Why do mothers insist on telling horror stories about their labour to everyone?

Question

Yeah, why do mothers want to tell gross stories about the humiliating agony of childbirth?
Is it to make you feel special? Are you jealous of other new, pregnant mothers and want to make them as miserable as you are?
It's really annoying, you know. Yes, labour hurts. No question about it. But telling horror stories can ruin a new mother's birthing experience because she's terrified of things that rarely happen.
So get off your high horse. You pushed a baby out of you, just like billions of women before you. Big deal.

I'm not a man, I'm just a woman who is sick of hearing about how mothers puked and shat themselves, passed out, had to have their vaginas cut open OR stitched up afterwards... it's gross, dude. Keep it to yourself.

It's not that I want to hear nothing or have no awareness of what will happen, but I DON'T want to hear about how it felt like trying to push a water mellon out of your vagina, or how your father-in-law videotape you crapping all over the doctor's hands.

"BTW I didn't push out my baby! He was cut from my womb."
Haha, I guess I'll take the advice here: good for you, but shut up. Many a lady before you has had a baby cut out of her.

Answer 1

they do that because they want someone to pat them on the back and say" oh goodness, what an amazing feat! you must really be superwoman!" usually they make it sound worse than it really was.

Answer 2

Mostly it's because women who don't have horror stories rarely say anything to expectant mothers.

So, I make sure to share my story:

Uneventful pregnancy. Blood pressure 90/60 all the way through.

Went into labor the day before my due date.

Uneventful trip to the hospital (with my husband driving) at 7:30 a.m.

Delivered healthy girl at 1:00 p.m. same day.

No anasthesia, no episiotomy, no problem.

Just wait until AFTER the baby gets here. There are usually umpteen horror stories of child-rearing to come after the childbirthing tales. But mine goes like this:

Normal child with normal situations.

Graduated high school, then college.

She's 26 years old and in med school now.

Answer 3

I've had two babies so far and I know where you're coming from. I was already pregnant when other females started to tell me toe-curling things that happened to them... some of what they said had me in tears and I just wished that I had never gotten pregnant!
In the end it was all worth it, and labour went ok although it definitely was painful.
When I talk to young women I am always careful to make sure not to overemphasize the bad because I remember how terrified I was when I first got pregnant!
I'd say that if you're thinking about getting pregnant, go for it! It's not as bad as they say, and you'll forget all about the pain as soon as your baby is born.

Answer 4

It is one of those unwanted unsolicited things that for some reason almost all women feel the need to do.
For most having their child was the single most traumatic experience any of them have ever or will ever experience. For the most part they aren't trying to scare you (although you will have some that will try to one up everything - if you pushed for an hour they pushed for four, and so on), they are just trying to relate.
Just try and tune them out, and think of this question someday if you ever get the urge to tell someone your labor story.
Some people don't understand that not everyone wants all of your yucky or terrifying details......

Hang in there!

Answer 5

confident human beings do this. My sister-in-regulation became into scared a million/2 to loss of life because of the fact anyone round her actually does not close up approximately how painful, frightening and whatnot giving start is. it rather is basically mean...i don't be attentive to what stable those human beings think of comes out of it. IF AND on condition that God forbid some thing have been to circulate incorrect, enable people who're there to assist her manage it and pray each and every thing would be nice. human beings could practice pregnant women human beings for the welcoming of a miracle into the international to no longer anticipate the worst interior the region.

Answer 6

Just goes to show how were all so different. I request the most detailed stories from friends and family. I want to personally know everything I can, and especially the worst, most disgusting parts. I'd be pissed if nobody told me anything and I suddenly crapped myself while giving birth, and had never knew that that happened with anyone else. I'd be mortified. But now i know that if that happens, Its totally normal. I love to tell gross stories (not of pregancy cuz i've yet to go through that)- but just gross in general. I like to see others reactions. And I love to hear them in return. So its if not your cup of tea, step away from the gross talker, or interupt them and explain you have a weak stomach for those kinds of topics.

Answer 7

I tell my story, when asked...Adn I will spare you since you obviously dont want to know/hear...

I tell women because I don't want them to end up like me. I give advice, and insight into why my labor and birth went the way it did and ways to avoid the same mistiakes I did to help ensure mothers don't go down the wrong road.

I am studying to be a doula, to better be able to reach and help women have as wonderful and empowering births as possible.

BTW I didn't push out my baby! He was cut from my womb.

Here are some links to things you may not know about birth, especially in the US these days:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3WWNKurKjA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm77ZujkTbw&eurl=

Answer 8

Well I think a lot of women look at being pregnant and giving births as some sort of club and once your pregnant your in. A lot of women are proud of what they did or how they got through labor and just want to share their experience with others. Their story is like their very own badge of honor that says "I did it! and if you don't want to hear other womens stories before hand ask them nicely not to. Tell them that you want to enjoy your own experience with out any outside influences.

Answer 9

They say, women like to talk about it because it is a cathartic experience. It's hard to put the feeling into words, so they tell stories about the puking and stuff. Forgive them, and learn to ignore all stories and advices. Everybody is an expert if it comes to pregnancy.

Answer 10

i have no horror stories, giving birth for me was easy and im planning on doing it again in feb! and the reason they tell is because know one knows better than a mother who has been there. i appreciate the stories i got because it prepared me for labor and i didnt expect things to go perfectly, i knew ahead of time that things could possibly go wrong. you must be a man, no woman who has givin birth could be that insensitive

Answer 11

I think that most women tell stories about their labor to other women who can sympathize. Clearly, you're not one of them.

When you go through something painful and difficult, it is natural to seek others who have gone through the same thing.

I don't know of any mothers who intentionally scare new mothers with horror stories.