Can anyone tell me a little more about the birthing experience?

Question

I am almost to my 29th week and the further a long I get the more nervous I become. I have heard it is unbearable and then I have heard it isn't that bad. I'm not to nervous about the pain because I know it will be worth it, but it would be nice to know what to expect.

Answer 1

For me I was so nervous leading up it wasn't even cool. I had so many fears. Some of them stupid...will she be ugly???....and some really normal....will I have to have a c section???

Well I got induced.....the pain was bad but not what I had expected at all. It hurt in my hips more than anything! Weird maybe but it sucked. Finally after 24 hours of contractions and no progress I was given the option to have a c section. I had been 100% against a c thru out the whole pregnancy....but at that moment ANYTHING to stop the pain so I said yes please ......

So they told me that they had a few in front of me then they would be in. They cam ein a bit later to start prepping me....they gave me a bigger IV and had to put in the catheter....that was the worst for me actulaay out of everything....I was still having contractions and they were trying to force this tube up my urethra....and it just sisn't want to go. In the end I had 3 nurses...2 working on me and 1 calming me because it HURT!

After that I tried to stay calm so my hubby, mom, and I started to play a game of Phase 10. It was slow going because I was still in so much pain from the contractions but it took my mind off the upcoming surgery. Well they decided to take me next after 2 hands....they came in in a whirl wind and said "well Amanda we have an opening so you are next. They wheeled me down to the OR and pumped me full of fluids. We were waiting for the guy to put the epidural thing in my back....he took forever so I sat in the OR room waiting going thru my contractions with a tech guy since they wouldn't let my hubby in until the needle inthe back part was done.

Well once they got that done and my hubby came in all I did was shake and cry about how scared I was. I look back now and wish to God I would have just relaxed and been more aware of what was going on....because it didn't hurt at all....it was a rather pleasant experience all in all. Finally when she was out I was so worked up with nerves that they pumped drugs into me and I didn't wake up again until I was in recovery.

The recovery from a c section is no fun at all but it is ALL WORTH IT! My daughter is 4 months old now and is beautiful and perfect!

The one thing I can say is I wish I would have prayed more for the health of my baby and less for her to not be ugly....because we found out when she was 12 days old that she has cystic fibrosis.....but she is still so perfect!

Any how hope that helps a little!~ Mandy

Answer 2

It's hard to say what to expect! I have three kids. The first one was 9lbs 13 oz...ouch! I had an epidural (actually two), but all that did for me was make my legs numb! I'm small and he was so big that I think it made things worse.
The other two, I had naturally, and although, it's not a cake walk (they don't call it labor for nothing!),,Ha...the natural was not as hard. You have bad pain, they make you push at the worst time...when you're having a contraction. I don't know if you're having a c-section or not.
It's pain, but it's not unbearable. Look how many people are in the world! The fear of the unknown is probably half of what you're worrying about. You'll get through it just like we all do. Once the baby is here, you will know that there is no pain in this world that was more worth having...until they get to be a teenager!! LOL!
Best of luck to you. No worries.

Answer 3

It hurts really bad, but there are lots of meds out there to dull or take the pain away if your not planning on a natural birth!! But your right, once it's all over you will be holding your baby and will all seem worth it!! I had a natural birth, but I was lucky my labor for my daughter was only 3 hours long!! This is not the norm!!
Judge what you can handle and ask for meds when you need them!! Everyone is different and everyone handles pain differently!!
Good Luck and Congrats!!

Answer 4

first of all, every birth is different. that said, birth is exciting and scary all at once. labor begins as mild cramp like contractions. this can last a few hours then move to the transition stage--contractions get harder. you really start feeling the pain. the dr. will usually offer pain meds now. the contractions are opening the cervix and the baby is moving on into position. pain can be really bad, getting worse as every contraction comes closer together than before.this stage can also last hours. most moms get an epidural for this stage. the final stage of labor is the worst painwise but also the quickest. you finished dialating and you get the urge to push. the urge is so strong that you cannot fight it at=fter the first couple of urges. the pushing stage is tiresome, hurts as baby stretches you and is born. the dr may cut your perinium to prevent the baby's head from tearing it if baby is big. after baby is born, you have a few contractions to deoiver the placenta and then the worst is over but you no longer care about the pain because you are looking at your beautiful baby. your dr will stitch up any cut he/she performed or any tear you had. you will have some after pains for a couple of weeks as the uterus shinks back to almost original size.

Answer 5

The only thing I can tell you is that it's different for every woman on every pregnancy. Try and relax about it as stressing about it isn't good for the baby. Just remember to keep your options open in regards to pain management.

If you want to try natural child birth then go for it but if it gets to bad don't be afraid to ask for some pain relief and don't feel like you've failed at anything. Make sure that you have a Dr. that understands your fears and discuss your options with him/her.

Answer 6

Well yes it hurts.The pain is indescribable, like nothing I have felt. But trust, me, when u are in the midst of it all u just get on with it. Are u planning on an epidural? If so, that removes the pain totally but the downside is u lose your legs for a while. I wanted natural waterbirth, I got induced c-sec so in that circumstance the epidural was a GODSEND! Don't worry too much about it honey, I know its a cliche but i was exactly the same as u, and its true, u REALLY do forget all about it afterwards! U will be fine. Good luck

Answer 7

the birth will be something unique to you,every woman has a different experience,and every birth (even to the same woman will be different) i had four children two of the births were unpleasant,and two were wonderful experiences.one thing they all have in common is pain,but as was said before its not unbearable because there is a purpose to the pain,and hopefully joy at the end of it.my advice to you would be keep an open mind,be prepared for something that will be uniquely yours, and dont rely too much on other peoples childbirth stories.relax,and look forward to it,when you gaze into your babys eyes for the first time,nothing else will matter.

Answer 8

Its odd really. For me - I had the nerves a month or so leading up to it, but once it was really happening, I went into "emergency mode"
Just deal with what needs to be done, panic later. I was almost oddly relaxed, just knowing it was coming to an end and I would meet my daughter.
I had not planned to have an epidural but changed my mind when I started throwing up. I couldn't handle both that and the pain.
Once the active labor starts: I felt as if I had to go to the bathroom (#2) very badly but had no "exit". There is no other way I can describe it. And your body pushes, you don;t have to think about it, it happens without you. What you have to worry about is if you did you Kegal exercises like you were supposed to so you can STOP pushing when the doc says. It will prevent the need for an apesiotomy (sp). I didn't tear, nor did I need stitches.

Answer 9

Well first of all everyone is different some people feel lots of pain. Other just mild back pain. Are you having an epidural? My daughter was very nervous about that to. Afterward she said the contr. were painful but when it came to push it was just a lot of pressure and not as painful as she thought. don't be afraid to ask for what you need to for pain. Talk to your Dr. about it well before hand. they say walking a lot while preg. helps you labor to go smoother.Get other ideas from other mom's on how they dealt with the pain. I know the more infrormed on whats happening and the less tense you are also helps.

Answer 10

I cant really give you a personal experience on it.

But Dont feel bad I developed an actual down right fit of fear around 32 33 weeks. I mean Id cry thinking about it. I was so scared about the birth process my OB gave me the option of a complete sedated C section. But the best thing out of the millions of thigs said to me to try and calm me down was

"Billions of women have done this before some multipul times, it cant be that bad if women keep doing it"

Maybe it was because it was my Bf who said it I don't know be he certainly has a point...were far from the first women on earth to give birth here....at least in our day and age we got pain releaving drugs at our disposal