Anonymous wrote:It’s such a funny statement about contemporary American women that this is even a question. For most of human history, women going into labor have had one or maybe two goals: I hope I don’t die and (depending on their life circumstances) I hope my baby doesn’t die.
Now we expect to enjoy it?

+1

I didn't go into labor due to HELLP syndrome at 33 weeks. Delivery was an emergency C section with a lot of vomiting. It was really life or death for us and no, it wasn't enjoyable.

My first was pretty great all things considered, but I had about as easy a time of it as you could. Started contractions (which hurt like hell), got to hospital less than 2 hours later 9cm dilated, immediately got a heavenly epidural, and felt great through some short pushing after which point I had my baby. I had never met the attending but he and all the other staff were great and DH and I even kind of had fun once I had the epidural.

Second child was not as pleasant (really quick labor, barely made it to hospital, definitely no time for drugs and was screaming rather than smiling while pushing, and I don’t even remember the random doctor they called in from the hallway to catch the baby) but it was all said and done in 90 minutes with a healthy baby so I can’t really complain.

Anonymous wrote:Just curious!

Are u a man or woman?

Absolutely not.

But mine were very short (and extremely painful!) both times.

Hmm well, pregnant with twins, I went in for an induction on Thursday morning that failed, cranked up the pitocin by Friday, had paralyzing back pains, finally did an epidural, decided they needed to do a c-section by Saturday afternoon, realized the epidural did not work so I could feel some pain when I was getting my c-section so they had to give me ketamines during delivery, and shook like crazy thereafter and probably did not fully become aware of what was going on until maybe 1.5 days later.

So no, labor & delivery sucked. But I love my twins. But I don't think I want to go through that again...

Enjoy and labor will never make sense in the same sentence. I've had five children. I would only have one child if my brain somehow did not allow the reset button.

Anonymous wrote:It’s such a funny statement about contemporary American women that this is even a question. For most of human history, women going into labor have had one or maybe two goals: I hope I don’t die and (depending on their life circumstances) I hope my baby doesn’t die.
Now we expect to enjoy it?

+1

Were in the “me” culture now , unfortunately

Yes I really enjoyed both. First one I labored at home for 24h with back labor when the water broke, only to find out I was only 4cm dilated upon arrival to the hospital. But then I got an epidural and everything progressed quickly from there, pushed three times and he was out. Minimal tearing. In fact I enjoyed it so much that I was ready for another baby six months postpartum.

Ended up getting pregnant 8 months pp and the second birth was just as easy. But it was an elective induction at 40 weeks and he was out in 8h from start of pitocin. But it wasn’t as exiting as the first one because it was so planned.

NOPE! No no no!

I actually went into childbirth knowing that it would hurt an awful lot, but feeling quite positive and optimistic. I've done a lot of endurance sport so I thought I was mentally prepared!

It was a irregular labor, augmented by pitocin. 38 hours and 2.5 hours of pushing. The epidural at 30 hours helped a lot but by the time DD was born I was beyond caring about anything. It makes me sad as I feel I missed out on what could have been a beautiful moment. I think I should have had the epidural way earlier.

It was the worst experience of my life. Which is weird because DD is the best experience of my life! Her very existence, discounting the day she was born

I don't know what to say to people who are about to give birth. Be honest??

My water broke at 33 weeks and labor started within 12 hours even though they tried to delay it as much as possible. Labor and delivery itself was painful (I did get an epidural), but the anxiety during labor of worrying about my preemie and what would happen once he was born was traumatizing. DH and I decided very early on we couldn't do it again and we're one and done.

It was fine until I almost bled out and ended up spending two weeks recovering at a different hospital than where my kids were.

I had two inductions for DS and DD, as both were two weeks late. The first was long and exhausting, and then I ended up in the ER five days later due to mastitis. It took a long time to recover from that birth. DD's induction went much quicker, and she nursed like a champ from the get-go. DD's had more restrictions because it was in the middle of COVID (she was born in April) but I had only planned on having DH in the labor room with me anyway, and we got to get discharged a day early, which worked out fine.

Yes! First time was frustrating with a provider who I didn't mesh with at all. But the second time it really was exactly what I wanted. In a hospital with only DH, MW and one RN in the room. They dimmed the lights for me. They communicated well and understood my needs. It was pretty quick. DD latched on immidiately without me even trying. It was picture perfect from start to finish.

I didn’t enjoy labor and delivery the way I enjoy a glass of wine with dinner. However, it was enjoyable the way running a marathon or conquering a challenging hike is enjoyable. I also found the physiology of it all to be fascinating.