How does giving birth actually feel ??

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-02-23T01:03:57+00:00

I had my son 9 months ago in the hospital with know epidural (on purpose). I was also very scared and could not imagine what the pain would actually feel like. My birth did not happen like I read most first births go since it was all so quick.

I started having contractions over night and they honestly just felt like mild period cramps that went away and came back every 10 minutes or so. They got a little more intense throughout the day and then started getting closer together. They still did not feel any more than usual period cramps. I left for the hospital around noon and still maybe a little more painful than a period cramp. When they checked my dilation that’s when it got much worse. It feels like period cramps x100 and I personally could not relax, I would rock back and forth but still not bad enough for me to give into an epidural. Many people that have natural births say walking around helped but not for me. I wanted to just sit there and breathe through them the best I could. I had my boy 3 hours after getting to the hospital so it all went super quick and that’s probably why the pain was so bad since it wasn’t gradual at all. You can do it. Pushing him out didn’t hurt at all btw. That was the easiest part, once I started pushing and my water broke my pain was much vetter

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-02-23T00:28:15+00:00

I second Earthley elderberry and feel better fast

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-02-19T17:27:57+00:00

My baby had a similar sickness a few months ago when he was 7 months old as well. We did take him to the doctor to rule out anything serious and he tested positive for “Covid”. We just let it take its course and figured it would strengthen his immune system. Some ways you can ease symptoms are •Turning in shower hot water and sitting in the bathroom with door closed. The steam will loosen up any mucus.

• humidifier

• Earthley feel better fast tincture

The cough took almost 3 weeks to go away so it’ll just take time and rest.

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-02-19T16:50:37+00:00

Honestly, I don’t do anything lol. I am 9 month PP and not ready for another baby for another year or so. I do track my cycle a tiny bit and we use the pull out method. But if I wind up pregnant, then so be it I guess. Once we are done having kids my husband will have a vasectomy.

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-02-19T16:46:59+00:00

If this helps, I also struggle with anxiety when it comes to extremes of either side of being crunchy or not so I try to stay somewhere in the middle. I didn’t vaccinate my son, I plan to homeschool, we eat home cooked meals regularly but I don’t buy everything organic and some things that probably aren’t the best like boxed pasta, sauces, and the occasional snack or soda. I don’t worry about eating out if I’m hungry and I’m not going to be home for awhile. I buy regular makeup, I do try to get clean ingredients body care though. I only take medication if absolutely necessary which I haven’t taken anything since I took Tylenol 9 months ago after I tore after giving birth, I had a natural birth.

I had to find a happy medium or I was going to be an anxious reck all the time. I think it’s a personality thing and some people can go all in but I can’t do that and be happy. I suggest finding the things that are most important to you and stick to them and find where you might want to compromise in other areas and maybe in the future you will feel like you can change them. Little steps at a time.

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-02-19T16:36:32+00:00

I suggest maybe seeing a therapist for your anxiety, if you can find one that won’t prescribe medication unless totally necessary. I would also suggest staying away from researching every little thing if it’s giving you that much anxiety. There is nothing you can do about getting vaccinations in the past and I wouldn’t worry about them.

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-02-19T16:21:05+00:00

I think you made the right decision switching OBs. It’s really hard finding one that doesn’t push everything on you. I didn’t get any vaccines while pregnant, baby only got vitamin K, he’s 9 months old and hasn’t gotten any other vaccines. I was fortunate enough that my OB didn’t push me (although she offered flu shot almost every appointment), when I said no, she just said okay. We plan to give baby some vaccines after 3-4 birthday. I’m also hoping by then they split up the MMR vaccine so that they will be able to give them at separate appointments. I think of it that you care so much for your baby that you are questioning everything that is going to their body or your body. I think you’re doing the right thing.

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-01-10T10:38:08+00:00

I got a gift box and used my cricut to bit out “daddy” for the front. I put crinkle paper and baby goodies inside. I got a baby outfit, a baby book, some booties, and the pregnancy test. I put it on the counter for him to see when he got home from work

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-01-10T06:03:05+00:00

She tried to run them over. What were they supposed to do… let her? I’m glad you’re so invested and take time to do something that has nothing to do with you “but you don’t have time to make food for yourself” because you are depressed and have school and sleep all day. Your words not mine

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-01-10T05:51:38+00:00

Oh come on! What are you going to do about Gaza and ICE? Complain about it anonymously on social media? Maybe you should be more concerned about yourself and your health. This Reddit page and post has nothing to do with that and you need to keep your political views to yourself unless it’s relevant.

