For DS1 I got my epidural at 4 cm. My contractions hurt and felt like bad menstrual cramps.
For DS2 I was in denial about how fast my labor was happening. I could barely walk through the hospital parking lot. Then all the beds were full so I got to labor in a waiting room full of people. When I finally got checked I was 8 cm with a bulging bag of water. The nurse was awesome and grabbed the anesthesiologist quickly. As I was bent over getting my epidural I told everyone that I needed to push. Luckily the epi was instant relief and when the doctor came in to check on me I pushed the baby out in 2 pushes.
So, for me a contraction at 4 cm feels a lot different than a contraction at 8 or 9 cm.
It is interesting to see how different everybody's experiences are.
I was so scared of labour but it was easier or less painful than I had made it out to be in my head. For me contractions were like intense menstrual cramps. Once I got to about 6 cm they were uncomfortable during the contraction but then I felt fine in between them. I didn't get an epi but I had morphine and fentanyl. I wasn't sure if I wanted drugs but I asked for them because I kept expecting things to get worse. They didn't until transition. Between transition and pushing was the worst of it but it went by fast. I was so tired by the time I needed to be pushing that I napped in between pushes. I never experienced the ring of fire that people talk about.
I hope some of these stories are making the people who are scared feel better about it.
All I remember is two big contractions, then a huge gush. For the next couple of hours, the contractions were pretty awful. After that it felt like my insides were being clawed and ripped while my outsides were twisted, yanksed, beat, and torn apart. My contractions were never regular, timing was all over the place. Each one made me want to die. Not like, oh, I want to die, but like I seriously wished for it. At 16 hours I finally hit 9.5cm. At 17 hours, I was at 7.5 cm. We decided at that point that home birth was not an option and went to the hospital. At 21 hours I was 4.5cm and finally got my epi. I felt nothing else after that. I spent the next 8.5 hours resting and hoping my body would do its thing. I pushed for 1.5 hours without feeling anything but exhaustion. At 31 hours to the minute, I finally had him.
It took me six months at least to get over my fear of even basic menstrual cramps. I got flash backs. 2.5 years later, I think I might be ready for a second. I'll ask for a continuous epi stream starting at 39 weeks until I deliver.
I shouldn't have read this. This so makes me want to push off TTC forever.
It is weird but I have the opposite reaction. I don't remember any specifics of the pain except for me saying 'ow! you're hurting me' over and over again. The vomiting sucked though. I think I would go into delivery the second time as clueless as I did the first one lol
Post by chickadee77 on Mar 28, 2015 6:15:39 GMT -5
I did feel kind of out-of-body. I just kept remembering, "low moans, low moans," and once, I heard my pitch going up, and honestly that made it hurt more. Really weird. I got an epi - they checked me about 45 minutes before and I was at 7, but I felt the urge to push right as they put the needle in, so I think I was probably complete, as my labor went so quickly. So I don't really know about transition - I think that was just when shit got real for me.
Pushing was so much easier than I thought it would be.
I think the best thing I did was going in and expecting the worst - I was pleasantly surprised at my overall experience. HOWEVER I would be singing a different tune had I had to endure contractions for hours and hours.
Post by rupertpenny on Mar 28, 2015 7:03:07 GMT -5
I didn't ever really feel contractions. I had almost 48 hours of cervadil before they started pitocin so by the time I started contracting at all I mostly felt that my whole body between my boobs and my knees was made out of hot lava. Any contraction sensation couldn't compete with what I was already feeling.
If I rested my hand through my belly I could kind of feel them through my hand, but that's it. Kind of how if your hand falls asleep you can put it on another part of your body and it's weird because you can feel it and not feel it at the same time, but in reverse.
Did anyone else experience terrible after pains too? Every time I nursed ds2 it was like I was in active labour all over again, but I couldn't move because I was in nursing position. It was almost worse than labour just because it went on for days. I did not experience that at all with ds1.
I was in excruciating pain when the anesthesia wore off after my ankle surgery. I was screaming at H "why did you let them do this to me?" And asking him to get me a saw so I could cut my leg off. I'm not even kidding. Hence my admonition for you to take as many pain meds as possible! But maybe you're not as much a wimp as I am
Oh man, that sucks! I had a sciatic block, so I didn't feel anything until we were home and then the percocet seemed to do the trick.
I didn't feel anything until we were home, either. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Omg. It makes me nauseated to think about it.
Did anyone else experience terrible after pains too? Every time I nursed ds2 it was like I was in active labour all over again, but I couldn't move because I was in nursing position. It was almost worse than labour just because it went on for days. I did not experience that at all with ds1.
Yes. It was worse after DS2 and DS3. Far worse than labor pains. I think part of why it was worse was because the pain didn't seem to have a purpose (like pushing out a baby).
