Surprise! Good Things Happen During Labor
You get pampered
“My husband DJed (everything from Noir Désir and T. Rex to Vangelis) with some awesome iPod playlists. I sat in the hot tub, lit candles, had a mid-labor massage — the whole nine yards. Honestly, it was like being given the royal treatment.” — Whitney
You feel empowered
“I remember shutting my eyes at some point during labor when I thought I just couldn’t take it anymore. This magical wave of fuzziness swept over me and I found so much inner strength. My baby arrived just a few minutes later.” — AnnaGracie
Pain meds really work
“I had sciatica and other nerve pain throughout my pregnancy. When I went into labor, I opted to have an epidural, and my body took to it extremely well. I felt better than I’d felt in months!” — Shepherdblue
You bond with your partner
“My husband was a rock. He held me up on the birthing ball because I was so tired I couldn’t stay upright. With every contraction, he told me what a wonderful job I was doing and encouraged me to hold off on pain meds for just one more. Just one more. Just one more!” — Pavlovcat
Your instincts kick in
“While my husband was at a conference four hours away, my water broke and I went into labor. My hopes of a natural, med-free delivery went out the window, and I went from being the most high-strung person to the calmest person ever! I think I realized I had no power to change anything, so I went into this Zen, happy place. Two of the nurses commented that I was the happiest, most relaxed patient they ever had! When my husband showed up, he was shocked at my calm demeanor too!” — Welshgirl12
Your modesty gets tossed out the window
“I’m a real estate agent, and my water broke at 12:30 p.m. while I was showing a home to a male client and his dad! I didn’t want to blurt out, ‘Hey, my water broke!’ in front of all parties, but that’s what happened!” — HarleyKins
A kind nurse may champion you
“I was surprised at what an amazing nurse I had! She was so patient and understanding. Ultimately, I ended up having an emergency c-section. My nurse stayed hours after her shift ended to meet my little guy and to congratulate me when they finally wheeled me out of the operating room.” — JoeLies
Birth plans get scrapped for good reason
“After my c-section, I found out that my baby had his cord wrapped around his neck three times and would not have tolerated labor. He is very healthy and I don’t know what would have happened had I tried a vaginal delivery.” — Tyedyeme1_2
You can make long-lasting relationships
“I had a scheduled c-section (my second) and was pleasantly surprised to see that the nurse who attended my first c-section two years prior was my nurse again, and she remembered me too. It was very reassuring to have a familiar face going into the surgery with me.” — Arnold94
Everyone seems to get over fears
“My husband hates feet, but he held my legs and then feet, and helped out like a champ when I pushed.” — Kochy131
There are some funny moments
“Hilariously, the entire time I was pushing and when the doctor came in, South Park was playing on the TV in the room. Since it was in the middle of the night, nothing was censored and the commercials were for phone sex lines! The staff, my husband and I would all randomly break out in giggles!” — Muksak
There’s a huge sense of relief at the end
“The actual sensation of the baby coming out was amazing; it’s something I can’t describe. Just pure awesome.” — Juliana
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Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
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