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@mrsjyw: mine was the contractions from like 6-8 cm dilated with no meds (baby progresses too quick) . he was only 6 lbs so pushing felt good, not kidding!

For LO1, it was the not knowing how long it would take--it ended up taking about 28 hours, and the nurses kept saying I should be ready to push "soon" starting around hour 16--and the realization that I didn't just have to endure pain but had to focus during the pain and DO something to actually get the baby out.

For LO2, transition (unmedicated) was tough, but transition to birth was maybe an hour, so it never felt overwhelming

Stitches afterwards, I had a labial tear and apparently you can't numb that area well so I felt everything. I was kind of out of it too and just didn't understand.

Transition was hard too but I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I had no clue I was in transition, I had only had my first contraction 45 minutes prior.

DD 1: Was a preemie, so fear of everything, was she going to come out okay, etc. (She was fine!)

DD 2: Super easy labor but I hemorrhaged pretty badly afterwards and that was a bit scary. Luckily they got it under control and I didn't need a transfusion. And luckily I had an epidural so I didn't feel much when they were trying to stop it.

Pushing was pretty hard - not because it was painful (awesome epidural) but I was doing it wrong at first. What was even worse was the recovery (hemorrhoids, stitches, etc.).

DD (1st LO): the contractions before my epi. I had been in labor for 24 hours already and DD was sunny side up and large. Those contractions were unbearably painful!

DS (2nd LO): the doctor had me stop pushing on 3 occasions to minimize tearing. Although I was super grateful to have less tearing/stitches and a therefore easier recovery, it was very difficult to stop mid push. LO 2 also had a super fast labor & delivery with only 7 minutes of pushing. There wasn't time for an epi which made me feel more control of the pushing (since I could feel everything) but made the holding him in very painful.

DD1 - The placenta and being stitched from my tear. They really pushed on my stomach a lot to get the placenta out it was painful. Ugh...the stitches...my Dr turns off your epi before pushing so you can feel...the resident forgot to numb me (or offer to) before starting to stitch my 2nd degree tear...it was very uncomfortable.

DD2 - When I was first admitted they checked me to see if my water had broken...it was shockingly painful!

DS1 - mostly not sleeping for 3 nights straight and then the vomiting before, during, and after pushing.

DS2 - the HELL of requesting my epidural at 6:30 pm but not getting it until 9 pm when I was 8 cm. HELL on earth.

Both times being told I need a c section after 24 (give or take) hours.

LO1 - How freakin long it was. I was in painful labor for over 50 hours. People just aren't meant to be awake that long. If I had known that long of a labor was ahead of me I would have taken meds to sleep.

LO2- the drive to the hospital in rush hour traffic. We were stuck at one intersection for 3 reds and it felt like forever. Then DH parked in the wrong lot and disappeared for a long time to get a wheelchair. Finding out I was ready to push as soon as they checked me made me feel a lot better. I was afraid I would be 2cm like I was when I went in at 30 hours for LO1.

DS1: Pushing. I was exhausted, it was painful even with an epidural, and kept forgetting to breathe. I was worried I would need a c-section. I ended up with an episiotomy (although my recovery ended up being very easy).

DS2: Pushing again. The pushing was even more painful, but it was much shorter, and I was much more alert and less tired. The last contractions before my epidural were not fun either. Each contraction was significantly worse than the previous one.