Pregnancy/Giving birth

1. COntractions suck LOL Umm hard to describe...basically if you have ever had a gastro intestinal virus and gotten that terrible stomach cramping, multiply that by about 1000 and include the fact that your entire nether-region feels a very sore/aching and constant pressure.

2 If you mean the water breaking, in both of my pregnancies the contractions started BEFORE the water broke. Contractions increase in severity to the point where all you care about is when it ends. I dont know that this happens with every woman though

3 In my case it was a good couple of hours each time following the contractions that my water broke.

4. I was sent home with my first child in less than 24 hours. Of course 5 days later I ended up back in the hospital for 4 days with a severe case of pneumonia. I personally think they are sending women home too quickly. My second pregnancy was complicated so it wasnt the same.

Hope that helps a little?

Adding to the contractions comment (now that I checked your profile and see you're female ) - think the worse possible menstrual cramps ever! It starts on the outside of your abdoment, a tightening of sorts that penetrates very deeply, and works its way inward, lasting for several seconds, then relaxes.

Now, give me an epidural and I'm happy!

vixey said:

Adding to the contractions comment (now that I checked your profile and see you're female ) - think the worse possible menstrual cramps ever! It starts on the outside of your abdoment, a tightening of sorts that penetrates very deeply, and works its way inward, lasting for several seconds, then relaxes.

Now, give me an epidural and I'm happy!

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OMG that is the truth!!!! I have never been so happy in my life to have someone stick a big ass needle into my spine!

The descriptions of contractions so far are pretty good. At least for deep contractions. I went eight hours into my first labor with some pretty easy contractions. They were like menstrual cramps x 2.

My water never broke on its own. It was broken by the midwife in both pregnancies. The water suddenly breaking while a woman is walking down the street is far less common than movies and such would have you believe. I think it's become cliched.

In my first pregancy I began contractions at 1 am and gave birth at 6 pm. So 17 hours or so? In my second I was transferred to an evil doctor (after going over my due date by three weeks) who gave me Pitocin on a Monday morning. I had my daughter Friday night. So, five days that time.

Both times I went home in less than 24 hours. I like being home.

Cramps * 1000. the contractions normally come first. My water was broken for me in an attempt to bring baby down a bit. It's a HUGE gush. Then I sat on my giant ball and bounced, squelching more a d more , drenching all the towels with every bounce. It feels like you're constantly leaking. Hahah tmi?

I had a water birth, no meds. So yeah, if you have any questions about pain just give me a shout.

Some of my thoughts on your questions.

1. Because my daughter was a postera birth. Her spine was on my spine. Contractions felt like someone was drilling through my spin into my nerves. The most horrific feeling. I had third stage labour pains at the begining of labour.

2. My waters never broke, they were broken for me. My daugher was ten days overdue and I was induced.

3. I was induced, and my daughter was born 24 hours after. Well basically ripped from me.

4. I had a natural birth, but with an aprederal, at the death of it I was deadened from the neck down...I should have had a cesar, but anyways, and we both almost died. I had been in hospital for three days prior to her birth and left the hospital 48 hours after. I couldn't stand the place a minute longer. Who says you can get rest in a hospital is talking crap, well at least in some of ours.

Hence, this is why I only have one child.

The pain thing is covered so I'll I'll throw in this scenario for you - my water never broke with either kids. My Doctor fought with some torture device to try to pop it with my 1st one to speed things along. I almost decked him when my son came out w/ scratches on his head. My daughter was born in the car - still in the sack.

I was also home within 24 hour of delivery both times.

auntybug said:

...My daughter was born in the car - still in the sack....

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YAY CAUL BABY!!!

Wow! Caul baby! That's good luck, they say.

Further on the contractions. There is a very strange period during labour called "the transition". Like everything else, some women go through it, some don't, and the time it lasts is varied.

It is an extremely weird feeling. Like there was a tunnel in front of me, and the only thing that mattered was getting through that tunnel. If anyone had spoken to me or touched me during that time, I don't think I would have responded. A completely surreal experience. For me, I'm sure it only lasted maybe half a minute.

After that time, labour changed. The pain wasn't as bad, but my muscles were still working just as hard. And there was pressure around my backside during contractions. I would describe the feeling as being really constipated and needing to do a really big poo - you know it's gonna hurt, but you just so want it it to be out and over and done with the same time!

