What odd things did you INSIST on doing, whilst in labour?

[MamaG]

With DD, I had an epidural so couldn't feel teh contractions. When MW said it was time to push I insisted on brushing my teeth first (I'd be sick earlier and I HATE having dirty teeth!)

I also kicked the student MW, hard, on the hip when I was in too much pain to speak when she said something about DD's name (silly bitch)

[tinkspregnantwithnumber2]

screaming with the last contractions got told off

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

having my specs on

[pagwatch]

I am positively prudish but I had to be naked (much to my surprise and ). And i couldn't open my eyes which was odd too

[LittleMyDancing]

Moving delivery rooms.....

[Idobelieveinfairies]

with one of my labours i remember thinking the telly, baby heart monitor and the gas and air cannister were ganging up on me...it was really quite traumatic......i think it was the pethidine.

I also craved chocolate m&m's whilst in labour (the same labour)..i was really cross and crying because i couldn't have them...i blame pethidine on that one too.

I HAD to have a hand to hold through labour too-it didn't matter who the hand belonged to but i had to have one.

I also remember a swedish/austrian anathesist (!..person who does epidurals)...coming in, he had to explain the risks before he could do the epidural...i was in soo much pain, i was really really rude to him.....i am sure he was speaking even slower just to annoy me....i am never usually rude to anyone...so was very unlike me, felt really really bad the next day. I remember the midwives shouting after him as he left about how he would never have to go through somuch pain..so he must have made a comment about my rudeness

[Surfermum]

I growled at dh "move your coat it's annoying me".

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

Oh yes, and having a shit in my washing up bowl (homebirth).

Still a bit about that one....

[TheProvincialLady]

PMSL at insisting on lancashire hotpot!

I didn't insist on anything in labour but straight afterwards I insisted on having a bed bath NOW. If only I had been that forthright a couple of hours earlier things might have gone a bit better.

[belcantavinissima]

brushing my teeth. was convinced my breath tasted really really horrific. kept struggling to the wards loos to brush em, stopping once or twice on way there and back each time for the contractions! also manged to eat about 6 packs of softmints for very same reason

[pud1]

play a board game. oh went to tesco am bought trivial persuit. was naked on a birthing ball playing games with oh and mil... just wanted to focus on something else. did shout at midwife for helpng with others questions though

[MamaG]

lol at pooing in washing up bowl!!

[fatzak]

I blame the pethedine for me thinking that the ventouse was actually a trumpet I'd also read somewhere that if you can grab onto the bed frame behind you, it helps you to push. So when they told me to grab my knees, all i could think was grab the bed head and couldn't find it

[brightandshiny]

I insisted on helping Dh do a crossword whilst high on diamorphine. I kept giggling at every one he read out and then suggesting ridiculous answers which made me giggle even more. Best laugh I'd had for ages.

[chocbiscuits]

Insisted on having the gas and air from the gas bottle rather than the piped stuff by the bed because 'it was different and the piped stuff didn't work'

[mydisguise]

I straightened my hair in between contractions 3 mins apart

[WinkyWinkola]

Standing up. Not being continously monitored. Reading Heat magazine. Berating DH for not being totally engrossed in every contraction I had.

I learned from the first time around that it's important to get what you want when you're in labour!

[Bowddee]

I insisted on lying on my back. And I had always sworn blind I would never give birth on my back because it was 'unnatural'!

[snowleopard]

Oh god. Blithering on endlessly about how I was never any good at sports and so was always bound to be crap at labour, although (i remember waffling inanely) I am good with my hands and crafty things, but then they aren't really much use for labour blah blah blah de blah. I was off my head on drugs and had no concept of the passing of time... I truly had the most patient midwife ever, the poor woman.

[bohemianbint]

I insisted I wouldn't get off the loo and come out of the bathroom. (Another home birth!) Went all feral and wanted to be by myself. And anyway, no one was really taking it all that seriously as it was my first baby and had only been in labour about 2 hours. By the time I did come out the baby was pretty much ready to rock!

[snowleopard]

At my antenatal class they told us about a woman who insisted on going for a poo during labour. They said they thought the baby was coming but she said "I'll have you know I am a doctor, this is my third baby and IT IS A POO!" It was the baby and it was born on the toilet!

[MamaG]

lol at baby being born on the toilet! did they call it Louie/Lulu?

[Wisknit]

I tend to sing random little snipets of tunes or just made up series of notes to get through contractions.

[Wisknit]

I tend to sing random little snipets of tunes or just made up series of notes to get through contractions.
Or sometimes just one long sustained note.

[bythepowerofgreyskull]

I insisted on Dh bringing me a snorkle from our dive kit as I really wanted my face under the water (birthing pool in sitting room)
as much as it was great to have a couple of contractions completely submerged it snapped out of the haze for a moment and felt very silly so gave dh the snorkle back.