I'm currently 31 weeks with my first baby, and to say that I am bricking it about the birth would be an understatement.

Everywhere I seem to be reading horrors about people's first births! People keep telling me that you never hear the good stories, only the bad, so in the interest of redressing the balance, please could you share your nice birth stories with me please and hopefully calm me down!

Of course, if this thread goes unanswered, I probably shan't sleep at all for the next nine weeks!

Well despite recently starting a thread about stitches I had a lovely birth even though it was premature and v high tech and interventionist...labour lasted about 5 hours I think and was only pushing for half an hour despite epidural. Midwives and partner were fantastic and I was so happy to meet baby. So you can have a birth that some people might think will be awful that is in fact wonderful. Can't see why people share horror stories with people awaiting their first baby.

Congratulations! You'll get loads of responses - this is a good idea For me, first baby, first sign of any kind at 4pm, nothing really happened til 6.30pm, the going got tough at 9.30pm and the baby was born 11.15pm. So much shorter than I feared it would be!

Hello BorgLady

I wound myself up something rotten before I had my DS. I was convinced I would be in labour for daaaays.

I was 10 days overdue, and my contractions started at 2pm, and were every 5 mins from the start. They felt just like bad paeriod pains for about an hour or so, but I had a tens machine on that kept them to quite a dull ache, even when they got stronger. Then at about 4pm I needed to push....eeeek! The pain got bad then, but I think it was more panic, as the hospital had told me not to come in as they were sure I 'didn't need to push'

Anyway, got to hosp at 6pm, and DS was born at 8pm And it was over so so quickly! Didn't feel like I'd been ther 20 mins, never mind pushing for 2 hours.

Gas and air worked well for me, and I didn't feel I needed any other pain releif (other than the tens)

Hope you get lots of good stories to help allay your fears slightly. Ignore the horror stories - everyone's labour is different

My first birth was absolutely text book - couldn't have expected better.

It was 12-13 hours long, and I coped without pain relief (I'm usually a pain wimp so that was a surrise - I had planned on having an epidural if necessary). The last two hours were really tough, but with a good midwife and dh, I got through it, and dd1 was born without any problems. She was given to me immediately and I breastfed her almost immediately.

Good luck BorgLady!

My first was 4.5 hours, a bit panicky (because of course all first labours are 24 long) but a great experience and a beautiful girl at the end.
However yours goes it will be a great experience for you.

My first was fine. No pain relief. I honestly didnt need it. It was painful but not unbearably so.

waters broke at 8am, went to hospital at 2pm, told to go home, went back at about 5pm, DS born about 5.45 with about four big pushes.

you will be absolutely fine honest.

oh mine was a breeze. total piece of piss. and really, like made me feel at one with the universe and connected to my foremothers and all that stuff.

was water, no pain relief needed, no tearing. baby utterly delicious. i was even back in my size 10 jeans in ten days. 'mazin.

that the kind of thing youre after?

Hey good luck BorgLady...mine was a breeze. I had first pain at 3am, in hospital at 7am, DD born at 10.15am. Only G&A as I was 9cm when I got to hospital (the only thing on my 'birth plan' was an epidural and DH nearly had a fit when MW said I couldn't have one)!! Yes, it did hurt, but it was over quickly and our beautiful 9lb 9oz daughter was born -- no stitches, no tearing.

The week before giving birth I had a false alarm and the GP sent me to hospital. I was scared witless. When it came to the real thing, I was as calm as anything. I am sure it was to do with good old Mother Nature kicking in and my body doing what it needed to do.

Best advice? Every birth is different. All you can really be prepared to do is go with the flow.

Mine was fab. Went into labour suddenly and unexpextedly at 36 weeks 2 days. First twinge at just after 9am, DD born at 1pm. Had no time for pain relief and managed a couple of puffs on gas and air before they took it away from me. Actual deliver took just under an hour. Was up and about and absolutely fine just after the birth. She had no problems despite being a bit early.

