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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wonder if anyone has a positive hospital birth experience?

61 replies

minicorrect · 09/06/2011 12:29

I had a nightmare first birth in hospital, and every single person I know that has had a baby since then has some sort of horror story to tell about their experience too.

I am determined to have a home birth this time with as little intervention as I can get away with, but am also very aware that this may not be possible nearer the time. So basically, I need to hear some positive stories about how giving birth in hospital can actually be quite nice really (well in the grand scheme of things anyway!).

Anyone care to share - am hoping for once that IABU!!!

OP posts:

SnowieBear · 09/06/2011 12:34

I had a good labour with nice midwifes in a clean and comfortable hospital and gave birth to a bouncing DS - a positive experience for me.

Didn't enjoy the stay in the ward, though... being my first one, I did what I was told, but in future (TTC) I'd look for an early discharge if all is well.

notnowbernard · 09/06/2011 12:35

I've had 3 positive hospital birth experiences and am happy to talk about them if you think it will help you

BelleEnd · 09/06/2011 12:36

Yes! With both. Lovely supportive midwives, kind and gentle, listened to me. I was really happy with the treatment I got. :)

LindyHemming · 09/06/2011 12:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HughManatee · 09/06/2011 12:38

Labour with DD didn't go to plan as such (EMCS), but the hospital staff were bloody brilliant. By brilliant, I mean supportive, helpful and willing to listen to my concerns.

itisnearlysummer · 09/06/2011 12:38

Well I had an positive experience. The circumstances weren't great, but the way the NHS hospital dealt with it mean that we have our DD today.

DD was born by em C section 5 weeks early.

I went for a scan on the wed, with another one booked for the mon. They made another appointment for me on the fri (and apologised for the inconvenience!) when they decided to induce and then do an em C section.

They saved my baby's life. DH overheard the consultant asking who had made the decision to deliver DD because had they not done so they'd "have lost this one".

I had a student midwife with me almost the whole time as well as the fully qualified ones. She was lovely and put my mind at ease. The anesthetist stroked my head and kept telling me what a good girl I was. I was terrified and a bit out of it but he made it all seem ok!

The surgeon was a bit abrupt, but then it was her job to get my baby out alive, not to be a sweet person!

petitepeach · 09/06/2011 12:38

I had a nightmare first birth too.....
But my second hospital birth was a lot better!
I think it has something to do with knowing what to expect...
My waters broke early without contractions so I had to go in for a couple checks the hospitals policy if no show in 2 days you are booked in to be induced....
I had my own room and the same midwife until another one joined at the last minute.....I refused an epidural as I had one with the first birth but it didn't work and they re-administered it which I think was a lot to do with the birth problems...
Yes it bloody hurt! But I felt more in control, I could stand up which I did and had gas and air - in hind sight I would have prefered to give birth standing up but it all happened really quickly, I got onto the bed, and could actually feel when to push, about 10 minutes later little one arrived!
I was induced at 10.00am and gave birth at 1.30pm, I think I was in a state of shock as so much quicker than previous birth, but I recovered a lot quicker and all in all I felt it was a good experience and couldn't fault the hospital or the midwife....
Good luck whatever happens!

chicletteeth · 09/06/2011 12:38

All three of mine were fine.
Different but fine!

LadyWithNoManors · 09/06/2011 12:38

All 3 of my hospital births were positive.
Excellent midwives, good postnatal care. Though all my labours were fast with normal deliveries so I was out of there within 6 hours.

worraliberty · 09/06/2011 12:39

1st Hospita birth = Ok

2nd Hospital birth = total shit

3rd Birth (home birth) = fucking fantastic!

Original poster

minicorrect · 09/06/2011 12:39

Wow! 2 responses already - thank you! I keep crying at the thought of going back into hospital as I'm so scared of it all (and despite me describing it as a nightmare I know it wasn't as bad as some women's experiences). I know I'm probably just being dramatic, but I just can't stop thinking about it and getting wound up at the thought of it all. DP thinks I'm being silly but I'm so controlling I think losing control of the situation just completely freaked me out.

