Labor experience

If you had a Vag. birth please rate your experience. I went to see the midwives yesterday and a little voice inside of me is starting to freak out a bit. (I've had this crazy idea to have a vbac this time around) lol

Re: Labor experience

I got the epidural for both DS and DD.

With DS, I only felt contractions for a little bit before they gave me the epidural. Not bad. I did have to push for close to 2 hours with him, but didn't hurt at all. (he had the cord around his neck and they said that was preventing him from coming down easily)

With DD, I felt contractions a lot longer, through the day and into the evening until I got to the hospital. Then they gave me the epi and I felt nothing. Delivery of DD was quick and easy. Checked into the hospital at 1 am and DD was born at 4:48 am. Pushed for maybe 10 minutes.

Re: Labor experience

I got the epidural. The only pain I felt was when the baby was crowning, and it was more of a pressure/burning sensation than pain. As long as I have the epidural, I have no worries.

Re: Labor experience

I was induced and got an epidural both times when I had my children - and I would totally do it again in a heartbeat - with the epidural of course!!

recovery was super quick ( the first time it took a couple extra days to feel comfortable again but nothing too bad).

Re: Labor experience

I chose other ! DD#1 was a terrible labor .. lots of pain , throwing up, I had a cold and was coughing my brains out ...just plain ol' bad ! DD #2 easiest thing EVER !! I had my epi and didn't feel a thing !

DD#3 was really fast and a little hard ,but not so bad ! By the time I realized I was in labor ..I had her an hr later


Overall , with all my experiences .. it was the most amazing experience ever ! I really want to do it again

Re: Labor experience

it was unbelievably painful, like no pain Ive ever known, but it doesnt make me cringe and I would do it again.

I didnt get an epi until 10cm, and then I pushed for an hour with it and had them turn it off bc I wasnt effectively pushing and then delivered DS without it. I also had all back labor.

Re: Labor experience

I almost clicked the Excellent button but saw the no pain.

For both labors, no epidural/pain meds, it was fairly easy, manageable pain (which did hurt) & relatively quick.

First labor 14 hours, an hour or 2 of pushing.

Second labor less than an 1hour, less than 1/2 a push & she was out.

Re: Labor experience

No Epidural, Pain with a purpose, Excruciating but temporary. Each contraction brought me closer to the end. Loved the sensations of my last push when I felt all of DS's body slide through. I would do it all again unmedicated in a heartbeat and plan to. Best of Luck!

Re: Labor experience

I picked other.

It was painful but I managed.

I had no epidural and I'm 34 weeks pregnant with #2 so obviously I'm doing it again and I'm going to try to do it the same way.

Re: Labor experience

I will say not bad. I got the epidural at 5 cm's(I had my water broken at 3-4 cm's-I was already 1 week late when I started to have contractions). I did feel the baby crowning and actually coming out b/c my epi was out when I started pushing and they didn't give me more and it took me a little under an hour to push her out and that did hurt...but I honestly think now knowing what it was like that I could do it without the epi next time. I had 2 small tears/6 stitches total and an 8lb 4 oz baby.

Re: Labor experience

I love love loved giving birth! I feel like that might be a little weird LOL. I had contractions starting at 5am, but they were very bearable all day- went to the hospital around 5:30/6ish that night and my little angel was born at 11:06. I held off on the epidural until contractions got really uncomfortable- they gave me pitocin and broke my water, so it got to a point where the contractions were REALLY strong and about a minute apart, so I had no time to relax in between. Got the epi and it was smooth sailing from then on. I pushed for about an hour. It definitely wears you out, but wasn't very painful at all, despite the fact that they turn off/down the epi right before you start pushing so you can have enough sensation to push. For me, when they said it was time to push, I was so hopped up on adrenaline and excitement to meet my little baby that it went so quickly. And man, when that baby comes out and you first lay your eyes on what you just pushed out, all that hard work/discomfort/pain pays off and you forget all of it and your heart melts into a big puddle of mush. Greatest experience of my life HANDS DOWN! Good luck whatever you decide!!

Re: Labor experience

I was induced and had a failed epidural. Transitioning was really bad. Pushing wasn't that bad.

Re: Labor experience

I wouldn't say there was no pain....obviously, there is going to be SOME pain, you are giving birth to a baby!

With that said, I had an excellent labor and delivery experience. I got the epidural, had a very fast labor and delivery, no other pain meds were necessary and I'm a HUGE baby when it comes to pain.

Re: Labor experience

My experience was a good one. I arrived at the hospital 3 cms. Made it to 4cms while they were getting a room ready for me. At that point contractions were not untolerable. I was doing fine.


