Re: Advice PLEASE from Girls who have had a baby

Oh! I didn't know there was more than one kind! Sorry! I had a urinary cathetar - to be honest - I didn't even know they put it in - I didn't have an epidural - but I guess with all that was going on - they kind of snuck that up on me!

Re: Advice PLEASE from Girls who have had a baby

Would you guys all say an epidurial is the best pain medicine to get? I thought that was all they gave you this day and age because the other drugs make you loopy....or do they offer everything to you.

And one more question, how much discomfort do you feel after everything is said and done. Is there problems urinating (after you are home), are you sore down there for awhile? I know my friend just had a vaginal birth and she said she was having problems sitting down because of the stitches. Has that been true for all of you???

Re: Advice PLEASE from Girls who have had a baby

Yes - there is discomfort down there - you can't 'wipe' for a while - you can rinse - I had a full episiotomy and I remember it was uncomfortable but not unbearable.
I didn't have an epidural but everyone I know of has and they loved it.

Re: Advice PLEASE from Girls who have had a baby

I just wanted to thank all of you for sharing your experiences and advice. It's been very enlightening for me.
I really appreciate it and hope that one day I'll be sharing my own experience

Re: Advice PLEASE from Girls who have had a baby

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Posted by michele31

Also- it is your right NOT to allow anyone to break your water...it can mess up your bodies natural labor patterns. It is also your right NOT to have an intern or resident exam you.

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ahh-hhhaaaa!!! i always thought it was strange that all these students come over and look at your coochi for no reason whatsoever and you can't even say anything. I personally don't want anyone to examine me but my doctor. Good to know it's your right to send them on their way. I was going to anyway...

Re: Advice PLEASE from Girls who have had a baby

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Posted by WhatNow?

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Posted by michele31

Also- it is your right NOT to allow anyone to break your water...it can mess up your bodies natural labor patterns. It is also your right NOT to have an intern or resident exam you.

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ahh-hhhaaaa!!! i always thought it was strange that all these students come over and look at your coochi for no reason whatsoever and you can't even say anything. I personally don't want anyone to examine me but my doctor. Good to know it's your right to send them on their way. I was going to anyway...

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That wa my impression to - I'm so glad to know this information for the future - I always felt kinda violated when these students would come in - I didn't know that I could say 'NO'. Thank you Michele

Re: Advice PLEASE from Girls who have had a baby

I don't think anyone can say an Epidural is the BEST pain medication for another person. There are risks to an epidural. You need to make an educated and informed decision IMO. An epidural increases your risk of a c/s, can make pushing last longer since you can't feel as much etc...do lots of research and then make a decision at the time.

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Posted by jillybean66

My delivery was GREAT - and I can't wait to do it again!!! I hope it will go just as well in the future. My water broke, I had contractions (they hurt, like really bad mentrual cramps), but then I got the epidural when I was 5 centimeters. From that point on I did not feel anything! Even the pushing - I felt no pain. I had no tears or cuts, so no stitches. I was back to normal within 5 days! For me, the pregnancy part was way worse.

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I had practically the same experience. I was VERY lucky! I truly enjoyed my delivery and was up and about hours later. There was some swelling and discomfort the first few days, but it goes away. I did a lot of sitz baths and ice packs.

I think the decision on whether to get an epidural or not is something every woman has to decide for herself. Personally, I am all for an epidural. I was totally against having to suffer through that kind of pain when there was a safe alternative available to me that would make my birthing experience enjoyable. Yes, there are risks, as with any medical procedure, but I did my research and decided the risks were small enough that the procedure itself was what I considered 'safe'.

If I had to sit through 20 hours of my contractions, I truly don't know what I would have done. And I tip my hat to any woman who goes the natural route. I'm too chicken for that. Also, (and 10 months later this is most important to me because everything else is long forgotten) I got to concentrate on watching myself give birth to my daughter rather than wish the whole thing would just be over with so I could be relieved of the pain.

Hope this helps! Best of luck to you!

Re: Advice PLEASE from Girls who have had a baby

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Posted by DKA1026


Also, (and 10 months later this is most important to me because everything else is long forgotten) I got to concentrate on watching myself give birth to my daughter rather than wish the whole thing would just be over with so I could be relieved of the pain.

Hope this helps! Best of luck to you!

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NOW that is great advice!!!! Never even thought about that part...

Re: Advice PLEASE from Girls who have had a baby

I'm PG with my 1st and due in June so I can't comment on the labor experience.

I have had epidural injections in my spine for back pain and honestly they are NOTHING to worry about. All I remember was a strange sensation when the pain medication flowed into the spinal canal but other than that, it was a piece of cake. I think that the relief you MAY get from the medication will cancel out any discomfort you feel from getting the injection.

My worry is so immature...I'm embarrased that I'm goning to poop on the table and my husband will see that!

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Posted by M&M2004

I'm PG with my 1st and due in June so I can't comment on the labor experience.

I have had epidural injections in my spine for back pain and honestly they are NOTHING to worry about. All I remember was a strange sensation when the pain medication flowed into the spinal canal but other than that, it was a piece of cake. I think that the relief you MAY get from the medication will cancel out any discomfort you feel from getting the injection.

My worry is so immature...I'm embarrased that I'm goning to poop on the table and my husband will see that!