My first was born after 4 hours in the hospital with just gas and air and I only pushed for 2 mins

Mine was fine - contractions started about 4pm, admitted to labour ward around 9pm. Transition sucked (not least because no-one thought I was that fully dilated, so the mw tried to leave & do some paperwork at that stage - that was the only stage where i felt 'out of control' & lasted about 15 mins according to my notes. Managed with G&A only.
I did find the pushing stage hard - but had wonderful support from a lovely midwife - I went over the 'official' length of time they allowed for pushing, & she went & found another mw rather than getting a doctor involved as she knew I wanted to avoid more medical intervention.

It really wasn't as bad as it looks on Casulty

Contractions started around 5 am. DH took me to the hospital after about 10 minutes, where they asked me how far apart contractions were. I told them I wasn't timing them, and they said I should have, and told me to wait in the triage room. I think they weren't very fast about checking me because they didn't think I was that far along, but when someone finally got around to seeing me, I was 9 cm. Fortunately Dr. was already at the hospital.

DS was born at 8:18 am, and most of the time was spent pushing. He was 9 lbs, and the Dr. kept saying how big his head was afterward. I'm in the U. S., and they don't do gas and air or tens machines that I've ever heard of, and I was too far gone for an epidural, so I got a totally natural childbirth. Not fun, but bearable, and when I had DD, I wasn't so far along I couldn't have an epidural, but I declined, because having DS wasn't too bad. (She was smaller and was under 2 hours of labor and maybe 5 pushes) I was very happy with the experience.

My first birth was a planned home birth. Labour was only 4 1/2 hours. The midwife turned up after about 2 hours and the 2nd one only just made it as I was progressing so quick. It was all relatively relaxed and calm. Yes it hurt, but I never felt like I was out of control and it was reassuring to have the midwife there just for me.

My daughter was born after 1/2 hour of pushing. I did have a 2nd degree tear but this was quickly sorted out by the midwife. I recovered pretty quick and had no subsequent problems (except breastfeeding but that's a different story )

I was induced and had heard so many horror stories about it taking days and being far more painful than if labour starts spontaneously - was terrified. In fact it all started within half an hour of having the prostin gel, and DD arrived 15 hours later. Felt strangely calm throughout, and was so, so much easier and less painful than I had expected/feared. Oh, and having gone 2 weeks overdue, the relief of no longer being pregnant was pretty fab too! Good luck

Well, my first birth was a planned CS because DS was breech. I never had a labour pain. I think it is fair to say that I was very apprehensive about labour during that pregnancy, and was secretly relieved that DS didn't turn, even though I claimed to want to give birth naturally. But the elcs made me realise that there had to be better ways of doing it than that and so I planned a home birth with DD.

I had read up on it (only, I would add, the positive stuff!), and was expecting a very long labour (I'm old and my mother had long labours). In the event, my waters broke at 9am, I was in pre-labour at 12, full labour at 9ish, and fully dilated by midnight. it took me a while to push DD out, and I needed an episiotomy in the end, after which she just fell out with one contraction. It was awesome. Truly. It bloody hurt but it was a good pain. I would do it again tomorrow. Except that I loathed being pregnant and am never doing that again!

I had a lovely homebirth with gas and air and a pool delivery No stitches, pain wasn't as bad as I thought... it was long-ish (28 hrs 13 in established labour) but very manageable as contractions every 4 mins begininning to end.

I waited as long as possible before going to hospital and was 6cm by the time I got there. Stayed calm, no pain relief although I was tempted!, gave birth to 9 pound baby 11 hours later. We look forward to hearing your happy story soon!

Mine was so much better than expected.
Contractions started mildly around 4pm when I had a show. I strapped on the TENS at around 8pm when it started to hurt a little. Trick with the TENS I think is to put it on early and not wait until they really hurt.

Phoned at 11.30 and they said have a bath. I think they always say that with first babies cause they assume you're going in too early. I went in around 12.30 and DS born at 1.45. No stitches and he BF well so they let me home a few hours later. Didn't need to transfer to PN ward and DH never left my side. It was lovely. I had G&A and Pethidene.

Don't let anyone tell you it doesn't bloody hurt because it does. But, it's unlike any other pain in that a) you know what is happening is natural and b)it's a means to an end.

