giving birth

[stylinsam]

how painful is giving birth and what do the symptons feel like i hav'nt any children but would like them in the future and just wondering what does the pain actually feel like i no that it is very painful but cant quite understand.

im just curious cheersxx

[4getmenot]

Its different for different people. Sometimes it hurts sometimes it doesnt. I wouldnt know because I have no children, but all mothers I know have different stories.

[aka pixi]

Hi sam, I have had 2 kids, the first my daughter, I was in labour for 22 hours, excruciating pain and ended up having pethidine twice and also lots of gas and air. My second was my son. I was in labour for 3 hours, not much pain and only had gas and air. But no matter how much it hurts, it is well worth it when you see your baby in your arms.

[maggie01]

Just remember it can't be that bad or people would only have one child. I have two. It was no picnic but you soon forget.
Some people say it is not as bad as going to the dentist. Not sure about that one.

[redcrx]

I had my son 9 months ago. I had painless contractions for 2 weeks (not Braxtons) and was in hospital for 3 days before they decided to break my waters.

I had my waters broken at 8pm and my son was born at 4am. The contractions disnt really hurt until about 12pm. I had no pain relief at all throughout my labour (gas and air i tried once and it made me feel awful).

The first words my son heard was me saying 'youre gonna be an only child) but 2 days later i had forgotten exactly what the pain was like and now Id do it all again.

I have to say it is different for every woman. My mum and my nan both have painless contractions until the head crowns (that is the worst part)

[redcrx]

oh and a description of the pain for me would be 1st stage (baby coming down) is very bad period pain and cramps. 2nd stage (pushing) like needing a number 2 desperately. 3rd stage (afterbirth) not painful in my case

oh and when head crowns it stings like hell. I saw once that a way to describe it is to put your fingers in corners of mouth and pull outwards to stretch your mouth

[smudge]

With our first daughter, had a show at midday, went into labour at approx 2:00pm & she was born at 7:05pm.

With our second daughter, had a show at 6:00pm, went into labour at approx 7:00pm & she was born at 10:00pm.

Both births were spontaneous, with no complications or stitches needed. Believe me, once a baby is placed in your arms, the pain you were in soon disappears from your mind - well it did with me!

I love babies & the smell of Johnson's baby pwoder always takes me back - bless 'em!

[smudge]

Our second was actually born at 10:10pm - better get it right as she's an AB'er too!!!!

[gessoo]

I only had one. Say no more! ;o)

[whiffey]

I have to hand it to you ladies. I have read that labour pains are second only to (or on a par with) renal colic. I once saw a man with renal colic, he was grey and sweating.

Cheery stuff stylinsam !! :)

[smudge]

Thank you whiffey!

I've past a kidney stone before now & I can honestly say I'd rather go through labour than ever experiencing that again. The pain was excrutiating & my husband & daughters didn't tel me until after I'd come out of hospital how yellow I was!

[smudge]

*passed

[horselady]

redcrx gives a good description of the stages. I remember thinking at one point "I don't wanna do this" but it was a bit late by then! That was with my first child and I went on to have another one, as some of the others have said, you forget really quickly.

[kick3m0n]

lol Smudge....I have a friend who says exactly the same thing...she'd do 5 more babies before she'd try to pass another kidney stone!

I've only got one, but as soon as he was born I knew I'd do it all again. I had no qulams or concerns about giving birth at all, even in the weeks leading up to it. 9 hrs of labour (from first contraction to baby arriving), only gas and air...I actually managed to enjoy my labour, have a laugh, just go with the flow and relax. I know I was lucky, esp for it to be my first (first labours tend to be longer). Some friends have done a full 48 hours labour then, at the point of exhaustion had to have a c section, which would be so different to my experience.

[dumb]

yeah I was 38 hours and eventually had to have a section. i swore in the middle of it that I would NEVER go through that again or forget how sore it was, but.. Yip you do!

[netibiza]

Took 25mins and two 'period type' pains - no problem, but it varies hugely.

[smudge]

Your friend has got that right then kick! The thought of giving birth to 10 kidney stones - aaarrrggghhh!

Must be awful to be in labour for so long then end up having a cesarian!

God, that must be a world record Neti - p'raps that's why my dear old Mum had 10 babies!

[mimififi]

I have five children, the first was a difficult labour, trouble with the delivery, forceps etc, the middle three were dream home births and the fifth was a premature emergency section!

I have to say, if I were given the choice, I'd go for natural birth everytime, the recovery and speed of it (when all is well) is a doddle in comparison to a section which is painful, limiting, scary and takes months to recover from and really taints your early days with baby.

I don't think labour is that painful.

[gessoo]

Kick3m0n, I have to say I was one of those unlucky ones who had to go through a long labour and then have a caesarian. It was meant to be by epidural, but the anaesthetist shoved the needle in the wrong place and hit a major nerve in my spine. The pain down my leg was worse than any of the labour pains - I screamed the place down!!!! Anyway she managed to numb both legs but not my stomach so I ended up with a general anaesthetic and woke up with dead legs and a lovely baby!!

I wish I had had a natural labour. But my son was safe and that is what mattered.

[smudge]

My Mum had all home births mimi, except one. I remember sitting on the stairs with the others waiting for a cry, then we were all allowed in to see my lovely youngest brother, now 54!

Sounds as though you had an awful time of it gessoo! But as you say, your son was born healthy & safely.

My hairdresser went though hell & gave birth to a full term perfect daughter, but came home wih no baby - say no more. Very, very sad, but after a couple of years, went on to have a beautiful baby boy.

[The Tiggster]

I believe if you have a natural labour then your body is able to adjust to the pain better than being induced. I was induced after my waters broke & I never went into labour myself & the contractions went on (very hard & very painful) for 15 hours before I had a emergency c-section. My baby was 10lb 7oz & was never going to come out of naturally. Pity we didn;t know that before 15 hours of contractions - eh?!

I said at the time I would never go through it again, but sitting up in bed gazing at my newborn son I said to my husband, that the next one won't be as bad!

Everyone is different & you have to go through it to understand what it is all about. You most certainly forget the pain once your darling child is in your arms.