If You've Ever Given Birth...

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IloveSnoopy

187 Posts

Hi folks,

Wow....this is an old thread...but quite an interesting one. I don't have any children yet...but we are planning on starting to "try" soon. I'm one of those that is scared about the pain during labor. That's not what is delaying our child rearing decisions..but it is something that I'm starting to think about. As some of you know...I have endometriosis....and each month I have severe, severe menstrual cramps. The cramping, burning, pulling is almost unbearable at times. I've talked to some other women with children and endometriosis....and 3 out of 4 have said that labor is easier than dealing with the endo. pain. Personally...I'd definately consider an epidural for labor...but the other part of me wants to see for myself if the pain is worse than endo.... Does anyone have any experience with the labor versus endo. thing??? I'd be very curious to hear from other ladies...that have gone thru both.

Luv,

Snoop

RedSox33RN

1,483 Posts

Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.

Woweee! It is an old thread!

I've had 4 lady partslly. First was horrible back labor for 10 hours, pushed for 3 1/2, and had only girl (8lb 14 oz). Second was quick, easy, no pain at all labor, labored in tub, delivered on bed our first son (8lb, 8oz). Third was back labor again, hoping for another quickie, but not to be, second son born sunny-side up on bed after laboring in tub for 3 hours (9lb, 6oz). Fourth child, 3rd son, born after a completely painless labor of 3 1/2 hours, labored for 10 minutes in tub and then delivered in tub after 3 pushes (11 lb, 1oz).

And then I was done.........for good!

Every labor is different, just like every baby. Who would've thought a relatively small woman (hip-wise) could deliver an 11-lb'er with no pain whatsoever?

Love the waterbirths though. I highly recommend it.

ayndim

462 Posts

Okay, ladies...I have some questions here...

I'm an OB nurse. I deliver babies for a living. I have never personally given birth or ever been pregnant. So here's my question....in all honesty, what does labor really and truly FEEL like....other than painful?

I mean, is it crushing, stabbing, ripping, aching, WHAT? I can't exactly ask my labor patients these kinds of questions...so I want to hear from you.

Because I'm approaching 30, and although I want children very much, to be quite frank, labor scares the bejesus out of me...all of my friends, with the exception of ONE, had totally drug-free childbirth. I just want the lowdown....what does labor FEEL like???

I didn't have any pain with my 1st or 3rd. With my first I could feel my tummy contracting but there wasn't any pain with it. It did wake me up so I just got up and muddled around the house then got a warm bath. After about 2 hours I got my hubby up because I felt like pushing. I was almost 10 when I got to the birth center. I ended up at the hospital due to meconium. From the point my CNM checked me and my water broke til I got to the hospital was about 10 mins. I was complete when I got to the hospital. With #3 I went to the hospital as soon as I felt a couple of ctx. Not the way they tell you to determine if you are in labor but with my history of fast and painless labors my CNM told me to go in as soon as I thought I was in labor. My CNM checked me at the hospital and I was 4. Not in any pain so she had me walk for an hour. I spent time chatting with the nurses and my hubby while I was up and about. I even thought that I was going home. When she checked me again I was 8. I got an epidural at that point so I could get my tubes tied after the birth without being put to sleep. The pushing isn't bad. You will feel a brief pain, sort of like the burning of a UTI called the ring of fire, then everything goes numb after a couple of seconds.

With #2 I was induced after my water broker 24+ hours. Let me tell you the pit hurt like h*ll. But my labor was only 1 hour 45 mins from when they put the pit in. It is hard to describe what the pain felt like. I barely remember it.

I told everyone my labor wasn't going to hurt. They all told me I was crazy. But it didn't hurt (I knew the pit was going to hurt). I think I convinced myself labor wasn't painful. It was all a mind trick. When my cousin was pg I told her how I really believed it wasn't going to be painful. She did the same and had a pretty easy labor too. It could be that we just have high pain thresholds or it could be believing.

Energizer Bunny

1,973 Posts

Hi folks,

Wow....this is an old thread...but quite an interesting one. I don't have any children yet...but we are planning on starting to "try" soon. I'm one of those that is scared about the pain during labor. That's not what is delaying our child rearing decisions..but it is something that I'm starting to think about. As some of you know...I have endometriosis....and each month I have severe, severe menstrual cramps. The cramping, burning, pulling is almost unbearable at times. I've talked to some other women with children and endometriosis....and 3 out of 4 have said that labor is easier than dealing with the endo. pain. Personally...I'd definately consider an epidural for labor...but the other part of me wants to see for myself if the pain is worse than endo.... Does anyone have any experience with the labor versus endo. thing??? I'd be very curious to hear from other ladies...that have gone thru both.

