What is something that shocked you about labor & delivery?

Question

FTM here and with a little more than 2 months left, I'm getting anxious and nervous!! I read a lot of horror stories and things that go wrong during childbirth and was wondering what is something that took you by surprise during yours? Feel free to share the good and bad

Answer

I was surprised at how pushing/delivery felt. Both times I felt like they were going to come out of my butt lol. And the pressure is SO intense. 
A lot of people told me it's so relieving/felt good to push, and the second they're out all the pain disappears.... neither was true for me. I remember the first time literally saying out loud "okay I thought the pain was supposed to stop now, why isn't it stopping...." but a) you still have contractions & have to deliver placenta, and b) there is tearing and repairing to deal with after too

I was also surprised how quickly after I felt normal though. Like I expected to be nearly incapacitated, wiped out and miserable after pushing out a human, but an hour later you have this rush of adrenaline and you're up going to the bathroom and walking around and smiling/greeting guests like all you did was poop earlier. 
The real pain and soreness doesn't really set in for a few days. I mean, you definitely know your body went through some stuff, but for me it was day 3 before the nerves in my vag finally caught up with what happened and really protested LOL.

Answer

The towels at the hospital!!!!  Bring your own. The ones they have are a complete insult to new moms. Small and scratchy. Not cool. Not cool.

Answer

I didn't expect to get so hot. Each contraction I was getting hotter. I hate sweating and I had them keep the room cool but I was sweating like a sinner in church. I had an easy pregnancy up until week 35 when I was showing signs of preeclampsia due to stress. Delivery was so much easier and faster than I had expected. Transition was the hardest only because I was so hot and there were no brakes between contractions. I was in complete surprise when she was there in three pushes and less than 6 hours after admittance.

Answer

I had such a great natural birth and it shocked me that it wasn't as bad or as painful as everyone tried to tell me it would be

Answer

I was surprised at how hard recovery was for me. My legs were extremely and painfully swollen for a full 2 weeks, I had some tearing and the healing from that was long and painful, my bleeding lasted a full 6 weeks, and for the longest time it felt like all my movements were happening through mud, like I suddenly had extra gravity weighing me down. I got through it with my mom staying with me for 6 weeks and taking full time care of me and the baby. 
But what I have learned is that we are all different, we all carry differently, we all birth differently and we all recover differently. The best thing you can do is stay flexible, open minded, and try not to judge yourself or anyone else. Good luck.

Answer

Also the pressure is way worse than the pain!!!

Answer

One thing that surprised me, when we got checked in and they took me for my initial check, they did not allow my husband in the room. The nurse then asked me a bunch of questions about my safety and if there was anything I didn't want discussed in front of my husband. Very weird!  I have no idea if that is standard or not.

Answer

I loved the epidural. I am so scared of needles and HATE being numb but it was so painless I didn't even notice it and the numbing is completely different than like dentist numb. 
Also I got a 4th degree tear. I didn't know about tearing and I couldn't believe how much pain there was and how hard recovery would be

Answer

I had an amazing birth experience. It's not bad like everyone makes it out to be! I had popsicles and napped during contractions up until I had to push! All thanks to the epidural👍🏼 didn't feel a thing!

Answer

The shaking during labor. Uncontrollable shaking. My legs hurt more after she was born than anything else just because of the shaking!!

What is something that shocked you about labor & delivery?

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