Do Anyone Else Feel the Same, or Is It Just me..who Feels This Way After Labor?

I wasnt as looking forward to labor with my second as much as I did with my first either..... we KNOW what it feels like the second time around and it's not really something you beg to do if you know what I mean.
Second labor was a much easier delivery than the first, if that's any consequence.

All I can say is that it was much easier with my second...physically, emotionally, recovery, everything!

We are all so different. I've had four, two without any pain meds and I 'd do it again. I love being pregnant and I love giving birth. The entire process is incredible to me. It's the sleepless nights that make me cringe! Being up all night with a sick infant/toddler? Yikes!

You're normal. Childbirth isn't just physical, it's emotional. I remember occasional bursts of panic if I thought about labor when I was pregnant last year... with my third kid, lol. But those kids are worth it in the end.

For most women who labor and birth in a hospital will feel the same way you do... and with VERY good reason.

Labor and birth is a private affair... having many medical professionals, residents and trainees coming in and out of your sanctuary (room) is hard on your psyche and makes it harder to allow your body to do as it should.

Laying on your back, not allowed to eat or drink 'just in case' a cesarean is needed not only weakens you, but splinters your mind in what you are thinking about which makes labor harder. Being on your back and not moving freely also severely limits your natural course of having gravity assist with the birth. Gravity is a big thing and it works against you in the normal back lying position for birth.

SO many other things I could say that would validate your opinions and feelings about birth... I recommend you go to a Midwife at a stand alone clinic or consider a possible home birth.

i didnt forget the pain i felt (before the epidural). i also want to try to have no drugs with my next child. i think what you are feeling/experiencing is totally normal.

I was also told by a lot of people that as soon as you have your baby, you will forget the pain. WRONG for me!!! My dd was almost 3 before I thought I would possibly do it again. Our situation has meant no more kids for me for the time being but if I was ever to get married again I would be terrified and thats more than 7 years later. My sister has had 2 kids in that time and has another one on the way and it makes me feel physically sick and worried about her even though she has no worries about it. Bearing in mind I did have complications (pre-eclampsia, 21 hr labor and was forgotten about by hospital staff causing my dd to be 2 weeks overdue and both of us nearly dying) 1st child, I did not have a clue and basically did what I was told. After it was over I was unwell for weeks and did not understand why all these doctors and nurses were apologizing to me!! (cotton wool brain on my part) So after that long speech :-) I really don't know if I would do it again. Everyone is different though and I know lots of people who would go through it again instantly.

You're not the only one. The number one thing that keeps me going back and forth on the issue is the process of labor and delivery and the risks associated with it. (I developed pre-eclampsia) I am terrified of going through that again, I was sick most of my pregnancy, though I somewhat enjoyed being pregnant despite that and I was sick during and after my L and D. I don't think you forget...maybe you just become more resilient to it as time goes by or after 2-3 kids wear you down. LOL!

If you haven't already gotten pregnant, shelve the issue for a while. Wait and see what life brings and don't dwell on it quite so much. Maybe you'll get more clarity that way.

I'm totally with you. I have bad anxiety about the pain i will have to endure and i cry watching birthing stories too. wierd....

I don't agree with the "women forget the labor pain"
Oh ya? When? haha

I had a natural birth with both my kids. And trust me. I REMEMBER that pain.
I remembered the pain of the 1st when I was having #2. Only #2 was WAY more intense.
That process is rough! It takes a lot of guts to continue to want to do it.
Besides just the labor, pregnancy in general can be rough.

I got lucky and had 2 fantastic pregnancies. No morning sickness, crazy mood swings.etc. Both labors were 100% drug free (OUCH!) and lasted about 5-6hours. I will never forget that pain. EVER.
Funny thing is, I still think I want to do it one more time. Husband isn't on the same boat with that.. haha we shall see

I didn't even birth my daughter (she's my biological niece) but my sister was in labor for four days. Her water broker Friday morning and we were in and out of the hospital through Saturday beore they really admitted her. I loved the outcome of an amazing little girl but there was no way I was going to go through that. One is WONDERFUL!!

I have three very good friends. Two of them cringe at the thought of delivering another baby. (Well actually one not so much anymore because she ended up with a C-section) But they can't even think about that part of it. My one friend pushed for hours only to end in a C-section and the other one said it was just and overall traumatic experience for her...even though both babies were born healthy.

Then there is my other friend and me and we cringe at the thought of going through nine months of pregnancy. I had a relatively healthy/normal nine months with no serious issues. But there was heartburn beyond belief! And I hated the whole sugar test. I hated the leg cramps at night! The constant dr visits. And I had a few other issues to boot. My other friend had constant bleeding with her first that made her worry the whole pregnancy on top of all the normal pregnancy related things, heartburn, leg cramps...etc. But we both had easy deliveries. We both have said we would delivery any day over going through the nine months prior.

So, yes, I think what your feeling is normal. Somehow, I think ultimately what makes you go through it again is the fact that the little bundle of joy makes up for the hard parts. But, when your done, you'll rejoice in the fact you don't have to do it again. Or at least that is what I did. :)

Sounds like you need an epidural. You NEVER forget it just seems not that big of a deal after a while. I look back on that hectic day and smile because I was a freaking champ. I had 2 (TWO!) failed epidurals and I felt EVERYTHING. All my family was telling me how good it was going to be and me who is normally pretty outspoken managed to not go off and tell them they were INSANE for thinking everything was going "good" :). I think the only anxiety I have about it is if the epidural doesn't work again.. that scares the hell out of me. I guess the outcome for me was that I did something I never thought I could do without pain meds (even though I DONT want to go that route voluntarily). Baby #2 is coming in December and I have to think that I'm gonna rock this time as well..

Your second delivery might be easier not that it won't be painful. When your time comes ask for an epidural. I had a c-section twice and was pretty upset about it. I get these small pinchy,pulling feelings in that area and it's not greatest feeling. Things are not always the same the second time around. Don't think too much about it.

I call BS on any women who says they "forgot" about the pain..... I had too natural child births...(not by choice, epi not allowed with my blood thinners). My first labor was 56, yes I said 56 HOURS of excruciating pain that I will never forget and occasionally still cringe from and that was almost 5 years ago. My 2nd baby is now 10 m/o, her labor was no where near as long but just as intense pain wise, I had back labor like you wouldn't believe. And yup, I remember every second of that one as well. I was terrified the entire time I was prego because I knew what to expect. And ya know what....I'd still do it all again to have my girls :) But don't think for one minute that I'm not one day in the distant future gonna use that against them....ahhhh...I can just hear me now telling my then teenage diva "I was in labor with you for 56 HOURS, I brought you into this world, I can take you out"...lol. I longed for that kind of peaceful, pleasant birthing experience I'd heard my friends and relatives speak of...but then, they ALL had drugs and didn't feel a thing. If I were you and you have the ability to have the epi...I'd go that route. Good Luck and God Bless!

I have 2 and the labors were very different. With my first, I was on an epidural and had a pretty routine delivery. With my second, it was very quick and I almost had him in the car. I delivered 10 minutes after arriving at the hospital without an epidural. I can remember every detail of both, but I do not get too emotional thinking about them. My second was especially scary because I didn't think I was going to make it to the hospital in time. But now, my husband and I can tell the story and laugh about me hanging my head out the window of the car in mid-January just to breathe the cold air. I haven't forgotten the pain, but when I think back, that is not really what I think about.