LABOR Question?

Question

Okay I'm 34 weeks and will soon be having my first child and I'm just intrested and nervous about labor. Tell me be about your labor exprience for the first time. What was the worst part? Is it as painful as everyone makes it out to be?

Answer 1

First of all..congratulations! And it's so normal to be interested and nervous..I read everything I could get my hands on and still wanted to know more! It is very painful..are you going natural? Epidural? I have had two boys naturally..first was 8lbs.4oz., second 9 lbs., 6 oz...and it was possibly the worst pain I ever felt. I am not trying to scare you at all..I'm sure you have heard this a million times. Also, some people have a higher threshold for pain than others. I know many women that say it wasn't that bad. With my first, I was in labor for about 18 hours, but it didn't get to where I felt like it was unbearable until the last few hours. The second time, my labor was induced and everything happened from start to finish within 4 hours exactly..the pains seemed more intense but went by alot faster. When you are in the worst part of labor and think that you can't take it anylonger, just remember that you are sooo close to holding that little bundle of joy in your arms that you have waited so long for..and remember that millions of women have gone through the exact same thing before you. The time in labor will probably seem like a long time but it's really very fast when you think about waiting 40 weeks! And as soon as that baby is born it's amazing how the pain just stops and you forget all about it as soon as you see your baby. Personally, I think the pushing is the hardest part..it's the most active part of labor..and the last part. So be positive and I know it's easier said than done but the more relaxed you are and the more you educate yourself on what's going on through each stage of labor, the easier and more comfortable it will be. When you get all worked up and get tense it can slow things down and make the pains seem more painful. I didn't take lamaze classes or anything and only knew what I had read and heard from others, but noone can really describe what you will feel until you have been through it yourself. It really helped me when I started making myself relax as much as possible through the pains and reminding myself that with each contraction, I was just that much closer to holding my babies in my arms...and that has got to be the most wonderful feeling in the world and makes all the discomforts of pregnancy and pains of labor worth it. After it's over, you'll be so amazed and realize that you were nervous for no reason at all. It's a natural process that happens all the time everywhere..so try not to be too nervous and keep reminding yourself that by the time you are in labor you are only a few hours away from having a baby in your life..a few hours compared to 9 months..and it doesn't seem so bad. You'll be fine..best wishes to you and would love to hear from you after you have your baby!

Answer 2

Everyone is different so what I felt will be totally different from what your experience will be, so please keep that in mine. I carry my babies late so I had to have pitocin for all five of my labors. It hurt so bad I cried and screamed. Back then they didn't give epidurals so I had to have natural child birth. There was pain relief but since they were trying to induce they wouldn't give me any because it would slow my labor. The delivery part only took a few minutes, I can shoot a baby clear across the room in no time flat! That part didn't hurt much at all, in fact pushing relieved the pain. As soon as the babies were born all my pain was gone, or at least 98%. When I seen my little cherubs I forgot all about the past 12 hours of labor and just fell in love. When I left the hospital I felt pretty good, not much pain at all, just a little sore. That was me. One woman on here described her contractions as compared to period cramps. I guess she wasn't delusional because she had children so her labors were a piece of cake. I really don't think you have much to worry about because now they give epidurals routinely and they work wonders, so I hear. Good luck, don't stress about it, and watch the TV shows where the women give birth. That will give you a real good idea of what to expect. Congratulations on the upcoming birth of your little one.

Answer 3

I was induced with my two oldest children. The first one, I got an epidural and labor was great, I pushed 3 times and she was out. I had no pain. My second child, When I got the epidural too late and it didn't have time to work. I went from being 5 cm to 10 cm in less than 5 mins. That labor was hurrible. I never wanted to go through that again. 3 weeks ago today, I had my 3 child at 34 weeks. Since I was induced with my other children,I didn't know what it felt like to go into labor on my own, so when I did, i didn't know. My dad that was staying with me to help with my kids, had to make me go to the hospital. When I got there, I was dilated to 9.5 and had to have an emergnancy c-section.

My best advice to you, ask your doctor many questions. What ever you don't understand, ask then to explain. Find out from them when you should call them if you think you are in labor, when should you go to the hospital. Also if something doesn't feel right to you or you are in pain, get it checked out, you know your body best.

Answer 4

Being induced was the worse for me...Pitocin made it very very painful compared to the labor I was already experiencing.

Pain started to get really bad after my water was broke...very uncomfortable.

I was in labor for nearly 32 hours when I finally needed a C Section because my son was having difficulties with each contraction. too much for too long I assumed.

It's a pain thats very hard to describe. And everyone is different. Some people dont have as painful of an experience as others.

Epidural after 24 hours was my godsend. The narcotics used shortly before were HORRIBLE...I would suggest you go for the epidural and avoid the narcotics..