Finally, don't have any firm birth expectations. Go in with a positive attitude but be prepared that things may not work out as hoped. You may not want pain relief but really need it. You may need an episiotomy and/or an instrumental delivery. You may need a C-section. In the end all that matters is that you and baby are safe and that it was as positive an experience as was possible on the day.
Good luck!

my first birth was lovely

woke with niggly contractions, had a bath, decided it was nothing, packed a picnic and determined that dh and i would still have a day out

went to the loo before we left, had had a bleed, phoned labour ward and they wanted us to go in

arrived at hospital, had a scan to chekc on placenta, had some lunch, they did an internal, found i was 4 cm and decided to keep me in

i was CONVINCED that i wasn't in labour so made them let me go for a walk. they agreed if I was back by 2pm. at the furthest corner of the park, at about 1.30pm the contractions were suddenly AGONY.

was back at hospital about 2pm, TENS for an hour, was 7cm, started G&A and ds popped out before 5pm.

home for lunch the next day. lovely

(few stitches, but you don't need to hear that!)

you'll be fine...what you're feeling is natural...i'm 35 weeks with number 3 and feel much the same!

Hi Tassisssss! Have you changed your name from Tassis? I think you were on my antenatal thread with no2. I had to name change after a strange stalker woman at toddler group. Nice to see you're expecting no3. Hope you're well!

it wasn't nearly as bad as i expected. i had very mild contractions for 3 days (not strong enough to stop me sleeping) on day 3 of contractions my waters broke at 4.00 ish went to hospital at about 4.45 as my contractions were by then very strong and about 3mins mins apart. was 7 cm dilated when examined when i first got to hospital. went into a pool and ds was born at 7.45pm. altogether not too bad.

just had gas and air and the water to deal with the pain, which although is obviously very painful was bearable.

good luck, i'm sure you'll be fine

At 39 weeks, my waters broke spectacularly while I was nodding off to sleep in bed with dh.
I phoned the hospital - they said take my time! My contractions built up steadily over 5 hours during which time I lay on the sofa alone(wanted to be alone, btw!) watching night time tv - a whole new world! I also ate tons of breakfast cereal as I was paranoid about running out of energy.
Woke dh at 5 and we arrived at the hospital on a beautiful sunny morning at around 6. Roads were really quiet.
Straight down to the labour ward as I was 8 cm - very chuffed. Gas and air was fantastic. It did hurt a lot, but I didn't care, plus in between contractions i was elated.
Ds arrived at 9.26 am and I only needed a couple of stitches from the wonderful midwife.

Good luck! you'll manage - lesser women have, lol!

hey cushioncover, yeah someone wanted to be tassi which annoyed me greatly so i changed to make a point and haven't got round to changing back. who were you? do update us with your chat on the Sept '06 thread... hope your wee 20ish month old is doing well!

Thank you all sooooo much for these stories, I wasn't expecting so many so quick!

I've got no birth plan, just seeing how it all goes, and I'm prepared to do anything and everything that is necessary to keep the nasties to a minimum.

Like a couple of people have said, I too have really hated being pregnant, it's been like being ill for a year, so at I have got that to look forward to (as well as my lovely baby boy of course)!

I'm hoping that a rubbish pregnancy = easy birth, because before I got pregnant, I always said I would like three children and if I have a nasty birth I really don't think I will ever do this again!

Please keep your nice stories coming, I actually felt the first flutters of excitement as I was reading them. My birth worries have seemed like such a brick wall that I haven't really been able to imagine the nice bit afterwards where I get to meet my baby!

i had a rubbish pregnancy too (felt ill from before the moment i saw the line on the test). Birth was easy compared to 9 months of feeling like shit

Contractions started and continued gently for 24 hours, then sped up big style. Baby born in to water five hours later, natural placental delivery, no stitches. Thought it was wonderful and by far the worst bit was the exhaustion and sickness, much worse than the pain. Second one was even better, but much quicker and no vomming, so perfect really.

awww

if its any consolation, i was struck by the terrors about a week before the first one too. utterly illogical hysteria along the lines of; 'no! it'll just have to stay in there forever!' and this after the longest seeming 3rd trimester ever ever ever

you are about to do something really amazing. revel in that for a bit and make dp run about after you madly. coz soon enough you will never be the star of the show again!

