Been Thinkin'.

"On the other hand, I'm curious to test my unusually high pain tolerance. I suppose I'll feel it out. I'm going to ask if I can speak with the anesthesiologist."

This is what I do. Wynter was the longest I made it. I was induced with pitocin in all 3 (85% of pregnancies are) and it makes it a much more pinful contraction - and not much break between. but I very much enjoyed seeing how far I could go.

Pitocin is of the devil. I've got a high pain tolerance, but that stuff made me want to rip people's heads off.

With my first, my water broke one day before he was due and I was having no contractions and no dilation. They started the drip pretty much as soon as I arrived. It sends you into hard labor, with pretty much no breaks between contractions. By the time I had my epidural I was professing my undying love to the anesthesiologist.

With my second son, my water broke a month before he was due. I begged them not to put me on the drip, and went for about 19 hours without it but my contractions just weren't doing anything. They started it at that point, and he was born 5 hours later.

With my daughter, again I went in about a month early. At this hospital though, if they put you on pitocin with your third+ pregnancy, they immediately give you an epidural as well should you wish it. I wished it. I didn't feel a damn thing the entire time, and the nurse delivered my girl because the Dr. didn't make it in time.

This time, I hope for a repeat of the last. Epidurals rule. "Natural" and "drug free" don't exist in my vocabulary.

Good luck, Athena! I will hold off on my epidural stories until after you have the baby. I hope everything goes smoothly and you and baby are safe and healthy.

3 bags of petocin later, I wanted something more than what they were putting in my IV. I'm a whiner. A big one. I was scared of the big needle and went almost the entire labor without it. I had her at almost midnight (7 minutes before). I didn't have the epidural until 8 pm (this was after I was in labor for about 15-16 hrs.) cause I was exhausted and the doctor thought if I slept for a bit, I'd finally open those last few centimeters. It worked like a charm and I had her a few hours later.

I was freaking out when they were giving it to me (was having a contraction). My mom was there, and she was just telling me to breathe.

Anyways, I echo what Undeniable says. They rule. I felt no pain. I did feel her sliding out, but no pain from it.

I had the click. It will go away once your hormones slow, your pelvic floor shrinks and you lose weight.

You can do it. You're going to do great.

It's an intense all over pain. I did my first completely natural and my recovery wasn't even half the others; with ripping and an episiotomy. As soon as I started to push the pain was bearable for me. Crazy, never felt anything like it before, total body pain....but there for a reason and over soon enough.

I had c-sections with both of my children due to my babies being breach because of a bilateral uterus. I have no labor or vaginal delivery advice to give. Had spinals with both of them and its scary then it needs to be. The local was worse then the spinal itself.

I did 3 natural including a tub birth. It hurts alot, no lie. Like nothing you have ever felt or will ever feel again. Try to get to 4 or 5 and then get the epidural if you need it. They are nice. But honestly if you can sit in the water the whole time you won't need one.

Petocin SUCKS. I think it's because it sends you right to hard labor (as mentioned) instead of a natural or gradual progression. I wonder why it's used so much? Anyway, try to avoid that if you can. And good luck!

Because they've either conveniently forgotten with time or they're trying to be supportive, most mothers won't tell you how hard pregnancy (and then childbirth) can be. Let me tell you, it is. It's brutal sometimes! But, if I did it, ANYONE can do it. I mean, I always knew I was meant to do something really BIG in life, and now I know that this was it. Screw winning an Academy Award someday ... I GAVE BIRTH!

JENNY MCCARTHY

My youngest is 17, and I still have that annoying clicking in my hip when I turn a certain way.

I had very long labors, and am very small boned--I went for the drugs. Good Luck there is no other experience on earth like it.

i was supposed to have a home birth. after 50 hours of labor, (back labor at that) i was ready for the hospital.

take the freakin epidural. Just Do It. for reals, i didn't like the idea of a thread in my spine, but it is worth it.

you will be in shock and awe when you meet your baby.

Having had only one delivery and nothing to compare it to here is my take: I was induced with petocin. It was horrid but not nearly as unbearable as I was expecting. I was not allowed an epidural. About an hour before their birth, I did get a sedative that allowed me to sleep between contractions - big whoop. After 6+ hours, I was so exhausted that I could have probably slept without it.

I had swelling the last 3 weeks whenever I stood for more than a few minutes. Up my whole leg so my knees wouldn't bend. The fun part was poking my calf and watching the dents. Toes that looked like cabbage patch dolls was also kinda cool.

Most women have a perfectly normal delivery. Prepare for the worst but expect the best. You could be like my daughter - minimal pain and 20 minutes from walking in the hospital door to babe in arms (she sucks!!!).

Wishing you and easy time!

Don't stress the birth part too much. It is what it is.

I was told I would have a long, painful and tedious labor (due to my age and size). On the way to the hospital, hubs got lost, and we ended up at the city hospital (read hospital for people who are destitute without health insurance). I got in at 10:58 am and requested an epidural immediately because I heard it takes hours to kick in. The nurse laughed and said, not before at least 6 pm. Anyway, I just kinda started pushing because it made me feel better. I didn't have time for lamaze so I didn't know how to push and I got yelled for that. Once the nurse explained HOW to push, Lu popped out on the third try. It was 11:23 am the same day. No biggie. Aside from the fact that I gave birth in the waiting room and no doctor was present, it wasn't painful. The stiches afterwards fucking hurt.

So how about some news? Is sweet baby here yet?