1st time mum - What does labour feel like?

[paradise lost]

I would totally agree with the chinese burn analogy, and that's exactly how i describe it to people who've asked.

It was low low down, and was probably the feeling of my cervix stretching. It did hurt, but like a wobbly milktooth - it kind of hurt good, and when the contraction is over the pain is GONE, totally and utterly, not even an echo, and i actually felt quite refreshed by that and never felt it was unbearable.

They do sometimes say a pain that comes all over the uterus is a "proper" contraction, but my midwives kept feeling my belly and asking and i never did get pain anywhere apart from my cervix. SHe was born without my pushing so i don't know how a hard push would have felt, the few little grunty-pushes i did when i'd run out of breath to shout with were odd. The baby's head felt very hard - i could certainly feel the hardness of it, but again, it wasn't unbearable. Crowning stings like f***! Those were my exact words to the midwife (sorry moderators, i've starred but do remove if it's still inappropriate). I could feel my pelvis cranking open to let her out, and this big hard lump coming through. There was immense pressure on my perineum, and a deep hot burning burning burning. BUt i can remember touching my hoohaa as her head came through and i couldn't feel my fingers there - the skin is actually mainly numb by then, i certainly didn't feel my little tear.

I thoroughly enjoyed my birthing, it was one of the best days of my life, from start to finish. And i'd go back for more tomorrow. Fear not, it will be wonderful

Hana