Textbook first birth, much much better than I expected (just over a year ago )
Contractions from the Wednesday night (only really got badly painful on Friday morning) waters broke at 3pm on Friday, dashed to hospital, was quickly assessed and told they would come back to me as I obviously wasn't that far along. Next contraction I pressed the button, was examined and ready to push! Pushing was very hard work!! Baby was born at 5.35, no tearing, only had time for a couple of breaths of G&A.
Only lingering pain was where I pulled a muscle in my calf while pushing - OUCH, and my feet were swollen for a while.
A few weeks later I was saying I would do it again in an instant, now I have a baby who moves I am less keen
Was definitely a day I look back on happily. Bits of it can make me cry with happiness - coming out of the first shower and seeing my DH cuddling DS...

It was painful but the worst thing IMO about pain is not knowing what's caused it and what's wrong with you - obv in this case, nothing! So not a worrying pain.
Every labour is different - I will have exactly the same plan for my next one, go with the flow, remember to breathe and walk around during contractions and have pain relief if you need it.

do you know what? actually it is the best experience i ever had. to know that i could go through that and bring a new person into the world... well its overwhelming.

making me have tears in my eyes just remembering.

being pregnant is rubbish compared to the birth and having your own child to look after.

and the moment you look into your sons eyes for the first time you know you would go through it a million times over.

Hi borglady - congrats! I don't like pregnancy at all, but birth was pretty okay, so the rule worked for me - hope it does for you!

Had a 14 hour homebirth for my first, including early contraction niggles (that the midwives don't count - probably 10 hours from 'established' labour). I managed on 2 paracetemol (?!) for about 9-10 hours (til 7 cm dilated), and breathing and concentration was enough to cope with that. When the midwife came I got lovely, lovely gas and air and was able to giggle and relax a bit more in between contractions. In fact I think gas and air might be the major reason in me deciding on a second baby .

I had really regular contractions, which helped me get into a rhythm, my waters didn't break until pushing, which people say make the contractions less intense. Pushing was my least favourite bit but he was out safe and sound (despite cord round his neck) within 3-4 pushes. I didn't listen to the midwife, or my body and pushed just to get him out, so tore, but you don't notice at the time, and its all fine now. The midwives were great - gave suggestions that helped, but were hands off when they needed to be. My partner caught the baby so the first hands on him were 'family'! All in all it was a calm, fairly quiet, meditative and very very intense experience, and the memory of it seemed to stay in the house for days afterwards. Oh, and the neighbours heard his first cry when he was born and rushed out to get cards and we felt like he was born into our community, not just our family. My parents were in the house and my mum saw him born and it remains one of the most incredible moments of their lives, being there so early on in his life.

It was hard work, and bits were very painful, but it was manageable, and I felt amazing (exhilarated, relaxed, stunned etc.) afterwards.

And a week later I said I'd give birth 10 times over rather than endure another feed, or in exchange for one, single 8 hour stretch of sleep, but thats a whole other issue.

Good luck - meeting your baby is just amazing, however it comes out! I hope whatever birth you have feels like a 'good' birth for you.

Hey BorgLady, congratulations for the birth to come I'm 25 weeks with my first and just starting to really cack it about delivery, so imagine I shall be returning to this thread more than once in the weeks ahead

Having a friend with this wonderful birth story and talking things through with her has helped me - it really was as calm for her as she's described here, and her little boy is gorgeous

Good point - I would much rather give birth agaion than have the suspected infected appendix I had a few months later - pain not as acute but whole experience 100x worse (that's discounting the fact you get a baby at the end of the birth as well )

Waters broe at 2pm, s I went in to be checked out and was told I'd have to stay in as I was having contractions (not even aware that I was Being my first, I put off mentioning pain when it started, so eventually asked for a paracetaml, had a bath and was sick (11pm, dp had been sent home) Midwife then checked me and found I was fully dilated
Mad rush to get dp back in,and transfer to delivery,where everything slowed right down for a bit.
spent a while spaced out on gas and air, and dd was born at 2am

I was so confidentthat I planned my next as a home birth, 15 months later.

