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I was just wondering what everyone found the hardest during labour. i have a couple of friends who differ on their opinions.
was it the actual contractions or the crowning that hurt most?
Just curious, this will be my first and i am trying to mentally prepare myself for all that is ahead!!
Linda
According to a book I am reading at the moment on Labour Pain by Penny Simkin, the harder labours pain wise are posterior labours (baby in a posterior position) and induced labours.
For my first I was augmented on the drip and I wouldn't wish the pain on my worst enemy! I opted for an epidural and therefore couldn't feel the crowning.
With my second, I had a natural labour and I handled the contractions okay, but the crowning was worse for me. It was the first time I felt what crowning was like, but I think it could have been less painful than it was. I feel that the more intense pain probably had to do with the fact that I was flat on my back trying to push - I only had a 5lb 15oz baby and I feel that if I were upright birthing him, then I would have had less pain, even if a little. I'm not saying I would have avoided it as it's not possible, but I was extremely uncomfortable lying flat on my back trying to push, with nothing to hold onto.
I actually can't really remember the pain of crowning... that part's all a bit of a blur LOL. The contractions from about an hour or so after they ruptured the membranes was definitely the hardest part of labour for me (I was induced).
I thought that the contractions were more painful than pushing the baby out. Once I started pushing with them they didn't hurt quite as much.
There was pain when the head came out of course but once the baby was out it was over, not like the contractions which went on a bit.
For me definately the crowning and birthing the head. I swear it felt like a bowling ball. I've had a posterior labour and birth, drug free and yes it's true you do have a back labour I can honestly say I didn't think it any worse then my other deliveries. Also it was still quite fast (under 2 hours).
Come to think of it contractions hurt abit too with Tehya. Maybe it's because after having 2 very quick labours 10 hours killed me.
Take care
Trish
Yep, the contractions for me too.
My first was posterior and her birth was long and painful.
My second was almost enjoyable by comparison!!
Still awaiting #3 so we will see how I go then!
The crowning was not as painful as I expected - hang on, pretty painful with #1 but not too bad with #2. I guess that is what you get when your first child is 8lb and your second 6lb 7oz!!
BEst wishes
I would have to say the contractions were worst as well, as I was induced, and within an hour of being put on the syntocin drip I had gone from literally nothing, to hideously painful contractions.
But then I cant really compare, as I wasnt able to feel the crowning as I had asked for an epidural a few hours prior to pushing.
That's one of the main reasons they say an induced / augmented labour is more painful - instead of having peaks with contractions, you are having continous contractions without time to recover. I found they came on so strong and top of each other, with no break in between at all *shudder*...:
UM ALL OF IT!!!!!!! LOL
But so worth it in the end, look how clever we are-try to go natural sweetie, it's such a rush.
I had a natural birth with Olivia, no drugs, & the worst bit for me was the contractions when I was about 9cm dilated.....I was labouring in the hospital room, and a midwife kept trying to get me to lie down on the bed, but lying down was so uncomfortable and the pressure whilst being horizontal in conjunction with very close together contractions & the backache were bad.
I remember the crowning stinging, but it was a short sharp pain with an end, so not as bad as the continual contractions, IYKWIM?
Yep Syntocin for me too & in between NO TIME for a new breathe, just straight into next pianful contraction....
I cannpt believe how hard & fast they come on!!!!
For me both times the contractions were a lot worse than pushing. Crowning for me was a relief from the contractions.
I had both my kids vaginally with no pain relief at all.
I was induced the first time, and the contractions were definately more intense.
I have to say though, that I don't remember finding the contractions or the crowning sensation to be really painful either time. I had a problem coping with the third stage though. My uterus was contracting really hard to expel the placenta and the doc was pushing on me also.
I think because by then my focus was off the task of giving birth I started to notice that it actually hurt and all I wanted to do was get on with holding /feeding my baby. :mad:
It was definitly the contractions - after I was dilated I had an epidural (well I was getting the epidural as I finished dilating if that makes sense??) Short, sharp labour - induced but not with a drip (until after I was dilated.....) Posterior and back labour. So didnt feel the crowning painwise.
Excrutiating!! but guess what - can't remember any of the pain now!!
My recent memory is the pain of breastfeeding on a severly cracked nipple. Truly one of the most unplesant things - specially caus you know in 2-4 hours you have to go through it again. YOUCH!!!!
Fi
Definitely contractions for me and I was induced also. I had them back and front and the pains in the front were worse for me.
I didn't feel the crowning, I had a forceps delivery in therate with a spinal block.
I agree the contactions were the worst for me too, rather than the pushing.
thanks so much everyone for your responses!!
I will have to let you know what my opinion is when the time comes!!
