the hospital already, and with our fifth baby we stayed home the first nine hours of labor, which totally freaked out my husband's aunt who had come over to take care of our children, and was just sure if we didn't hurry she was going to have to deliver our son. Please don't imagine that women with 18 hour labors are in pain for 3/4ths of a day. I knew I was in labor the whole time, and needed to lean on my husband, literally and emotionally, during contractions, but was able to rest, do a little bit of last minute cleaning, get our kids ready to leave, and chat with them excitedly about how they'd get to see and hold their new baby soon. In between contractions I just felt a little menstrual crampy. I've had all my babies completely without any pain medication, and I'd say the last five minutes are my least favorite physically, but I try and remind myself that the baby will be in my arms any minute by that point. Good luck to you as you get ready for your little one. Keep in mind that as you near the end of your pregnancy, you are a miracle waiting to happen.

Answer 6

The contractions (which ARE the actual labour incidentally, the baby coming out is the delivery). The contractions are exhausting and seem endless. No you are not in pain the entire time, but the contractions can be quite long and intense, especially when you are in active labour. My contractions in full labour are usually 3-4 minutes long, and I have often had as little as 40 seconds rest in between times.

When you are pushing the baby out, it is a more intense pain, especially when the head is crowning (coming out and stretching the perineum) but because you are able to actively be doing something (ie pushing) for me it wasn't as bad as the long labour beforehand. Also I knew it would soon be over, so the end was in sight and I was feeling much more buoyed and excited.

Answer 7

The contractions are very rough. I had an epidural, but I didn't get it until my contractions were two minutes apart. Just the anticipation of the next contraction caused anxiety for me. Since I had the epidural, I wouldn't know what it's like to push without. It was still very exhausting anyway. I was surprised when the nurse told me I was only pushing for about 45 minutes because it felt like a lifetime. Will this baby ever come out? You are going to hear a lot of stories with this question, but to me all the pain is nothing compared to the amazing miracle at the end.

Answer 8

Well the labor is pretty easy you just have to push really hard, The real pain are the contractions. Pushing is only about 5 minutes, and yes the labor is the 14 hours or so. But you can do it, once you see your baby, it'll be worht it!

Answer 9

I have 11 nieces and nephews from my 3 sisters. They all said it's the contractions that hurt the worst, not when the baby actually comes out. They said it feels like really bad menstrual cramps times ten, they come and they go. You can always get the epidural to ease the pain for the actual labor!!

Answer 10

there's nothing worse in life then the pain of contractions. and yes, when ladies are in labor for 14 hrs they are in pain for 14 hrs. some women not just get contractions by the minute, but when the time is arriving you start to feel them by the second. when you give birth, the only thing you feel is the relief of it all.
dont worry, it's all worth it at the end.