Bernard - would love to hear your stories if you don't mind sharing them. Think I can be private messaged (although never really worked out the MN system!).

OP posts:

fruitmedley · 09/06/2011 12:39

Both mine were in hospital, with lots of intervention but both very positive. Both were induced and births were pretty dramatic (pre-eclampsia, soaring blood pressure, meconium, blood taken off baby's scalp etc etc) but I found being in hospital reassuring and really couldn't have been anywhere else - the mobile epidurals probably helped as well! Took away worst of the pain but I could still feel enough to push.

The midwives were fantastic, particularly the second time (the more difficult one) - this was at Kingston hospital which I know gets some bad press but I found both experiences to be very positive.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Beamur · 09/06/2011 12:39

I had my DD in hospital. Turned out to be quite a 'medical' delivery with an epidural and a c-section.
The staff were without exception, pleasant, helpful and friendly, the care was excellent (I tested +ve for strep and DD was on antibiotics) it was clean and despite warnings to the contrary, the food was nice too.
I felt comfortable and well taken care of. At home I would have been fretting about tidying up etc (DP is very messy) so it was nice to just be somewhere else for a couple of days. I had my own room and it was very calm and nice to just be with my baby for most of the time.

TheCountessOlenska · 09/06/2011 12:44

Yes, I had a very positive experience!

I stayed at home till I was 5cm, then went in, DH requested the birthing pool (we were lucky it was free), I had gas and air and stayed in the pool throughout. I have a few minor quibbles but overall it was a good experience.

Midwives were supportive, all staff were nice. They didn't seem to know much about breastfeeding though - I was just lucky that it worked out and I got more support from community midwife and breastfeeding groups when I got home.

CinnabarRed · 09/06/2011 12:44

I loved both of my hospital births. Really positive, affirming experiences.

DS1 was born at 3:35 AM. We were taken up to the ward at about 6 AM. We should have been discharged the same day, but DS1 (who was born in just over 3 hours, and under the influence of pethadine) stopped breathing briefly because the speed of his labour meant he hadn't cleared his lungs of fluid properly. Never have I been more glad to be in hospital! We should also have been discharged the next day, but there was a sudden rush of pre-term labour including undiagnosed twins , so the paediatrician didn't get round to seeing us to do the discharge checks. TBH, I wasn't unduly upset because it gave both of us (DS1 and me) longer to practice breastfeeding with expert help available.

DS2 was born at 9:46 PM and we were discharged home at 1 AM. I'd stopped bleeding, DS2 had fed and poo'd, DP and I were comfortable as 2nd time parents - no reason to stay. We'd only left home at 8PM, by which point DS1 was in bed - as far as he were concerned we'd never been away.

MrsWinklepicker · 09/06/2011 12:46

I was fortunate enough to have a good hospital experience with DC1 - I was induced at 2 weeks overdue, but as everything progressed very quickly and naturally after the initial pessary, I was encouraged to use the pool which was fab (I had planned on getting out before the actual birth but once in there was no way I was leaving!). The midwives were great, the staff on the ward were great, I couldn't really have asked for better. It was all quite a relaxed, calm affair (partly down to a spot of hypnobirthing and partly down to good luck that everything went like clockwork).

YANBU as everyone's experience is different - depends on your body, your expectations, the staff, the decisions, whether the baby is playing ball etc etc!

WorzselMummage · 09/06/2011 12:48

I had 2 prem hospital births, one highly medicalised VB and one EMCS.

I am alive with no lasting damage and so are my DC.

Thats pretty positive if you ask me :)

CinnabarRed · 09/06/2011 12:48

May I recommend a book called Stand and Deliver? It's fabulous. Almost the entire volume is given over to positive birth stories, from natural home births to hospital-set crash interventions. But the common theme is that in each and every one the mother stayed calm and in control, and came away having enjoyed a life affirming and wonderful experience.

