Who just saw the news?

Mine wasn't in my head ,it did hurt, still managed to get through it , twice, but I did not enjoy it at all .
Didn't help with Ty's birth that id been having contractions for the past 4 days and was exhausted .
So next time , drugs all the way (and the epi better blimming work ) and i have no problem whatsoever with that decision , I hate giving birth .

Edited by caitlynsmygirl

hey i'm not saying it was all in your head but so people are influenced by what other people say. Have you ever noticed that there are hardly any people that actually talk about having an enjoyable child birth experience but they are nearly always about tearing, stitches, blood, drugs and things that went wrong. then people start to think that is the norm with childbirth. i knew it was gona hurt but i didn't let it scare me. your own mind is the most powerful drug available just most people don't know how to use it. I used breathing to help manage it. Most people use the drugs. I was actually put off epidurals by the idea of a needle being inserted into my spine. to me that sounded like it would hurt more.
i do still stand by the idea that everyone has the right to choose. its just a shame that drugs seem to be the main one offered

The pain wasnt in my head either, one minute I was standing in the shower singing to myself and dancing a little jig through my hurty contractions the next minute it was like I was being ripped apart.

If the next labour is like the first I will be having another epi and I have no problems saying that.

I hope its not like that though, I want a labour like yours noisybaby. Very jealous.

I'm of two minds about this one. Keep in mind that I'm coming from a position of having had an intervention filled birth experience so I'm by no means anti pain relief etc.

I just wanted to say I know what noisybaby is trying to say. It's not that the pain is all in your head, but the fact that women are scared of labour and expect it to hurt so much causes them to tense up and THAT is what causes the pain. Google "Fear Tension Pain Syndrome" if you want to know more about it. It's what hypnobirthing is all about trying to avoid. The theory is if you're able to relax and go with it it actually won't hurt so much. (I started hypnobirthing but then felt silly so didn't continue with it, read the book etc but didn't do the preparation I needed to, so when I got to the hospital I remember thinking "I'm not sure I thought through this", clammed up and it all turned to custard from there.)

I think the main point in this though is that every woman should have the right to choose what they want in childbirth, if that means drugs etc then that should be their prerogative, if that means an all natural home birth then ditto. Nobody should be able to say that they know best for anybody else - especially a man who is effectively saying "harden up"!

What I liked about seeing that on the news was when the story finished, the male newsreader opened his mouth to say something, obviously flummoxed, and the female newsreader said "I think it's probably best if we don't discuss that one"!!!

edit spelling

Edited by weegee

Aparantly there is a video on Youtube, where they used a machine to simulate labour on a guy. My friend was telling me about it last night. I think that horrid horrid man you is preaching about drug free birthing should be given a dose of that!!!! Then we can see how quickly he changes his tune

I had an epidural with Janaya, barely felt a thing and was pretty much offered it as soon as I got into the hospital. I had no issues with bonding, I cried when she was born.

With Jackson i had gas (which didnt work) and I was rather traumatised when he came out. I didnt even cry or have the urge to hold him initially. I spent a lot of time just lying there thinking over and over about how blardy much it hurt!

Sounds like women have now got another reason to feel guilty about not doing things the natural way...

i think its awful that this man is saying that drugs will affect bonding, as if us mums dont have enough to worry about.

i am sorry if my first post sounded that drug free was the only way to go - i do not think that at all. I just really feel that it should be each womans decision and that the medical professionals should respect that. I think that pain could be just as traumatising to bonding as drugs if you cant cope with the pain. A woman who is too exhausted to even hold her baby cant breastfeed or cope with all the changes happening. I dont think this MAN has any idea what he is talking about.

I must confess an epidural scared the crap out of me - so am actually in awe of anyone who can have it lol. A needle into my spine scared me a lot more than labour.
At one point during the birth i remember thinking that i might like to take something (gas was what i was thinking) but then i was too scared of vomiting lol and decided this pain of the contractions was at least familiar - weird logic i know.

I am one of those people that actually enjoyed labour and birth - but please dont think i have it all easy as my pregnancys arent a walk in the park - Maybe im some kinda weirdo that enjoys pain dont know but for me it was a very real experience and i cant wait to give birth again.