Labour the real truth!! (Preparing for Birth)

Member Name: dustmad

Product:	Preparing for Birth
Date:	28/10/08 (36 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Having a healthy baby

Disadvantages: pain pain and more pain

I really don't think that you can fully prepare for your first birth. At least I could'nt anyway. I gave birth to my son in November 2007. I am the most organised person I know, and I wanted to be ready for the birth, and really prepared for what was to come. I read all the books, talked to all my friends who had children, and looked online also. This did me absolutely no good whatsoever. I was prepared in the fact that I knew what to pack in my hospital bag, and what type of delivery I wanted. I had decided that I wanted a water birth. When the time came, my waters burst at home after several contractions that afternoon. Thats another thing, I didn't know if what I was feeling was contraction at first. It starts off like period pain. Feels just like it, and is all over the place timing wise. I had pains on and off all day. Then at 11pm I rang the hospital to say that my contractions were 2 mins apart, but they put me off coming in. When my waters broke at 1am I phoned again to say I was on my way in!! It was then that the fun (not) began. The pain changed from period pain to the worst pain I have felt in my life. It went from my stomach right round into my back, that was the worst bit. When I arrived at hospital I was sick shortly after. My body felt like I was in the tropics, and the waves of pain only got stronger and stronger. The other thing I was not expecting was the mess!! I had no idea that as soon as your waters burst, you start to leak out a browny bloody liquid constanly. I wish so much that someone had told me that!! The rest is just much of the same.... mess, pain etc etc etc. I was not able to have a water birth as my baby had poo'ed inside me, so this was not aloud. I also was aloud no pain relief as I was already passed the point which you can have it (something else I didnt know), It was an awful experience, which I am not too keen to be having to go through again next year in May. But the one thing I will say is that it is all so very worth it in the end!!!!! I hope that I have not scared any mothers to be, but I wish that I had known, so I'm being honest for you guys.

Summary: brief looks at my labour experiences.