Can I hear your birth stories please.

[PaisleyP]

Appreciate it's in chat but the pregnancy boards are very very quiet.
Just interested to hear peoples labour and birth stories please.
At that middle stage of 27 weeks bored now. Wondering how this birth will go.
Been induced every time so never actually gone into labour on my own.
Thank you.

Last one was 11 weeks ago today. Caught covid at 36 weeks pregnant, had to go to hospital. Baby’s heartbeat on monitor rocketed from 118 at the start to over 190 so doctor and loads of other folk in ppe flapped into the room announced she was in distress and my oxygen levels were too low and I needed an emergency section. The doctor said I’m really sorry I know this wasn’t what you wanted but I don’t have time to give you an epidural so you need a general anaesthetic. The last thing I remember is being made to drink something disgusting coz I’d not long ate them the next I woke up in a ward alone not even knowing if she was alive. We’re good though. She’s an angel but by his did that covid floor me

Induced and delivered in 11 and a half minutes …didn’t have time to break sweat 😓!!
can’t believe how easy it was for me .

@HighlandPony Jeez that's scary! Glad you both are okay though

Oh dear, you really don't want birth stories!

Probably similar to your previous births but tends to be faster. Doesn't really matter does it, think more about bringing baby home 💟

I've had two. Both decided to come so late I was booked to be induced and both then came the night before I actually was induced!
My first labour was long. I used the birthing pool at the midwife led unit and that really helped with the pain. I had gas and air too. I had to have a few stitches which was uncomfortable but all in all it went well.
With my second I was in hospital waiting for them to come and induce me- they thought it would probably be possible to break my waters as I was already 2cm dilated. She didn't fancy that so made a very quick arrival, my whole labour from first contractions to her arriving was 58 mins. It was extremely painful- more so that the first time round. But thank goodness it was quick and I didn't need stitches or anything like that. I was quite shocked after having her that it had all happened so quickly!
Good luck to you- it's painful and it's hard bloody work but oh my goodness I'd love to go through it all again!

DS1 - started naturally but tailed off. Induction started and he decided he was then in a hurry and arrived sharpish.

DS2 - declined an induction the first 2 times it was suggested. Gave in the third time and wish I hadn't. Induced and wound up with an emcs that took me months to get over.

Never going there again!! 😂

4 children. Experiences with each completely different. 1st, 1-2 weeks late, had sweep, was in 2-3 days later at 2.30am. Born 10 hours later after loads of intervention as could not cope with the pain. Gas n Air, morphine, then eventually epidural. 10lb 2oz boy. 2nd, a week late. Never knew I was in labour (put it down to tummy ache from eating something !!) suddenly realised it was labour and had a mad 10 mins dash to hospital where 9cm and was in proper pain - finally, and for a very short time as... Anaesthetist was walking past so ended up having epidural which slowed things down by an hour or so, but had Girl 9lbs 2oz painlessly. Hospital quite cross as I was about to have her with no intervention minutes later, but given it was on offer..... 3rd, 2 weeks late, was induced, hated the pain (as continuous) then had her about 5 hours in with no other pain relief other than gas and air. Was not considered in proper labour until 30 minutes before she was born which is the biggest load of rubbish I have ever heard. 9lbs 13oz. 4th, in hospital a lot in the run up as he would not get into downward position and was considered bigger than the others and with the mother (me) "not being able to recognise labour (or labouring quickly)" Eventually he got in a head down position at 37 weeks so they induced me. Same agonising continuous pain, loads of gas n air, eventual epidural, he wasn't really ready to come out, but he did 12 hours later covered in vernix, 10lbs boy. Had colic for 13 weeks, really think he would have been better "left in" but they do have to consider size of baby and ability to deliver them. What I have learned: 1) How to use gas and air properly - I only really got the hang of this on my 4th. If I had got this power earlier on, I might not have had epidurals which slow everything down 2) Don't be induced unless you really need to be, the pain is continuous and not pleasant (not saying labour is, but at least it gives you a breather) 3) Have a good birthing partner who can strike the balance between asking for action (on your behalf) and being over the top. 4) Have as much time in the hospital as YOU feel comfortable with. My partner hates hospitals so I was rushed out, never did me any harm, but on my 4th, I could have done with more rest from the other 3 !

