"LABOR"- a descriptive blurb on my experience.

**Note: not everyone would share the same expereince**

Before I had Ashlyn, I frequently asked my friends (who had babies) what labor, contractions, and delivery felt like. Some said it was like bad cramps...but that's too general of an answer. Some said it just "Hurts like a mutha!"...which didn't help either. And some friends had complete brain-farts and couldn't seem to remember much. =T

I needed specifics. The major misconception I had was that the pain would be "down there". But it's not. You always hear the joke about "pushing a watermelon out an opening the size of a lemon." And I had that stupid picture in my mind the whole time.

Intense labor and contractions feel like a really bad case of the stomachache/Montezuma's Revenge. Both men and women can relate (in case some of the men were curious. hehehe):
waves of abdominal pain that make you double over, raise the hairs on your arms and neck, gave you goosebumps and a chill, and caused you to break out in a cold sweat. The pain is specifially in the abdominal area. It's manageable...not pleasant, but manageable.

As the baby is nearing it's arrival, the waves of abdominal pain becomes more frequent and last longer.

Not to fear though...if you opt for pain relief (as I did), the Epidural is amazing. It's administered through an IV drip into the base of your back. The nurse can adjust the amount to your comfort. Instantly, it takes the edge off the pain without the numbing sensation. I was able to feel the contractions without the pain. This would be a good time to rest or nap.

When it came time to "push" I didn't know exactly how to do it. Basically you're using the same abdominal muscles as you would to go "Number 2". Take keep breaths and bear down. The doctor and nurse will let you know if you're doing it right. Don't be embarassed if you actually poop in the process. I heard it happens all the time.

There's nothing to make you feel more vulnerable and exposed than having a baby. And afterwards, your sense of modesty becomes non-existent. HAHAHA!

I had an easy and smooth delivery...as some of my friends did too. Some people experience back pain due to the positioning of the baby. As long as you have a good doctor, they will do everything in their power to ensure a safe and relatively pain-free delivery. Medical technology is amazing these days.

I think another thing that gave me encouragement was thinking about those crazy stories of teenagers who would secretly give birth (in their closet, or in the bathroom stall at prom, etc..) completely unassisted. CRAZY! Shooooo, if they can do it, I can too! HAHAHA!

Should you have any questions, feel free to email me.