Another dreadful pregnancy here - had antenatal depression throughout and everything else going pretty much

BUT the birth was lovely. Wouldn't describe it as textbook, needed sytoxcin (can't remember how that is spelt but the stuff that gets things going quicker) and had to be monitored etc. but was an overwhelming experience and although it hurts you quickly forget when you have your baby.

Have you read 'Blooming Birth' - is a great book if you are apprehensive. Makes you address your fears. You do need to get over the afraid stage before you can really prepare properly for labour. I would try and think through each of your fears and see if there is anything you can do to address them. For instance I am really squeamish and one of my fears was seeing all the blood etc - I told my midwife and she kept everything out of my sight which kept me calm. I was also afraid of losing my dignity - fortunately by the time I went into labour I couldn't have cared less who saw what!

Another quick first birth here: show early Sat morning, mild contractions on and off all day (I got my hair cut and met friends for a drink, so not exactly established labour), TENs machine on in evening, woke DH up to get to hospital about 1am as cx every 5 mins, got there 1:30 and was 5 cm dilated, DS born at 4:30. Episiotomy (big head) but no pain relief other than TENS.

I was expecting it to last a LOT longer as well!

Hey Borglady - I had a fab 4 hour labour at home with my first, and it was nothing I couldn't cope with (just had gas and air!) I'm expecting number 2 in August and weirdly quite looking forward to giving birth again!

Sure you'll be absolutely fine - try to get your hands on this book, it really made me feel better when I was pregnant first time around and not really knowing what to expect. Best of luck!

Home birth with first baby - true labour for only about 4 hours, a little gas and air, painful but by no means unbearable, lovely ds, 8lbs 4oz

I had a lovely first birth - home water birth, very calm and peaceful, felt totally in control. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Good luck for your birth! I hope it's really lovely.

I had a lovely first birth as well.

Did it with just tens and gas and air, and water for pain relief, and found it a fairly enjoyable experience and would definitely do it again.

I had a good first birth imo, it started in tescos!! at half six in the evening, and i managed the nxt six hours just pacing in my livingroom eating ineapple, whilst dp wrote a computer program to time contractions, (sad i know)they were 5mins apart and id managed on a couple o paracetamol.

At half eleven, we decided to go into the hosp, even though mw on fone told me i wasnt in labour as id had no show. we got to hosp at midnight and was examined (and gven two more paracteamol) and was 6cm dilated!!! So much for not bein in labour, had a bath but hated bein still durin contractions so popped into room and stayed on birthin ball, was just on gas and air for about 7 hours then got examined - doc accidentally broke my waters and scared my baba!! he turned and go a bit stuck and did a poo!!

They gave me the choice of an epidural or c-section. Chose epidural and continued to labour for a couple more hours until they said they couldnt see him turning the way they wanted so had to get forceps. Had baba at half seven following evening - 25hr labour!!! But i thought it was good.

Just wantd to share

sorry its long

Much faster and easier than I thought it would be - (the midwife at classes had made such a thing about 1st labours being 24hrs)

waters broke at 3am - phoned hospital who said take time.

Got to hospital at 6.30am blood pressure high so kept in for observation.

Around 5.30pm started to get period like cramps

DH and Mum sat timing my contractions in between me trapsing back and forth for a wee.

7.30 pm Said to DH to call midwife over as pain was taking my breath away. She checked and I was 10cm dilated. As they started to wheel me to the lift to go to delivery room I had a strong urge to push.

Gave birth on the maternity ward (in a room by the lift) 10 minutes later after 3 pushes.

I'm so glad my blood pressure was up otherwise I'm sure I'd have been on way to hospital when Ds was born!!

