What Does Childbirth Actually Feel Like? 9 Mums Tell It Like It Is

‘Wave After Wave Of Pain’

Anonymous: “I recall intense wave after wave of pain, so much so that I was losing control of my senses and where I was. I remember two consultants coming in and being injected in my stomach to slow down the contractions as the baby was in distress. My husband was trying very hard not to panic me but I could see from his face how terrified he was. I remember the contractions once again becoming unbearable and I vaguely remember rocking because it was the only way I could manage the pain in my head. It was very much mind over matter. The baby finally crowned and was delivered but I had lost a lot of blood so the midwife gave me an injection and insisted on stitching me up straight away and I recall her saying “I don’t like the look of this” twice to a colleague who had walked in the room. My husband meanwhile was holding the baby who was mercifully a perfect healthy baby.”

‘Burning, Then Lube’

Emma: “My main memory was fear. I was terrified of the ever-increasing pain and not knowing when it would end. Then the burning – and me demanding lube! That feeling of not being in control, then the most amazing relief when she was born. Then fear again as we were expected to look after a tiny human!

“It was similar with my second baby, but we had a home birth and it was lovely not having to go anywhere, as well as the soothing feeling of being in the water. I was much more relaxed until the intensity increased, the swearing increased, the midwife twiddled my nipples (apparently it helps stimulate birth!) and stroked my tummy. It helped to realise I never had to go through that pain again. I remember saying to my baby, “Come on little one”, and my midwife saying, “Yes, that’s what we want, you’re ready for this”. Then she was born and I held her and didn’t care about anything in the whole world other than holding her close to me.”

‘Waking Up’

Claire: “All I remember about giving birth for the first time is waking up after an emergency C-section and thinking: I can’t feel my legs, where is the baby?”

‘A Massive Number Two’

Susan: “I had a epidural with my first baby. This prolonged things a bit, but had no choice because at the time I was diagnosed with 1st stage MS. After being in for two days, my son finally decided to put in an appearance, and I remember the feeling vividly! It was like a pressure I couldn’t even comprehend. I then felt the stinging, like a burning sensation and then an immediate release like I had passed a massive number two! My partner burst into tears and I couldn’t stop shivering.

“With my second child, my contractions came thick and fast. I had a stomach upset at the time so was trying to decide what the pain was. When I realised, I rushed to the hospital. The car journey was so painful and the air was blue! Once at Triage, they rushed me into a room where they told me it was too late to have any painkillers, and you can imagine my reaction to that piece of news! In the end, though, I had no time to even think about it as she was clearly in a rush to meet us. As I lay on the bed, clawing hold of my partner’s arm and nearly falling off the edge, she whooshed out. It felt like she shot across the room! The relief is probably one of the best feelings I can ever remember having!”