Does giving brith hurt?

**ScaredandExcited** · 01-17-2010 02:17 AM

Please be honest, it has been playing on my mind, as in 7 months time its going to be happening, does it hurt??? And what do the contractions feel like? this is my first baby, im currently 5 weeks pregnant, and i keep having really bad period cramps, but no bleeding at all. Is this normal??
When i do give birth i have though about the epidural needle, i cant stand having a needle!!! I wanted to know if it hurt? and what needles you actully have to have through pregnacy and giving birth. As the epidural is in your lower spine, and it dosen't look to plesant. (sorry about spellings lol) i just wanted to know if any of you have had this experaince, what your honest answers are., Thankyou

**sperosi** · 01-17-2010 07:56 PM

oh yes, it hurts!

very bad cramps with the first child, not so much with the second or third.

the epi helped, but didnt seem so effective towards the end. the worst part is no matter how much you yell at the doctors and nurses for more drugs, they only give you so much!

**LanaBear** · 01-17-2010 08:00 PM

I was in labor for 15 hours with my first, ended up having an emergency c-section, but the pain just from labor, something I'll never forget.

**hello_pitty** · 01-17-2010 08:39 PM

The labour part HURTS!! It feels like you just want to drop dead from the pain. But it only gets worse towards the end, then you have the baby....all over! I was in labour for 19 hours, but the birth was very quick, I only pushed for 20 mins. They will give you the epi when you are in active labour (4 cm dialated), by that time you are begging the doctors for pain relief (I know I was

) Once they put the Epi in, the pain is gone, but you still feel the contractions (not as painful).

I would look into some lamaze (spelling?) classes to help with the breathing, breathing is very important in labour. If you fight your contractions and hold your breath, you could hurt yourself and the baby. Just go to all your prenatal classes, and you will do fine...

Just remember, it's ALL worth it in the end when you're holding your beautiful baby.

ETA: oh I forgot one important thing. The epidural needle will feel like nothing compared to your labour pains! In fact you will probably welcome it! Just a pinch, then some pressure, then 15 mins later you're in heaven. Just remember to sit REALLY still because if they go too far in you will end up with a whopper headache afterwards!

**Hopeless Dork** · 01-17-2010 08:50 PM

You know what scared, I had a horrible experience with my labor and delivery... excruciating pain I'll never forget. Like Lana, I ended up needing a C section as well after a day of hard labor.

One of my very best friends watched me go through all that and when she was pregnant she was TERRIFIED... of what she'd have to go through. Well, her water broke, she was at the hospital in 30 minutes had her epideral administered immediately delivered an hour later it was like a drive thru birth.. she said her pain was like run of the mill period cramps and over so fast.

So it just depends really. Nothing to get yourself worked up over.. no matter what the experience is like, the results make it worth it enough that women keep on doing it. It would be more scary if most women had one and stopped lol. But a lot of women go through that and keep going through it over and over so while its not a walk in the park it isn't horrid enough to make humans at risk of extinction from not wanting to through it

**WildChild** · 01-17-2010 09:12 PM

I had long labors with both my kids because I tend to anemia. But really it wasn't painful so much as intense. Getting up and walking helps. Epidurals can stall the labor and then you need pitocin to get it going again. I didn't find the delivery itself particularly painful - both mine were natural. I was up on my feet in less than an hour after the births.

**arabellafigg** · 01-18-2010 02:46 AM

Yes, it's painfull. I hadmy daughter with no pain relief in a water pool in 8 hours. But it isn't alwayslike this. Thebest thing is not to worry too much and just think that its only a day of your life!

**ScaredandExcited** · 01-18-2010 06:50 AM

thanks for all your posts, even though i was hoping you said it didnt hurt lol!!

**PJhavinfunagain** · 01-18-2010 12:45 PM

I had a horrible experience with my first child. Hubby could not understand why I would want another child (not right away but 2 years later). Fact is the pain is worth it. The joy a child will bring to your life is immeasurable, albeit so is the stress and frustration. Luckily the joy far outweighs everything else.