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

[mjmblh.livejournal.com]

I had my second child at home. My first was a c-section.

1. No, movies make it look HORRIBLE. It is actually a very spiritual, slow going process (usually). Contractions hurt.....how much worse that cramps? I guess it depends on your cramps. I have had UTI's that were worse, pain wise. And my sciatica is WAY more painful than childbirth. Hands down.

2. I tore. Pretty bad. I didn't even feel it. I didn't know I tore. What sucked more was being stitched up after. I had no pain meds at all for birth, but had lidocaine (I think) injected around the tear for repairs. That hurt more, I think. I had another issue- my tear repair got infected and opened AGAIN. I chose not to repair it. It is my battle scar.

3. Even with my tear, and it being a bit more "gaping" at the opening, my husband & I feel no internal difference during sex. We can't go all crazy and rough, but I never liked that anyway. No visual difference unless you REALLY get up in there and look for it. If I didn't tear I don't think you'd see anything different.