Is labor really that bad?
When I became pregnant for the first time I was really surprised by how many strangers would approach me in public, telling me their horror stories of labor. I still cannot understand why people feel the need to tell you their war stories. I decided that I wasn’t going to listen to any of these stories and wait and see for myself how bad it is.
Many people describe the contractions in different ways. I’ve heard some women say the cramps feel like the kind you have when you have a bad stomach virus. Others say it’s feels like menstrual cramps but a lot worse. I tend to agree more with those that liken labor to bad menstrual cramps. It does feel that way but a little different. It is the kind of feeling you will never forget. In fact when you have your second child, you will know you are in labor after having that first contraction.
Being prepared for labor is the best thing you can do. Taking the prenatal classes helps to get you ready for everything that can possibly come your way during labor. You will be better equipped at making good decisions when you need to. Fear of the unknown is worse than anything. Make sure you practice your breathing techniques too. They show in class how to do different types of breathing. All I wound up doing was slow diaphragmatic breathing. It worked for me and it was easy to do.
During the last trimester of your pregnancy, research and decide on what type of labor you want. Do you want an epidural? Do you want to go natural? Will you take pain medications? I think the biggest mistake many first time moms make is deciding not to take an epidural and to try and do it completely natural. It seems like once you decide that it becomes difficult to cope with the pain of the labor. I have had both of my children natural, with no epidural and no pain medication. But, going into both labors I told myself if I needed to get an epi or any meds, I would take them. Deciding to be open minded is the best thing.
Overall I found the pain to be difficult but bearable. I kept trying to rationalize with myself that if it was so severe the world wouldn’t be as overpopulated. With my first son, the labor was 21 hours long. I made it the whole way without anesthesia or pain meds. And I had back labor. I’m someone who has a panic attack at the thought of having a throat culture done. I fear doctor visits and hospitals and I made it through.
Of course I had the support of my husband both times. Having a support system in place is important. Some women even hire labor coaches called doula’s to help them stay calm during labor. Another critical thing is having a good nurse during your hospital stay. Both times I had such wonderful nurses. They really helped me to feel at ease. The hardest part about labor is not being in control. When you have a compassionate nurse, you feel like you can put your trust in them which in turn helps you to feel more in control.
Every labor is different, but in my opinion it’s not that bad. Don’t let anyone scare you. If you’re well prepared and you accept the fact that realistically, there will be a lot of pain, you will make it through.
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