To ask you to share your childbirth experiences?

[xoguineas]

First time mum due on the 18th Jan and would love to hear all the good, bad and gory details

1st child arrived at 39 weeks was a back to back labour, I was having contractions for hours getting closer, was in agony. Went to hospital after doing about 5 hours at home to be told I was only 1cm. Monitored me for a while before sending me home at 2am. Went home things got unbearable, I sobbed in the bath. Went back to hospital just over an hour later as I couldn't cope, was 7cm! Was thinking we'd have a baby by 7am maybe (it was 4am) but no it slowed to a standstill. Had to have the drip and was exhausted.

After 8 more hours I was stuck at 9cm, lots of people getting twitchy. Eventually allowed to push but I was tired and I was struggling as was the baby. Was told I needed help and would need to get an epidural and be taken to theatre for forceps. I think that gave me the extra push I needed. I delivered with a small hand (turned the babies head with their hand) our daughter face up, to a packed out room of people waiting to whisk me away. Few!

Second child came at 39 weeks, about 8 hours faster (16hours start to finish) but so much more painful than the 1st. I had hyperstimulation so was contracting constantly for 5 hours, it wasn't very nice. The baby heart rate was consistently dropping but luckily I was 10cm and they let me push. I think if it'd been any longer I would have ended up with an assisted birth.

I felt like I got off very lightly both times. If it's been any longer either time I'd have ended up with forceps and a ruined undercarriage, especially the first one as she would of had to have been turned and pulled out. I had very minor grazing and a tiny tear both times, no stitches. Recovered fine both times, second time I went for a 4 mile walk less than 24 hours later, felt great.

Very positive experiences overall even with the slightly hairy moments at the end of both births.

11 days overdue.

4 day slow labour at home, completely dealable-with (TENS machine and hypnobirthing techniques helped).

24 hours active labour. Extremely tired (due to four days of very little sleep). Allergic to epidural, I went into shock, DD turned back-to-back, waters went (all at 24ish hours).

Emergency csection.

DD was born perfect, screaming 7lb 11oz, 10/10 APGAR score.

Recovery was long, but fine, I didn't take it easy enough, thankfully vagina intact.

You forget, you really do, I look back now and all I remember is the wonder of tiny, perfect DD, and how she was already so much 'herself' even at only a minute old (it brings a happy tear to my eye).

DD1 was ELCS AT 39+5. The op was very straight forward and quick. I found the recovery hard and long though.

DD2 came a week early. 3 day labour which ended in a cat 1 EMCS due to my uterus rupturing. Bloody awful, but I actually found the recovery much easier than the first time possibly due to the morphine drip I had for several days after. I only got to progress halfway through my labour before things went tits up, but I was pleasantly surprised by the the contraction pain: no where near as bad as expected.

1st; 10 hours standard water birth, second degree tear.
2nd; 14 hour of intense contractions but only 2cm. Then half hour between show and baby being born (unplanned home birth)

1st Contractions started at 6am, he was back-to-back and had to be delivered by ventouse at 10.55pm. Had an episiotomy and stitches which took quite a while to heal. I had a spinal for the delivery.

2nd Contractions started at 6am, I delivered him myself at home at 7.50am. He came very quickly in the end, so no time for midwife. Obviously no drugs. Small tear but no stiches, recovery was far easier.

3rd Contractions started at 6am, was supposed to be a home birth but I felt her turn back-to-back and didn't want to risk having to be taken in at the last minute by ambulance. So I went in at 1.15pm and she was born at 1.45pm ,we were home by 5pm. No tear, no drugs. She was back to back, but delivered without issue on her own. Midwife sat across the room, totally hands-off.

Meant to add, I love giving birth. I would do it all again any time. But i'm too shattered from the 3 kids I have!

If death had been an option id of taken it, & I still stand by that statement 18 years on!

I always remember in antenatal class the midwife saying when they say stop pushing stop or you will tear

I did this - listen to the midwife! I didn't hear at all with DS born just over 8 weeks ago.