11pm occasional period-like cramps
1.30am frequent cramps, realise these are contractions
4am got to hospital
(this was the hardest bit as I had to wait for the pool to be free)
7am got in pool
8am dd born
12noon announced birth on MN

DH was most impressed that he didn't even have to miss a meal

great first labour
although it was long.
started having pains a bit like period pains 3am Saturday morning
lay in bed dozing / timing them about every 10 minutes
told DH when we got up, it continued like this all through saturday, sitting in the garden on the birthing ball, in the sittingroom watching DVD's.
Saturday evening still the same pains stronger but still about every 10 minutes.
watching films, tv, slobbing on the sofa
1am Sunday morning got sad - felt tired, midwife came out (we had homebirth planned)
she sat with me for a few hours whilst DH got some sleep. contractions went to every 6 minutes.
Midwife changed shifts at 8am, new midwife examined me we had only got to 3 CMs! told me to have a shower and get changed. I did that, went up and down the stairs a few times, she checked me again and we were at 6 cms and I could get into the birthing pool

took a little while to fill. Got in at 2pm
LOVED the freedom of movement, felt so relaxing. after a couple of hours, (that felt like 10 minutes) I needed to push, DS1 was born, after his head came out the midwife suggested I lean forward and lift him up with the next contraction so I did, it was amazing.

We stayed in the water to deliver the placenta. He was born at 5pm (ish) Sunday .. Forgot to ask for gas and air..

I loved it..

Mine was fine. Miles better than the rubbish pregnancy. At least with birth you know the pain will end AT SOME POINT (ie. a matter of hours) whereas pregnancy for me was months and months of pain. (SPD- not fun).

My waters went at 1 in the morning, I was only in pain when I was 5 cm dilated, and I was holding my DD by breakfast time. Only had gas and air. Felt like a goddess (sorry if that sounds a bit naff)- doing this incredible thing that only I could do.

Bear in mind that people will want to tell you horrible stories and just say "LaLaLa can't hear you". It will not be helpful for you to hear unpleasant accounts- so if people start, just tell 'em to shut up!

If you are really freaking out do consider hypnotherapy - I really found it useful to turn around the language about fearing birth to being excited about this wonderful time.

www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk/1676/30409.html

Oh, and good luck.

Hiya, i had my first child in March and to say i was absolutely terrified about birth was an understatement. Especially as it came and went past my due date, i actually wanted him to come early so i didn't have time to think and panic, but oh no, 11 days later i had to be induced. I have to say it was actually alright! The contractions reminded me of trapped wind, just a little stronger and suddenly you want to push-most bizarre feeling ever.
I don't want to go into detail cos it aint pretty, but i ended up loving it and could bore you for a couple of hours with my stories.
But i promise you, you will just love it, within a week i had forgotten what it was like was thinking about the next pregnancy.
Just remember it is JUST a couple of hours, maybe a day of pain but look what you get at the end of it. The most beautiful baby! Good luck! X

Congratulations! How exciting! I was really apprehensive before my first daughter - but it was ok - don't get me wrong it does hurt - but you know why its hurting and you know what you need to do, so its more than bearable and its so exciting and you feel so proud when the baby is born. So relax and enjoy it and you will be surprisingly calm when it all starts - honest!!

Hi Borglady,
My first birth was 5 1/2 hours from est labour to meeting my baby. I was at hospital in a low risk room- think big squashy mattress, pilates ball, things to kneel on/ lean against. Being active really helped and giving birth in squatting position meant no stitches, I believe.

It was v painful (I had G&A and TENS) and at one point (transition?) I was scared, but I had a great MW who guided me and told me what to do and I got through it all relatively unscathed. I was sick a lot- but that's just me! I don't think I'd change much.

Back home in my own bed after 12 hours.

Here's a visualisation for you: Imagine all the great women who have become mothers to enable you to become a mother too- your mum, her mum and so on. Then imagine them standing behind you supporting you. You can do this too!

OMG Peartart,.. I know I am emotional tonight but that visualisation has bought tears to my eyes... beautiful

I had a wonderful first labour - also had a terrible, terrible pregnancy!

2.00am waters went
8.30am walked to hopital to be checked over, all well just a couple of dull period type pains
10.30am walked home from hospital but they started to hurt and had to keep leaning over walls and park benches when i had contractions on the way home. Was still laughing about things with dh though.
3pm contractions started to hurt quite a lot but I was excited and keen to get rubbish pregnancy over with - went to hospital.
3.30pm only 3cms!! argh! However, things hotted up and I just closed my eyes with each contraction and concentrated as much as possible on just breathing in and out.
9.25 progressed to fully dilated with gas and air and a fantastic midwife.
9.30pm Pushed dd out in 5 mins. I couldn't hold her immediately as I felt really floppy and out of things so dh had her first.

