How bad does it hurt?

[imhavinababy1]

I am having a baby but it is several months yet.  I am really scared of having a baby, and want to know how bad I can expect it to hurt and how long will I have to push? Also, am afraid everyone will hear me pushing and screaming all over the hospital.

Also, does head size matter?  I am REALLY REALLY REALLY afraid of having a baby with a big head my first time.  Also, does pushing down like in sitting help the baby come easier, or should I push laying back on the table, etc.

Thanks.

-Leah (pg with first baby)

[NicMom]

From the moment I found out I was pregnant with my first child I spent the next 9 months afraid of how bad the delivery was going to hurt. In the end yes it hurt, but the pain didn't last long and it wasn't like I couldn't get through it. I opted for the epidural so I only really had about an hour and a half of bad contractions.

Also don't be afraid of a baby with a big head. I swear my son was charlie brown with a HUGE head I tore like crazy and even then I didn't feel it and the recovery only took about a week and a half. It wasn't bad at all. Mostly uncomfortable.

If the pain was that bad you wouldn't see women with two or more kids! The minute the baby is out the pain stops and you are focused on how beautiful that baby is.

[radhika28]

Hey, dont think too much.
I too am pregnant with my 1st child in my 38th week which means i can deliver any time. Even I worry sometimes about the pain etc, but the pain is one kind of experience that men can never go through, only a "mother" can go through. Its better than c-section, atleast you will feel the miracle of life sliding down your vagine, imagine what a wonderful creation of God is this.
You can decide to be bothered with the pain or Enjoy the moment (ofcourse pain will be there). Just prepare yourself that you are going to have the pain but you will be able to take it.
Girl, we are very fortunate to be pregnant & deliver babies. It indeed is a blessing.
Enjoy & dont worry too much now it impacts your little baby.
BE calm & Happy.

[happy_mommy]

Im a first time mom too so I can't tell you how my labor is but while i was pregnant i got to watch my cousin in labor and even though i could tell she was in pain (and i care for her like a little sister so it wasn't easy to see her in that) I got to watch the baby actually come out it was the most beautiful thing i have ever witnessed it felt like i was watching a miracle happen right before my eyes and i saw the look in her eyes as soon as she saw her baby and could tell all the pain in worth the reward so that is my motto going into this the reward in worth the pain. I wish you the best throughout your pregnancy and during your labor!

[Limonada]

I'm not the best person to ask about this - I was induced and ended up having back labour which caused vomiting - I'll spare you the details - and I ended up having an epidural.  Didn't feel a thing from the waist down after that, but I was stil able to push - and DS was out after just 25 minutes of pushing!  

Really, you don't know how it will go...I know it's hard not to worry, but worrying isn't going to help one bit.  My advice is to have an open mind and take it as it comes - it'll make everything much easier :-)

[JoyRenee]

There really isn't an answer for some of your questions. Everyone's pain tolerance levels are different. It can take some women 1 push and others up to 2 hours of pushing to get baby out. Don't worry about people hearing if you're loud. I didn't make ONE PEEP when I was in labor and while pushing because I was concentrating so hard. In fact, at one point, I even LAUGHED while pushing.

Birth can be a joyous experience. Fear can make pain worse.

Also, the best position to birth in would be squatting (you can ask for squatting bar). Laying on your back, especially flat, is not an effective way to push but that is how most doctors have women do it. If you have an epidural then you won't have a choice of which position to birth.

[Heather3418]

If labor was totally unbearable, we women wouldn't keep on having babies, would we?  Once you see that baby's face and hear it's first cry, you immediately forget what you just went through to have them.

Your fears are totally normal.  One baby or a dozen babies, every mother worries about labor and delivery.  Trust me.

I swear what I am about to say is true...I was 17 years old when I had my first baby.  I was only in labor 6 hours and one push, he was here.  All 8 pds. 7 ozs. of him.  My second baby was 7 hours labor and no pushing.  She was 7 pounds, 10 1/2 ozs.  After having her bigger brother, I couldn't believe that my daughter just seemed to slide out.  My uterus did all the work. I maybe did a little grunt, but that was it. I swear this is true.

After my deliveries, my doctor told me I had plenty of room to have a 9 or 10 pound baby.  He said that I was "built for giving birth."  I was one lucky woman.  Thank god for broad hips.

Best wishes for a fast and easy labor.  Let your body tell you what to do.  You'll know if you need an epidural.  You really can have the baby, almost pain free after the epidural.  You will only feel pressure.  And last....it's ALL WORTH IT....every second.

Heather
from the MS Forum

[blueeyedtabbycat]

BTW- while in labor , the last thing you will be thinking about is what everyone eles would think if you do get a little loud. Its your right....be as loud as you want (^_^)

[blueeyedtabbycat]

I just had my 4th baby and I worried about the pain. I just had to remember to tell my self that its not going to kill me, lol. Not to scare you but its not a picnic in the park. It does hurt. You can help prepare by taking classes your hospital offers. If you arer a big baby like me when it comes to pain you can get pain meds or an epidural if you request it. As for head size, all my kids have had big heads except my 3rd and he was the only one I needed stiches with and it was only 2 stiches. As for the amount of pushing time and the best position to push in is all up to you. Fist time moms generally push for an hour but it can be as quick as 10 mins or as long as 2 hours plus. My 1st was out in about 30 mins. As for pushing you will need to do what feels most comfortable and what the doctors usually have you do. If you have a midwife they genrally like to try diffrent positiions where as doctors usually have you push laying down with legs pulled back. If you arent comforable ask to try a diffrent position. Please try not to stress so much. In the end your body knows what to do to bring your baby into the world and will do it. Just remember that you dont need to feel the pain if you choose not to. I had my 2nd baby without an epidural because I wanted to know what it was like to "feel" everything. I didnt do that again, lol. But then again, im a wuss:) You will be fine but its normal to worry.

[chantal21]

Everyone's experience is different. But I can tell you every first, second, and third time moms worry about delivery. I am having my second baby (due in just a couple of weeks) and I am freaking out all over again! I can tell you my experience with my first, and everyone else can tell you their story, but ultimately it doesn't mean that is what you will experience.
Also, I wouldn't worry about other people hearing you. For one, when you are in labor and getting ready to push, that will be the furthest thing from your mind.
With my first, I went into labor at 38 weeks. I was in active labor 13 hours and wasn't in much pain until 9cm and pushed for 1 hour and 20 min. It was very exhausting and I somehow managed to do it all natural. I pushed in all kinds of positions, in a sitting position, standing, leaning over and finally delivered him laying on my side, and then on all fours once his head was out. My baby was over 8lbs! And he came out with no problems. The hardest part, that I can remember, was right when his head was coming out. They call it the "ring of fire" and I pushed right through it to get rid of that pain and it wasn't even 30 seconds. Other than that, I had a great experience and plan on doing the same thing this time around.
It's normal to worry about these things. Just educate yourself, read books, and always ask questions!