What I didn't know

1) When your water breaks it keeps leaking until you pretty much have the baby.

2) That contractions would be the worst part of the whole labor experience.

3) I was afraid to get the epidural, it's the one thing I didn't want to do, but once my contractions got worse, I caved in and got it. If you're afraid of the epidural it's not bad at all and it was a great pain relief. Also when you get the epidural it makes your legs feel really heavy and you have to constantly flip what side you're laying on or the numbing will wear off in one side.

4) I thought getting a catheter in and getting it taken out would really hurt. I didn't feel a thing.

5) That you push with every contraction. You push three times and each time you have to hold your breath for 10 seconds.

6) When I got to the point of pushing my epidural was running off. Pushing is a huge pain reliever.

7) That the baby's head coming out would be the least painful thing to happen to me during labor.

8) After you birth your placenta a gush of blood comes out. This happens to many women and it's completely normal. I thought I was dying when it happened.

9) That you have a bloody discharge that can go on up to 6 weeks.

10) If you birth vaginally that your vagina will be sore and it will hurt to wipe even if you didn't tear. Also your labia will swell.

11) That newborns eat a lot. My son practically lives on my boob.

12) That baby's can projectile poop everywhere.

13) That I could love this little human as much as I do.

Update: I also wanted throw in here that every labor experience is different so what was most painful for me may not be the most painful to you and etc.