I didn't bond with my baby initially. I remember looking at her thinking that she looked nice but she could have been anybodies really! Even the during the initial breastfeding days - I kept thinking some-one might knock on the door asking for their baby back and thank you so much for looking after her! Of course, a few weeks later I loved her so much I wanted to eat her.

I expected to be really scared and panicky when it all started, but surprisingly I wasn't. I think you just get carried along with it. There's pain of course and that concentrates your mind! Contractions started 2.00 am day after due date. Came really strongly from the start, went to delivery suite, had to wait an hour to be seen by midwife as they were so busy, but when I was examined was already fully dilated, got in the pool surrounded by four midwives who wanted to watch a pool birth. Felt very strong, very positive, was very hard work, pushing through a contraction, watching him come out a bit further, then go back in a bit when I breathed, so frustrating, but he was born in the water at 5.30 am. It was a dreamlike experience, probably because I had no pain relief and the adrenaline must have been taking over. Had to be reminded to breathe though, remember when you have a contraction to TRY to relax into it, breathe in through nose and out through mouth, it really does work. Good luck, you'll be fine, it's a great experience and you'll feel so proud of yourself when it's all over.

Laboured for three hours total, never had an internal exam, MW present for last 20 minutes, homebirth, no pain relief required, no stitches, baby happy and lovely.

You'll be fine

My waters broke at 11 pm at 38+5, contractions started 1 hour later at 5 mins apart. Put TENS machine on, stayed at home for a couple of hours then dh persuaded me to go in to hosp. Got there and was 9 cms dilated, had gas and air for 15 mins then started pushing. DS born 1 hr later, absolutely perfect and started bf straight away. Really lovely, not traumatic in the slightest and hoping for the same again in 7 weeks time!

Good luck, birth isn't always terrifying despite what you see on tv

I know what you mean - I only heard (or only took notice of?) traumatic stories before giving birth, but since then have been told loads of good ones - I think they kept quiet so as not to annoy those who had a tough time, and I find myself doing the same thing in group birth story discussions!

Mine was 4 1/2 hours, just had gas and air and TENS. I won't pretend it wasn't really painful at the end, but so incredibly worthwhile! Try not to worry.

Had my first in March - like you I had an awful pregnancy and was sure I never wanted to have another!

I was in established labour for 13 hours. It did hurt like hell, but the midwives and my partner were amazing. I spent about 6 hours in the pool, then got out for some pethidine (I know a lot of people don't get on with it, but it got me through). I will never forget the moment when the head came out, then the whole baby with the next push: the most incredible feeling.

I had a second degree tear (and the mw got the doctor to look at it because she thought it might be third degree) and it has healed brilliantly. I was so scared of tearing and being stitched, but it was honestly nothing and hardly hurt at all afterwards.

Having said I was only going to have one baby, I was planning the next pregnancy after just a few days!

It's absolutely true that you just have to go with the flow. Good luck!

I had a 'text book' first birth. It was 12 hrs in all. Got to hospital with 2 hrs to go, managed with just gas and air. The pushing part was 10 mins, I put that down to the raspberry leaf tea lol! I gave birth in an upright position which helped I think. I had a few stitches but that was because lo had his hand up as he came out. Had no interevention and baby was breathing, crying etc fine on arrival.

Thanks so much for starting this thread BorgLady! I'm currently 40+6 and a little nervous to say the least - though also impatient to get it over so probably less nervous than a few weeks ago...

Only negative is that I've had a very easy pregnancy til the last couple of weeks so I hope your bad pregnancy = easy birth doesn't work in reverse!

Thanks to all those who've shared their lovely stories

My first labour was great.
I was 4 days overdue, woke up about midnight, had the famous "clearout" which lasted all of 5 minutes, went to sleep, woke up just before 8am with regular contractions, went into hospital at lunchtime to find I was 5cm dialated, was told by the MW's I would have dd by teatime but they gave me pethidine and it slowed everything down so I had her after 8pm.

Apart from the Pethidine, everything went well and it wasnt horrendous like los of people like to make out.
In fact I have 3 children now and none of them have been "bad" labours. All reletively quick and problem free.

