THE “RING OF FIRE” IN CHILDBIRTH – WHAT I WISH I’D KNOWN

I think I was maybe 16 the first time I heard someone describe the “ring of fire” in childbirth. She had just had her baby a few days before, and was describing the pain to us – she held her hands up with her fingers forming a circle and said – “you know … just… FIRE. Like, burning.”

ven though I didn’t have my first baby until I was 30 (so…. almost a decade and a half later), you could say I was scared crap-less going into labor.

The pain of childbirth, in general, was anxiety including for me, but during the 9 hours I labored before I started pushing, the ring of fire was definitely on my mind.

It’s the feeling created when the baby is crowning – when it’s head is pushing on the vaginal opening – and stretching the tissues there. And why is it called the ring of fire during childbirth?

WHAT IS THE RING OF FIRE IN CHILDBIRTH?

Well, yes – with a successful epidural that’s still in effect when your baby is born, you can avoid the ring of fire in childbirth.

CAN YOU AVOID FEELING THE RING OF FIRE IN CHILDBIRTH?

Shortly before I went into labor, I read somewhere that the ring of fire means your baby is trying to get out, and your vaginal tissues are either stretching or tearing (those are really the only options we have!)

THE THING THAT HELPED ME GET THROUGH THE RING OF FIRE

If you approach the feeling like it is something that is benefiting you rather than causing you damage, I swear, it makes it easier to live with. It hurts – yes – but it DOES NOT hurt any worse than everything else you’ve been through up to this point, so you CAN do this.

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