Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

First time mums did you go early on time or late when you went into labour?

38 replies

NewbieToThis · 19/12/2023 18:49

Hi I’m a first time mum and I’m curious to see how everyone’s first labour and birth went. A lot of people say you go late with your first but I’ve a feeling I will go early.

What is labour like the first time? What pain relief did you have? Did it go to plan or not? Thanks

OP posts:

Topofthemountain · 19/12/2023 19:35

1st. 39+3. Wanted a water birth, just had gas and air. 12 hours all in. G&A to push.

2nd. 36+4. Gas and air, fully monitored, massive head. 12 hours all in. Took G&A off me to push. I refused pethidine as I knew it crossed the placenta and I had already been told he might be drowsy. They didn't really believe I was in labour though (I so was, despite what the monitor said)

3rd. 39+6. Gas and air. Hours and hours, but the easiest by the end. No G&A to push.

I have a theoretical risk of complications with an epidural, so wanted to avoid that if at all possible.

I get very grumpy when labouring, almost 18 years on and I haven't quite forgiven DH for taking the water back off me that I had spent ages struggling to ask for as the g&a rendered me unable to talk properly.

Moveoverdarlin · 19/12/2023 19:37

Two weeks late. Then induced. Had a water birth but the pain got too much. Nothing could have prepared me for the pain. Got out the birthing pool, had an epidural didn’t work. Had an episiotomy, vontuse delivery and a fourth degree tear, which got infected.

Alwaystired23 · 19/12/2023 19:38

4 weeks early for me, waters broke at 34 weeks, dc born 36 weeks to the day.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Childbirth Families

wishuponastar1988 · 19/12/2023 19:39

My waters went at 10am the day before 'due date' whilst I was cleaning the oven then my baby was born at 12.29am the next day! I had no signs of labour before my waters went so I was expecting to go over. I laboured at home apart from getting it confirmed my waters had gone, got to hospital when I was 7cm and baby was born 4.5 hours later. I had gas & air and it was fine. worst part for me was the contractions, actually getting her out was fine! My placenta didn't come away at the end which caused some issues but delivery of baby was fine.

Biggest piece of advice is to listen to your body and be vocal with what you want... I rang the hospital saying I was in pain, contractions coming regularly and I wanted to get checked. they told me 'it's your first and you don't know what to expect, it's unlikely you have progressed but you can come up and get checked if you really want but we are busy so you will be waiting a while' - got there and I was 7cm, midwife took one look at me in the waiting area and called me straight through!

Bunnycat101 · 19/12/2023 19:40

2 weeks early. Everyone said the baby would be late so I was somewhat unprepared. Took 3 days as really the baby wasn’t quite ready to come out but I had PROM so the child was on a clock.

jadey1991 · 19/12/2023 19:40

NewbieToThis · 19/12/2023 18:49

Hi I’m a first time mum and I’m curious to see how everyone’s first labour and birth went. A lot of people say you go late with your first but I’ve a feeling I will go early.

What is labour like the first time? What pain relief did you have? Did it go to plan or not? Thanks

With my 1st I had her at 38+5 and labour lasted 4hours 15 min. Hope all goes well for u

wishuponastar1988 · 19/12/2023 19:40

Midwives delivering baby were lovely... so encouraging and made me feel really safe. My partner was very nervous, they put him at ease and gave him 'jobs' to do to keep him occupied and calm 🤣

xyz111 · 19/12/2023 19:41

Went 2 weeks late. Had induction and my contractions came on instantly. Never believed it until they happened, but it does feel the same as period pain (just much stronger!!)

PostOfficeInTheCoop · 19/12/2023 19:43

4 weeks early, no problems in pregnancy at all up until that point. I had some sad news 3 days before the birth and I'm certain the upset it caused started the labour! Baby happy and healthy though 😁.

Bundeena · 19/12/2023 19:44

Labour started on due date, baby born next day. Used gas and air and hypnobreathing throughout, and Tens machine except when I took it off to go in birthing pool for a couple of hours. Everything went smoothly and it was a positive experience overall.

Scampuss · 19/12/2023 19:44

A week late, 5 hours of very intense labour, lots of G&A, home birth.

Kittylala · 19/12/2023 19:55

NewbieToThis · 19/12/2023 19:06

Thanks for those stories. It’s amazing how everyone has different experiences and time frames with their labour and birth. Glad everyone’s babies were ok and sorry to those whose labours didn’t go to plan. That must have been frustrating.

I want to have a water birth with gas and air. I’m hoping for it to be a quick labour and birth lol I’m going to try and avoid a c section and epidural. If I need hardcore pain relief I’ll get remifentenol instead.

how did you find the midwives during the labours were they helpful? How did your DH/OH help you?

SO amazing that we all had different experiences! Thank you so much for wishing all our birth plans go smoothly and for your sympathy for those who's didn't. Yes, SO fustrating!
I think I'm safe in saying the majority want to avoid a c section (fab for those who have booked one)
I didn't have an epidural the first time round, but I'm as sure as hell having it the next time round.... like the majority, but good luck getting an alternative.
Midwife was brilliant, fully trained as one would expect and with a no nonsense approach which suited me. My OH was wonderfully supportive. It's impossible to say how yours and your experience will be because no two are the same!

Good luck!

dressedforcomfort · 19/12/2023 20:48

Trust your gut, Op!

I KNEW I was going to be early. I was having constant Braxton Hicks towards the end and went into obsessive nesting mode. Everyone else rolled their eyes at me and told me that first babies generally come late. I went into labour 8 days early, not an easy labour but a relatively fast one (for a first timer) at 8 hours. That was the only time my DS has ever been in a hurry to go anywhere.... 😂

Flip

1 2