Luv,

Snoop

We are pretty sure I have endometriosis. My pain is debilitating most of the time, not just during periods. I would still take it over labor induction any day. I would not, however, take it over natural labor progression. The pit. makes a world of difference for me in my pain threshold!

devi, ADN, BSN

57 Posts

My labor and delivery lasted 24 hours.

I was overdue with my son and was scheduled to go in the next morning to be induced. My appointment with my midwife was that afternoon, and while examining me, she suddenly did something she called "stripping the membranes". It felt like she grabbed my cervix and twisted it...it hurt like he**!! and she didn't warn me at all before she did it.

Anyway, by 7:00 that night, I was in labor. It was bearable, though. I went to dinner with my mother at a restaurant, went back home, and tried to doze in between my contractions. I really wanted to be alone, so I didn't wake anyone up. The whole night felt like a fog. I remember being on my knees next to my bed with my elbows on the mattress, rocking back and forth in the dark to ease the back pains

I woke my mother up at 6:00 am and we got to the hospital right at the time I was scheduled to be there for the induction.

Between 8:00 am and 12:00, I walked around the floor a lot. At about noon, I could no longer stand anyone to touch me or talk to me. I got into the jacuzzi in my room and went into such a trance that I can only remember 5 minutes of the next 3 hours.

After 20 hours of labor, I finally took Demerol. The contractions still hurt...I just didn't care anymore :chuckle

At 22 hours, I got my epidural because my midwife thought it would help me move along faster. How I loved that epidural.

At 7:00 pm, I started pushing. At 7:05 pm, my son was born.

Mimi2RN, ASN, RN

1,142 Posts

Specializes in NICU.

My first baby was born in June 1969. I knew nothing about having babies, had been in this country for two months. The OB told me what he would do, I was from England, went along with it.

My water broke about 10am, 5 days late. I went into the hospital and eventually put on a pit drip....after shave and enema. I started contracting around 4pm, things moved along quickly, and by 6pm, I was miserable. Was given something for pain, and promptly threw up on my husband. Before 7pm, I was taken to the delivery room, and remember nothing more. I was given some kind of spinal, and he was delivered with forceps about 15 minutes later. 9lb 3oz boy. I have always wondered what I was given, maybe scopalomine? I came to in my room, had to stay flat on my back for 12 hours, and didn't see the baby till next day.

Next baby was 2 1/2 years later. I took Lamaze classes, and knew a lot more. A couple of weeks before he was due, I was out shopping with a friend, and our kids. I had backache, kept coming and going......realized it was every 7 minutes. I called the doc, and they wanted me to go in and get checked. By the time we had dropped the kids of and got to his office, he had gone to the hospital for a delivery, so they sent me over there. By then I was 7cm and contractions every three minutes. Back labor, I was much more comfortable sitting up, and went to the delivery room sitting cross-legged on the gurney. I think the lamaze really helped me, I don't remember the contractions being anywhere near as horrendous as were the pit-induced ones with my first. I delivered my second baby about 1 1/2 hours after being admitted to the hospital, total labor, including the bachache I didn't recognise was only about 5 hours. He was only 7lb 5oz, too. Tiny compared to my first.

I made a big fuss, and got to see my baby that evening...and had 3 days in the hospital with both of them. Both breast fed, with bottles at night...that's the way it was, and we didn't argue. Neither of them had any feeding problems. Our hospital stays were scheduled, with the babies brought to us at regular intervals. Fathers were not allowed in the room when the babies were with us. Some things have changed for the better!

smk1, LPN

2,195 Posts

Yep it HURTS! but the funny thing is that when it is time to actually push the baby out (at least for me) i was so tired of the 18 hour labor and all of the problems (4 different people had to try to find a vein i felt like a pin cushion!) drugs wearing off, doc ROM, etc... When my baby started crowning it was like the light at the end of the tunnel and i just gritted my teeth and focused on getting the job done. It feels like ripping, cramping stabbing pains but the last few hours are the worst. the first few the lamaze stuff may help (kind of) and sitting in a whirlpool bath like they had at my hospital helped a little, but once you get toward the end or "transition" all bets are off. But hey you do get through it and once you see that little blue, gooey conehead, screaming baby it is all worth it! lol

sleepymom

46 Posts

both of my labors were wonderful once I got my lovely epidural! You don't get a gold plated baby if you choose not to use drugs. Just keep that in mind. I didn't scream, curse, and carry on like some crazed woman, but I would have probably wanted to die had I not had the epidural. ;) The contractions were so intense!

I think it's normal to be scared of labor. However, once your 7 and 8 months pregnant you will find that you don't give a damn how painful labor is. All you want is the baby out and your body back! lol

smk1, LPN

2,195 Posts

I think it's normal to be scared of labor. However, once your 7 and 8 months pregnant you will find that you don't give a damn how painful labor is. All you want is the baby out and your body back! lol

this is exactly how i felt. get it out now!

