1st labour. Are they always long drawn out and traumatic?

[bippitybopityboo]

I haven't heard any positive stories about 1st time labours. All of my friends have had traumatic births ending in forceps delivery, emcs or 3 day labours. I know all of this can happen I just haven't heard any positive stories and I'm a total wreck due in just over 3 weeks!

[Fitzsimmons]

My first labour took 14 hours from when my waters broke to when baby arrived. No interventions needed, gas and air only, and just a very small tear. My neighbour just had her first, four and a half hours, no interventions. Hope that reassures you x

[abbsismyhero]

no mine was boring my waters went early and i was sat on the bed (on a pampers care mat) in a ward like Buddha waiting for a couple of days for her to show up my notes quite dramatically proclaimed i was in labor for 76 (ish) hours but i wasn't really they just counted the time from when my waters broke to when i had her

[sleepykidsplease]

1st labour - 6.5 hours from waters breaking to baby arriving. No pain relief, a couple of stitches and was up an about walking to the bathroom for a shower within an hour of delivering.
2nd labour - baby del by c section on the 10th night in hospital!!

[PolaroidsFromTheBeyond]

My first labour was lovely. About 7 hours from first twinge to birth. I got to hospital at 6cm dilated and she was born 2 hours later. I used my TENS machine for pain relief and was surprised by how manageable the pain was. I didn't need any stitches and we were home 12 hours afterwards.

[Chasingsquirrels]

Nope. 2 hours labour, gas & air, no tears or grazes.

[littlejeopardy]

No they are not always like that and I'm sure other posters will be along in a minute with positive stories.

Mine was a long one and a bit of a horror story when written in black and white, so I won't share all the details because I don't think you need that right now.

But even my 'bad labour' had good bits. Contractions weren't that bad, I felt in control, really capable midwives and doctors. Even when things did get bad I wasn't afraid, and I fell asleep when they stitched me up afterwards!

And my DD arrived safely. It was a tough delivery but I got to discover that I am stronger and braver than I thought.

What I am trying to say is that it can go wrong and still be ok. But I hope yours goes smoothly!

[LBOCS2]

I was induced at 38 weeks due to preeclampsia. Had the pessary at lunchtime, my waters went at 10pm, had DD1 at 10.30 the next morning. I even had an epidural with no escalation of intervention. It wasn't the birth I had hoped for but it wasn't a long, drawn out, terrible experience.

I had a 2nd degree tear which was stitched up but they do numb you and i found it scratchy (like you've sat on a load of straw, for example) rather than extremely painful.

[jumpinghoops]

My first was 12 hours from first twinge to baby out. I will be honest and say I found it extremely painful in a way that I couldn't anticipate in advance but I coped with gas and air, no intervention, found the crowning and birthing bit much better than expected (and she was 9.6) and very minimal pain afterwards- had a 2nd degree tear which didn't hurt at all with some paracetamol and healed very quickly.

[insancerre]

Pretty uneventful
About 4 hours
Gas and air, no time for anything else
No stitches

Second was even quicker with no time for any pain relief

[Beth2511]

I had first contractions at 5.30am, went in at 7am and was born 17.46. No trauma

[Wolfiefan]

No. Not all first labours are long. I got to hospital 2 and 1/2 hours before my water birth.
Tinklypoo I can't seem to breathe when baby crowns. I just push like hell to get the bugger out. Can't do gentle pushes. Both times I needed stitches. Take gas and air. Tonnes. Won't feel a thing!! Heals fine. Rinse and pat dry with clean kitchen roll several times a day to start with. No problem.

[bippitybopityboo]

Thankyou ladies that's really good to know! As long as he gets here safely I know that's all that counts but I'm a bag of nerves and praying for a boring labour

[CatsCantFlyFast]

Less than 7 hours from first contraction to being born in the pool. Was only in the hospital/birth centre for 2 hours before she arrived. Tens and paracetamol. Quick, easy and boring

[jumpinghoops]

Twinkly didn't feel a thing when being stitched as area totally numbed. Maybe little bit of tugging but certainly no pain.

[VertiginousOust]

No, 2 hours 15 mins for me. I was induced on the drip (which is generally considered horrendous) but was actually fine, just used gas and air. Kept upright and mobile throughout and delivered standing up.

[easel14]

My first labour: first contractions if night ish, stayed at home until 8. Hospital by 8:30am gas and air, baby born 10:30am - all healthy!

Congratulations by the way :)

[Gingernut81]

I had a lovely first birth. I had a water birth, my waters went at 2.20pm and DD was born at 6.55pm with just gas and air, paracetamol and Haribos 😁
I had a couple of stitches but nothing horrendous.

[potatomama]

I had an episiotomy and stitches but it really wasn't that bad. Just took painkillers for 2 weeks while it healed. I think it sounds a lot worse than it is.

[Ohwoolballs]

My waters went at 11pm, baby born 4am with 20 mins actual pushing.
The only downside to a fast labour and birth for me was there was no time for pain relief! I had two stitches which was probably my fault because I didn't stop pushing when the midwife told me to 😳 One more push and he was here!
Congratulations by the way! 🎉

[Salene]

Waters broke at 5am

Baby born at 2pm had some gas and air

Home by 9pm

It was easy and straight forward.

[TheWeeBabySeamus1]

Mine was really quick. 4 hours of labour and 3 minutes of pushing- my waters didn't even break until the first push.

Quite a few stitches, but I think that's normal.

[fairgroundsnack]

With my first I was having period type twinges at about 5.30am, which carried on until about 10.00am when they got more intense. Got to hospital about 11.45am, was 5cm when examined at 12noon and started on gas and air while they ran the pool. Ready to push at 12.45pm and he was born at 1.00pm (with pool still running!). Second degree tear which needed stitches. All very civilised and straightforward! People love to tell their horror stories but I know lots of people who had very simple and easy first labours.

[Strokethefurrywall]

Mine was wonderful - waters broke at 11.30am, DS1 arrived at 4pm.
Calm hypnobirth, 5 mins of G&A at the end, small episiotomy and was up and in the shower within half hour feeling euphoric.

Feeling calm, in control and listened to was a main proponent in having a positive experience.