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11-07-2012 at 8:01 AM
kelliejo74
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Question for all the Momma's out there

This is a question more out of curiosity then nerves. Did you experience anything during labor/post labor that you felt you were not completely informed of or not expecting at all?

Thanks :)

 

 
11-07-2012 at 8:15 AM
MollusksWr...
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I woke up at 4am with diarrhea, it woke me up every four minutes....it was labor. Surprise.

Other than that, not much was a surprise but I pooped all day it sucked.

 
11-07-2012 at 8:49 AM
Sagen
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After labor I had horrible night sweat the first night post partum. I would wake up freezing and drenched in sweat. It was the worst with my first since I retained more water with her. After every birth I have to at some point in the night change my pajamas because I was freezing cold from sweating. It had nothing to do with the tempature, just getting rid of extra water. Pack a pair of extra pajamas incase that is the same for, I always do now.

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11-07-2012 at 8:53 AM
jyoung630
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i was hungry like you wouldn't believe with my first.  I ate everything I could get my hands on during the first 4 days of labor.  After he was born, I ate like I was completely starved.  I had no idea that I would need so much to eat the first few hours after!  Not even my Mom told me about that one. 


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11-07-2012 at 9:06 AM
TMWarren85
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During labor and immediately after I threw up a few times- I hadn't eaten in over 18 hours so it wasn't like there was anything in there but it still happened. I was SUPER hot (and not feverish), my L&D room was so cold everyone was wearing sweaters in June and I was still sweating. 

Post delivery I was thirsty ALL THE TIME- I felt like a camel. I was also extremely constipated from the constant pain medication so be prepared to take some stool softeners (my nurse offered them to me un-solicited and it wasn't until then that I realized I had been a few days without any 'movement'). 

The first few times you BF (if you choose to) you will more than likely get some intense uterine cramps, pretty soon after LO latches on. That threw me off guard, but it's a good thing, just uncomfortable at first.  

Don't assume you know everything and blow off the nurses suggestions, I tried to talk them into letting me go home a day early because the room was so cramped, DH didn't sleep, I was uncomfortable and I just KNEW everything would be better at home. They talked me into staying and that night we realized DD couldn't latch well and was up crying all night, had to call the lactation consultant,  no sleep- rough. One nurse almost had an 'I told you so' mentality which didn't sit well with me, but they were right. Take all the help/suggestions they offer, even if you you try it your way first- they know what they're talking about.


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11-07-2012 at 9:08 AM
shibby00
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I didn't expect to labor for 18 hrs, push for 3.5 hrs, then have a c section. Oh, is that not what you meant? I also didn't expect to have hard contractions while shittting my brains out on the tiny triage toilet. That sucked.

 
11-07-2012 at 9:15 AM
MomlovesEl...
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I didn't realize how much I would have to pee during labor and what a pain in the azz it would become. I had IVs and had to be internally monitored so there were wires everywhere. It was a 15 minute process each time I got up so they eventually gave me a bed pan. I'm a shy pee-er so it was no fun. I was  dreading a catheter up until labor, but by the time I got my epidural, I was so happy not to have to worry about peeing anymore. 
 
11-07-2012 at 9:16 AM
Maryland B...
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1) I almost vomited during labor. Totally out of the blue. I can't put my finger on if it was pain or just the turmoil my body was undergoing. 

2) getting the epidural as late as I did ( i was fully dilated yet still allowed it)  I had full on contractions and sitting still for that was a MOTHER! let me say. He kept telling me to stay still and during a contraction perched on the edge of the bed my toes were barely touching the floor = Impossible! but I knew he could paralyze me! boy that was stressful.

3) Breast feeding. My nipples were so big and sore and I even feel it now been pg and it brings back horrific memories. I spent a week suffering. Her latch appeared fine but I was soooooooo sore I was in tears. 100% UNPREPARED for having the pain and difficulty I had. Even with more research I don't think I could of been prepared it was just getting through the first bit then my milk came and the only way to describe it is your nipples "toughen up"  Lasinoh was my saving grace! OH and Ice packs!!!!!!!! The Lactation Consultant was taking about taking her o ENT to get the frenulum cut but after talking to our ped etc.. she said thats their answer for everything. I'm glad I waited because we did just fine. 


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11-07-2012 at 9:19 AM
lovingmygi...
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As PP, I also had really bad night sweats after labor...they lasted for a week or two and it was so bad I would have to change pjs and started putting a towel directly where I slept...that was interesting

And I don't know if this happened to anyone else, but my inmune system took a nose dive right after delivery and I went home with a sweet baby and a major sinus infection/cold that I needed antibiotics for...I had such a healthy pregnancy that I was shocked that I could have gotten sick soo fast and so badly


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11-07-2012 at 9:25 AM
JohnsonShm...
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I threw up a lot during labor. I was not expecting that. Also my epidural didn't work. I had taken a birthing class and learned breathing exercises, but I really just planned on the epidural. Breathing exercises did not help me.
Oh and pitocin really sucks!

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11-07-2012 at 9:33 AM
cmhicklin
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During labor, the gushing of water was freaking me out big time.  I was happy when I got my epidural that I didn't have to feel it anymore!  After labor, it was the gushing of blood.  Every time I would sit up or stand up, it felt like a river flowing out of me.  It wasn't as much as it felt like though.