I was given pitocin for 3 days and felt NOTHING. At 3pm on the 3rd day the Dr. decided to brake my water, after that the next 3 hours were awful, I had contractions that were on for 1 1/2 min and off for 20 sec. After those three hours the Dr. came in and said that I had only dialated to a 1/2 cm and asked if I wanted to try for an additional hour or do C-Sec. All I could think was get this out of me. I opted for the C-Section. I was given an epidural and was dumbstruck that I had no pain within 3 min. As bad as I feel my L&D was I know others have had it worse. But trust me, It is soooo worth it. I loved being pregnant, I could have stayed pregnant for 18 months. It was a wonderful time and now I have this beautiful 6 year old girl with a smart mouth that I would not trade for the world.

Okay, ladies...I have some questions here...

I'm an OB nurse. I deliver babies for a living. I have never personally given birth or ever been pregnant. So here's my question....in all honesty, what does labor really and truly FEEL like....other than painful?

I mean, is it crushing, stabbing, ripping, aching, WHAT? I can't exactly ask my labor patients these kinds of questions...so I want to hear from you.

Because I'm approaching 30, and although I want children very much, to be quite frank, labor scares the bejesus out of me...all of my friends, with the exception of ONE, had totally drug-free childbirth. I just want the lowdown....what does labor FEEL like???

Mom2kids

65 Posts

I loved being pregnant and loved giving birth. I would go through it all again...but I'm 99% sure we're done at 2 (going back to nursing school).

I think it's all about tolerance. Everyone is different and certainly you know from working in L&D, the reaction/response is always different.

I had 2 WONDERFUL experiences....

My 1st child...actual labor (to me) was about 2 hours.

I woke up around 7am with a stomache ache (dr's office said to come in to be checked since I was 3 days past due date).....it wasn't until about 10am that I started feeling real contractions (mind you it felt like bad menstrual cramps that lasted longer). By now I was in the Dr office and they were monitoring me to see if I was in active labor. THe NP examined me and I was 9cm and 80% effaced. SHe said the baby was coming quick and they would wheel me over to the hospital if I didn't want to deliver in the dr's office. I chose the hospital. By the time I got to L&D, I was having regular contractions now...definitely glad I took Lamaze --even though I couldn't remember ALL the techniques, I was able to have control over my breathing and that helped just to stay focused. No drugs - I went natural, 1-2 pushes and she was out. However I did need an episiotomy....I think that was the WORST part!!! I delivered at 12:18pm - 8lbs 9 oz I guess my stage 2 (i think it was stage 2)of labor was the quickest he's seen in his career -- roughly 10 minutes.I'm sure my stomache ache I experienced early in the morning was my "labor" however, to me it was just a stomache ache.

My son...almost a similar experience. I was induced 2 weeks early -- my OB said he was concerned about me going into labor and not making it to the hospital. I was brought in at 10am and was 4 cm 70% effaced -- they broke my water at 12:30pm....contractions started within the hour. These were stronger than my 1st pregnancy -- more than a stomache ache. Around 3:30pm the contractions started being very sharp. The RN told me she could give me some stadol to "take the edge off" - I told her I wanted to stay as natural as possible...as I was terrified of getting an epidural. At 3:30pm I was 5-6cm...once the nurse gave me that stadol -- I guess my body was able to relax more because by 4pm I thought I was going to have a BM there was sooo much pressure.. I told my husband to get the nurse....she came in and FREAKED!!!!! The baby's head was coming out! Son was born at 4:08pm.

Hope this gives you an idea.......it's really hard to tell what it will be like until you try. I wouldn't let the "pain" of having a baby deter you...it really is an awesome, amazing experience. The nurse I had (with my 2nd labor) was fabulous and I think in some small way, she plays a small part in me wanting to finish school and become an RN. Best of luck to you whatever you decide!!!

Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

Well I have had 5 babies all on the pit, all lady partsl, and all w\o pain med. You want to know what a contraction feels like, well in the start a strong cramp. However it gets ugly after that, kinda feels like someone taking a knife and stabbing your uterus then cutting straight down, over and over . I remember feeling so out of controll every time one hit, I knew I couldnt stop it ( this was in the transition phase) . And once I had my last one with my last baby I remember thinking that is the last contraction I'll ever have.. Yeah yeah

Okay, ladies...I have some questions here...

I'm an OB nurse. I deliver babies for a living. I have never personally given birth or ever been pregnant. So here's my question....in all honesty, what does labor really and truly FEEL like....other than painful?

I mean, is it crushing, stabbing, ripping, aching, WHAT? I can't exactly ask my labor patients these kinds of questions...so I want to hear from you.

Because I'm approaching 30, and although I want children very much, to be quite frank, labor scares the bejesus out of me...all of my friends, with the exception of ONE, had totally drug-free childbirth. I just want the lowdown....what does labor FEEL like???

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