Women who had natural childbirth: Can you say what parts of labor/delivery were the most painful?

It’s the contractions.

The closer to pushing, the more painful.

Once you do start to push though, the pain lets off a little (because thats what you body is trying to do!!).

There is a bit of a ‘burning’ feeling while the baby is coming out, but that’s not too bad compared to those contractions!!

Transition was the worst part for me, but it was very short. Then came the pushing, which was painful, however not as bad. I kept being fearful that the pain would get worse, but it never did.

The best thing my midwife said to me was that at the point when you think the pain is too much, it’s almost over. That turned out to be completely true.

The pushing part was not so bad because I had such an urge to push. I was every time eagerly awaiting the next contraction so I would be able to push. I couldn’t wait for her to be born!

The end bit is painful but by this time you have gone through so many contractions and that all you want is for it to end and you want the pain so that you can feel the huge relief when it is over. For me the contractions when they were really close together were the worst. They weren’t painful enough to scream out but they were such a dull pain it drove me mad! Especially because the contractions generally last longer than actually giving birth that you just get sick of them. Each person is different though, i would happily go through 10 more births (despite the contractions lol) and people like my sister had one child and NEVER wants to go through it again. You will know which type you are after your first. Good luck!!!

Bless all woman. I think the contractions are the worst a little before you get the filling of pushing. When the contractions start getting closer and closer in time the contractions start getting pretty bad. Not to scare you but enough that you want to punch your husband if he is standing next to you,,,lol. But at the end its all worth it.

Good luck to you and your baby.

I really wanted to have my baby naturally, but after a couple of days of early labour and 11 hours of HARD labour (baby was posterior, contractions were not doing anything and were incredibly painful and frequent), I wimped out and BEGGED for an epidural. I can’t tell you how painful delivery is without drugs, but I can sure as heck tell you that labour is excruciatingly painful – the kind of pain that makes you vomit.
Having said that, I would try not to have an epidural next time. No, I don’t think I’m a hero, but epidurals have rare side effects and can cause the baby’s heart rate to drastically drop to dangerous rates. This happened to us and it is not something I want to go through again.
Best advice – plan to go natural if you can, but don’t write any plans in stone. Things change QUICKLY.
And millions of women give birth to healthy babies both with and without drugs so don’t worry! Good luck.

The worst part for me was when the baby was moving down the birth canal, that is the part with the contractions!! That was by far the worst. I had back labor, OMG does that hurt! I had no pain meds and the actual pushing out of my son was not that bad, it actually was kind of a release. When I would push it would release some of the pain. I only had to push for 15-20 minutes, so I can’t tell you what it is like for the moms who have to push for hours and hours. I really didn’t think the last part, when he came out, was all that bad.

I was in labor for 36 hours. I had an epidural placed and they put it in the wrong spinal space so I was only numb from my knees on down. Which means, I felt everything. With that being said, considering it was my first child and 36 hours of labor, the part the was most painful were the last 3 pushes (it took 6 pushes total for my baby to be born) and when the doctor had to suture me up “downstairs” since I could feel everything! The other part that I remember so vividly was the vomiting from the epidural. Since it was placed wrong, it made me extremely ill. Otherwise, it all goes away when you are holding that sweet little miracle in your arms! You will do just fine sweetie and congratulations!!! Use your Lamaze techniques and you will be a-ok! Good Luck!

EDIT: Oh! Something that I forgot to mention: In my Lamaze/birthing classes they NEVER mentioned that when you push, you should push as if you are having a bowel movement. I know, sounds gross but if no one has told you this, it will come as a shock to you! I had an aweosme Delivery nurse that once she said that, it was MUCH easier although still painful, and my son was out in 6 pushes! Good Luck Hun!

Fear makes pain worse. So first things first, relax!

I would read this book, it is a MUST read for anywomen planning on a natural childbirth. I read it in 2 nights and finished feeling so empowered and not afraid at all and even more determined to have my baby (2nd one) naturally.

“Guide to Childbirth” by Ina May Gaskin (seriously, go buy it today you won’t regret it)

Remember that the pain of childbirth is not like other pain. Normally pain is a signal that something is wrong. Like, we stubbed our toe, or our leg is broken, signalling something that needs numbing and fixing. Labor is pain with a purpose. And it is pain that is not doing you any harm, each pain brings you closer to baby and the more intense it gets the more effective it is being!

This is a great website too:

http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/

And for the real story watch this, it’s amazing!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8597620254789409121

Good luck!

For me it was the contractions at the very end – they come fast and hard. You barely have time to catch your breath and here comes another contraction. Practice focusing, meditation and your breathing techniques NOW.

Also trying not to push once the head comes out is painful. I did get a local injection (like what you get at the dentist) on one of my natural deliveries and it made it a little better.