Positive birth stories, please!

[notsureifimbeingur]

Hello, I am 36 weeks pregnant; and all I have heard from family and friends are the horrendous painful very long labour stories.... does anyone have a happy positive birthing story to tell me please??
What did you find that helped?

Many thanks

[MrsMyreton]

Hello OP,

I remember feeling exactly the same. All I heard was negativity. Of course things can go wrong but you’re right to focus on the positives too (I had complications after the birth of my daughter, but recovered just fine ). I think many people like to share their more traumatic birth stories as a way to relieve stress and talk through it.

I went into labour at 7am, went to hospital at 11am and had my daughter by 4pm. The whole experience was so much less scary/painful than I had built up in my head. The midwives were just incredible too. I felt so supported. I don’t drink and had some gas and air towards the end of labour, and I remember thinking I was being so discreet by ‘whispering’ to my husband so the midwife couldn’t hear, that I was “off my tits”. We still laugh about this so much. Good humour will always get our family through!

Best of luck!

[BoredOnMatLeave]

I always comment on these threads because when I was pregnant all I ever heard was horror stories. I'm sure people are getting fed up with me going on about my great birth now but oh well...

I went into labour at 37 weeks after a sweep. Labour was 12 hours from start to finish. It was painful but not like I was expecting. Pushed for 20 mins (felt like 20 seconds) and DD came flying out weighing 10lb6. I slept through most of it (that was the diamorphine) but I have very fond memories of that final push and then seeing DD at the end of the bed. I cringe a bit about saying it was magical but it really was.

Everything seemed to be slowing down and my contractions were about 15 mins apart, my DP was worrying that it would be like that for days and then end up with a c section but 5 mins later midwife came to check me and I was fully dilated and she could see the head! I had no urge to push or anything. I did end up tearing but stitches weren't painful and they healed pretty quickly.

Biggest tip is just to go with the flow!

[Pigofwar]

Hi OP. I had DD a year ago and the birth was a lovely experience. After my waters went I laboured at home and when I got to hospital I was 5cm dilated. 3 hours later I had her in the birthing pool surrounded by (fake) candles and relaxing music with an aromatherapy-trained midwife rubbing my back. I was lucky enough not to need any stitches and was Home 6 hours later. I don’t think I had much influence over the way things went - I think I was just lucky. But as PP have said, just go with the flow and don’t rule anything out . Good luck!

[Danniotley]

Went into labour at 10am and he was born at 11.55 am, 8lb6oz. Not as painful as expected. No tearing, no stitches. Tummy went straight back down so went home in my pre pregnancy jeans. He slept through first and second nights so not knackered at all. Breast fed immediately with no pain or issues.

[TerrifyingFeistyCupcake]

Smooth and positive first labour and birth. 19 hours from first contraction to arrival. Born in a MLU with assistance only from water and TENS. Walked away (literally) with no testing and feeling amazing.

[TerrifyingFeistyCupcake]

*no TEARING that is.

[OurMiracle1106]

I was in labour 46 hours 32 mins from waters breaking to delivery. However until about 2 hours before my son was born I was perfectly fine. Just contractions that made me a little breathless and were uncomfortable. Warm bath helped with contractions and movement. I couldn’t keep still. Even giving birth wasn’t that bad. Didn’t scream or swear or want to murder my partner.

Did feel quite thirsty after gas and air though
Had no tears or issues. Son was born healthy. Cried within seconds. My tattoo was more painful than giving birth.

(He was my first but I think remaining calm really helped)

Good luck on your labour

[rosettesforjill]

Slightly different perspective and not exactly what you’re looking for but hope it’ll help - I didn’t have a particularly fantastic labour/birth, but despite plenty of interventions (induction ending in forceps in theatre) I was up and about remarkably quickly afterwards, zero long or even short term physical or mental issues - felt a bit creaky for a couple of days afterwards but nothing more traumatic than a bad case of DOMS after a heavy gym session! In my case, there was certainly truth to the old wives’ tale that you forget everything once you see your baby

[JaneBanks]

I had an EMCS but still wasn't that bad an experience and as soon as I held DS it was just amazing! I'd do it all again tomorrow, exactly the same.

[ShoeJunkie]

I've had two very straightforward, reasonably quick water births. While in labour with DS1 I vividly remember thinking 'this doesn't hurt as much as I thought it would!'

Hope it all goes smoothly for you OP

[Dinosauratemydaffodils]

My Mum was in labour with me for around 4 hours. Very quick, no pain relief and no tearing.

[Brummiegirl15]

My delivery was fairly straightforward, woke up one morning and my waters had gone (i was premature do had to go straight in), had checks and yes I was in slow labour so was kept in. By 1am, it had ramped up.
Had an epidural at 4am and was 10cm at 10.15am. They waited for another hour, and I let the epidural wear off slightly. 11.15 I started pushing and my little girl arrived at 11.38am.

