To feel emotional about dds birth day?

[CakeNinja]

It's pfbs birthday today. She had a troubled birth (actually, my labour was fine, it was after delivery she took a turn for the worse) but so happy to say after a few days all was well. I was 18 when she was born and it feels almost like it happened to a person other than me.
Just finished watching OBEM and reminiscing about this time 11 years ago and can't believe I have such a wonderful child now.
Childbirth is amazing isn't it?
Feel free to share your stories, I'm having a self indulgent moment here :)

[FastWindow]

I still look at my two (5&2) and marvel that I grew a living, moving autonomous human being. Best things ever.

[CakeNinja]

So natural yet when you think of the trauma the human body can endure it seems almost mindblowing.

[fatowl]

My DD is nearly 17 and she gave us all a fright. Her favourite strap line for birthday selfies is "almost born in a hospital lift, scared the shit out of a student midwife, creating havoc ever since 1998"

[Contraryish]

It's my little girl's birthday today too, she's 9 (and still asleep)! Happy Birthday to your little one!

[QueenofLouisiana]

It was DS's birthday a few days ago- I can remember what was happening all the way through the day he was born. The memories flooded back every time I looked at a clock. We raised a glass to him late that night (he'd been in bed for 2 hrs) when he finally became properly 10.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels like that.

[JoshL]

DD1's birthday is always difficult as my father (very suddenly and unexpectedly) died on her second birthday. We try to give her a great day, but it'll always be there.

[ItsTricky]

No traumatic births here but I always feel emotional on my childrens birthdays.

JoshL that's so sad, I'm so sorry

[BathshebaDarkstone]

fatowl DD was born in the ambulance, DS's head then shoulders got stuck in the birthing pool. Their straplines would be similar!

[flora717]

Both at 38 weeks: DD2 = born in a corridor (I was on a bed being wheeled to the delivery room, less drama than it sounds). Luckily no trauma (DD1 also quick sharp) for me. I still catch my breath on their birthdays when there is this child in front of me and not such helpless wee bundles (6ish lb at birth for both).

[wigglesrock]

It's funny I never thought about it too much when it was my kids birthdays or got emotional or nostalgic but it was my sisters birthday at the weekend (she's in her late 30s) and we were all up at my mums. My dad was able to tell us in minute detail what he was doing when my sister was born (he wasn't allowed to be with my mum) - I cried at that, I'm slightly older and he was telling me that he took me to the park, what I loved doing, I chased a ball etc. Tears were bloody tripping me

[RackofPeas]

Ds2 birth was a hard time, four weeks early, c-section, a day in special care and a week in hospital to recover from some nasty infections.
He's 14 months now and I'm only just managing to not think of him as a tiny delicate baby as the reality is that he's a charging great lump of loveliness! Everyone was telling me that I'd be calmer and less worried about ds2 than ds1, but its not been the case. I look at ds1 now and I can hardly remember his babyhood, he's only 4 but it seems so long ago!

[IDismyname]

DS turned 17 recently. I hover between marvelling at the great lump of loveliness we seem to have created, and almost a sense of PTSD after the horrendous birth I had with him.

(No counselling afterwards and bad PND.)

[formerbabe]

Loved giving birth! Wish I could go back in time to do it again!

[BsshBosh]

My DD will soon turn 7. I marvel over her every day. I am constantly amazed at how wonderful she's turning out. But I can't admit to any of this in RL (except to DH and the Grandparents) cause we're all supposed to be cynical, even about parenting!

[BsshBosh]

And yes, her birth was traumatic (emergency C-section) yet what I remember most was her beautiful face looking at mine half an hour later.

[OldBeanbagz]

fatowl DS's strapline would be 'almost born on the hospital stairs as the lift was out of order!'

I think i'm getting more emotional on their birthdays as they grow older. Goodness knows what i'll be like when they're 21 & 18 within 3 weeks of each other.

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Birthdays absolutely a big day for mothers as well as DC. Mine are 16 and 13 now and maybe the older they get the more amazing it all seems - you've created this whole other independent, autonomous person who goes off and does things all on their own (with more and more frequency and daring). Of course has their own unique character and temperament too. I always think about them being born around their birth times on the big day - fortunately especially a few years on those are very happy memories - especially the first cuddles. Feel very blessed and fortunate

[Moomintroll85]

Hope your dd has a great birthday OP!

My ds isn't 1 yet so don't know how I'll feel on his birthday a blubbering mess probably

Very traumatic birth for me (ds was fine though), it was both the best and worst day of my life I think. The mere thought of watching OBEM brings me out in a panicky cold sweat.

[BabyMurloc]

"almost born in a hospital lift, scared the shit out of a student midwife, creating havoc ever since 1998"

Rofl one of mine is very similar she would have:

"almost born in a corridor, made my dad nearly miss my birth, scared shit out of ALL the midwives..."

[Strawberryshakes]

Oh I get emotional too. My dd will be 3 next month, I had a textbook birth and pregnancy so nothing bad but for the past two years I have cried on her birthday!

[CakeNinja]

Thanks everyone for sharing your stories about your dc.
Dd had a lovely day as we were on holiday and having a birthday in the heat is a proper novelty even in June!
Josh so sorry to read your post, how bittersweet

[LokiBear]

Every year, on DD's birthday, I go all 'Gilmore Girls' and sneak into her room in the wee hours to tell her exactly what we were doing at that time on the night she was born. I always wake up at about the right time too which is (completely daft) lovely. I never wake her, I just whisper to her whilst she sleeps. I am a giant loser, aren't I?

[Soduthen116]

The strangest thing is the memories get more viceral and emotional the older they get. For me at any rate.

I look at my huge young men and marvel they are mine with their big shoulders, beards and pints.

My teenage girls are witty beautiful aspirational young women and I marvel at their style and grit.

We made 4 adults who are kind.

That's emotional.

Glad you had a lovely day op and happy birthday to your dd.