I've broken bith my ring finger and my baby toe. Both of those minor bone breaks were worse than labour. I think the pain was sharper and hit more unexpectedly. At least you can anticipate contractions and tell yourself it'll be over by a 60 count or whatever. Accidentally using a muscle that moves your broken bone, or putting weight on your foot wrong is so shockingly painful.
I really did feel like I was going to die near the end. I feel like the first part of labor was very manageable (heck I was working and attending my kids' science fair for the first 14 hours of my 18 hour labor with DS3--it's not like I am a total wimp). Then contractions started hurting like hell, but I could cope as long as I got a little break in between. But for the last hour or so there basically was no break in between contractions, just constant, knock-you-out pain. I was screaming, cursing up a storm, and climbing the walls like a caged animal at the end of labor with DS3 and at the time I really did think something must be terribly wrong and that I was going to die.
I didn't love the after pains or the uterine massage, but I didn't find them to be anywhere near as bad as the last part of labor. After pains were more on par with early labor contractions for me.
I kind of enjoyed reading that. I feel weird about it.
Also, this part made me tear up. I'm blaming it on hormones.
(As soon as I gave birth to my son, I felt almost silly. All the anticipation, all the wondering what he would be like. Of course I knew what he would be like. We'd been hanging out for nine months already. Of course this was him.)
Post by catscatscats on Mar 28, 2015 10:07:54 GMT -5
I had cervadil to start things and contractions for about an hour. I was really surprised about how much they hurt. I got my epidural at 1 cm. the rest of the birth experience was pain free. I had no tearing. I'm still raving about my awesome delivery experience.
Mine weren't so bad, but I got the epi at 5 centimeters and then didn't feel a damn thing until they turned the epi off after I was stitched up.
And that's when things started to suck. Third degree tear for the win.
All of this including the 3rd degree tear, except I was 4cm. I got the epi right after they broke my water. I (heart) epidurals!!
I'm a total wimp but those contractions sucked even before breaking my water. I was trying so hard to "concentrate on breathing" but that wasn't happening. I just wanted to crawl out of my own skin and make the pain stop! I felt like I had to move but moving didn't help at all. I remember every time I had to pee during labor (before being confined to the bed), I knew I was going to get another contraction, so I didn't want to go! I had a contraction while they were putting in my epi and I was supposed to stay still. It took every little piece of me to ONLY swing my legs and not move anything else. I do have to say though that I think the recovery was worse because I could barely get up or down without wanting to cry for at least a week. At least the contraction pain went away in between. That moment when the contraction ends is one of the best feelings ever, like a huge relief.
I'm so glad I got the epi because it made me feel human again, other than the uncontrollable shaking. They had to tell me I was still having contractions because it felt like labor had completely stopped! Even while pushing I had to confirm on the monitor that the tiny amount of pressure I was feeling was a contraction so I knew when to push. Pushing him out was so weird. I could feel it all, but there was absolutely zero pain. It was amazing! Next kid I have, I want the same person putting in my epi, haha.
I thought my epidural was awesome. I could feel light pressure, so I knew when I was having contractions, but no pain.
I got a morphine button after my c-section and angels descended from the heavens. I was all DING DING DING MORE PLEASE like I was a desperate Jeopardy contestant or something.
I'm so jealous. I was in a ton of pain after my c/s with DD, and asked for more pain meds. The nurse was like "you're already topped out on ibuprofen and Percocet...." And I was all "IT'S NOT ENOUGH, I NEED SOMETHING BETTER!" And then she conceded to morphine in my IV, but no button. I had to ask for it *every time*, just like with the rest of my pain meds. I get they're trying to curb drug-seeking behavior but damn, why did *I the woman who was just cut open* have to set a timer on the iPhone to ensure I asked for meds as soon as I could?!?
Well, we check your fundus and do fundal massage, mostly the hour or so after birth to help it contract back down to control bleeding and make sure there aren't big clots forming in the uterus.
After the initial Recovery period, we check the fundus but don't typically massage unless it's boggy.
Ugh, mine was being massaged for almost 24 hours post birth, every few hours. Shudder.
Mine was also "massaged", AKA pushed on roughly, every 4 hours for the first day. It was part of taking my vitals. They'd do blood pressure, temperature, pain level check, IV check, and uterine massage every 4 hours. I kept hoping they'd skip the last part but NOOOOPE. It was very painful.
I was induced with DD at 42 weeks. Had nothing much overnight and started Pitocin at 8 am. I remember saying to the nurse, oh this isn't too bad. At 11 the nurse helped me to go to the bathroom. When I stood up my water broke all over the floor. By the time I walked to the bathroom I was hunched over in pain. I asked for the epi which they attempted 3 times and I had only small patches of numbness. Later I found due to my rod on my spine I wouldn't ever be able to have a fully working epidural.
