How is the the pain? Please help!!!!

[Kay_Michelle]

This is for all the experienced moms out there. I'm a first time mother, expecting on February 16.. or somewhere in there! I am very nervous and scared of what all I'm going to be going through! I have heard many stories from family members about the pain of child birth, but it all pays off in the end when you look into your baby's eyes! I feel like I will still be focused on the pain! My cousin had both of hers naturally and I know she was in some pain but she doesn't show it! So can you just explain to me how the pain was for you and if you had any pain meds and an epidural! I heard they both slow down your birth! Really wanna hear from someone who did both natural and with an epidural! Please help!!!!!!!

[katiij81]

I had a natural birth. It was painful, intense & completely sureal. Like an out of body experience. I wouldn't have it any other way. Hate the thought of not being in control. I felt like a cave woman & felt empowered. Just had to keep reminding myself that woman are designed to give birth & just have faith in mother nature. Just think about your little baby & how much you're going to love being a Mum don't stress about labour. What will be will be & you can't change it. Good luck mumma x

[blancka16]

Anything can happen, in my case I went to the hospital because I was feeling weird " uncomfortable " I can't explain it NOT PAIN ... some pressure in my pelvic are too, I knew it was time to go to the Hospital I HAD to convince my husband to take me, he didn't believe me LOL we wanted to see me crying and screaming but finally he drove me to the hospital the dr check me and I was 4cm dilated, the offer me a wheel chair to go to the 3rd floor of the hospital but I decided to walk.. when I got they I Changed myself to hospital clothes and they put all the meds on me ...we waited like an 1 or 2 an I was 7cm dilated here is when I started to feel a pressure in my back and it kinda hurt but not so bad I could handle it... since it was my first pregnancy I was terrified of the pain I was feeling... I had a few minutes in between the constructions to relax a little and breathe until the next contraction, then I went from 7cm to 9cm and the contractions where close together no time to clear my mind and breathe so I started holding my breath the nurses told me not too and keep breathing ... so I did but I had also the urge to push and I couldn't push until 10cm... when they saw the baby heat they say push... I pushes twice and baby was out... I handled the pain, you should be able to handle it too... just stay calm... my mistske was the same as your ask for experiences I was terrified but was nothing like people described it too me... so stay calm, and prepare for it... the pain is different but not horrible!

[Eve386]

The experience can very different for different individuals and can differ between pregnancies. It's great that your experience was not too bad though.
One in four women experience some level of post-traumatic stress after birth so I think it's important to support each other.

[Eve386]

I don't want to scare you but lies don't help either. It was a pretty negative experience for me right up till the moment I saw my little one. I was induced as my waters broke and I was not getting contractions and it was the most painful and scary thing I have ever done. I actually believed I was going to die, I was convinced. But then I got the epidural. So glad for it. Hubby says I just smiled, said 'night night' and fell asleep. Even with the epidural (which was clearly very effective on me) pushing still hurt but when you get to that point the worst is over and you are so close. The moment I held my boy all pain stopped. This not just a lie to make you worry less :) I had a split placenta so the doc had to stick his whole arm in and pull the rest of the placenta out but I felt nothing.
Some women really want the natural experience and feel the pain is an important part of the process, if that's how you feel try to do it and know you can change your mind if it's too hard. But I felt there was no benefit for me it putting myself through excess pain. Your child will not be better off for it and it won't make you a better mother. So just do what feels right and you will be OK. It ***** but you can do it and it will quickly be a distant memory.

[akmoore1111]

Not going to lie, the pain is like nothing you've ever felt before and it hurts. With my 1st, I got an epidural but it didn't take in time so I felt everything (episiotomy,external tear and 3rd degree internal tear) not to mention the 1.5 hrs it took to stitch me up after. Honestly though you really need to just mentally prepare, I took myself out of my body to try and block out the pain and it really helps. This is what our bodies were made to do so knowing that this pain was natural and normal and won't last forever helped me get through it. All in all, if I had to do it the same way again I probably would because I was able to feel my contractions and push effectively so my laboring didn't last so long. It's an amazing experience (even if you have a not so good one like me).

[KaleidoscopeDream]

I had an epidural and it didn't appear to make my labor long. I delivered about 5 hours after arriving to the hospital with my first. I was always sure I wanted an epidural and plan to have one with this baby also.

[eprather]

I had epidurals with both pregnancies.  Both of my labors were long,and it's hard to be in pain for a long period of time.  It's up to you and your determination to try natural labor.  I wasnt very determined for natural labor, because I was worried about needing an episiotomy and feeling it.  Labor was so long with my first that I ended up needing two epidurals and still felt the pain.