At the back are some tips for helping you stay in control while still listening to your body. I found them helpful and not at all patronising.

cuteboots · 09/06/2011 12:48

Lots of students so no continuity of care i.e seeing just one midwife. I wasnt shown how to bath him and any after care really was a bit lacking. My mum was lovely and helped me alot. I was really scared as it all kicked off really quickly and they just left me to get on with it really. The only thing they really drummed home was the breast feeding and they didnt want me to go home until id got the hang of it.

ChrissasMissis · 09/06/2011 12:49

I just gave birth two weeks ago to my first child. I have a big issue with all things medical, so had taken steps to ensure the most natural birth that I could, doing lots of yoga, Hypnobirthing, raspberry leaf tea, water birth in a midwife-led unit, carefully prepared birth plan...you name it, I planned for it.

Naturally, my baby had other ideas on the matter.

My waters broke prior to labour and my delivery suddenly became "high risk", so immediately, I realised that I would not be able to have my baby as I had wished. That said, I was surrounded by a team of utterly, utterly lovely midwives, who were patient, kind and supportive. I found myself being induced and having an epidural (for which I am ETERNALLY grateful!), but never felt like I was out of control. Everything was explained to me carefully before it happened and I never once felt like I was on a production line, despite the fact that the delivery suite was clearly very busy.

After an eight hour labour, I finally gave birth vaginally to my son. Every step was taken to ensure that I gave birth as naturally as possible under the circumstances, for which I am tremendously grateful. I am not sure, on reflection, that I would alter anything if I had to do it over again - it was not what I had planned for but I have no negative feelings about any part of it. I was well supported and had a healthy, happy baby.

I hope that helps!

Original poster

minicorrect · 09/06/2011 12:50

Aw thanks everyone! Feeling quite emotional now reading some of these! Have moved to a new area, and the midwives I've been seeing for my antenatal care are all lovely, so am hopeful that they will be the ones in the hospital too if I go in (not really sure I understand how it all works as last time I didn't see the same person twice and had 3 different ones in hospital (it was a long process!)). Plus being a different PCT they might do things differently. Although not got great hopes on the labour ward being particularly nice as it's old and they can't afford to open the brand new birth centre they've built!

OP posts:

ExpatAgain · 09/06/2011 12:51

that's why i wnet for a homebirth 2nd time round, which was great!

perfumedlife · 09/06/2011 12:52

I had a positive birth with my only child. Went in at 8cm, into the birthing pool, music on, all very nice. Problem began when dh decided the water was too cold and drained the pool, took two hours to do that and refill it. Was in agony by then so ended up with epidural. Baby's heartbeat was fluctuating but a trace was put on and I felt safe and looked after.

Hospital was new and spotless, ds was born with forceps and ventous, basically i had everything bar a section! But if i had my time again I wouldn't let dh drain the pool, it was great for pain relief.

Was on a ward of 4 post delivery and got zero sleep as the woman next bed was unable to breast feed but refusing to express, so had four nurses around her all day and night pleading with her. I decided to go home but they found a single room for me which was heaven.

Best of luck, whatever you decide.

Original poster

minicorrect · 09/06/2011 12:52

You're all right of course - I'm fine and so is my DD which are the key things of course!

OP posts:

WestYorkshirePudding · 09/06/2011 12:53

Well I for one can't fault either of my hospital births.

DS1 - Induced birth, quick labour and the same (lovely) midwives the whole time.

DS2 - Very fast birth and as I only got to the hospital 10 mins before he shot out, I didn't get to know the midwives very well.

Before and after the birth all the staff were lovely and helpful and the delivery ward was nice and clean. A couple of girls on the pre-natal ward weren't particularly my type but hey ho, you're not in there long enough for it to matter.

The only negative I had was that I had to wait for a bed which meant we were up at 6.30am expecting a phone call and didn't end up going to the ward til 5pm.

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