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Way easier, but I think I was expecting something akin to axe murder, so despite 38 hours of back labor, epidural at 7 and a sunny side up baby, I got her out in three pushes.

I really think I was expecting the brink of death. I was pleasantly surprised when it was just the most painful thing I ever felt

Harder. My pain level skyrocketed immediately after my water broke to levels I hadn't even imagined. At that time I was at 3cm and 6 hours of insane pain later I'd only progressed to 4cm. And when I got to 8cm LO's heart rate plummeted and nothing we did to try to get it back up worked, so I needed an emergency C-section.

G: Much harder b/c I just wasn't prepared for the way the system works & ended up with a cesarean.

P: For the most part it was what I expected. It did get harder after I got discouraged at 7cm though (transition may have attributed to that as well though). I pushed her out in one push, 6 minutes from the time I said I felt like pushing! The whole thing was really great though & I'm excited to do it again one day!

32 hours of back labor, sunny side up AND crooked baby, two hours of 'practice pushes' (whatever the heck that meant) and 3.5 hours of hard pushing, and a vacuum delivery = hell. I was crying so hard and I was so tired I couldn't even open my eyes. My OB said I could only push a couple more times before I'd need an emergency c-section...luckily we made it. It was so much worse than I ever imagined. My Bradley method course made me believe it would be tolerable!

I really think I could manage ok next time though, if my next baby is positioned correctly!

With my first harder- water broke right away and contractions came fast and hard- ended in C-section.
Second was easier, even though I was in labor much longer and med-free my water didn't break until the end and I was mentally way more ready.

Contractions were harder because its pain that I've never ever felt before and oh my gosh was it awful. But the actual pushing was easier, 40 min pushing and she was out.

I got an epidural at 6cm--leading up to that it was much easier than I expected. The contractions were painful, but I was nowhere near screaming or crying.

Pushing was way harder than I expected--it was so exhausting!! I also labored overnight so I assume that made it more difficult.

And delivering the placenta was way way harder than I expected! They turned off my epi once she was out, and delivering the placenta hurt sooo badly. I don't know if it's normal to hurt that badly, but when they were pressing down on my abdomen and removing clots...damn, that hurt!

Easier. It was only 6 hours from time of arrival at the hospital till birth and only 20 minutes of pushing. The epi was the worst part, hoping to skip it next time. I hope I am that lucky every time.

Harder. Back labor was terrible, and I think it would've been nice if the epidural hqd actually worked as it was supposed to rather than just numbing my legs and not touching my contractions. It was really uncomfortable being stuck there unable to move, and with that stupid cervical lip keeping me from being able to push. Baby was low and practically in position for a while, and it was painful and frustrating to now be able to do anything about it. Then I had a c-section, which was a lot more painful than I expected. I guess because I expected to feel no appreciable pain during surgery, but instead had enough that I was crying a lot and they knocked me out.

I'm a little scared for next time. Will an epidural even be worth trying if it's not going to dull any pain? And the c-section hurt so much I try not to think about it. It makes me very afraid to think about any future births, because I'm afraid it will be just as bad. All of this after preparing for a natural birth, and not being able to handle it.

I'm going to go with it sucked. For whatever reason I made myself believe I would have around a 24 hour labour, was feeling optimistic since my Mom's were all 14 hours and under. Epic fail on my behalf. 43 hours of back labour {did not even feel a contraction, watched my belly though!} sh*tty sterile water injections, 4 failed IV's and finally accepting an epi after being awake for 40 hours. At the time I felt so utterly defeated, it was awful. My saving grace was only pushing for 50 mins and no tears that needed stitches.

I think, had I not had a doula to help DH and I both feel as positive as possible during labour I would have come out of delivery feeling horrible about the experience. Hopefully I will get to do it again one day, I think next time will be much better. The chances of having a sunny side up, twisted babe that gets stuck in your pelvis for a good long while, twice, is slim to nil, right?!

EDIT: Oh, I forgot to mention my eyes almost being swollen shut, many a burst blood vessel and seeing double for nearly 20 hours after had me slightly concerned!

Easier- I was expected it to take a lot longer than it did, the pain was awful, but it didn't last long. Pushing was a lot harder than I expected, and recovery was bloodier than I expected.

easier! I was expecting to go all the way to 42 weeks, then was expecting a 36 hour + labour with hours of pushing. I ended up going at 39+4, and labouring for less than 12 hours with just an hour of pushing and no meds. I was surprised at myself

Easier I think. I think like @mrsjacks I expected it to feel like being ripped apart piece by piece from the inside out.

I told myself if it got worse than I imagined I could ask for an epidural. After stalling at 8cm for 2 hours and being so tired of resisting the urge to push they came and told me that I was "never" going to dilate to 10cm and needed the epi to relax. The idea that it was going to hurt "forever" if I didn't take the epi was enough to convince me to agree, but the actual acute pain wasn't that bad. Anesthesologist ended up getting called to an emergency C section and I managed to dilate and push her out on my own before he got back. I'd say "ring of fire" was the only part that hurt as much as I expected it to.

I was 9 hours from first contraction to her in my arms though, an only pushed for about 20 minutes.

It was...different than I expected it would be. I had planned for a natural, med-free birth experience, but had an induction scheduled if DD hadn't come on her own by 42 weeks. She stayed put.

My induction worked *very* quickly. After 90 minutes on cervidil, my water had broken, and I was in full blown labor, vomiting like the exorcist. I anticipated pain beyond measure, but what I didn't expect was the lack of down time I would experience between contractions. As soon as labor began, those things were off the chart, and right on top of each other. It was only two months ago, but I still can't adequately describe what contractions feel like - basically, just no thank you, ma'am. I lasted until I was almost 7 cm, and then practically begged for an epidural. I was *so* exhausted (like other posters, i labored overnight), the biggest push I could have probably manged at that point was a weak fart, lol.

After I received the epidural, I felt really chill. Baby was low and ready within 30 minutes, and 40 minutes of pushing later, she had arrived. The "ring of fire" was definitely no teddy bear picnic, but overall, I found pushing to be absolutely exhilarating. Would do that part again in a heartbeat.

Easier. I was expecting pain beyond measure, but I labored at home through manageable contractions (back labor, no less). When I got to the hospital they had me wait until a bed opened up in triage, told me I was way too comfortable to be admitted but would "check me anyway." I was a 6. Got the epidural soon after, progressed quickly, and after an hour and a half of pushing she was out. The belly pushing thing for the placenta wasn't fun, but I still had the Epi so I could ignore it and stare at my daughter to distract. The worst part of l&d was the pushing; I was exhausted by the end of it.

I wouldn't say it was harder exactly - I expected it to be really, really hard and it was! It was a lot more *brutal* than I expected.... but after 4 days of induced labour, full dose pitocin with only nitrous oxide for relief, an hour of completely med free pushing and a cut from front to back I'm sure I would say that!

Now recovery... that was harder than I expected!

With DS it was easier than I expected. Because of that, S was WAY harder than I expected.

Both easier and harder. The first few hours of contractions were not as bad as I expected, but the hell of 3 hours of unsuccessful pushing with a worn off epidural was absolutely awful. I also did not expect a c section, which, until the epidural finally kicked in, was not fun. I'll just say that I'm really glad your body has you forget the actual pain.

@Cherrybee: recovery was definitely harder than I expected! I had no idea how dependent I'd be on DH for those first two weeks!

I would say easier minus the pressure and pain of the pushing.

@sarac: this. Whole time shaking and throwing up. For 21 hours. Awful.