First one was induced at 39 + 6, took 3 days, exhausting, epidural, complications, heamerroging, epistomy.

2nd birth, this year, contractions started at 40 + 4 by themselves, contractions throughout the whole day, went to hospital 11am next morning, was 7cm and in activate labour, baby arrived at 3:30pm, no time for epidural, just gas and air. Much better 2nd time round for me.

36+5 started getting contractions, sing but far apart, some stopped me from walking called mat unit "probably braxton hicks, pain killers and bath"
Spent 36+6 on the sofa, waves of

My last one was 17 yrs ago

Wasn’t sure about going to the hospital, as I didn’t think I was in proper labour.
But when I got there I was 8cm dilated and gave birth 20 mins later 😂

Such an easy birth and recovery.
Oh and it was a VBAC too.

1st - 5 hours. Due date. In awful birth centre (shut down afterwards as so poor). No one believed I was in labour until the last hour. 7 lbs 2.5. Discharged myself after a few hours, home in time for tea.

2nd - 2.5 hours. 2 weeks late. At home. 7 lbs 6. Felt quite tired afterwards (which I didn't after the first birth). Neighbours brought me a roast dinner round!

I've not been in labour long enough to miss any sleep or a meal!

Urgh this phone!!!

Reading back it was long, didn't feel it at the time.

36+5 started getting contractions, sing but far apart, some stopped me from walking called mat unit "probably braxton hicks, pain killers and bath"
Spent 36+6 on the sofa, waves of squeezing, then huge gaps nothing else. Get a phone call from insurance company to talk about possibly going to court (dh thinks this is why DS arrived early, I think everyone, including me, got my dates wrong and he was just little)
37 weeks, wake up contacting at 4am random pattern to contractions, if have 4 in 10 minutes then nothing for 8, then 6 the a bunch really close, managed to go back to sleep until 7ish then random pattern wakes me up again, called mat unit, advised to take pain killers and try to relax for an hour, then call back. Take pain killers, have shower. 8am call back different midwife suggests a bath, I have 2 contractions on that call, she talks me through them, saying they're likely to be braxton hicks. I ask if I can go in to be checked over, I don't mind being sent home.
9.15ish arrive at unit, dh basically carries me in, taken to triage, midwife ends up with my mucus plug on her hand when she checks how far along we are. Says we're going to delivery. They pop ds waters as he's tearing me. My official labour on my notes is 3 minutes as they timed it from waters being burst to him being out.

Sounds traumatic, but it didn't feel it.

First one, three days of on off contractions, went to our local slightly dilapidated 1960s maternity unit at about 2am and couldn't get in! They had recently had an incident with someone trying to take a baby so everything was locked up tight but were so busy that no one answered the door - took us nearly two hours to get in. Patronising midwife said first time mums always think they're in labour at the first twinge - I was 8cm at that point. Had a birthing pool in the delivery room complete with builders on the scaffolding outside the window building the new maternity unit (they couldn't see in but the banter was a bit disconcerting), ended up with a ventouse delivery when he got a bit stuck.

Second one, my plans for a lovely water birth in the brand new unit were derailed when I went from aforementioned first twinge to pushing at warp speed - baby was delivered by a lovely paramedic instead on my bathroom floor! 😂