Got to L&D room, they offered the Epi, I accepted. I fell asleep after the epi and woke up 10cms (I slept for 3hrs and went from 4cm to 10cm lol) They turned the epi down and i felt INTENSE pressure right away. Started pushing and 1 hr later out she came.

labor for me from start to finish was EXACTLY 12 hrs. I was home for almost 5 of them too

Re: Labor experience

Excellent experience! Quick and easy, no complications. I didn't have an epidural or any pain meds but I won't lie contractions are unlike any pain i've ever felt. But they come in waves and once I started pushing it really helped to get through them. Easy recovery too, a few stitches and didn't even have to take tylenol. I plan to go drug free for future kids!

Re: Labor experience

I chose other. My labor was very painful and the epi did not work correctly. Only my right leg was numb. DS was in the posterior position (face up) and I had horrible back labor. My OB had to rotate his head. I don't cringe when I think about it and god willing, I will do it again.

Re: Labor experience

Totally nataural labors and not bad at all! Just like bad AF cramps.

Re: Labor experience

It was pretty awful, but I would do it again.

I was induced and got an epidural, but it didn't work- I felt everything. I don't think it would have been so bad, but DD got stuck because I have a very narrow pelvic area, so the pain was intensified and the doctor was yelling for assistance and pushed my mom and DH out of the way. They were both freaking out, I had a nurse practically jumping on my stomach to push DD along and I had a whole class of residents watching the whole thing (they asked if one person could watch. I said yes. At some point I looked up and the entire back wall was filled with people just watching.) DD had a broken collar bone so I couldn't even hold her right away. I got an episiotomy which was fine- I didn't even know they cut me until they were stitching me up afterward. I think the worst part was recovery. I had such bad hemmerhoids that I was in agony for days.

Sorry for the gory details

Message edited 5/21/2010 10:18:11 AM.

Re: Labor experience

Ok- I didn't answer the poll b/c none of them applied to me but labor involves pain and there is no way around it..epi or epi there is always some level of discomfort.

I would do it again tommorrow. However, when I'm actually in labor- I say to myself- what am I crazy?

ETA: to answer you're question I had 4 vag births. Yes to pain and no to meds and complications. Recovery was a breeze; I didn't even need a tylenol.

Message edited 5/21/2010 10:22:25 AM.

Re: Labor experience

I had complications, but before the labor turned to back labor and I had time between contractions, it was painful but not unbearable. The key is to take the time in between contractions to try to relax and breath.

I wound up with a c-section, but will try for a v-bac with my next child. I would go through the pain of back labor again with no epi to avoid a c-section if I have to.

Re: Labor experience

I had an epi but it only worked on half of my body. I had 2nd degree tears. It wasn't a walk in the park but it wasn't that bad either. I labored for 22 hours before my son was born.

My after-labor experience was worse than my labor. I had a spinal headache and had to go BACK to the hospital for a blood patch. I had a bad experience with the epi but I am still going to do it again

Re: Labor experience

All back labor + 2 failed epi's = Hell...so I chose #1 lol. Ended up with a c-section, and am looking forward to another one and the spinal that goes with it.

Re: Labor experience

I think if I didn't hit a wall after and hour and half I would have been fine, but then again I did not have a full birthing experience so I don't know for sure. Based on what I did experience, I would do it again.

My epidural worked well. They administered pitocin after the fact to get me from 8 to 10 quicker and I didn't feel anything. After pushing for 1 1/2 hours DD stayed stuck in my pelvic area- she was sideways. My epidural started wearing off and it became painful but bearable. After 3 hours I became a beast because I was just too tired and in pain to push with no end in sight. I think if I had been making steady progress I would have been able to hang in despite the pain of the epi wearing off. The part I can't speak of is the crowning and the actual delivery because I ended up needing an episiotomy and forceps, so I was numbed and they also started meds for a c-section in case the forceps were not effective. I didn't feel anything but pressure and pulling while I pushed and she was pulled out.

I am a wimp and even though I feel my delivery and recovery was not the ideal, I would do it again- it was not as bad as I had imagined it would be.

Re: Labor experience

I had 3 days of labor but was able to go vaginally and I'd do it again. I walked out of the hospital 9 hours after I gave birth and felt AWESOME, tired but AWESOME

Re: Labor experience

Beyond easy...I had a very very quick labor and about 20 minutes of pushing with my FIRST I did have an epidural, got to the hopsital at around 10:00 had DD at 1:30 so 2.5 hours I barely had any time for the epi!!!!