LOL at birth breathing on the loo Mayaness! Have to admit I've done the same LOL.

This is a fantastic thread - but I only just found it! Where was I?? But you know what - I'm pretty impressed with myself, that I kinda knew most of it already! I can only be eternally grateful to the articles and discussions I've read here on BB.. I didnt' buy any cds or tools or books or anything! (I have recently got the Pink Kit.. but it's still in the packaging LOL). I didn't know the exact workings of the uterus, ie that the uterus itself shouldn't feel pain.. but I knew it was the cervix that was doing the 'painful' work.. and I found during labour that knowing the pain was working for me was what got me through.

TBH - I can't imagine myself looking for actual methods of pain relief. In labour I had NO desire to be massaged, nor any desire to even look at the shower or bath! I simply went into myself, breathed, and got through each contraction - knowing that my body was working, and that each contraction would end is what got me through. (Perhaps I am naturally using some kind of technique that people read up on??) The last thing I'd be wanting to do in labour is remember how to do something LOL.. I just took each contraction as it came, swayed & breathed through it. Interesting about instinctively leaning forward. Admittedly during transition I was lying down and sleeping for 30 secs between contractions thinking I was gonna die if they told me I was only half way! LOL.

You asked of people's experience. My experience of labour was.. 1st stage up to 3cm happened at home over a few days I guess. My bowels cleaned themselves out well & truly, lost my plug at the same time, and those stomach cramps became fairly regular contractions. That all died down for.. maybe 12 hrs or so? Occassional contraction here and there. It got going a bit more, then my waters broke.. and then everything stopped! (I was going to ask the same question about adrenaline & excitement actually ) The fact that I sat on the loo with all that gushing was like "oh wow - this is real now!" I was eventually hooked up to the drip to get things going (am going to avoid this next time - not that anythign went wrong.. would just like to avoid it!!) so my 'established' labour ended up only about 5 hrs. It was quite intense, but my breathing got me through. Chatting to DH inbetween contractions.. and watching him eat his lunch LOL. Perhaps the normalcy of DH doing these things helped me too? If he was constantly at me how he could help me, what could he do.. I would have gone nuts at him probably! But he was very calm, and just THERE for me. (Oh and he told off the midwife for me who kept offering me pain relief! LOL)

2nd stage - LOVED 2nd stage. Had no pain whatsoever.. just felt like I was pushing out a giant poo! It was such a relief to push.. and I was cracking jokes with my OB throughout - even he was impressed! hehehe.

3rd stage - I do have the injection for my own reasons, but it's interesting that you include the breastfeeding & bonding in this 'stage'.. never thought about it before, just thought about the placenta. I know this time I'll be more than confident enough to stick bub on the boob myself.. altho would love to give the breast crawl a go too

I'm looking forward to my next birth - curious to see how different it can be! I wonder if I experienced quite an intense birth last time.. waters already broken, so more pressure on the cervix PLUS being on the drip! Hopefully my waters will stay in tact and no drip.. and I'll get to 9/10cm without knowing! LMAO! (one can only hope hehehehe).

Think I do need to work on my breathing skills somewhat tho - I found coz I was breathing so deeply that it ended up hurting to breathe towards the end.. and that is what was exhausting me. Perhaps I need to work on my diaphragm or something?? (this is the main reason I grabbed a Pink Kit coz it has breathing stuff in it.. plus other useful info too!) Any advice on strengthening my breathing would be great

Oh - I have a question! Can the pain felt in labour co-relate to the afterbirth pains? If you've worked the uterus too hard during labour causing it to feel the pain when really it shouldn't, would this make it more sensitive & painful to contract after the birth? I had NO pains whatsoever with #1, but understand afterbirth pains get worse with each baby.. are there natural pain relief methods for afterbirth pains, or do we just pop the panadol?