Other than that, birth didn't go according to 'plan' (wanted a water birth) as waters went at 38 weeks and had to be induced. Was a bit rubbish having to lie down the whole time while being constantly monitored as I would have liked to move around! Other than that it was painful but fine. My advice is to surrender yourself to the whole thing - your body knows what it's doing! And trust the people around you to do the best for you and your baby.

And congratulations!

Being induced at 10 days and eventually giving birth 2 weeks overdue with an emergency c section. Was put on the drip which in turn made baby's heart rate sky rocket, she got distressed and after scanning me again she was back to back and looking to be around 10lbs. Rushed to threatre and delivered a beautiful 9lb2 baby girl. I have had a birth de brief since then as I fully believe my midwifes severely let me down during my birthing process and didn't relay enough information, nor did they let me labour for long enough after having my waters broken before they plugged me into a ramped up IV drip with no pain relief. Just make sure you are clued up on every step and what drugs you have access to and you'll have a much better time than me lol!

Oh, and take the drugs. You'll get no medals for putting up with the pain! I had an epidural... although I had it very late in Labour as the anaesthetist couldn't get to me. Made the last two contractions bearable and the pushing wasn't painful.

Dealing with a new born, however...

Induction on due date. Failed. Two further attempts over 5 days. Failed. Waters artificially ruptured. Failed to progress. Syntocinon drip for 12 hours six days after admission. Failed to start active labour. Obstetrician conceeded it was time for a c-section and my 11lb baby was born very healthy and very robust going straight into 3-6 month clothes. I didn't have a great time during the op but did ok afterwards.

That was 5 years ago. Expecting No.2 in Feb and he's looking like another whopper...

Horrid experience but my son is utterly perfect and worth all the horror.

Induction Sun pm. Labour ward Mon pm. Water broken at 2am Tue. Gas, air, epidural 4am. Slept til 8am, drip, very calm, midwives in and out. Slept again. Pushed for an hour then cut and suction cup. 9lb lb born at 1pm Tue. Heavy blood loss and lots of stiches. Felt nothing. More blood loss at 5pm so remained under observation with catheter in place til next morning.

The birth was fine but recovery wise I was very sore for about ten days.

Mine were the same, waters broke then nothing. Absolutely nothing. So induced via drip.

First got stuck, forceps, massive tearing, so painful and unpleasant for months and has left permanent damage. I had mums in my pre-natal group who had had C-sections who were bouncing around after a few weeks and I still couldn't walk properly and was in terrible pain.

Second was really weird as heaps and heaps of pre-labour. Then all of a sudden nothing for a day, then waters broke and still nothing. First had absolutely nothing in regards to pre-labour so I found the situation with my second really odd. Also for the second, they just cut along one of the old tears from the first, then sewed it back up and I had hardly any pain or discomfort at all, completely different to the first thank god.

2 babies. Forceps and Ventouse, back to back, both stuck... think I'm not made for childbirth but luckily I'll not have to do it again.

Ds1 - had a show the day before his due date. Went to the hospital and they kept me in just to keep an eye. Had my first proper pain at 12.30pm on his due date. He was born at 7.45pm. I had gas and air. Nothing particular eventful!

Ds2 - I was still suffering quite badly with sickness and was sat on the floor over the toilet 10 days before his due date when my waters broke all over the place! That was at 9am. Went to the hospital where I was asked repeatedly if I was sure I hadn't just wet myself 🙄 I was put on a monitor so they could see I was having very mild contractions but still didn't seem all that bothered about me and would leave me for an hour or so at a time. I went to the toilet at about 2pm when I had my first really bad pain. I started bleeding quite heavily so called for help. Told the midwife I felt like pushing (they were on about me going home for a while at this point!) so told me she'd take a look and could see my sons head! He was born at 3.05pm.

I'm due Dc3 in May so I'm hoping I don't have a bad labour, I think I've been pretty lucky up until now so I don't know how I'd cope!

