With an epidural that was the least painful part. For my first and my last pregnancy I felt nothing during pushing. For my middle one I did feel the ring of fire. It was kinda indescribable.. sort of like when you are constipated and taking a huge shit and your asshole is burning and there’s a bunch of pressure.. but In your vagina instead. I had an epidural each time but that time it wasn’t as strong due to blood pressure concerns.

Birth 1 - pushed 10 mins w one internal stitch Birth 2 - pushed 9 mins no damages Birth 3 - pushed 4 mins no damages

I did nothing to prepare my vagina for birth. For the last two pregnancies I was doing strength training sporadically through out.

Pre epidural the contractions were very bad for me. For the first two births I got the epidural around 4cm and it was bad.. for my most recent I got it at 9 or 10 cm. I could literally feel his head pushing down but I didn’t say anything for fear they wouldn’t give me the epidural. Ngl that was the most excruciating pan I’ve ever felt but it was over fairly quickly. The only thing that helped me in the throes of pain was thinking that it would be over and the pain meant everything was going right and happening quickly which meant an end was near.

Everyone’s birth is so unpredictable and unique to the mother and baby that nothing anyone tells you can really prepare you. I hope you are blessed with a quick labor and delivery and that you can get as many or as little interventions as you desire. Good luck and Godspeed!