1st - waters broke suddenly at 36+1. It was 8pm. Baby was back to back so I just had awful persistent backache. Got taken to labour room at about midnight. Had an epidural which slowed everything down. Baby born at midday by ventouse.
2nd - at 40+3 I felt a bit funny - difficult to describe - so we went to hospital and I was partially dilated. They left me in a bath for about 2 hours and didn't pay much attention to me. When I felt so uncomfortable that I couldn't sit still they took me to examine me and I was ready to push. In fact, the giveaway was that I started making noises that sounded like a cow mooing. He was born less than 3 hours after setting off for hospital. Emerged like superman, with his little arm and fist outstretched. I tore and declined the barbaric offer of being stitched without anaesthetic. No pain relief (I don't like gas and air). Because his arm had been squished against his ear, his ear was flat like a piece of paper. Luckily I had a friend whose baby had this and remembered her telling me how it gradually curled over into a proper ear shape over about 12 hours so I didn't panic.
3rd/4th (twins) - waters broke at 3.30pm, I wasn't feeling any contractions. Went to hospital at 5. I kept asking to be examined and they kept ignoring me. No contractions, I just felt incredibly uncomfortable. At about 5.25 they gave in to my insistence that I be examined and all hell was let loose as I was fully dilated. Twin 1 born very suddenly, with one half hearted push at 5.34.
Midwife: It's out
Me: what's out?
Midwife: the head
Me: what do you mean the head?
Midwife: the head is out. If you give a push you'll get the body!
Labour then stopped before they got it going again and Twin 2 born after 4 pushes 30 minutes later. I gave them a panic and was known as "that woman who nearly gave birth in the car park".
I now understand that I have what is known as a "silent latent stage", meaning that while I am dilating I do not feel my contractions (just a bit of general discomfort). But then all hell is let loose when I suddenly want to push.

Had to literally drag my lazy boy baby out!

2 weeks overdue.
Went in for induction on the Friday.
Pessary inserted, nada
2nd pessary inserted, nada
Late Saturday night finally lost my mucus plug, nothing else happening.
Was told I would go down for full induction when there was space in labour ward.
Husband send home around midnight Saturday into Sunday
They decide to take me down to labour ward 1/2 hour later.
Grumpy husband arrives back to hospital 1/2 hour later.
I get needled up for syntocinon drip.
Midwife accidentally puts drip in then out my vein (ouch!)
Drip finally attached I begin the process.
By 3am they agree that I could have a epidural
By 6am, still no fecking anaesthetist available and they continue to up the dosage of the drip!
By this time I'm good friends with the gas and air.
Midday Sunday I'm still on maximum drip, no epidural and waters haven't broke.
They attempt to break waters to no avail.
I'm still best friends with gas and air (thank god for lovely gas and air)
1pm my waters break! And broke and broke and broke, there was so much.
By 3pm Sunday suddenly an anaesthetist is available! (Only 12 hours late!)
I have epidural and loads more comfortable.
6pm and midwife's getting twitchy, I'm tired, baby heart rate is dropping and they decide I need a c-section.
Within the next hour we're all prepped to go to theatre and baby boy was born at 19:20 with the cord wrapped tightly around his neck. There's no way he would've came out vaginally.

Not the best birth but not the worst either, baby was none the worse for his epic birth and barely lost any weight in his first few days and totally thrived. I hated every minute on the post natal ward and managed to get discharged in the Tuesday so less than 48 hours after the birth, and once home recovered well.

I've had two births. The first spontaneous labour at 39+4 weeks, lost my mucus plug and 3 hours later my waters broke. labour+delivery total 5 hours and had a 2nd degree tear. I also had suspected pre-eclampsia before labour and then during labour I got diagnosed with pre-eclampsia.

Second birth, spontaneous at 40+3 weeks an labour+ delivery total 4 hours. I had 3 cervical sweeps and my mucus plug kept coming out in a stretch of 2 weeks & then went into labour under 48 hours after my 3rd sweep. My waters broke while I was contracting in hospital. I also had pre-eclampsia again during labour.

As painful as it may be, I really enjoyed it all and would do it again In a heart beat ☺️

Induced at 39 weeks.
Kept getting myself high on epidural all day, I was in a happy and cheery mood. Music on, joking with the midwives, Netflix on. Midwives kept reassuring me I'll have a painless birth because of the epidural.

When it was time to push I couldn't push him out and I got nervous as I know you can't be pushing for hours on end. I stopped popping epidural completely as I thought maybe that's I couldn't push him out.

After 3.5 hours my OB was rushed in, he said we have to get the baby out now and no time for epidural. Vacuum was used and I got second degree tears and stitches. Pain was indescribable and I was in shock after. Was screaming in agony. Would never ever do natural birth again, will refuse. Caesarean only.

For my birth I had two wishes: no tears, and no pain.
Unfortunately I got both 🙂

BUT I do have a healthy baby and at the end of the day that's all that matters.