So basically 24 hrs after waters going I had my baby girl. Ok, she was early and I had a retained placenta, but the actual delivery itself, it was ok. I'm 38 weeks pregnant with my 2nd and really hoping it's as uncomplicated as the last one.

And the best bit of advice I had? Chin on chest and push like you are having a poo!!!!! Sounds grim, but it does work.

[LiDLrichardsPistachioSack]

I had a lovely labour and birth at my best friend's house (she was also my doula) three months ago. Pool, fairy lights, music, caring midwives, dh in the background giving support. I had no drugs but I think because I was in a comfy environment with people I trusted, who let me go with what I wanted and listen to my body, I coped ok. I can honestly say I enjoyed it!
I did year though and had to get stitched up in hospital, but honestly it wasn't a big deal and I recovered really quickly. DS latched on really quickly and was quite aware right off the bat.
Conversely, my first birth 4 years ago was very medicalised and I had every drug under the sun and was a tough haul but still not a negative experience. I was well taken care of and baby DD was healthy and happy. My advice would be to labour somewhere you feel safe and comfortable, read Juju Sundin's Birth Skills, and get a doula if you can! Oh and you will lose your shit (literally) at transition, but that means it's almost over. Dig deep, trust your body, it hurts a lot but you can do it!!

[DuggeeHugs]

I had an EMCS and ELCS. Both deliveries were wonderful!

[EmmaJR1]

Hello,

I was 6 days overdue so had a sweep at home, about 30 hours later my waters broke at 230am and my son was born 8 hours later, gas and air only, laboured in a lovely warm pool, minimal tear no stitches. Walking around and showering 45 mind later after breastfeeding (well suckling really) - it really wasn’t as bad as MANY people told me it would be! Actually I think it was rather lovely. I’m pregnant again and my son is only 5 months so it really can’t be that bad. 😂

[Aliveinwanderland]

12 hours from start to finish but only 5 of them in pain that needed pain relief.

I got a wonderful baby boy out of it, you can’t get any more positive than that.

It hurt, you know it will. But I would do it all again tomorrow if I needed to.

[NetflixandBill]

Went into labour spontaneously at 37+5 with a small gush of pink tinged waters at 8.20am. I was at work an hour from home so got checked out at the nearest hospital then dh picked me up. Contractions regular and increasingly sore but bearable. Felt like strong period pains. Laid in bed and went in the bath for a few hours. Bent over and rocked my hips during contractions.

Went into maternity at 1am and had gas and air and birthing ball. Was 5cm dilated by that point. Labour stopped progressing so i had the hormone drip and my waters broken. Pain increased so they upped my painkillers and i had an epidural which was WONDERFUL! Contractions then felt like nothing more than a mild ache and i was so relaxed. Pushed for half an hour then he was here at 4.55pm.

Staff were very supportive and attentive.

[notsureifimbeingur]

See, this is exactly what I wanted to read! Pleasant stories that don't make me hyperventilate with panic and think "what the F have I done!!" Thank you all, this has put my mind at rest, I really hope I have a birthing experience that you have written about.

[pp2017]

From first contraction to birth I was in labour 48hrs but for the first 42hrs I pottered around at home using a TENS machine; I walked the dog, went to Tesco for shopping, went to the PILs for tea?!

At one point my contractions were minutes apart but not particularly strong (had to stop what I was doing and take a few breaths but that’s about it) so they asked me to go into hospital. Checked me over and sent me home.

I was dozing in bed and woke up to what I can only describe as a Big Bang Contraction and I thought shit, NOW I need pain relief 😂 immediately followed by “the show”.

Got to hospital, one morphine jab, gas and air for around 4hrs, the midwife broke my waters and around1.5hrs later DS graced us with his appearance.

No intervention, no tearing, no horror story 😊

[NetflixandBill]

Also, it is true what they say... my son is 15 weeks now and I can't really remember much of the pain. I remember it wasn't fun but if i try to remember what it felt like, i can't really.

Not being hugely pregnant any more is amazing

[Callamia]

Both of mine were fine.

The first was at nearly 42 weeks, waters went first, from first contraction to baby about 9hrs. All in the midwife led unit, I heartily recommend the pool.

Second, labour wars because of being over 24hts after waters broke. Contractions started after a lot of walking about, baby was born less than 4hrs later.

Both births involved some tearing, stitches were quick and healed without me noticing. Both were made bearable by very cold bottles of lucoazde and gas and air.

[annlee3817]

I was told all kinds of horror stories and having been a birthing partner myself to a forceps delivery I was quite apprehensive. I had a very stressful pregnancy but labour was the total opposite. Waters started leaking at 1.30am, contractions started at 2am and were straight away 2-3 mins apart. Examined at 4am, 5cm and then my waters broke properly, felt the urge to push around 5.30am I think? And DD was born at 7.17am, so just under six hours. No pain relief, just utilised hypnobirthing breathing techniques. It did hurt, but you know at some point the pain will stop and you'll have your baby in your arms :)