Oh and a baby's head as it emerges feels like a sharpei, all wrinkly and odd. Also when baby pops, it's like a cork, serials. The afterbirth means it ain't over, and that's actually also damn painful, but I suppose the euphoria kinda helps with living through those contractions.

I was at home, so I just got cleaned up and hopped into bed.

(Okay staggered, but anyway)

I've heard that giving birth nips a wee bit.

I had back labor, which means the baby was head first but not in the "proper" position both times. Apparently I started in labor on Friday afternoon and my first was born in the wee hours of Monday morning. I wasn't aware of any labor pains until the last couple-three hours at all. We went to the hospital because I just felt really weird and basically "knew" it was the right time. (That "knowing" turned into a two hour argument with my husband whether or not it was really necessary to go--he didn't want to drive because it was snowing harder than he liked to drive in.)

First time, the water broke without any real pressure and just dribbled. It wasn't very pleasant. The nurse told me that only about a cup or so of fluid is normal when your water breaks. The second kid, it broke under pressure and sprayed out and made an interesting line around the hospital room and hit hard enough to move the privacy curtain.

I have a high pain tolerance and the contractions never got much more than really severe menstrual cramps for me. I had no drugs with either child and refused the saline IV on the second one (they do that for hydration and ease of giving drugs if they have to give them).

As for what having a baby feels like, I think my grandmother's description is still the best ever: "It feels like shitting a watermelon."

How long I stayed in the hospital was dictated by my insurance company, honestly. I was in less than 48 hours both times. And, honestly, I would've been happy to have gotten out of there as soon as my legs were steady enough to walk because it was BORING!

chevbrock said:

After that time, labour changed. The pain wasn't as bad, but my muscles were still working just as hard. And there was pressure around my backside during contractions. I would describe the feeling as being really constipated and needing to do a really big poo - you know it's gonna hurt, but you just so want it it to be out and over and done with the same time!

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I've never had a child, but my friends said the same thing. Constipation combined with sitting on a fire, was how one put it. She said it was all worth it in the end, though, when she held her daughter.

Wanted to add to the water breaking comments:

I've heard of women who literally gushed all over the floor wherever they happened to be. I never had this experience, but my water did break with my second child. I didn't mention this earlier because she was born very prematurely, which is not what you were looking for.

In my case, it trickled. It felt like I'd lost control of my bladder or like I was having a heavy period. I continued to 'leak' like that until she was born about 24 hours later. (She's now 17 and very healthy in spite of the early birth.)

Just wanted to describe another take on the waters breaking.

No, you can't take your own doc to the hospital. Mine met me there. Most OBs around here practice with a partner (or two or three), and if you go into labor, you get whomever is on call. I got lucky with both babies and got the guy I knew.

Oh, as far as labor? I have one thing only to add. With my older daughter, we were kicked back watching PBS and my water broke while I was lying on the sofa (Naugahyde, thank the Lord). Thereafter I didn't think anything was happening, 'cause it wasn't the up-and-down, cyclic pain we were taught to expect. It was constant, so for about an hour I refused to move. At all. I didn't actually realize I was in labor till my mom-in-law came over and suggested gently that it might be nice to go to the hospital, wouldn't it, dear?

I never claimed to be the brightest bulb on the string. I had Christina 4 hours later.

Four years ago, my niece gave birth to her second daughter at home, in her own bedroom. She used a midwife (CRNP, not a doctor), who was there with an assistant during the entire time.

Her first baby was born normally and fine, but the doctor said that the second baby was positioned wrong (don't remember how), and that they HAD to do a c-section. This disturbed her greatly, so she talked to the midwife she was thinking about using. The mid-wife said that wasn't an unusual position for the baby, she handled it every time in the comfort of the mother's home. Niece asked her OB-GYN why he said it had to be a c-section. He said "Because I don't know what to do."

The midwife had no problem. They DVR'd the entire birth, including the midwife talking through what she was doing. Niece sent it to her OB-GYN with the title "How-To".

Niece had to take her newborn to their pediatrician for a check-up within the first few days/week. The midwife gave a report to the mother's OB-Gyn/PCP and Niece went in within the first month after the birth for a check-up.

Birthing at home with a midwife is returning to popularity again (finally!) after a lapse of about 60 years. Just occurred to me that your mother might not opt for a hospital birthing, depending on what time period you're writing in.

DamaNegra said:

One last question. Is it possible to take one's own doctor to the hospital? Even if it's just for moral support?

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I've never heard the term "Caul" before... odd.