I still don't know why I wasn't offered gas and air

OP, it's important that you have a positive mind set when you go in, and hear as few horror stories as possible!

This link has hundreds of positive birth stories, which are super fun to read on the lead up to your labour

Ds1 was born very prematurely and I lost him at two hours old... 😔 😔 😔
Ds2 the hospital was brilliant... My consultant saw me every two weeks.. I developed pre eclampsia.. I did a weeks bedrest in hospital. I was then allowed home for a few days as DH was a nurse and we had a blood pressure machine.
Went in on the Monday and was induced... Nothing.. Same on Tuesday except lots of pain. Wednesday lunch time the registrar came and broke my waters. Labour pains started in the afternoon.. I was watching a test match on the TV in the ward with DH and the couple in the bay next door. Everytime there was a wicket I cheered. The midwives thought I was in pain!
About three o'clock I was moved into the delivery room. I kept sending DH out to find out the score.. I had an epidural and at half six the registrar delivered ds2 by ventouse... Two hours after he was born and DH had gone home, I started with jet black vomiting and diarrhoea.
I was immediately put in a room on my own away from Ds2. I spent all night rushing to the toilet with a cardboard sick bowl and attached to a drip... The next day when I was better I was allowed to transfer to the small maternity hospital nearer home... We weren't allowed to leave though until my lovely gynaecologist had been to see ds2.... He insisted on wishing us well before we left...

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

My first was a long tiring labour, I was exhausted.

my second was nice and fast, but not too fast, and didn’t even hurt that much until the moment delivery itself.

The biggest difference between the two was I walked through the second labour, pacing up and down. I would recommend that to anyone.

I just had the one. My waters went at 2pm so I went to hospital with contractions every 3 minutes. Used TENS, had about two gasps of gas and air, but couldn't get on with it. DD popped out at 8pm. No episiotomy, no tearing. No other pain relief (not because I'm tough, but because when I asked for some the midwife said I was ready to push so I didn't get any).

I bumped into the midwife who delivered her several months later, and she said she remembered me because it was a textbook birth.

DS1 born at 39+2, spontaneous labour, had a water birth and no tearing (distinctly remember being told what a great labour I’d had and very much disagreeing 😂), in total was in labour 6 hours. Looked after by my best friend, in the unit I worked in at the time, looking back it really was the best experience I could have asked for. DS2 is due in the next few weeks, 36+4 today, hoping for similar. Only difference is we’ve moved to the other side of the country and I haven’t got the safety net of having close friends on call for me this time round. But I know the midwife unit staff are all lovely and whatever happens we’ll be fine!

1 - terrible pregnancy with a lot of issues that had no rhyme or reason. Induced early. 8 hours later, nothing was happening so my Consultant asked if I want a c sec (due to previous trauma), I said yes. 2 hours later he comes back, baby is out and being weighed - my waters broke about 5 mins after he left the room and I had a rapid labour! It was chaos in the room as she was early/the issues so lots of staff in there.

2 - Few niggly pains for a few hours, went into hospital at 11pm when my waters broke, she was born at 1am. Very calm this time though.

3 - Waters broke at 4pm, went in, no contractions until 2am, born at 3am - this one was the worst as staff didn’t believe I was in labour despite the warnings on my notes that I labour fast and irregularly, I delivered her myself, standing in the middle of the room with staff outside debating if I was actually in labour or not. I almost dropped DD due to the position I was in and shaking.

My first - I was induced as she was small. Induced with the pessary at 36+1. That did nothing - as in absolutely nothing - cervix clamped shut! 5 hrs later I was given the gel and within 2 hrs I was on the phone to DH to get his butt to the hospital! DD was born 6hrs after gel applied. No time for epidural as went from 1-10cm in the 1hr from last examination, so diamorphine was my friend! DH said my hallucinations were hilarious! Waters went on their own literally as the consultant was there with the needle (I cannot remember that - DH told me). I can't remember much to be fair lol!

To be honest, I was scared of labour, but as mine was so fast, I actually enjoyed what I can remember!

Due second so will see what happens there lol!