https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 15 May 2026 16:27:27 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor/page/2#post-983881 Fri, 02 Aug 2013 07:19:37 +0000 Ree723 983881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I read a book, did a logic puzzle, watched Masterchef, and took some nice, long, naps! That was all post-epi of course. I felt no pain and for all I could tell, it was just like being at home, stretched out in bed...except I knew that a baby would be coming out soon...which generally doesn't happen when I'm home relaxing in bed. :-) I also had cards, my iPod, and a journal with me but never ended up using them!</p> <p>My labour was 10.5 hrs from the time I got to the hospital, 8 hours of it with the epi. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor/page/2#post-983760 Fri, 02 Aug 2013 06:28:23 +0000 looch 983760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>12 hours, half of it at home. While I was at home, I baked a cake, cleaned all the floors and finished laundry.</p> <p>When we went to the hospital, I was busy dilating and pushing.</p> <p>I needed mindless entertainment after, when I was up in the middle of the night, alone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983689 Fri, 02 Aug 2013 03:44:25 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 983689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>38 hours. Went for a walk, gardened, went shopping and created a bonsai graft, watched the last episode of Ken Burns national park series. After I went in to the hospital, it was game on. I only labored there for 11 hours. I tried to sleep, I walked, got an epidural and then had a baby! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983687 Fri, 02 Aug 2013 03:38:16 +0000 lamariniere 983687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My water broke at home, but I didn't have contractions until I had been at the hospital for over an hour. I had an epidural (around midnight) and ended up trying to catnap with DH in the room while the epi did it's thing until around 7am that morning when it was time to start pushing. I didn't bring any entertainment, and honestly didn't need any. I just wanted to rest as much as possible before it was showtime and I certainly didn't need any entertainment once DS arrived. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983638 Fri, 02 Aug 2013 00:57:42 +0000 heffalump 983638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I couldn't do anything until I had an epi. First I took a nap because I went into labor at 10 pm and git the epi around 6 am so we were up all night. Then I watched tv.... I was in the middle of my soap when it was time to push and I wasn't happy that they made me turn it off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983569 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 23:34:36 +0000 dojo 983569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My water broke in the middle of the night two and half weeks early so I packed my bag that morning and basically just threw a bunch of stuff in a bag (talk about unprepared). I did think to include my kindle for entertainment but didn't touch it. I was on pitocin so it got pretty painful so I mainly just focused on getting through it until I got the epidural. After that I took a 2 hour nap before pushing. My phone ended up being the only entertainment I needed for the brief times I needed to be distracted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983553 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 23:18:02 +0000 LazyLightning 983553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Writhed around and threw up for 21 hours. Pitocin is a bitch. (No one tells you it's side effect is nausea/vomiting.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983551 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 23:17:09 +0000 mrskc 983551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My labor was 15 hours and I was in the hospital for the last 3 hours of my labor. In the beginning when it wasn't very painful, I packed the hospital bag, took a shower, ate breakfast, got on hellobee, browsed online. Things started getting really painful around 5 hours into it and then it was just all concentration on labor. I didn't get an epi so I didn't need or want any entertainment once things got really painful. I was just concentrating on getting through each contraction. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983537 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 23:00:33 +0000 deerylou 983537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was induced, and was in full-blown labor within 90 minutes on cervidil. I had my laptop, kindle, and a deck of cards packed and ready to go, but we had time for zero of them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983532 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 22:54:26 +0000 lolabee 983532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I laboured at home over night for the first 18 hours. I tried to sleep between contractions (2-6 minutes apart) and once morning rolled around I was in and out of the shower a lot. Since my water was leaking I had to go in at the 18 hour mark, once we were there I laboured on my own until about 30 hours. During that time I walked, showered and practiced HypnoBirthing methods. I never felt one "normal" contraction - back labour the entire time. Then got augmented with syntocinon. 32 hours hit and I hadn't really slept in over 40 hours so we opted for an epidural. The two hours I slept after that were amazing, I believe it saved me from a c-section. 9 more hours of labouring and 50 minutes of pushing LO made his entrance! So, to make a long story longer - I didn't use anything to entertain myself. I did bring a bunch of stuff but never used any of it, neither did DH. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983530 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 22:51:09 +0000 Running Elley 983530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It went by fast!</p> <p>I was in labor for 13.5 hours. The first few (my water broke first) were getting to the hospital, being checked to make sure my water had broken, getting moved to a L&amp;D room and hooked up to monitors, etc. My family came to visit (mom, dad and sister) so I chatted with them and DH. I flipped through some magazines that my mom brought and the TV was on for part of the time but I couldn't focus on anything- I was too excited/anxious.</p> <p>I really just wanted to be with DH. Post-epi I took a short nap (so did DH). When I woke up I talked to my grandma on the phone, got checked and I was fully dilated! I labored down and once I started pushing he was out in less than 20 minutes. It really went by just...so fast. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983506 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 22:39:05 +0000 Anagram 983506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tillma: agree with everyone else that labor at the hospital s fairly itemse and you proooobably won't have the time fr entertainment. </p> <p>BUT if you stay in the hospital 2-3 days, there will be time after the baby is born to be on the computer, watch movies, etc. so bring it all!! I checked int the hospital in active labor at 6:30 am one morning but didnt deliver until 12:23 am the next "morning" so we had three full days after delivery in the hospital. </p> <p>And I wanted entertainment after about 24 hours there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983424 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 21:46:06 +0000 misolee 983424@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was told to come in at 8am to be induced. Real labor pains didnt start until 7pm. I played on my phone, brought my laptop and watched shows, read blogs, etc. the nurse encouraged me to sleep but I was too excited and it was during broad daylight. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983367 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 21:22:13 +0000 Maysprout 983367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>From when light contractions started I stayed at home 24 hours as they picked up. I couldn't really sleep (even though they started at 3 am), so for awhile I stared at my husband wondering if I should wake him (I decided not yet), and then pretended to sleep for awhile. </p> <p>After that we just had a normalish day, my husband went into work for an hour or so and then left since he was pretty sure it was baby time, we took the dogs on a walk, went out for pizza, did some gardening, watched a movie (though at that point I just paced and would glance at it once in awhile). As the evening went on the contractions got more intense so I started to do a lot of pacing. Once it got to the point where my water broke and we went to the hospital it took all my energy just to get through contractions, I didn't want noise or anything around me. Once I got an epi I just talked to the student nurses and DH and pretty soon after that baby came. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983343 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 21:13:31 +0000 bisous 983343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At home, I packed my bag and just chatted with my sis and her fiancé while bouncing on a birthing ball. For the first 4 hours at the hospital I chatted with sis and DH for awhile and then listened to some Hypnobabies tracks while pacing and bouncing on ball. For the next 14 hours, I was moving around more, bouncing on ball and also spent 2 hours in a birthing tub--couldn't really "chat" though as my contractions got stronger and closer together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983331 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 21:06:53 +0000 googly-eyes 983331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was home for the majority of labor and honestly was in pain and didn't do much! Watched movies on tv...that's about it. The last 7 hours I had an epi but it was the middle of the night and I went to "sleep"!!<br /> Edited to put sleep in quotes....not really sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983326 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 21:05:49 +0000 PrincessBaby 983326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tillma: I um, slept a lot. I had a great epi, and even though I could feel no pain, my body was still doing tons of work, and so I was sleepy:) My parents and DH were sitting around watching me sleep and they could not get over that the person in labor was the one getting the most sleep:) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983323 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 21:04:22 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 983323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: my husband read a textbook for homework while I labored :)</p> <p>I was induced and it lasted 12 hours. I don't really remember what I did! I remember watching The Chew on TV. We took a walk and I think I scrolled the internet on my phone for a while. Once my water broke, entertainment wasn't needed :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983312 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 21:00:21 +0000 aprk 983312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just walked the halls and moaned. At the beginning in between contractions I chatted with people in the room.</p> <p>ETA: I suppose if you have an epi and are fairly pain free you'd need something to do. Maybe sudoku or something? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983290 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 20:54:45 +0000 rattles 983290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>After my water broke but pre-contractions, I watched Parks &amp; Rec and Mr. Bean reruns with DH. We said a rosary together in triage. In L&amp;D, I chatted with MIL the little time I wanted a distraction (while FIL and DH napped). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983280 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 20:52:11 +0000 hellobeeboston 983280@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmmm.... Mine was about 22 hours and I pretty much just focused on that. I labored at home for 9.5 hours - bounced on the ball, and paced - like probably miles of pacing, and hung out in the shower for an hour or two.</p> <p>Got to the hospital, got checked, got epidural, took a nap for a couple of hours, maybe 3, then pushed for 5 hours.</p> <p>I went by shockingly fast still. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983240 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 20:40:53 +0000 MrsF 983240@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was so sick by the time they decided to induce me that I was in terrible pain. They gave me IV pain medication when they started the induction and I literally slept through most of my labor. I feel a little guilty that I was so drugged, but my labor was quick and M was healthy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983230 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 20:37:39 +0000 Bookish 983230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I couldn't sleep, and reading took too much energy, so I watched a marathon of house hunters and played on my phone :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983142 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 20:18:43 +0000 sslm 983142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: same!</p> <p>I was in labor about 11 hours, maybe the first hour I could have done something... But after that I was in no condition to need entertainment!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983133 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 20:17:28 +0000 Corduroy 983133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I packed my bag, tried to sleep, and watched some tv. That took up 4 hours. Then I pretty much just labored with coping methods for the next 47. It certainly didn't feel like time that needed to be filled. There was a lot of walking, massage, and I'll admit it, a lot more moaning/grunting than talking. </p> <p>I also don't like concentrating on pain so I didn't let anyone ask me how much pain I was in or which "moody face" on the pain scale I would rate myself. I figured they could look at my freakin face to determine if I was feeling good or not. They obliged. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983055 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 20:04:38 +0000 lovehoneybee 983055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The first 20 or so hours I was at home. I bounced/rolled on the yoga ball while watching movies with my mom and went for a walk. When the contractions started getting close and bad I focused entirely on them. When I got to the hospital I was in too much pain to think about anything but trying to breathe. When my epidural was working I rested (because I'd been up for 24+ hrs), watched the Olympics, browsed the Bee, rested, talked with me mom, DH, ILs...mostly just relaxed and tried to rest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983052 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 20:04:01 +0000 Mrs. Pen 983052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I felt like I was going to die my entire labor so I did nothing other than focus on pushing a child out of my body. </p> <p>Before active labor though I did take a nap ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983049 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 20:03:49 +0000 Adira 983049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was in labor for 14 hours, but only at the hospital for 9 before Xander was born. While at the hospital, I talked to the nurses, got ready to be monitored, answered a bunch of questions, etc. I called my mom, Hubs called his parents, we chatted. Then we got to move into our room and I got blood taken and an IV and lots of other stuff like that. Then I got in the tub and just talked to Hubs and tried to survive the contractions, haha. More chatting with nurses, getting checked, got some drugs, etc. Got out of the tub, updated Hellobee with my status, and then sometime after that, started pushing! Pushed for an hour and the baby was here!</p> <p>BUT Hubs needed entertainment. He read a book while I labored. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983042 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 20:02:26 +0000 cheert16 983042@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I brought a book (didn't read it) magazines (didn't look at them!) I did start to watch a movie on my iPad though! The tv was on for awhile but I didn't really watch it that much </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-while-in-labor#post-983033 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 20:00:25 +0000 yin 983033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Before going to the hospital, I went to the mall, drove around with DH, and enjoyed spending our last day as a family of two. Once I got to the hospital my contractions were quite painful, and I did absolutely nothing besides trying to get through them. Once I had my epidural I tried to get some rest. </p>