Good luck with yours!

My labour was 17 hours and ended in an episiotomy and a forceps delivery - 2 things I was desperate to avoid....but it was absolutely fine. The midwives and my DH were fabulous and you really do find strength you may not think you had. We are amazing, us women! Oh, and gas and air is wonderful stuff!

another fab birth here....(my first ds was born by cs so this was technically my first birth as it was a vbac)....

mild conntractions started in the early evening....came every few minutes from the start but they weren't so strong. Became gradually stronger and i strated to bleed a little....also tmi did the bigest poo in the world (so what the books say is true)....

Stayed at home through the night - called the midwife and was advised to take a bath - if it was false labour, the bath would stop the contractions, but if it was the real thing it would continue.....after lots of problems trying to get some hot water my dh ran me a lovely bath :-) contractions eased off but the minute I got in the bath they came back. Held on and went to the birthing unit at 10 or so in the morning...was found to be 4 cm dilated.....midwife and I decided to break the waters and ds was born at 14.44.

I was able to cope without any painrelief....the best thing for me was to breathe through the contractions this really gave me somehting to focus on and made the pain much better...

Also you have to mentally accept that you are in labour and accept it and try not to fight it...hope that makes sense and good luck :-))

Hi Borg
Best thing you can do is keep your mind open and not set yourself up for a fall... nothing worse than banking on Diptyque candles and whale music & ending up with a crash C-section!
I had a very positive first birth. Twinges at 5pm, TENS on by 8pm, midwife brought gas & air to house at 10.45pm, in hospital at 00.30am demanding epidural but was talked out of it. Few hours of G&A in birth pool, bloody agony, I won't lie to you (was banging head on side of pool trying to knock self out and begging DP to hold my head under water and drown me)but just when you think you can't take it anymore...that's when you need to push! DS1 born 5.07am. DS2 born in half the time 18 months later! Good luck x

My dd's birth was my first and went as smoothly as could be expected!

Was a week overdue and had a sweep in the afternoon. Later that evening started feeling period like pains in the base of my stomach and top of my right thigh. No real pain at this point so just pottered about at home, had a bath and tried to relax.

Started feeling more regular like pains about 9pm. By about 11pm, put the tens machine on I'd hired, but it just annoyed me rather than helped, so threw that off and took another bath. Pain was reasonably intense at this point, and have vague memories of crawling about the bed with the contractions coming every 6 or 7 minutes. In the bath, just felt that the time had come to go to the hospital, and arrived there at 2am.

Midwife examined and said I was only 2cm (), and said if I lived closer she'd send me home!! I thought if this pain is for 2cm, what on earth is 10cm going to feel like. So, took another bath in my room and after 30 mins asked for the drugs!

Used the gas and air - doesn't remove the pain but def takes your mind off it and before I knew it I felt my body pushing. It was now 4,50am and midwife said to go with my body. She broke my waters, I had 20 mins of pushing and dd arrived safely at 5.18am!

Yes it hurt. Yes I was scared, but my birth was exactly as I wanted it - natural and with just the m/w and my dh there. And dd arriving just 3.5 hours after getting to the hospital was a bonus!

Try to relax, concentrate on your breathing, take plenty of energy drinks and listen to the m/w. I am sure all will be fine, good luck

Waters broke about 5am, pottered about the house all day with period type pain (even made apple crumble, hoovered etc, honestly probably the last time I did either for months). Called midwife about 10pm as contractions started to build up. Baby was out in 4hours from first time I had to lie down and breatheeeee, on tens machine and gas and air (I say that not to wave my hardness with pain credentials about but because the pain was ok -I realise that this is luck of the draw but it does happen!). Small tear which healed by itself, fab experience. Second time whole thing over and done with in 45mins! Then of course all my smugness was wiped out by not getting help breast feeding and dissolving into soggy heap at 3 weeks but you have found mumsnet (which I hadnt) so you will be fine...

Wow, all these stories are making me cry. Its just a wonderful experience and i find that i get so emotional whenever i read birth stories now. Congratulations to all of us, after going through labour and knowing what its all like i think we need medals! X