Elective CS. Quick, planned and easy. First week was in a bit of pain but recovery was fine. Would definitely do it again.

Hind waters broke at 2am, went in & was sent home from hospital 6 hours later. Managed 15 hours of labour at home, full waters broke just before we left home to go back. Examined at the hospital & was 2cm but had meconium so was kept in. Went to town on the gas & air and vomited. Asked to be examined again after 2.5 hours, was 8cm. Had a fluid drip immediately put in for an epidural but 3 mins later I was pushing, so no epidural. 45 mins of pushing, which hurt a hell of a lot less than contractions and DD was born. Crowning stings like a bitch btw. I had a small 2nd degree tear but no stitches. Active labour was recorded as 1hr 45 mins - although it caused problems I'm thankful for the meconium as otherwise I would have been sent home & DD would more than likely have been delivered by DH or a paramedic at home.

12 days ago! 7lbs 2oz... we tried a water birth but ended up on a bed an I was cut to get her out. Also tore further so lots of stitches!
Would definitely go for a water birth again. Midwives were amazing, plus we were the only ones in the birthing unit all day and night!!

Hours/days of slow labour at home totally doable. Ramped up by 11am and not at all doable!! Went in and was 4cm. Back to back so all the pain was in my arse!! Gas and air. Got in the pool, waters broke and she was born at 3:35pm. Eyes wide open and looking around. Amazing 😉

Oh I also had very little control over the pushing! I was told when she crowned that it would be 30 mins. She was out in 2 pushes. Slight tear, no stitches.

I feel very lucky! Good luck OP.

Baby 1 was back to back and the labour was going on for 24 hours but I coped with the pain with a tens machine and hot water bottle. But I didn’t progress so I had an emergency c section.
Baby 2. Went into labour 3 weeks early. Denied I was in labour because I hadn’t done the washing/shopping preparation I intended to. So when I was persuaded this was labour not braxton hicks and went to hospital I was 7cm. She was born 3 hours later. She arrived at 9pm so she and I got a lovely cuddly nights sleep together before I got chucked out the next morning.
Baby 3. I was at my 40 week hospital appointment and they’d had an emergency so I had sat for 3 hours. Really started to feel pains and by the time I got into see the dr I was in active labour and they sent me up to the labour ward. Then 4 hours later she arrived.

Just remember to take food and try and stay as mobile as possible. If ever you feel worried or it’s all too much think about meeting your baby.
Once the baby arrived it suddenly hit me that I’d spent so much time stressed about labour I hadn’t thought much about the responsibility of this little person.
Xxx

Dc1 - c section due to very high BP (I live in a country with a very high cs rate in the private system)...at 38 weeks...in hospital for 4 nights as DS was in icu for a couple of nights...

Dc2 (planned c section at 39 weeks as they don’t like doing vbacs...)...went into labour at 38 weeks...within 2 hours was in theatre and 8cm and progressing well but they did an emergency c section...in hospital for 3 nights as is standard here for a cs...

Dc3 - 38 weeks - went in night before planned cs (had my nails/hair/wax done etc..) - 4 nights in total.

Dc4 - 38+4 weeks - went in night before planned cs (had my nails/hair/wax done etc..) - 4 nights in total.

Best recovery was 4th baby (I had her 3 months ago at41!)...

Forgot to mention that I had a bad reaction to my spinal with dc3...felt terrible for hours afterwards and it didn’t wear off for hours..

Although my reaction to the spinal for dc4 was fine other than the usual slight nausea, it took half an hour to get the spinal in and was a complete nightmare...

Good luck! Each birth is different and I hope yours is quick and easy!

I only have experience of c sections and they’re fine. Recovery not easy but manageable. I bonded with all 4 of mine and have bfed all of them...

First baby, planned CS, for me the CS and recovery was an absolute doddle. Happily do that bit again.

Premature baby born via C-section where the anaesthetic failed.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure after the birth for 8 weeks.