What did labor and child birth honestly feel like to you?

Question

Pain wise, what did child birth and labor feel like to you? Complete honesty here! I know everyone is different but I'm just curious. I'm always told what to look out for but everyone is different, some have told me it's not as bad as some make it seem and I've also been told it's a near death experience. I want to be prepared and am curious as to how it felt for everyone!

Answer

I think my brain has selectively removed the pain from memory. Thinking back, it doesnt seem that bad, but I know it felt like I was splitting in half. Lol I remember thinking, can i please just go home and do this a different day. Totallu unreasonable.

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With my first i was induced at 40weeks. I had an epidural.  I went in at 7 am had my water broken at 8 and got an epidural at 9. She was born 9:47pm. From what I've been told the epidural tends to slow things down sometimes.  I didn't really feel anything just pressure towards the end like passing a bowel movement. With my 2nd I was 40+4 unmedicated and that one hurt like the dickens. i got there at 7am by water was broken at 8 and it went from there. It felt just like cramping till I hit 4cm. Then I couldn't move. Couldn't get comfortable.  By 6 cm my husband was telling them to give me an epidural.  The anesthesiologist came in and for 15 minutes tried to get the epidural in but all he did was send my body into shock. I started shaking and my contractions started coming every minute. I laid down they checked me and said it was about time. I couldn't push cause the Dr wasn't there yet. He was finishing a c section.  I sneezed or coughed or something and out she came just like that. Rolled twice on the bed before a nurse caught her because they didn't think she'd come that hat fast. My husband said I cursed like a sailor but all I remember saying was you don't push when a nurse told me I couldn't push yet. There was a lot if pressure. But once she was out it was a huge relief. I'm due in 6 days  with my 3rd and plan on having him natural also because I was up and walking within the hour where as the first one I couldn't move for like 4+ hours afterwards because the epidural had to wear off.

Answer

I had to get induced at almost 41 weeks since my LO didn't want to leave her home ☺️ the dr inserted something (can't remember what) inside to get my water to break, it worked so I was in labor from 10am til 10pm. Labor wasn't totally bad for me but I HATE cramps, even the mild ones, so I felt some contractions for about 2 hours and that was enough for me lol I was given pitocin to help me relax and once that was beginning to wear off I had an epidural which made me feel superrr numb.  So altogether I was medicated during the majority of my labor and once it was time to push I still didn't feel a thing, I just felt the pressure and widening when her head came out. It only took me about 4 pushes and she was out ☺️

Answer

I thought I was going to die. All of my coping strategies, my doula, my hypnobirthing, everything went out the window and I just needed it to END! I've had two labors and they both felt like I was dying. I wanted to birth naturally both times and got the epidural both times. I also walked, squatted, sat, got on all fours, bounced and it still felt like death. But I also have long labors- first one was 36 hours, second was 12 hours and had very strong contractions from the start.

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Contractions weren't bad, but I had medicine to dull them. The birth of my baby felt like someone slit my vagina with a knife because the vacuum ripped the birth canal. Delivering the placenta was the most painful and felt like they doctor was ripping my uterus out of my body with her bare hands. But that as because my body wasn't contracting enough to dislodge the placenta and the doctor had to pull it out in pieces. That is not normal and not something you should worry about.

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With my first didn't feel a thing  with my 2nd a whole different story. It absolutely killed me. Hoping it's not as bad with my 3rd

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I had an epidural but before that the contractions were like the worst period pain ever. Pushing was like pushing out the biggest poop in the world. Once the head is birthed, the body slides out.

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I felt like my vagina was splitting in half and burning..which I later found out was quite literally happening as I tore! but honesty... the second they're out the pain goes instantly. I'm on my 3rd baby so it can't be that bad lol

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It was not a near death experience for me. Mine started as back labor and once the doctor broke my water if was full on contractions. I have no words to describe contractions except it's like your entire abdomen is a having a huge cramp, worst Charley horse ever nothing like my period. The labor and delivery for me went as planned... I did get really exhausted while pushing ( pushed for 3 hours ) during that time in my craziness exhausted state I did ask my doctor for a c- section and he laughed and said its to late for that. And then my 9lb 8oz baby boy was born. Just hang in there everyone is different, just remember you body is made for this and if difficulties arise to trust your doctors advice .

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It defiently is different for everyone. Pain tolerance, if you focus on your breathing and what not you can kind of control the pain levels. I had my daughter fully naturally and honestly the worst thing I remember was the contractions. But now I'm just hoping this one is as easy as last time lol

What did labor and child birth honestly feel like to you?

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