I know each woman’s experience is different but I’m especially curious about first-timers who had natural childbirth. I would like to know about the pain and whatever effective pain management techniques you used.
Did you use a birthing center, hospital or at home? Please let me in on this. I don’t have a lot of friends who have had kids and I’m wanting to know what to expect (I know I can never fully KNOW what to expect but still, it gives me an idea.).
Thanks Ladies!!
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I had my first baby in hospital, and the only pain relief I had was a pethidine injection against my will. The key to enjoying your birth experience is knowing what to expect, being prepared for any eventuality, having control over your choices (which doesn’t mean sticking firmly to a no-drug policy if you start feeling like you need pain relief, but instead KNOWING what your limits are, and accepting if you need to change your mind), and having lots of support that you are happy with. Since my first birth, I’ve had five others, and apart from my caesarean birth, I’ve opted for no pain relief each time. All I need to keep in mind is that when the pain starts to feel like it can’t get any worse, or I can’t handle anymore, THAT’S when I’m just about to have the baby.
Last year I supported my sister in law through her first birth, and she has a very low pain threshold. She was labouring in hospital for about five hours before I managed to get to the hospital (I was a long way away when I got the message). When I walked into her delivery room, I could see by her face that she was exhausted and in a lot of pain. When she saw me, her face changed, and she suddenly found all this new energy and strength. She delivered about two hours later, without ever asking for, or even wanting, any pain relief. Just goes to show how important the right support mechanism is.
For me, the most painful part of labour is the long, tiring contractions before you are able to start pushing. It’s best if you can do something to take your mind off them, like walking around. Once you get to the pushing stage, it’s a lot better, as you’re able to do something. It’s the waiting and having to endure pain without doing anything about it that’s hard.
Labour and delivery without pain relief is an amazingly empowering experience. It leaves you feeling absolutely on top of the world, and so proud of yourself and your body, not to mention immediately able to get up and tend to your baby or have a shower afterwards. I hate feeling dirty, so being able to get up and have a shower soon after delivery is really important to me, which is why I’ll never have an epidural again. I had one with my caesar, and yeah, it killed ALL the pain, but I couldn’t move my legs for at least an hour afterwards, and that pissed me off badly.
I had an induction with my first, which ended in me getting a failed epidural, and my 2nd was a natural birth at home.
The first was 50 million times worse. I was in labor pinned on my back for 25 hours. The 2nd time, labor was 14 hours, and less than 2 of them were painful.
As compared to what most women will say, I never felt the “ring of fire”, only a gentle stretching.
All in all, the major benefit seemed to be, that I was able to move around and get comfy, rather than being forced in one position.
I am now pregnant with #3, and this one will be a natural homebirth as well.
Hospital. As for the techniques, breathing through the pain is the best. Just close your eyes, the pain comes and goes. This really helped me focus and pop my son out. I was 18 when i had my son, with no drugs.
I’m a mom of four kids and my daughter was my only natural birth. i was 18 when i had her i was in slow labour for about sixteen hours the feeling of intense period pains is the only way to describe it then the pains started to get worse.
it felt like i was very constipated and was squeezing really hard the pain was hell but in the end it was well worth it hope this is of some help to you i had her in hospital and all the staff were a great help by the way her dad fainted when the placenta appeared lol
Its really different for each women some claim that it really doenst hurt when others say that its the worst pain ever. to be quite honest with you the pain is something you really dont remeber cause if we did we wouldnt have any more childern
I had my first 2 babies at home (certified midwives in attendance) and my 3rd in a hospital (insurance) and #4 at a birthing center with certified nurse midwives.
I had no epidurals, no drugs, no episiotomies and no stitches. My labors all included back labor – which is as bad as it can get. My first was 24 hours long.
It does hurt, but there there are benefits to feeling the pain – like you can tell if something is wrong, labor isn’t hindered by epidural, breastfeeding is easier because the baby isn’t drugged, etc… I think the baby is much safer without meds being introduced too.
Breathing through contractions and holding someone’s hands helped me. I concentrated on relaxing and letting my body do what it needed to do – I didn’t let myself get scared. My husband pushed on my back when I had back labor, I had very supportive people surrounding me, everyone kept their voices low. I could do what I needed to do – I wasn’t confined to a bed. I was encouraged to walk and change positions.
No one can tell you exactly how your labor will be, but try natural – see how it goes. Make decisions that are right for you. I think epidurals serve a purpose without saying they’re totally bad. If someone is having a 36 hour labor and is completely exhausted, that’s a reason. I believe women shouldn’t just automatically have them though. It’s ridiculous, hospitals encourage them because they are in business to make $$$ – whether anyone wants to admit it or not. Most medical interventions tend to lead into another and another too – you have an epidural, your labor is slowed down, they give pitocin, you have a harder time or you can’t feel to push effectively, you end up with a c-section.
Good Luck!
I gave birth in a hospital with really no techniques. To be honest, it hurts like hell. But it was worth it in the end to me. You recover so much faster when you go drug free.
Good Luck
like trying to poop out a pumpkin