2 babies. No contractions. I wanna know how it feels!

I have two children who I carried to term and love fiercely but I’ve never had a contraction.

Now I’m curious to see how it feels.

I’ve been thinking about this lately after watching a video doing the rounds on social media. You might have seen it. It shows a couple of men hooked up to an ultrasound machine that simulates labour pains. Their partners look on in hysterics as they writhe around in pain, swear and even vomit.

Here it is for your viewing pleasure:

httpv://youtu.be/ppzV6hoPkIc

I have been wondering if they might let me have a go?!

My story

I became pregnant for the first time at 29. My pregnancy was planned, happened in a relatively short time and we were thrilled. The morning sickness until 14 weeks was a drag but overall the pregnancy was uneventful. At 28 weeks we discovered our baby was in a breech position. Nothing to worry about, completely normal, should resolve itself. I did some weird yoga positions to try and get him to turn but he didn’t. By 38 weeks our baby had managed to get his skull completely wedged under my ribcage (yes, this was as uncomfortable as it sounds). After seeking advice and considering our options we decided to book in for an elective Caesarean at 39 weeks.

At 32 after a horrendous 10 weeks of morning sickness we lost our second pregnancy at 14 weeks (this is for another post which I am not yet ready to write).

At 33 we were delighted (and a little bit frightened) to discover we were pregnant again. This time the morning sickness started at 3 weeks and lasted until 20 weeks! After that things went pretty much to plan although the nausea never really passed. I was looking forward to having a go at the whole birth thing. This is called VBAC (Virginal Birth After Caesarian). I researched VBAC (ie read that chapter in my “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” book) and talked to my Doctor who was all for me “having a go”.

What I didn’t realise after having an elective Caesarean and never having “laboured” the first time around was the following:

I could not be induced (too great a risk of uterine rupture);
My Doctor was reluctant to let me go over my dates (this baby was already much bigger than our first – same reason as above);
If I did go into labour I would not be able to labour or push for too long (same reason as above and greater risk of bleeding).

So I waited as long as possible and with absolutely nothing happening to my cervix I had another elective caesarean at 39.5 weeks. I was never disappointed with our decision, just elated that we finally had this beautiful baby in our arms.

Louise’s son Patrick

So that’s it for me: Two babies, two C-sections, not one contraction!”

Now obviously recovering from a C-section is no walk in the park but I have never had a “birth” experience. There are obviously many other mothers who are in the same boat. Maybe you adopted your children, maybe you’re a step mum, maybe like me you have only ever had C-sections.

Although I definitely have no regrets or desire to change anything about my own journey a little bit of me is curious about what it feels like.

So I think I might see if I can have a go on that machine.

Anyone want to come with me?