10 Things Every Mom Thinks When She's Pushing, But Doesn't Say Out Loud
byKristi Pahr
I think it's safe to say that every soon-to-be mom wonders what childbirth will be like, but very few first-time moms actually know what to expect. The pain can be surprising and I think there are some thoughts every mom has when she's pushing, but she doesn't say them out loud because, well, she's focusing on pushing a baby out of her body. Then again, maybe she can find the time to voice her concerns. I know I did. In fact, I said everything. Labor made me lose my filter entirely and not in the most dignified way, that's for sure.
Labor tears you down to your most basic, primal self. It's intense and it's extremely difficult and it can be scary, especially if you've never experienced it before. The best intentioned people try to explain what pushing a baby out of your body is like and they try to give you some idea of the scope of the pain, but there's no way words can accurately describe it. Whether you labored without medication or decided to have an epidural, childbirth involves a large amount of pain and, well, it hurts. So, the thoughts that run through your head (and sometimes, straight out of your mouth), can seem uncharacteristic or even embarrassing, but don't stress. Everyone says and thinks things during labor that are completely influenced by the pain. (In other words, no one will believe that you actually hate your partner and want to punch him in the you-know-what.)
I would argue the things soon-to-be moms say and think during labor, especially when actively pushing and moments away from meeting their babies, are not indicitive of who those mothers actually are. So, if you go off the rails, know that you're not alone. Here are a few things I thought, and I feel pretty sure they are universal.