First time mothers to be, this is for you! I know, I know, thinking about labor is scary. Especially when you've seen those deliveries on the Discovery Channel!!! Man, I used to watch that during my entire pregnancy. They only show you the half, here's the whole birth story.
First of all if you think labor is you rushing to the hospital and then minutes later you have a bundle of joy in your arms, then you my friend are sadly mistaken!
First your water breaks, after that you got some time especially if your not feeling any cramps yet. Now when your water does break, you are gonna have a trickle, gush or both in combination from "down there". Yes, it looks like water with little specs of pepper in it. (or close to that) You will need a towel rolled up, not a damn maxi pad. For goodness sakes, DO NOT use a tampon! After that call the hospital and let them know.
When you get there, they will have you fill out paper work, no matter if you have cramps or not! Oh yeah, once your water breaks, (brace yo-self foo!) contractions. They're coming to get you, yes you. Now at first your gonna feel cramps as if you are about to have your period, then they subside and come like every half hour.
What you need to know is that they are gonna start coming more often and more stronger each time! They are your contractions, they ascend, level off at the peak of pain staying like that for EVER, and slowly descend (cramps from HELL) the worst cramps you ever had times a million hitting you back to back faster and faster and worse and worse!
On top of that you will be so focused on trying to breath and survive each contraction that you will physically or verbally attack anyone who touches or talks to you ( aka HUSBAND) When that baby is ready you will feel the head trying to come out. Feels like you are gonna poop your pants, except it's like the hugest " turtle head" ever. An you know what the nurses are gonna say...."don't push until we get the doctor" Although your body is gonna try it's hardest to make you wanna push, but don't.
Because your cervix has to be fully dilated, which the doctor will be able to see. As far as the actual pushing, that isn't pain compared to the cramps an extreme pressure to bear down. so don't worry about that. Actually pushing will be some relief. The pushing is a real workout, so save your strength till the end, you are gonna need it! And as soon as that baby pops out the contractions are gone like magic.
Most people don't have their water break before labor starts, but it does happen. Just don't look for that as a sign, cause plenty of times it breaks with a goosh right before baby's head comes out. :-) That's the way it happened with 3 of mine.
Nice job preparing new mamas! Be as prepared as you can, and expect your plans to change. That's the way babies are, masters at wrecking nicely laid plans. Of course, one look at that sweet face, and you'll forgive instantly!
That was a frenzied account of your experience, congratulations. Every labor is different, every hospital is different and every birth is different. It's too bad those shows don't tell the real story. Thank you for sharing your perception of childbirth, it is quite a earth shaker, isn't it.
Great article, except the only thing I would add is that nobody ever prepares you for the swelling that occurs to your privates. That in and of itself can be shocking. But yes, once you look into that face it all melts away.