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Don't be embarrassed. You'll be pushing with that part of your body, so no doubt Mr. Hanky will make an appearance. Trust me, he'll be so freaked out he won't even take notice of it. My husband is the most immature guy going (loves Howard Stern, South Park, Jerky Boys, etc.) and he didn't flinch when it happened. I was mortified because I could *smell* it and was like 'Oh God, I'm so sorry I pooped!'. The nurses were giggling and said no one ever apologized.

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Posted by M&M2004
I'm embarrased that I'm goning to poop on the table and my husband will see that!

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that's why you should make sure he is standing by your head and not hovering over your privates when it's time to push. i think it's also better because you want his moral support rather than a witness to what's happening downthere...

In fact, i am planning on puting this on my birth plan: make sure DH is by my head and there are no monitors standing directly in front so that he can't see the reflection.

Also, you can have an enima before birth. My GF was offered one by the nurse and went for it. She was very happy she did because the baby came out very clean and she was able to avoid any embarassing moment.

Re: Advice PLEASE from Girls who have had a baby

Ladies thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us!

Re: Advice PLEASE from Girls who have had a baby

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Posted by M&M2004

My worry is so immature...I'm embarrased that I'm goning to poop on the table and my husband will see that!

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OMG I thought I was the only one who thought that!! He would never let me live that down....(joking)...does this happen to everyone?

ETA - do most women also get hemmerhoids?

Re: Advice PLEASE from Girls who have had a baby

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Posted by MrsTC

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Posted by M&M2004

My worry is so immature...I'm embarrased that I'm goning to poop on the table and my husband will see that!

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OMG I thought I was the only one who thought that!! He would never let me live that down....(joking)...does this happen to everyone?

ETA - do most women also get hemmerhoids?

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This was also my biggest fear. But it didn't happen. Not even close. They don't let you eat anything the whole time you're in labor so that makes it less probable to happen I guess. I remember telling the nurse who helped me deliver that I was afraid of this happening and she said 'And so? We just clean it up and keep pushing that baby out.' She also told me that it happens sometrimes and it's no big deal to them at all.

Re: Advice PLEASE from Girls who have had a baby

My brother (who is also in the running of the most immature guy) said that he saw the whole poop experience when his wife gave birth....he's always like 'no big deal' it happens.......so i take it from him...

I know about that and the cut (even though everyones is different)...

At this point i am not worried about anything...but i take all the girls advice about the drugs and especially telling no interns they can look at my coochie

Re: Advice PLEASE from Girls who have had a baby

For me my labor was easy in one sense and hard in another. I never really had the beginning stages of labor. The night before I felt some tightening but I wasn't uncomfortable. I went to bed thinking nothing of it and woke up at 5:30 in the morning with cramps. I'm going to be honest, it was the worst pain in my life. To me it was a lot worse then really bad menstrual cramps. My contractions came quick and hard. When I woke up they were already 4-5 minutes apart. After about 45 minutes we called the doctor and she told me to go to the hospital. When we got there I was already 3 centimeters dilated. My contractions were about 3 minutes apart. My doctor said I must have slept through the early stages of labor and I woke up in full force labor. After about an hour I was 6 centimeters dilated and they gave me the epidural. Thank God for the epidural. It was great. I could still feel when I was having contractions but I was not in awful pain. When they put the epidural in it hurt, but the contraction pains were a lot worse. Within a couple of minutes of the epidural being in I was very comfortable. About an hour after the epidural I was 9 centimeters dilated. At some point-I don't remember any more when- they broke my water. When they broke my water there was meconium (or as my DH calls it baby poop)in it. So they started talking c-section at that point. Because I was progressing so quickly my doctor told me she wanted me to try pushing. They ran a test on the baby to make sure it was not in distress and when the test came back negative they had me start pushing.

I pushed for over 2 hours and with no epidural. They turned it off when they had me start pushing. It was painful, uncomfortable, amazing. So many emotions went through me at that moment, but mostly I felt pain. I'm not trying to scare anyone and every labor is different. But because mine came so quickly and so hard I had nothing but pain from the minute my labor started. Well after 2 hours of pushing and no progression they decided to do a c-section. Between the meconium and the lack of progression my doctor felt it was in the baby's best interest to get in right away to perform a section.

The c-section was weird. I was awake during it and I felt no pain, but I could feel pressure where they were moving things around. It felt like an eternity but my daughter was actually born about 10 minutes after they started.

Recovery was difficult. Because I pushed for so long and had a section I basically experienced both types of delivery. But now 7 weeks later I feel great. And I can't wait to do it all again.

Re: Advice PLEASE from Girls who have had a baby

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Posted by Jenn524
When they broke my water there was meconium (or as my DH calls it baby poop)in it. So they started talking c-section at that point. Because I was progressing so quickly my doctor told me she wanted me to try pushing. They ran a test on the baby to make sure it was not in distress and when the test came back negative they had me start pushing.

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Jenn, were you much past your due date? i read somewhere that baby starts producing meconium when it stays in the womb sometime past the due date...

Re: Advice PLEASE from Girls who have had a baby

Yes, she was 10 days late.

Re: Advice PLEASE from Girls who have had a baby

I had to be induced because my water broke and the contractions felt like really bad menstral cramps. I wasn't in labor that long and I didn't have an epidural. I progressed too quickly so the dr wouldn't give me one.
My daughter was 5 weeks early and she was 5 lbs 5 oz. As for the cut, I didn't even know I was being cut.
Don't worry about the labor. If it was really awful, people wouldn't have several children and go through it over and over.