So, yes, I literally wanted to die. It was the most painful experience. At 530 I yelled at my husband to get a nurse, I had to push. The nurse comes in and was like, no, hun, you aren't even close I just checked you at 5 and you were only 5 cm. I yelled at her to check me, so she did, and I was 10 cm and the head was right there. The doctor was with another patient and was telling me to not push, lol. The doctor came in at 550, two pushes and she was born at 554. Pushing felt sooooo good.
I had to have a C-section with my twins due to complete previa. I assumed I would have to be put under, but, the anesthesiologist- even in the middle of a emergency C-section told me he would give it one shot with a spinal and if it didn't take would put me under. Surprisingly, it did take but honestly probably would have preferred being put under, lol. My husband wasn't able to make it to the hospital in time so I was by myself. My twins were whisked away before I could even see them and there were some scary moments with B as he was stuck under my ribs and they almost had to cut again- vertically- shutters. Also, they had to push on my stomach constantly above my incision and I wanted to die then too, lol. My C-section recovery was really, really tough which was attributed to my long hospital bed rest time.
Post by estrellita on Mar 28, 2015 11:51:14 GMT -5
You know, I was bracing myself for the "massage", but they never did it. I think they pushed on it a bit right after labor, but I couldn't feel it at that point. They pushed on my stomach a few times while in the hospital to check where my uterus was, but I didn't find that it hurt that much. Maybe I just got lucky with that?
Ok. So, I'm kind of scared. At or near the height of contractions did you feel like you were going to die?
My back labor with J1 was painful, but I was able to manage the pain ok through positioning and backrubs until I got my epidural.
The uterine contractions I had with J2 were much harder for me. I hated everyone in the world and could've murdered H for being so laid back about it. Lucky for him the epidural was quite quick and effective.
Post by thebreakfastclub on Mar 28, 2015 13:37:56 GMT -5
I thought pitocin was like a bad period cramp, and then I had a c-section. I know I got my uterus massaged later on, but I thought that was ok. My c/s sucked for a few days, then it was ok too.
This reminds me of those articles that say you don't shower for 5 days with a newborn at home. I can't relate to either.
I personally can't really remember the pain. I had contractions all day at work, but they were irregular and I wasn't sure what was going on. They eventually got a lot worse in the evening and we decided to head to the hospital. Once I got to the hospital and they checked me, I was 4cm dilated so got the epidural right away. It was around 10/11pm. All I remember is sleeping and being checked every hour or so. Around 5am, it was apparently time. It all went by pretty fast. I could feel the pressure but no real pain and he was out in a couple of pushes. Labor was the part of pregnancy I initially dreaded the most and ended up being the best part for me. I loved my epidural!
For me it felt like constantly being stabbed with a butcher knife and during contractions someone was twisting the knife. Then between contractions it was just this dread about the next one coming. And now I'm 39 weeks w #2. Yikes!
For me it felt like constantly being stabbed with a butcher knife and during contractions someone was twisting the knife. Then between contractions it was just this dread about the next one coming. And now I'm 39 weeks w #2. Yikes!
Yeah, not good timing to read this at 39.5 weeks, LOL. I remember contractions one on top of another without much of a break, then I requested IV meds, so things are a little foggy. I went from a 2 to a 10 in about 2 or 2.5 hours. They were definitely abdomen-stabbing painful, not like period cramps. When I felt the first one, we were walking the halls at the hospital and I said "SONOFABITCH period cramps my ass. No one tells you how much these hurt!"
Post by christy082 on Mar 28, 2015 14:54:23 GMT -5
I'm only just under 6 weeks out, and I can't seem to remember what they felt like. Probably because I had back labor. I remember feeling pain and pressure in my back and my H giving me counter pressure. I had some pain in my uterus but I really remember the back labor. Labored at home 8 hours. Once at the hospital the back labor intensified to the point where I kept saying "I can't so this anymore". Nubain did nothing for the contractions or back labor. Just made me drowsy. After 13 hours of labor I got the epidural and was 8 cm after. Didn't feel any pain at all until almost time to push, then I started feeling it on my left side (front and back). Never felt the urge to push or any pressure. Also didn't feel the ring of fire, but I did perineal massage from 34-40 weeks so maybe that's why. Pushing was hard for me because I didn't feel the urge and because holding my breath to push was causing a lot of pressure in my ears.
I did think I was going to die during transition wth my first, it was a pitocin induction. My second with no pitocin was so much better. With pitocin my contractions were one on top of the other but with my non induced labor there was a break between which made it much more tolerable. I mean it was still extremely painful.
I wouldn't mind giving birth again actually it's kind of cool despite the agony lol
I've never made it past, "hmmm, that's uncomfortable" without an epi. I had contractions for mos with dd1, so I knew the feeling long before I felt real pain. Thank goodness for an epi. I also never felt the 3000x stitches that I had with each birth.