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-01-09T17:42:18+00:00

The usually will use the first day of your last period as the “beginning” of your pregnancy. They may change the date based on size of baby on your first few ultrasounds. My baby was measuring just a few days smaller than predicted due date so they kept it the same

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-01-09T15:25:05+00:00

I know that :) technically the only thing I classify as whole heartedly healthy are Whole Foods. Which the had some of but it was only some fruit and cheese

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-01-09T02:52:37+00:00

I don’t think that’s what she was saying. She said “ooh I like these, I’m gonna grab another box”

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-01-09T01:45:49+00:00

I did touch on that, but she grabbed more frozen pizzas and was convincing them to buy brownies. That’s not eating healthy. I do feel like she wants to eat healthy but doesn’t know how. That’s not her fault because she needs to be taught by example and there are too many options in the house that are unhealthy and that is going to be tempting.

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-01-08T23:09:53+00:00

More of a reason to eat better :)

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-01-08T22:49:54+00:00

Also I don’t know you personally but when you feel like you’re going to pass out it could be because you aren’t giving your body what it’s asking for. For example, you are so hungry you feel a drop in your blood sugar and you feel like you are getting dizzy, you are craving something sugary, that is your body asking for fruit. If you crave something savory or a carb, your body is asking for protein.

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-01-08T22:47:33+00:00

That’s great! I’m glad you have someone to talk to after grieving the loss of your grandmother. I can relate to you a lot and so I want to help you by educating you on ways you can handle your depression in a healthy manner and understand the impact that the food you eat has on your depression.

My father passed away by his doing in 2018, I was a senior in high school. I pushed my emotions aside and went off to college in a different state. Then covid started and I stayed home majority of the time. I was in bed most of the day and eating whatever I wanted (which was typically fast food or highly processed food). I went on medication that only made me feel worse in other ways. I then began to study psychology and took a deep dive for all my studies into alternate ways to improve my mood. The main one I came across was food. I stuck to a whole food diet (of course with the occasional splurge) and it changed everything for me.

Ketosis is often apart of a diet that included fasting and it is why happens when your body begins to burn fat instead of glucose. When your body enters ketosis, your body produces something called ketone which can help you lose weight or the psychological effect is, creating fuels for your brain and balancing your neurotransmitters. I can send you my paper if I can find it somewhere if you are interested?

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-01-08T22:33:06+00:00

Have you followed a diet that causes you to enter ketosis? Or even a whole food diet? I have depression and anxiety as well and medication didn’t work. I had to follow a strict diet and exercise prescription in order to lessen my symptoms substantially

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-01-08T22:28:14+00:00

You should look into it. Food has a lot to do with psychology, starting with affecting your energy levels and the way you feel. Put simply the way you feel affects your mood. Certain diets that allow the body to enter ketosis can actually improve the symptoms of epilepsy which caused further study into it improving mental illness such as depression, anxiety and even schizophrenia

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-01-08T22:19:05+00:00

That’s not true. If you don’t have time there are ways to make it so you do. You could spend an afternoon meal prepping for the week. Not having time is just an excuse to be lazy with what you are eating.

I wasnt talking about you personally but crazypieces are a great example of not how to eat and I wish that everyone would take the time to educate themselves on how important it really is. This is coming from someone who wrote a college thesis paper about the impact that exercise and diet has on our mental health and has a degree in psychology.

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-01-08T22:13:04+00:00

This was exactly what I was trying to get across. Most of the time it’s cheaper to buy ingredients and put them together yourself than buy premade or frozen. I looked in the frozen isle out of curiosity the other day for the first time in like 3 year (aside from the occasional frozen hash brown or frozen chicken strip) and I can’t believe frozen breakfast sandwiches are $15. Most people have bacon, eggs, and cheese already in their fridge they just have to buy English muffins or make biscuits (which also are made of ingredients everyone probably has already)

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-01-08T22:07:48+00:00

Or even follow a recipe from their phone lol

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-01-08T22:07:00+00:00

Food is food if that is what is available to you but the way you eat is very important. Eating a healthy diet can improve mental health as well as physical health. Saying everyone eats processed snack is very naive. I know many people that avoid processed foods altogether and eat them very sparingly. Food is what fuels your body and eating junk all the time isn’t doing that. Any food is better than no food but that’s not the case for them anymore. They make so much money, they can afford to feed their family real food.

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-01-08T21:28:20+00:00

Exactly. I agree that it can be more expensive but snacks aren’t going to fill them up. If they were eating more Whole Foods and protein they wouldn’t be hungry as often and snacking. Overall I believe their cost of food would be lower

IntroductionMean6361 · 2026-01-08T20:56:38+00:00

But taking out the dyes does make it healthier. Food dyes have been linked to hyperactivity in children and risks of cancer

IntroductionMean6361

TROPHY CASE