Did anyone else enjoy childbirth?

[CultureAlienationBoredomandDespair]

Not a boasting thread at all as I know it’s all in the luck of the draw and j was fortunate to have quick labours (although DS1’s left me a little shell shocked as I wasn’t expecting it). I’ve had DS2 3 months ago and he’ll probably be our last. The thought makes me very sad for lots of reasons including the fact that I feel really upset at the thought of never giving birth again. I found it such a powerful experience even though it was the most pain I’ve ever experienced.

DS2’s birth was lovely but DS1s was everything I didn’t want: induction, coached pushing in stirrups, not listened to and I ended up taking drugs that I haven’t wanted as I was so scared that I wouldn’t be able to cope when the pain got worse (it never did despite the midwives keep telling me that I’d be put on the drip to “get things going soon” and failing to believe I was close until they went to put a clip on DS1’s head and found I was fully dilated). DS1 ended up needing oxygen and the room was full of people, bright lights and I felt guilty and in shock.

Despite that I felt really positive going into DS2’s birth as I felt that knowing what was happening would make me feel less panicked and then able to breathe better, relax and be in the moment rather than worrying about what was to come, and that’s what happened. With both once I reached the pushing stage I was fine as I felt the pain was purposeful.

I’ve generally found that women who have given birth tend to almost be in competition to say how awful it was and only one friend told me she actually enjoyed it (even though she had traumatic post-birth complications). Is this reflective of other mum’s experiences and do we not talk about it because we’re worried we’d sound smug?

No. Absolutely not. Have had 3 kids, 3 totally different births and all 3 of them were some kind of mixture of terror+agony and/or a sense of 'this is awful! Why am I doing this (again?)! This is terrible! This is awful! I hate this! I want it to stop, I hate it, I hate it SO MUCH!'

Then after every birth, I was completely out of it for one reason or another and didn't even get the euphoria bit. In my experience, getting babies out was utterly hellish and the bit after was always a disappointing blur.

Today actually, I was feeling sad that I won't be having any more babies. Then I remembered that I'll never have to go through childbirth ever again and that cheered me right up!

I enjoyed giving birth. Obviously there were some unpleasant bits but they didn't last. I had no drugs, gas and air or interventions except a small episiotomy which was stitched. Everything was straightforward. I realise I was fortunate, I've known others who went through dreadful trauma.

Absolutely not. I don’t buy into competitive misery/racing to the bottom, but after two syntocin inductions I wish I’d just gone straight for c sections. At least my downstairs wouldn’t be such a car crash now. Fair play tho to those who enjoyed it, you’re on another level.

Enjoyed my last 1. Was easy and just magical.

No

I enjoyed all three of my births, particularly the second. All three were really short actual pushing stage ie with all three, two pushes and they were out but with the second, in the full throes of pushing, her head nearly out, I will always clearly remember thinking to myself, I'm enjoying this.

I do realise I am extremely fortunate with my experience.

Number three made up for my enjoyable births by being profoundly disabled so no need to ever be envious of this mumsnetter.

Of all the things of babyhood - pg, giving birth, bf, the lot, the only one I'm sorry I'll never get to do again is give birth.

I loved both the births of my dc. I've never felt so good in my whole life.

No lol. I was two weeks over due, went into labour the day my induction

Got to the hospital and was only 2cm so couldn't admit, so gave me gas and air and some very strong painkiller. Threw up outside the car and pissed myself on the way back home now front of people doing their morning commute. Managed to have a shower and a couple of hours sleep

Decided to go for a walk, as I thought that might help the pain, it didn't. Rolling around in pain at 4am in the morning until my DP eventually convinced me to ring. Got there and I was 8cm dilated. Was in shock how I got that far without pain relief. Erm..with great difficulty!

Was put in the parenting suit. Tried a bath, didn't work to move things along, got there at 7am and was told I would have my son by half 1 hahaha yeah that didn't happen

Was given two morphine injections which didn't touch the sides. I had back to back labour. Which slowed it down. Had a midwife on the bed with me, massaging my back whilst I put my teeth into the railing

Wasn't going anywhere, 8 hours later. Was wheeled to the labour ward given an epidural. Fell asleep sitting up right while he was telling me the procedure. Got upset that couldn't listen to heart FM and that my DP's shorts were dirty and I was going to buy him new ones

Went in on the Monday. Gave birth Wednesday morning

I’ve given birth twice, the second one was a dream of very manageable pain with no drugs, walking around a lot, quick too so I wasn’t tired out - it was a joy, really.

My first two births were fine. I wouldn't say I enjoyed them and they were long and painful, but nothing went wrong and they were both positive experiences.

