Describe labor (pain) to me?

Question

Not only how it feels physically but I'd like to know how you felt. How did the whole process feel for you? Was it even one of your best (or worst!) days?

Answer 1

you cant describe the pain its out of this world,i went natural and plan to again.
The pain is the worst pain you could ever feel but its till one amazing experience.

Answer 2

Not one of my worse days....it was the days my son was born...a joyful event. The pain was nearly the worse I have ever felt...but I understood it was leading to my babies birth.

The pain isnt constant for most women....there are breaks between the pain. I didnt have pain the first 24 hours of labor...not until my doctor broke my water...then I realized the pain everyone talks about.

The pain is a muscle pain that you cant even imagine your muscles doing. Imagine the worse charlie horse pain in your leg you have ever had...put that in your back and belly and do it over and over again.

The emotions I was feeling were mixed....I felt like I let my husband down...odd, yes, but I felt like I wasnt able to handle the pain which was leading to something we both wanted so much. I cried and apologized to him when I finally gave into pain medication....he didnt understand why I was apologizing. He said I had worked so hard to get to where we were, that I deserved the break....I guess there is a breaking point for everyone..some women have more will power or pain tolerance or something..not sure.

Anyway...once I got an epidural, I realized I could do the rest...I just needed a break from the contractions to gather my strength again.

Unfortunately, I ended up having a C section due to my sons heart rate rising too high. I had a fever which was causing it. By then, my guilt and let down had turned to worry and I just wanted my baby out and safe.

From the beginning, I went in feeling very unsure about being induced..that feeling is probably what led to me feeling guilty about needing pain medication.

If you can avoid being induced, the use of pitocin and breaking your water too soon....do so. You will have a better experience.

Good luck

Answer 3

Well I was only some-what in labor and for only 4 hours. It was really bad cramping worse than any period cramps I'd ever had. It came in waves. I never got very far into labor and had to have a c-section so I couldn't say what it is like near the end when you are fully dialated. Since there were complications after the c-section and my son was rushed to the NICU I didn't even get to see him till the next day so in a lot of ways it was the worst day.

Answer 4

I have given birth four times. Labor pain felt nothing at all like cramps or period pains. Cramps and period pains are a sharp, sudden pain. Labor is a dull ache, like holding your mouth open very wide for a long time. I have had hunger pains before that hurt worse. My labors were 19, 15, 11, and 33 hours long. The pushing contractions did not hurt at all. I had all mine natural using the Bradley method. I actually enjoyed my births. I feel sorry for someone who misses out on a natural, prepared birth. They have no idea what they missed.

Answer 5

Have you ever had a really bad bowel pain before? The kind like you really had to get to the bathroom, but your 10 minutes away from your house. Well, that pain times 50. I had natural childbirth (not by choice). It was the most excruciating pain imaginable. The most pain was felt in my behind so I felt like I had to 'go'. But pushing my baby out actually felt good. Now that was like finally making it to the bathroom and releasing it. I pushed so hard I busted all the blood vessels in my eyes. My eyes were blood shot for 4 or 5 days. That's how much pain I was in.

Answer 6

At first it felt like cramps, then it felt like really bad cramps and finally it felt like someone was tearing my back and stomach wide open with a vice grip. With all of my labours I have dilated stupidly fast, usually moving from 2-5 cm to 10 cm within one or two contractions!! Nasty thing to have happen.

Emotionally I handle labour and delivery well, had two with no drugs at all and one with an epidural to hopefully speed the actual delivery due to meconium staining in my amniotic fluid (baby pooped inside me). I had an episiotimy with my first and none with the second and third. The freezing was amazing LOL. I have never found contractions to be the hardest part. What I hate is the "ring of fire" when the baby's head crowns. Kinda like roasting your girly bits with a flamethrower.

Answer 7

well truthfully, hell on earth. imagine the absolute worst period cramps that u have ever had and multiply it time 100. especially if it's in your back, OMG!!!! that's like the worst kidney pain ever. basically, once the baby comes, you totally feel better and you forget all the pain. it's emotional to see your baby for the first time and is worth all that pain and more.

Answer 8

OWE... thats my descrpition,,,,


Ok I will be serious

With my daughter i went into the dr with mild contractions i was a week-ish away from my due date, they took my blood pressure and it was 147/101... it had never been higher than 112/68 my entire pregnancy, so they sent me to L&D, I was given cytotec for 12 hours, then started on pitocin, i was having strong back labor all night, monday, and all day tuesday, but no progress, so tues night they gave mecytotec again, contractions and pain like you couldnt believe, no prgress... wednesday they upped my dosage of pitocin (2x the normal amount for half of the time (6 hours as apposed to 12) PAINFUL contraction, they felt like I had elephant sitting on my tummy... Thursday same thing... this brins us to friday morning....

I was only dialted to 1cm, so they started the pitocin 3x the normal amount per infusion but only for 4 hours this day, they broke my water a 1cm at 1pm, and said if we dont have ababy by 6pm we will be performing a c-section your preeclempsia is getting worse... so I was having intense pain felt like i had to poop at 130, they brought the anestesiologist in i was still 1cm but they gave me the epi anyway.. at 2:10 i was back in intense pain and pressure, they said sometimes if you dialate more than 1cm an hour you throw the calibration of the machine off, lets get the anestesiologist back in to adjust your medicine, we will check you first, at 2:45pm i was 9cm and a +2, I dialted 8 cm in less than an hour... thats were the pain came from. from this point there was an emergency delivery (shoulder distotia) down the halland for me to buzz if i needed to push,

real labor began----
The pain was so intense and now my epi was off, i had back labor with double contractions, so my body never came off of a contraction before begining the next, I was shaking, cold, then hot, cold, then hot, the pain was so inttense i couldnt help but throw up... it is really hard toexplain, ihad a burning in my hip because of how she was laying, my back felt like someone was stabbing it, and my vagina felt as though it stretching to the max... i was so sick i forgot to call them in, and no one was allowed to talk it annoyed me... so finaly they come back in... 2 pushes later my daughter was born...

oh but dont be nervous... mine sucked, and i am still doing it again

Answer 9

it was described to me as the contractions feel like really really bad period pains. and the pushing was llike being severly constipated lol. i know sounds odd. and that is exactly how it felt for me!!

Answer 10

IT IS VERY PAINFUL, BUT IT IS ALSO THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE. YOU JUST HAD THE BABY THAT YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND CRE.....TOGETHER. SO THRU ALL THE PAIN AT THE END THERE IS NOTHING BUT JOY....GET PLENTY OF REST BEFORE THAT DAY COMES. GOOD LUCK..