Pregnancy Forum - Your Experience..

Pregnancy Forum > Pregnancy Forum > Your Experience..

What happens during labor? What do contractions feel like? And how do I know that labor has begun? Read on to learn about birthing basics....

Q: Your Experience..

asked by: not perfect on November 28th, 2005

Experienced User

I just have a few questions about pregnancy out of curiousity for women who have given birth before.

I'm addicted to the discover health channel, as they have a lot of shows on pregnancy and it peaks my interest. But it seems like they don't answer the questions that come to my mind. So I am looking to you ladies to possibly help out. =).

I am 20 years old, not pregnant and not trying to conceive yet. My bf and I (been together almost 3 years now), plan on getting married within the next year or so and starting our own family after we do (probably a year after we're married to get settled in). We are waiting for everything until we are both financially stable (he is, but i'm not yet), or at least until I am done with my schooling. I just wanted to get that out there so no one thinks I am a young kid asking dumb questions. Lol.

Alright, now since I have that out of the way, here are my questions..

When you are giving birth, do you have control of your bowels when you are pushing the baby out? Or do they go all over the bed where you are laying?

Does the shot they give you in your back for the pain (epidural or however you spell it lol) hurt much? I'm scared of needles and the thought of a huge one going into my back makes me want to pass out lol.

After your baby is brought into the world, how long does it usually take for your belly to go back to somewhat normal? Do you have to work out to get it back to what it was before you were pregnant?

I'm just really curious about pregnancy itself really. The thought of new life coming into the world just amazes me. Plus I just really love kids! My bf has a 3 year old boy from a previous relationship (4 in june), he means the world to me. But unfortuanately my bf wasn't able to be there for his birth or the first 5 months of his life because of the mother, so he couldn't answer any of my questions.

He says after we get married and a year after (so 2 years total), he'll be ready to have another child. His only reason for the year after we're married to start a family is he wants his son to be old enough to understand that he's not throwing him to the side since he'll have to give the new baby attention. I personally think he's old enough to understand now and keeps asking me for a little brother or sister lol. But oh well. I don't know how to explain that to him because when we have kids together (i want at least 2 of my own), I don't want them to be 5-6 years apart lol. Any ideas there?

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies! I appreciate it. =)

Replies(6)

diamondsz

replied on November 28th, 2005

Extremely eHealthy

Im going on 22 next month already have one and another due feb 2....

Not everyone has bowel movements when giving birth (i didnt) in reality though there is so much pressure and your using the same muscle for a bm that it could happen. I went natural for my fear of needles and what an epidural can do to you if not placed properly, there are so many other options available I think this time around I may just get a shot of demerol if I cant handle the pain at the end.

This is things I expierenced with my labor

contractions are painful but depending on your pain threshold is what will decide how much you can take (no it doesnt feel like you getting your arm cut off) and the ones in the beginning are like period cramps.

You may tear or have a episotomy (when they cut you) I tore and had three stitches some people dont even tear...

The crowning can hurt depending on the person, it didnt really hurt me felt more pressure, I felt a burning feeling for maybe two seconds but it is a relief when they come out kinda like after a bm lol

after birth it burns when you go pee and you are swollen for a few days lasted about 8 days for me, if you squat and use water bottle it is not as bad. You also bleed for awhile and have blood clots as long as there small your fine....

Your exhausted from lack of sleep, try not to over do yourself and sleep when baby sleeps

Lilypad

replied on November 29th, 2005

Extremely eHealthy

My mom said she pooped in the bed during labor...Trust me you will be more embarassed than the medical staff-they have seen it all. Some women give themselves an enema before going to the hopsital to prevent this-of course check with your doctor first.

Also from what I have heard you ar ein so much pain that the needle in your back doesnt even compare...

Thats the best I can do...I havent ever given full term birth...

MAL3430

replied on November 29th, 2005

New User

I'm 28 and on my second preg.

#1 - I had a large baby for my first (8lbs. 12oz 22"long) so yes I lost control of everything - I was extremely embarrassed the nurse said they expect it from most(not all)women.

#2 - I did have an eppidur. The needle didn't bother me much, but then again I didn't see it. Didn't hurt though just a little stick like giving blood. I trusted in the doctors - they do this every day so the risks were small in comparison to my contractions!!

#3 - I had to work out alot to get my stomach back to some what normal. It looks normal in jeans but I still have alot of streach marks and a pouch(lol!!) I wasn't blessed with good skin.

Michelle

diamondsz

replied on November 29th, 2005

Extremely eHealthy

Just wanted to add a few things

although contractions hurt its not that bad especially when you have someone supporting you through it, although there are things to help take the edge off when they hit their peaks.....

Use motrin or advil(if not breastfeeding) with ice to help with swelling

just remeber everyones labor is different some woman barely feel pain with contractions, some find it excruciating, when I wasnt able to cope anymore I was already in pushing stage and then they went away so I had 20 minutes of severe pain....

You may get baby blues usually last one week its more of being weirded out by new family addition dont worry it gets better

not everyone has that pefect family bonding at first sometimes it just takes time and dont let anyone tell you differently....

My labor with elisa was 4 1/2 hrs and estimated time given to me by dr this time is 1 1/2 to 2 hrs but im probally going to jump a stage

if you need pain medication take them because your health is more important.......

not perfect

replied on November 29th, 2005

Experienced User

Thank you for your replies! It's enlightening hearing others experiences.

I hope eventually when I conceive, I could do natural birth. I'd definitely want an enema if the docs would let me. Especially since I would want to video tape it lol. I'll have my current gyno deliver my baby. He also delivered my bf's son.

My mom didn't have an epidural with me or my brother. She was in labor for 21 hours with my brother and 1 hour with me. She said the second time around is always easiest, was for her at least. Then again, she was pregnant with me for almost a year (close to 11 months because of the doctors), and right before she went in to get the pregnancy induced, she went into labor. Luckily doctors seem to know more now than they did back then.

Does anyone have an idea of how to talk to my to-be hubby about not waiting so long after we get married? His original plans when we first talked about it was to start ttc right after we got married. Then lately he said that he wants to wait a year or so after getting married to try. Only because he doesn't want his son to think he's not wanted when a new baby comes. He'll be 4 in june and does his own thing when it comes to playing. He's never in constant need for attention, he's pretty independant, but of course loves playing with other kids and even babies. It's so cute, he'll go up to a little baby and start tickling him/her then jingling toys for it to reach for. I personally don't think he'll have any problems with a new baby brother or sister. He always asks me for one, asking when he's going to get one because he wants to be a big brother lol.

I just don't know how i'm going to go about talking to him about it. By time we're married, we would be together almost 5 years, I would be done with school and have a stable job in my career. I want a baby now, but we both want to wait until marriage. So i'd be waiting 2 years to finally have my own, depending on how fast my body kicks out my bc when I stop one day. =( .I just don't think he really understands where i'm coming from since he already has a son of his own.

chanee

replied on November 29th, 2005

Experienced User

Hi to add what all the other ladies said.I'm 22 and this is my second pregnancy.I'm really excited.When I was in labor the messed me up so bad the luck I didn't sue lol. That's me being pissed.I have a epid and it made me un believably numb.I couldnt even push my son out and on top of the my doctor was watching oprah .I could have chocked her and then I had to have a c-section which I cried like a baby about I really did'nt want one
but in the end was happy I did. But in total I had 2 epid 1 demer and I had the worses case of hemroids u can imagine.That why I think I want o have another c-section without pushing.And when I saw my little one I was crying like a baby cause I got his for skin removed from his penis and he was crying and I was crying very emotional
good through all women pregnancys are different
good luck and good bless u
chanee

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