This one's easy.... Nothing like you've ever expected, dreamed or even thought of. I had this scenario that I would play over and over in my mind. My contractions would start, my water would break, I'd call my husband and we'd merrily be on our way to the hospital. Uh, no. Maybe that really does happen for some people, but my experience was much, much different.
After having my membranes stripped (where the doctor manually removes the amniotic sac from the uterus) my contractions finally began. They felt sooooo different than I had anticipated. I had this horrible sharp pain right above my pubic bone. I honestly thought it was just soreness from having my doctor's visit, along with checking my dilation (.5.. ugh, still?!) and having the membranes stripped. It wasn't until several hours later, that I realized, "Holy Crap. These are contractions?!" At first, it sort of felt like a period pain times 10,000. But still, my pain was located just above my pubic bone. That couldn't be right, could it? It wasn't anywhere else - not in my back, my abdomen, nowhere. I literally Googled contractions all night just to make sure I wasn't going crazy. And what did I discover? Yep. Everyone's contractions are different! And why wasn't my water breaking? This is definitely not the scene I had been anticipating.
So after about 18 hours of having contractions at home, I finally woke my husband up out of bed at 5 am (he had been blissfully sleeping while I had been pacing the floor and watching Bachelor in Paradise), I called my mom and was reassured that it was time to go to the hospital. I even remember getting there and when asked about my pain level from 0-10, I actually said 7. HA! I laugh at that now, because after feeling the contractions go up a billionth degree, ask me again and I would say a 2.
After getting to the hospital and going through all that fun, ahem, initial stuff, I was able to view my contractions on the monitor which affirmed that I wasn't crazy. As the hours progressed, so did the pain level. The contractions then came up and encircled my entire abdomen. And it felt like the hands of death were squeezing me within an inch of my life. Ok, maybe I exaggerate a little bit, but still. If I could have had a time out moment where I could rest, regroup and drink a gatorade, I would have taken about 37 of them.
Anticipating when your labor is going to begin is scary and can make you super anxious. Even though I was 12 days late and had the help of a doctor to get mine going, I was still nervous about the whole process. And no, my water never did break on its own. The doctor ended up having to do that, too. If you're waiting around for your contractions to begin, this I can tell you for sure - - - this pain will probably be the worst pain you've ever experienced...Disclaimer: I had an epidural, but it was 27 hours BEFORE the baby was born, so at that point I could feel everything but my feet... Now I realize the whole "I went through the jaws of life to deliver you" speech I've heard for the past 31 years. Thanks, mom. But.... you know what I'm going to say.... it's so worth it. Here I am now looking back at it (with my contractions starting over 7 months ago) and although it's a memory that still makes my skin crawl and my eyes water, I can say that I totally have bragging rights now.
Labor can be scary, but it's also exciting. It just means your little one is ready to come out and meet his mommy. So hunker down ladies - - eat one last pregnant-lady approved meal and get ready. You're going to need your energy for this.
After having my membranes stripped (where the doctor manually removes the amniotic sac from the uterus) my contractions finally began. They felt sooooo different than I had anticipated. I had this horrible sharp pain right above my pubic bone. I honestly thought it was just soreness from having my doctor's visit, along with checking my dilation (.5.. ugh, still?!) and having the membranes stripped. It wasn't until several hours later, that I realized, "Holy Crap. These are contractions?!" At first, it sort of felt like a period pain times 10,000. But still, my pain was located just above my pubic bone. That couldn't be right, could it? It wasn't anywhere else - not in my back, my abdomen, nowhere. I literally Googled contractions all night just to make sure I wasn't going crazy. And what did I discover? Yep. Everyone's contractions are different! And why wasn't my water breaking? This is definitely not the scene I had been anticipating.
So after about 18 hours of having contractions at home, I finally woke my husband up out of bed at 5 am (he had been blissfully sleeping while I had been pacing the floor and watching Bachelor in Paradise), I called my mom and was reassured that it was time to go to the hospital. I even remember getting there and when asked about my pain level from 0-10, I actually said 7. HA! I laugh at that now, because after feeling the contractions go up a billionth degree, ask me again and I would say a 2.
After getting to the hospital and going through all that fun, ahem, initial stuff, I was able to view my contractions on the monitor which affirmed that I wasn't crazy. As the hours progressed, so did the pain level. The contractions then came up and encircled my entire abdomen. And it felt like the hands of death were squeezing me within an inch of my life. Ok, maybe I exaggerate a little bit, but still. If I could have had a time out moment where I could rest, regroup and drink a gatorade, I would have taken about 37 of them.
Anticipating when your labor is going to begin is scary and can make you super anxious. Even though I was 12 days late and had the help of a doctor to get mine going, I was still nervous about the whole process. And no, my water never did break on its own. The doctor ended up having to do that, too. If you're waiting around for your contractions to begin, this I can tell you for sure - - - this pain will probably be the worst pain you've ever experienced...Disclaimer: I had an epidural, but it was 27 hours BEFORE the baby was born, so at that point I could feel everything but my feet... Now I realize the whole "I went through the jaws of life to deliver you" speech I've heard for the past 31 years. Thanks, mom. But.... you know what I'm going to say.... it's so worth it. Here I am now looking back at it (with my contractions starting over 7 months ago) and although it's a memory that still makes my skin crawl and my eyes water, I can say that I totally have bragging rights now.
Labor can be scary, but it's also exciting. It just means your little one is ready to come out and meet his mommy. So hunker down ladies - - eat one last pregnant-lady approved meal and get ready. You're going to need your energy for this.