Labor and delivery curiosity!

[anyakitty.livejournal.com]

Okay, I have always been SO curious about the nitty gritty details of labor and delivery. I am fascinated by those shows that come on TLC sometimes depicting natural and home births. I don't ever plan on having children but I just simply must know:

1. Is it really as bad as it is in the movies? Do people really scream/go crazy from the pain? Can you compare contractions to menstrual cramps to give me an idea of how much worse they are?

2. This is the big one... do a lot of women tear? How does THAT feel? Do they stitch you up or do you have to just let it heal or does it just simply depend?

3. After you give birth vaginally, is your vagina really never the same ever again? Is this only a physical, inside thing but also a visual, outside thing?

Please, don't spare me any details, I want it all no matter how questionable. It's either this or asking my boyfriend's sister who is pregnant for the second time and I'd rather not, haha. Thanks in advance!

Comments

[marieskye.livejournal.com]

1. Is it really as bad as it is in the movies? Do people really scream/go crazy from the pain?
everyones different so theres no "one sz fits all" answer here. for me,it hurt pretty freakin bad,but its been 7 yrs so i cant exactly remember the pain. i DO remember thinking 'why didnt anyone tell me it would hurt so much?' i mean,you see it in movies,but none of my friends or family members were upfront about the pain. i think its because you forget the pain after a while. thats natures way of making sure we do it again,i guess :)

2. This is the big one... do a lot of women tear? How does THAT feel? Do they stitch you up or do you have to just let it heal or does it just simply depend?
Most women ive talked to get an episiotomy...i personally teared. Theres not a specific moment where i was like "OMG my vagina just teared!" it was a long slow process of tearing,i guess. They stitched me up and it healed pretty easily. ive heard that tearing on your own is a lot better than getting an episiotomy,because your body is better able to heal a natural tear.

3. After you give birth vaginally, is your vagina really never the same ever again? Is this only a physical, inside thing but also a visual, outside thing?

I think mine is pretty much the same,internally. On the outside,it looks a little different to me - a little more stretched out,but nothing too bad. Nothing to be concerned about.

And to be honest,its all worth it!! I'd do it again for sure.