Our town is relatively small. There, they do call in your doctor when you go into labor. Mine was deer hunting - so they called in his partner - who was thrilled to show up at 4 am. Not.

1) What does a contraction feel like?

Very much like period pains only way way stronger. Your stomach muscles go hard ( like cramp)

2) What goes first? Fountain breaking or contractions?

Could go either way - with my first the water broke three hours before the contractions started. Other way round for my second

3) I know contractions vary from woman to woman, but on average, how much time before start of contractions/fountain breaking and birth?

My first - 5 hours start to finish - 2nd 20 minutes. I almost had her in the car...Dammit I was looking forward to that gas and air too!

4) In case of natural birth (not caesarean section) and the baby being born healthy, how soon can the mother take her baby home?

With my second I left hospital 6 hours after I gave birth.

Ah, this thread brings back memories

With my first, the water broke well before contractions started-in fact, the water "popped" (and yes, that's what it felt like, no pain but an incredible gush of fluid that soaked the mattress) and I had to be induced because my labor wouldn't start on its own...

With my second, I went into labor first and the water broke shortly before I gave birth (maybe within half an hour of the actual birth).

I have something to add.

I ended up having a C-section at the last minute (after being in labor for over 28 hours and getting NOWHERE), but I wanted to elaborate on the "labor" part.

Before the water breaks, if the contractions haven't made it to five minutes apart yet, doctors can be downright apathetic. "Contractions? How far apart are they? Only eight minutes, and only all day? You've still got some time; call me when your water breaks!" Mine never broke properly, but my body decided to try and trick me with some ominous discharge. (Apparently, this is called the "mucous plug", and is the vaginal equivalent of the piece of wax above the wine-cork.)

I think I walked a few miles the day I gave birth, between back-and-forth on my break at work, back-and-forth at home, and six laps around the hospital ward. After you've walked yourself to exhaustion (waddled, rather, in too-big jammies and an effing bathrobe because none of your other clothes fit, and---), they put you in a hospital room (not a DELIVERY room, mind you-- just a room) and hook you up to a fetal monitor. The fetal monitor is like a giant belt, and checks the baby's heart rate, to make sure he/she is faring well during the stress of labor.

Then, they stick a very cold hand up your hoo-hah with as many fingers as they can manage, to check to see how dilated you are. Then, they ask someone with bigger, colder hands to second their opinion, as an audience of well-meaning family members forms at the end of the bed. It's like a hoo-hah display exhibit, and Dad, Grandma, and the gang are all invited. This is the point where the expectant mother wants to throw any item within reach, because all her family members are standing RIGHT AT THE END OF THE BED, in hoo-hah viewing territory, rather than near the head of the bed like any civilized person. This may be a fear mechanism, because they don't want to stand within arm's reach of the expectant mother--but the last thing the expectant mother wants is a crowd of well-meaning people focusing between her legs, waiting for something to emerge.

The goal is ten centimeters, or full dilation, to advance to an actual delivery room. Twenty-six hours with NO pain meds got me to a whopping four. Two hours later, my boy was delivered by Caserean.

The goal is ten centimeters, but I never reached that with either of my two. I could get to about 8.5, and then they "stretched" it around the baby's head.

Ah, yes, the memories. LOL!

DamaNegra said:

Hi! I have some specific questions I need answered to work into my WIP I hope someone can help me.

1) What does a contraction feel like?
2) What goes first? Fountain breaking or contractions?
3) I know contractions vary from woman to woman, but on average, how much time before start of contractions/fountain breaking and birth?
4) In case of natural birth (not caesarean section) and the baby being born healthy, how soon can the mother take her baby home?

Thanks!

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1) Like muscles contracting. Flex your thighs. Leave them flexed until they cramp. Keep flexing and cramping. Enjoy it.
2) Depends. My water broke first, then contractions came. I had friends who had to have the sac popped.
3) If there's more than 24 hours between water and birth, it's considered a risk. Mine was about 10 hours to contraction, hard labour (pushing) started 10 hours after that. Delivery 5 hours later. Technically it was a risk point, but we had no other noted issues.
4) I delivered in a private clinic, home-like setting, with a nurse-midwife, and went home 2 hours later. That's about how long it took do deal with the placenta, have a shower, etc. There is no reason a healthy woman can't take a healthy kid home, or do it at home for that matter (I would have done it at home, but we wanted a water birth and our tub and bathroom weren't big enough).