My third was a home birth and I did enjoy it. It was much quicker than the previous two, and while painful it was manageable and I only needed a bit of gas & air. It was one of the best experiences of my life and if I could do it again I would in a heartbeat.

I'm aware that I was very lucky.

No. Two assisted deliveries. Dd1 episiotomy and ventouse. Dd2 episode and forceps plus a room full of medics as cord was wrapped around dd2. Never again.

First one, 54 years ago was hard work, had to push for about three hours, they were just going to do forceps when he came out and I had a tear. He was 8 lbs 6 oz. DD on the other hand, woke me in the morning with contractions, went to local GP unit , had lunch, and then went into delivery room, my lovely GP came, he was also an obstetrician.I had ten minutes between each push and I was chatting to him! She was born at 3.10 in the afternoon, 6 ibs 10 oz.

I loved the part after I got the gas & air. I'm told I still yelled until they gave me an epidural, but all I remember is gas & air = happy days.

I kind of want another one just for that reason,

DS1: really wasn't mentally prepared for how painful it would be. Wasn't taken seriously from midwives as they reckoned as a FTM I wouldn't progress as far as I did. On paper all went fine but during it I felt like a hysterical mess.

DS2: absolutely loved it. Had a planned homebirth, no pain relief other than the TENS machine then birthing pool, was the best night of my life.

DD3: another HB, but not as good as the last. She was a week overdue, I had bad HG all pregnancy and I was just knackered andwanted her out by that point!! It still went well and was relatively short, just not as magical as the second birth.

Loved it - got the birth I wanted in line with my birth plan. Early epidural so no pain. Had a long sleep and then watched Wimbledon.

NO 😂 47 hours, a snowstorm, no beds and staff due to storm, a tear, a baby that drank its own shit in utero, didnt breathe properly, stitched up, nightmares about it for about 6 years after. One and done for me! He's 12 now and i still shudder 😂

No. One traumatic birth, one straightforward, I didn't enjoy either of them at the time although I'm glad to have had the experience of the 'good' one after the bad one.

I loved both my labors and births.

DS1 was a hypnobirth, 4 hours from waters breaking and first contraction to baby. Was so high on endorphins that I felt like I could eat nails.

DS2 was a monitored epidural birth. 6 hours from start of labor and epidural, slept through most of it until my OBGYN woke me up at 5.55am and said I was ready to start pushing. Baby born at 6.05am.

Both times I would do all over again in a heartbeat 💓

I did, have never spoken massively about it as like you say seems a bit boastful and I actually feel like people think you're just speaking rubbish to sound hard.
2 dc, both quite fast labour's, I had no pain relief and found it all very natural and empowering. I also feel a bit sad about never doing it again. Although I hated pregnancy and found both pregnancies pretty miserable.

Yes I did! I have 4 DC. I’ve never had any pain relief, no tears, stitches, nothing.

ive been very lucky. But I loved my births, and actively looked forward to the last 2!

I was totally in control, allowed to focus, and really I had complete faith in my body’s ability to do that job!

I definitely don’t want any more children, but I certainly wouldn’t fear birth!

I had all three of mine at home in a north pool. I loved it and said at the time that I’d rather give birth every day for 9 months than be pregnant, which I didn’t really like as I was very sick. I decided I wanted three minutes after giving birth to my first as I’d enjoyed it so much.

No I did not
DS1 Very very EMCS when he went into transverse lie in labour and began passing meconium.I also developed a ''Bandle's Ring'' which is when the uterus moulds itself around the baby a sign obstructive labour which is life threatening.Both he and I nearly died during the caesarean birth This was 54 years ago today and it still gives me nightmares.He and I suffer the long term effects of this.
DS2 I know I know you are saying why did you have another? Well these things happen but I made sure this one to be the last and had tubal tie during the birth.I was promised it would be a nice easy trouble free birth this time.This was 51 years ago when elective sections were very few and far between.
I proved them wrong by going into labour which failed to progress, my uterus almost ruptured again so another very very quick run to theatre again.I was put under the GA again and my second and last baby pulled out of my uterus by forceps having to go inside the c section incision and extracting my poor baby who had got his head stuck in my small and narrow pelvis
He and I recovered well though and he has given me five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Thankgoodness that today you can have elective caesareans.As described by a previous poster she enjoyed the whole experience of lying down in theatre ,
given an epidural, no pain at all and wheeled out into recovery to enjoy cuddling your baby.If this had been 50 odd years ago I would have enjoyed it as well.

I am very pleased it goes like this now.I also envy you!
If you read my account of c sections you will understand.

Well this is giving me some hope!
Pregnant with second baby… first labour was quite difficult and definitely not enjoyable.

No to both.