Linda
Crowning for sure, especially because there is no break and it's just a constant pain for however long it takes (good 30 minutes for me)_OWWW
I had Tehya crowned and me half open and the contraction finished. Of course I had to wait until the next contraction around a minute or 2 later to finish pushing her out. Not a real comfortable feeling I can tell you that much.
Take care
Trish
I was induced with both except I had an epidural 1st time round and nothing 2nd time around. DEFINITLY the crowning hurt the most - also the fact that his head was 1/2 way out when the contraction ended and I had to sit and wait for next contraction - ouchies.
And to think I thought the most painful bit was the two weeks waiting when Cait was overdue !
I was put on the drip, but it didn't work. I didn't have a proper labour the first time and ended up with an emergency CS.
What about if you tear or if they have to cut you ? What about forceps or the suction thing ? Do they still use stirrups ? Is it really more painful if you're lying down ?
I think I'm freaking out.
Barb.
Oh dear!
Try not to focus on the pain you might have - focus on the the fact that you will have a beautiful baby at the end of it all.
I know - easier said than done!
Just so you know - DS's birth was in theatre and yes they used stirrups, I couldn't feel anything because of the spinal block but seeing my legs in those stirrups freaked me out!
From what I understand, they have to cut you for a forceps delivery and the whole suction/forceps things might be down to the different hosptials.
I definitely believe that it hurts more to lie down while in labour as you are going against the forces of gravity. But I had no choice as I was hooked up to so many things and then in theatre for delivery...
I am another that had a posterior labour though for me it was neither the contractions ... which for me were not painful (as they were like intense period pain) nor crowning (which after 3hours of pushing was a relief). But the feeling of her head stuck and separating my pelvic bones.
I walked out saying never again but within a few hours I said I would do it again. Its such a small part of the whole amazing process of being a new mum. And nothing in the world can compare with the joy of pushing your baby out and having you new bub being put straight to you belly.
Renee.
I had a lovely 32 hour posterior labour and yes the back labour is a killer. I was sure i was going to die at some stage. Pushing the head out was probably the most painful for me, but having said that, in the end it only took three pushes to have her completely out.
I think that even though the head hurt the most, because it was so quick compared to the 32 hours of back labour, i remember the pain alot more from the contractions
Having said all that, your body is so amazing and you think its something you can't do, but in the end, you do it and the feeling afterwards that you've just given birth to your baby exceeds all of the pain.
I had two rather long labours. I won't even describe what happened with #1 I had a few complications, with both I had epidurals, but with #2 when I was ready to push the crowning of the head was just awful, a constant burning sensation, I thought I wouldn't feel it due to having had an epidural..... oh well..... Hopefully this next one won't be so long, I'm hoping for a 12 hour or less labour, fingers-crossed!
Transition!
A clue that the mother might be in transition? She starts to say she can't do it any more, wants to go home etc, & gets really cranky.
I had natural labours, not induced & no pain relief. When the contractions had built up to the point where I was close to second stage, I found that the hardest part. It was hard to relax between contractions because I knew there was another doosy coming shortly.
The crowning stings, but I found it not as painful as the most intense contractions. The stinging can be scary, because you're not sure if any damage will happen. To minimize this fear, do everything you can to make second stage gentle. Warm wash cloths on the perineum and also one to hold at the front, a midwife guiding you so you hold off and puff at times, being upright, taking your time if baby is ok (I was at this stage for about an hour with my first baby), and kind of letting your body do its thing & going with what feels right rather than people yelling push push at you.
I tell myself now that transition means I'm nearly there, and 2nd stage means I'm up to the easiest part.
hi
for me it was definitely the 2nd stage contractions - the crowning feels different. for me it felt like more of a burning pain (had no pain relief). at least then you know it won't be much longer and once the head is out the body just slips out like a bar of soap!
i had a home birth and squatted during the crowning which helped i think
good luck though - you'll be fine!
Contractions killed but, then, I "apparently" only had 4 hours of real labour (the 5 days before with prostin gel didn't count... hmmmm) before I had an epidural and then a c-section so I didn't get to experience the real pain of labour (yet I am somehow no disappointed?? ;) ).
Probably the most painful thing for me was the darn IV drip. Every time they injected something, I would scream in pain. Neil said it was worse to watch me going through that than anything else, LOL. Needless to say, I was hanging to get it out the next morning (that and the catheter that just felt too bizarre and uncomfortable for words!).
For me crowning was the worst. I had an epidural at about 6cm, the contractions hurt before that but once I had the epi I couldn't feel them...but I still felt her crown! Ouch.
I agree with the pp who likened it to a bowling ball! I honestly thought I would split in half....but it was over quickly.