Does it really hurt?

[samie_boo]

Does giving birth really hurt - I'm a complete wimp?

[Pippa68]

LOL..I hope not, bless her :o)

I did also forget to add that I agree childbirth doesn't need to be too painful ~ pain relief is there to help and I know that with my first I was so scared it made the pain worse. If you have adequate pain relief you can relax..which will make the pain less stressful and more productive.

I have to say that I coped far better with my subsequent labours as I knew what was happening. You are not a wimp for worrying about the pain, nor are you a wimp for opting for pain relief. I managed without pain relief for subsequent labours but I don't feel any more proud of myself for doing so! they don't call it labour for nothing, that's for sure ;o)

[angelbabe]

If your currently pregnant don't let anyone else's opinion put you off. Every birth is different and we all cope with pain in different ways. I have 2 children and the best advise I can give is to try and stay relaxed. Take slow deep breathes and try not to panic. The more you tense up the worse the pain will be. My 1st was an emergency section and my 2nd natural. I def pref the natural option and only had gas and air. I trained myself before had with breathing exercises ans the midwife couldn't beleive was 8cm dilated as I was so calm.

[tradey]

weve had this question before,sorry to say yep it bloody hurts,but once the baby is there in your arms you forget about it.

[ganesh]

Not trying to put anyone off,angelbabe,after all she ain't got no choice now. But I do believe in telling the truth and we all have whether we've had good or bad experiences. Of course it will help to relax and learn the breathing beforehand but in certain cases it can be physically too bad to remain calm. I would suggest that in your 2nd birth,the gas and air was sufficient to control your pain and you were therefore calm ,(which again helped with the pain.)I think you were very lucky and it certainly doesn't work for everyone.

[mifta]

It does hurt but the whole labour process is instinctive, early on it feels like bad period pain but only for short intervals. Later contractions are painful and feel overwhelming but they have a purpose. I felt a distinct change when a had the urge to push and no longer felt any pain just felt like a was passing a football out of my back passage!!! There is a burning, stinging pain when the babys head is crowning and you may feel it if you tear. However, you don't care because you have your baby.

When my first child was 8 weeks old I developed gastritis, oesophagitis and an infection in my gall bladder, resulting in an operation and all I can say is I would rather go through childbirth again than have that pain again!

I have 2 gorgeous kids, long labours with both but I would do it again and again for them for because the pain of labour doesn't matter at all when you have your baby.

Relax, and enjoy it. It is so worth it.

[samie_boo]

Samie_Boo was busy in Rome for a few days - getting engaged if you must know!! Yey!!
While I was a way a friend of mine had a little boy 9lb 15 - she can hardly walk and looks terrible they've only let her out of hospital today and she had him on Weds - was in labour 24 hours!! He's a gougeous baby - but I'm thinking I'm still really scared!!

Thanks for all your reply's

xx

[curiosity]

Don't be scared, just think of someone you know, maybe someone you went to school with, or someone you consider yourself to be smarter & better at things than (I know it's sounds pompous, but we all have them) who have children. Then think, if they can do it, so can I! It helps. Good Luck.

[loobylou28]

of course it does but if it was that terrible we wouldn't go back for 2nd, 3rd and 4th goes. chill, once its over you'd have forgotten all about it. Your friend is a very specific case, thats one heck of a baby she had. Breath deep and yell for any pain relief you think will get you through it. good luck!! xx

[yummymum]

All I can say is that im glad im having another c section!Im glad i have had a good read of all your views it made me more determined never to give birth! haha