https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:08:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233707 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:35:19 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 233707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is just over so fast. My LO is only 10 weeks old and I have already forgotten how painful childbirth was. I mean in the moment it is awful but it is just one day of your life and then you have something amazing to show for it.</p> <p>I had over 30 stitches, so my recovery may have been a biy worse than some people. But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger right? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233683 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:27:45 +0000 mrstilly 233683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was induced 10 days past my due date and after 24 hours of pitocin contractions without en epidural, gave birth to a 10 pound 9 ounce boy who chest was bigger than his head. I had a serious episiotomy to get him out and was actively pushing for 3 hours before he was born.</p> <p>And looking back, I'd say it wasn't that bad. I know time has faded the pain. In the moment it was awful. But for most of it I was just in a zone. I wanted relief and nothing seemed to help, but I got through it. Pushing was exhausting more than anything else. </p> <p>I depends on your perspective. I think all you have to do is show a couple of childbirth videos to your husband and he will realize that it is much more difficult than someone might say publicly, but also time dulls the painful side of the experience for most. It will be hard and painful, but what that translates to is different for everyone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233665 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:12:37 +0000 Meridian 233665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I just pulled out a ruler to see how big 10cm is... ughhh.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233653 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:04:37 +0000 kiddosc 233653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like most experiences in life, giving birth is different for everyone. I had a pretty easy childbirth experience. My contractions were painful, but bearable. I got an epidural after 12 hours of contractions and dilated from 4-9 cm in two hours. I only had to push for about a half hour and only required one stitch. I realize I'm lucky and I wouldn't walk around saying that childbirth is a breeze for everyone, there are way too many stories of people who have had difficult births out there. I feel like when you're pregnant other women want to share their horror story, but try to remember that not everyone has bad experience. Prepare yourself the best that you can and try not to let everyone's stories worry you too much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233651 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:03:32 +0000 Mrs. Pen 233651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Every woman's experience is sooo different!! My sister, for Obe, says she liked gving birth and it wasn't that bad, she had no epsaural or anything, she gave birth in the water.</p> <p>Oh the other hand i feel like birth was he'll on earth. I would consider only having one child because birth was so awful. It was the worst thing I've ever gone through in my life and no way would I wish it upon my worst enemy. However, I was induced and I have heard inductions are a million times worse. I also didn't have pain meds, but I was too focused to ask for any anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233648 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:01:32 +0000 cyndistar3 233648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it really depends on the person because everyone is different! Although I was in labor for 49 hours the first time I can honestly say it wasn't all that bad. Yes it hurt and yes it was tiring but I remember my husband asking me if I wanted pain meds towards the end (even though it wasn't really an option) and I had absolutely no desire to have any. The only time things were difficult for me was the moment I lost control and stopped breathing properly. Now that I have had the experience of a completely natural birth and a c-section I personally would never choose to have another c-section because for me that process was a lot harder than giving birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233641 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:59:32 +0000 looch 233641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>But labor was never meant to be "easy," It's work and it is tiring and draining. I mean think about the work your body has to during pregnancy. It takes 40 weeks to grow the baby and then you have to dilate to 10 centimeters. I know I didn't realize how large of a hole 10 cms was until I actually measured it with a ruler. Given that epidurals are new on the birth scene, I was comfortable that my body would be able to handle it, like @brownie pointed out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233639 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:58:54 +0000 BabyLove 233639@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I kinda think it's both. Yes, it's tough because it takes awhile, you will experience some pain/discomfort. But if you and the baby remain healthy and you're progressing well, it won't be so bad. I was nervous about it too. But when I was actually in labor the nerves just went away and the pain wasn't as horrible as I anticipated. In the end, I remember thinking, "huh, I could totally do that again!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233638 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:58:51 +0000 LAGS 233638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Now that I've given birth I can kind of relate to the "it wasn't that bad" thing.</p> <p>I had some scary points during labor (decelerations, meconium in the fluid, bleeding which we worried was a placental abruption, and cord wrapped around the neck) so things were kind of a blur for me, but I went without pain meds and during labor... it was definitely intense. I didn't think I could do it, was so worried the pain would get worse and totally wanted an epi. Then it seemed and felt like a hellish marathon.</p> <p>Now, almost 3 mos out and looking back, "it wasn't all that bad" haha. Now that I know what I'm capable of I have more confidence and know I can endure it again. I think the end result is just so amazing you'd be willing to go through just about anything so it doesn't seem like such a big deal. </p> <p>So while it was still absolutely the most difficult, painful thing I've ever done, for me its not an unreasonable compromise for the end result. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233636 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:58:24 +0000 loveisstrange 233636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My labor and delivery were really, really rough. My birth story is posted if you want to find it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233635 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:58:23 +0000 Andrea 233635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: i agree with everything you said! </p> <p>I always tell people that labor/birth wasn't the hard part for me even though I did have to push for 3.5 hours (could have lived without that) but then recovering and learning the new parent ropes was MUCH harder. It's all relative. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233631 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:55:58 +0000 Mrs. Bee 233631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>olive's birth wasn't that bad honestly. my contractions started at 5pm and by the time I got to the hospital around 7, it was already so painful that I couldn't walk to the labor ward and needed a wheelchair. but I got my epidural within the hour, so I really only suffered for an hour and a half. the epidural took maybe 30 min to fully kick in. once it was in full effect, i felt fine. then i pushed for 40 min and olive was born. so the labor itself for olive was pretty easy overall. the recovery however was a different story! </p> <p>with charlie i suffered way more even though i got an epidural. the hospital was so busy i couldn't get an epidural for hours and was 8cm by the time i got one. it was hours upon hours of pain where i was just sobbing and sobbing. then i pushed for 3 hours and ended up with a c-section because he was big and posterior (facing up). charlie's labor was not easy at all!</p> <p>i think some women do have fast, easy labors, and fast, easy recoveries, but certainly not everyone does. </p> <p>when i was experiencing it, it didn't seem easy, but looking back olive's birth was pretty easy. the pain of charlie's though.. i will never forget. i've had two completely different experiences with two kids, so you never know what to expect! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233629 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:55:40 +0000 brownie 233629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that every woman (and even every birth) has a different experience. It depends on their choices (medicated/unmedicated), the baby (breech, etc) and their doctor/midwife. I personally had no issues with labor or birth. It sucks but it wasn't the worst thing ever. I do have a very strong pain tolerance though. But there is also the part where you have to recover (that sucked) and now have to care for a small human.</p> <p>So, I think you hope for the best, plan for the worst and get something that you can handle. If we couldn't handle it, the human race would have died out long ago. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233622 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:52:00 +0000 Mrsbells 233622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sweetchic: My birth experience was very tough, even though I didnt have a natural birth. I had a semi- emergency c-section after a failed induction due to complications and it was a very hard and sucky experience with a lot of pain and discomfort. Childbirth is no joke, no matter which way you have the baby.</p> <p>Also the epidural will only help with pain during the labor and labor never lasts more than a few days, unlike the recovery which lasts weeks for some people. so even if you get an epidural you might still have stitches, and other things to deal with after the fact </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233621 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:51:56 +0000 autumnlove 233621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My Mom always told me it was very difficult so I didn't expect it to be easy and it wasn't! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233615 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:50:33 +0000 Meridian 233615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@highwire: Definitely will be getting the epidural!! </p> <p>But from stories that I read here on HB, people have had tough labors/births even with the epi, so I don't necessarily equate drugs with an easy labor... but having never experienced it, I guess I have no idea :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233613 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:49:55 +0000 looch 233613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I gave birth 19 months ago and I remember every moment in excruciating detail. I was also expecting this "birth amnesia" but it hasn't happened so far for me, lol.</p> <p>I was given some advice by a mother of two teenagers...she said not to read too many books about childbirth and she was right. I went into it being informed, but I didn't stay up nights reading birth stories and whatnot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233611 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:49:43 +0000 heffalump 233611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a pretty easy childbirth..... compared to many. I didn't have complications, and I had an epidural. And it still really, really sucked. I still had to suffer through the really painful contractions until I could have my epidural. I very clearly remember telling DH that I would not have another baby because I could not handle that ever again. And really, I didn't even have to go through it for that long! Maybe I'm just wimpy.</p> <p>And then there is the "pressure" that you have when you push. It's not just pressure, it's pain. It hurts, and it hurts bad. Does it hurt as bad as it would if I didn't have the meds? No way, not even close. But it's still not fun, and it's still not easy.</p> <p>DH likes to tell people that I had an easy birth because compared to others, yes, it was easy. But I still would not describe it as easy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233610 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:49:01 +0000 Meridian 233610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: So basically what you are saying is, "it was really tough" then? :T </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233606 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:48:14 +0000 Mrsbells 233606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If people ask me about it in public I wont go into the gory details of how bad it is because firstly I dont want to scare other people and secondly because its not really a topic for light conversation. If someone approaches me one on one and really wants details then i will tell them more </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233599 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:46:59 +0000 DillonLion 233599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it probably depends on whether you have an unmedicated childbirth or get an epidural! I've been reading/listening to a ton of birth stories lately, and the difference is night and day in terms of how "easy" it was, and whether or not they took pain medication for it.</p> <p>ETA: I think women also get a bit of birth "amnesia" afterwards, so that they can convince themselves to have more children. </p> <p>But, I've never given birth, so I'm definitely no expert here! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/giving-birth-wasnt-bad-at-all#post-233592 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:42:56 +0000 Meridian 233592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had some friends over last night for an impromptu hangout, and two of our couple friends have LOs. One has a 1 year old son, and the other a 3 month old daughter. All our friends know that we are TTC, and so babies and pregnancy are a always a constant topic of discussion. </p> <p>My friend with the 1 yr old always talks about childbirth as "no big deal" and "it wasn't bad at all", and "just take the drugs and you won't feel a thing". I know she is just trying to reassure me because I talk about how nervous I am, especially about giving birth. But at the same time, it bothers me that she makes light of how difficult it is... at least from what I hear over here on HB. Also, she'll say this stuff in front of the guys. So now DH and some of our other non-dad guy friends all think, "hey, childbirth must not be as bad as everyone makes it out to be!"</p> <p>What do you ladies think? Was childbirth "not that bad" or was it "really tough"? </p>