My chest hurt the next few days after having DD.  I am guessing it had something to do with straining while pushing.  When I first got out of bed, I could barely walk 3 steps, and then I felt like I couldn't breathe.


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11-07-2012 at 10:15 AM
synchrosal...
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I didn't expect the vomiting from the pain. I knew an epi could cause vomiting but never did I expect to vomit with nearly every contraction before I begged for an epi.

I also didn't expect to be induced without meds. I didn't expect to go into instant labour with minute long contractions and only 30 seconds rest in between or the intense, unrelenting pain that went along with that.

After labour I didn't expect the profuse sweating. Like sleep with a towel sweating. Sweating while shivering while nursing sweating. And as a result constant thirst.

Oh and the murder scene that is your first trip to the bathroom. Even with a nurse's help she had a lot of cleaning up to do. She was expecting it but I was shocked!
11-07-2012 at 10:51 AM
TamaraR4
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Itching! Before I had my daughter, I rarely used pads.  Of course after childbirth, you can't use anything else.  Unfortunately I didn't think about the fact that I have extremely sensitive skin and the reason I seldom used pads was they made me itch.  Oops.  If you have skin issues/problems, plan that into your post-birth strategy!

Also, I strained many muscles-- my arms, my legs, my neck... plan for a visit to the chiropractor or a massage if you can! 


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11-07-2012 at 10:59 AM
101Mims
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I didn´t read up on after pains at all and so was totally unprepared for them.

I mean the pains were like the contractions I had during active labour and I was terrified that they were only going to get worse. Not just that, but as I had had an unplanned csection I thought something had gone wrong with that.

I didnt have anyone who I cld ask about what the heck was happening and to be honest I was in such pain that I cldnt speak. Poor DH was freaked out and I ended up being taken to A &E by ambulance.

 



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11-07-2012 at 11:13 AM
PrimRoseMa...
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kelliejo74:
This is a question more out of curiosity then nerves. Did you experience anything during labor/post labor that you felt you were not completely informed of or not expecting at all?
Thanks :
nbsp;


I was not prepared for the bleeding. It was nuts! Also, the nurses need to massage your uterus to get it to shrink. I didn't know this and when she did that every 15 minutes it was very uncomfortable. I was also very wide awake after delivery. I thought I would be exhausted. I didn't feel tired until about a day later. Lastly, I didn't expect BF to be as painful as it was.

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11-07-2012 at 11:18 AM
drewiekc
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Like PP have mentioned, the night sweats.  Oh lord, I was not prepared for that.  I retained a LOT of water during my pregnancy, and spent the next week after DD was born sweating it out at night.  It didnt happen until our first night home, and I woke up thinking I had peed the bed.  After my c-section, the shakes.  I didnt have them very bad, I've heard of some moms not even being able to hold their babies because they were shaking so bad.  Also the itching.  I knew itching can be a side effect of epidurals, but I was really not prepared for it.  And you can't take Benadryl or anything because it affects your milk supply, so it's something that you kind of just have to let run it's course.

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11-07-2012 at 11:46 AM
AmandaAndT...
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I was induced with pitocin but stopped progressing so they wanted to break my water. I was totally unprepared for the horribly awkward feeling of having a kiddie pool flowing out of me and not being able to control it. Plus bc I was hooked up to everything I couldn't sit on the toilet to let it out. They just kept changing towels and pads every 510 minutes. It felt SO STRANGE and uncomfortable. I also was surprised at how little I cared that I pooped multiple times while pushing. I was so nervous about it before hand but in the moment I was like "hey at least my pushing is working!" Lol gross I know.

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11-07-2012 at 11:48 AM
AFBTB
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After labor the adrenaline rush hit me hard. I was very shaky, I was shivering, my teeth were chattering and everything. That was a complete surprise to me.

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11-07-2012 at 12:12 PM
LW2410
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I realize that my experience isn't typical but it obviously can happen: I didn't know that I was in labor until it was too late and my OB had to call an ambulance for me. I thought that I was going to die when the contractions were right on top of each other lol My labor was less than 5 hours from the possible start (?) to holding the baby.

I think my first sign was that I felt like I had to poop. A while after that, I started having time-able contractions: 9mins apart for ~hour -> 5mins apart for 30mins -> less than 20secs apart until it was time to push.

Also, firemen are terrified of a laboring woman.

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11-07-2012 at 1:40 PM
Misses-C
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Well, I ended up having a c/s and the one thing that shocked me, was, while the idea having air in me made sense, since I was cut open, I didn't think of the air getting out of my body.  So, passing gas was incredibly painful, but I also would get pains in weird areas.  I remember one night having such pains in my shoulder.  And the nurse is like its probalby an air bubble up there, that just has to work itself out.
11-07-2012 at 9:42 PM
Vespah
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Night sweats were terrible. Changed my clothing 2-3x each night. During the day all the sweat seemed to come out of my feet. It was disgusting. I had to sit with my feet up in front of a fan to keep the dampness away periodically just for some relief. I was in SUCH need of a pedicure after 2 weeks with my feel all peeling from constantly being wet.

Someone gave me some great advice and pre-make up some large maxi pads (cut in half so they are shorter) soaked in water and then put in the freezer. REALLY helps the swelling and keep things cool down there for the next couple of days after delivery, just wrap them up in some TP on top of the other enormous maxi pad you'll be wearing and you'll be golden.


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