Good luck

Answer 5

My first was induced at 41 + 6. The doctor used cytotec (rarely used any more) and it really didn't take at first. Eventually, they used pitocin, and once that kicked in my labor lasted 26 hours until the baby's heartbeat started to drop and they decided to do a c-section. At that point, I was only 5 cms. By hour 24, I was exhausted and finally asked for my epidural so that I could get some rest.
My second was a VBAC. Labor started at home around 8am, but honestly I didn't realize I was in labor til around 2 pm because I was so convinced I wasn't going to go in to spontaneous labor. Went to the hospital at 9 pm because my contractions were 5 minutes apart (wish I would've stayed home longer as I wasn't in much pain), at 11 am the next day, my doc said if she wasn't born by 2:30, they were going to take me in for another c-section. At 1:30, the nurse checked me and said I was only 6 cms. By 1:45, I was screaming for the nurse because I really, really needed to push. She came in and said there's no way and left. At 2pm, there was a shift change, and my new nurse came in. I told her I'd been wanting to push, she checked my chart, said "I doubt it, but lets take a look". She lifted the blanket and said "Oh, I see the baby's head..." She had to call in two interns in case the baby was born before my doc could get to the hospital. Luckily doc was already on her way since she planned on doing a c-section on me. My third was a c-section, and this one will be as well. I would give anything to be able to have another VBAC, its an incredible experience.

Answer 6

For me, the worst part was transition (that last 8-10cm of dilation). Earlier in labor, I was able to be active. I talked to those around me, walked, showered, and did whatever I felt comfortable with. Pushing was painless for me, and it is active as well so that gave me something to concentrate on.

But I really didn't handle transition well during either of my births. I felt nauseous, both hot and cold and wasn't able to control my body temparature, and couldn't get into a comfortable position. By that time, labor was too intense to walk or "do" anything, but its too early to push. It's just a matter of waiting while feeling miserable. Fortunately, transition doesn't last long. It was about an hour with my firstborn, and a few minutes with my second.

Answer 7

With my 2nd I lost the mucus plug and gave birth all in the same day.I started having labor pains. I wasn't dialated and they had to break my water. Once they broke my water i gave birth to my son 23 minutes later. I didn't have any pain or if i did i just didnt notice it since everything was so fast. Now I'm paying for that was being so easy this 3rd one has been nothing but pain for the last 3 weeks. But only 2 more to go....Good Luck.

Answer 8

I had my daughter almost 2 weeks late, that can be a bad thing at age 37. None the less, I was adament about not being induced and going completely natural...that of course was until I went past 1 week and a trip to the hospital, false alarm. That was on Friday, I was 1 cm dialated. So on Monday I went back to the doctor, he checked, I was 3 cm dialated and in labor, though I could feel no contractions, I was having them. Doc scheduled an induction at my request for Tuesday pm. Though he thought I would have the baby before then...nope. Went in tuesday night around 7 got all hooked up with the pitocin drip by 8. Having big contractions the whole time couldn't feel a one. Around 7 the next morning, got up to pee and my water broke, contractions kicked in BIG TIME, though I was only 3 cm dialated. They were very painful and could have handled them if they'd of stopped every so often they were supposed to. Hour later I asked for a shot to take off the edge, still no ease, and the contractions were getting stronger, but not breaking in between. So I asked for the epidural. Peace on earth again. I only dialated 1 cm about every two hours. Finally around 8 Wednesday night I was between 9 and 10 cm. The nurse thought I'd end up having a C-section because my pubic bone was in the way and I wouldn't go that last half cm. Doc came in and said lets give one push and see if that'll open you up to 10. It did, so I got to push, in all it took 45 min. Though I couldn't feel any pain I could feel the pressure, with every push I could feel the progress, but afterwards she would go back up into me. So they brought the suction to help, had an episiodomy to get her head out, but I tore, 4th degree-all the way through and up into my rectum past the inner sphincter when her shoulders came through. I couldn't of cared less, my baby wailed and I was happy. Took about 1.5 hours to stitch me up. They let me hold her for a few minutes but rushed her upstairs to run test...she was 9 lb.3 oz. and they wanted to check her thoroughly for diabetes and any other complications. My doctor never once thought that I little 5'1" was having a 9 lb baby. I was very sore and weak afterwards. Thank goodness for diapers of ice and the water bottle. I've never found much comfort with ice for injuries but I was asking for them like a mad woman because it really did seem to ease some of the pain. None of it matters, I was talking about getting PG before my 8 weeks was up and returning to work. I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. Its the most wonderful experience.

Answer 9

.hi i was very nervous about labour its sore but that depends on how well you handle pain i was in labour for 48 hour with my first but that wasn't full blown labour that was just the work up to it lol in the end i got an epidural and my little girl was born soon after my forceps but everyone is different i hope all goes well for you good luck



oh and all the pain is worth it when you take your first looking at your baby it the easies pain forgotten