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

2 weeks early- waters started trickling. Was induced with the pessary at 9pm- DS was born at 7:47 the next morning, so it was very quick.

I had pethedine at 2am so that I could get some rest, but had a half dose so it had worn off by the time I had to push. I used a TENS machine throughout. Delivery was complicated because DS had the cord around his neck, but was unassisted (midwife had to pull the alarm button to get help). This meant that the cord had to be cut straight away- I had wanted delayed clamping if possible. DS was fine though. I had no tears (definitely listen when they tell you to stop pushing), but I did have a graze, which really stung!

He had 3 nights in SCBU with suspected sepsis, but was given the all clear. I lost a lot of blood and was borderline for a transfusion, which I refused because I wanted to be with DS in SCBU. I was daft to do so- I had weeks of feeling awful as a result, and I’m fairly certain that breastfeeding failed because of this.

Two weeks early. Started off straightforward getting back pain the monday evening, worsened on Tuesday but didn't think this was the start of things as contractions were in my back and BH had always been in my front. Early hours Wednesday the pain was so intense it was waking me up and then got up to my bed full of blood. Went to the AU who told me I was 2cm dilated so went home and went in yoga ball for a bit. Wednesday afternoon contractions ramped up and were at the front now as well as the back but were never regular in length apart. Wednesday night the contractions were lasting 1 min but not regular, midwives wanted me to stay at home till they were. Midnight I gave in and went back into hospital as they were too painful to sleep and had pethedine to help.

Thursday morning contractions slowed down but now 3cm dilated and midwife wanted to keep me in and said when I was 4cm I could go into the labour suite. Spent the morning in the labour ward and at 11am I was 4cm but contractions were still uneven. Midwives put me on oxytocin to help regulate and broke my waters and I had epidural. Epidural didn't work and oxytocin was unbearably painful, contractions increasing in length but not regularity so very slow at increasing. They tried redoing the epidural 3 times and kept topping it up every 45 mins but still no relief at all. Oxytocin increased and by 10pm had made it to 7cm. Had maxed out on gas and air and had to come off. Up till 1am to get to 10cm with no pain relief and oxytocin ramped up so was begging for c section. Back to back delivery she was too long (midwife had warned at 36 weeks and wanted me induced then but consultant refused). She put her head up in the birth canal, got stuck and tried to turn transverse getting herself further stuck under my ribcage. Taken in for emergency c sec where I had an allergic reaction to the spinal and stopped breathing.

First: 9 days late, waters went but didn’t go into labour so I was induced on the drip after 3 days of nothing, she was 7lb 3oz, in labour for about 15 hours including 2 hours pushing!! Back to back labour, horrendous until I had the epidural but felt everything when pushing! Pushed so long she started getting distressed, they were just about to give me a cut to get her out when she finally emerged!

Second: induced again, just the pessary this time, a whole 14 days late! 8lb 6oz, from pessary to birth was 7 hours. Only had gas and air and I’ve never felt pain like it! But she was easier to get out, probably because I could feel everything so took the natural queues to push etc....

My first one is due in mid Feb and this thread has terrified me, especially as my 32 week scan showed large abdominal circumference, so I'm being tested today for gestational diabetes, which (if I do have it) means increased chance of being induced.

Some of the stories on this thread genuinely make me feel like crying.

I'm scared. I knew childbirth is painful but what some of you had to go through.....terrifying. 😔😢

I was in labour for nearly two days. I was in a university hospital and I remember thinking I would refuse to let medical students observe. When I was actually in labour a tramp could have wandered in and I wouldn't have cared less. I was also really worried about pooing myself. I didn't but if I had have I wouldn't have cared. Try not to listen to horror stories because it makes you anxious and as someone who struggles with anxiety I know that it makes pain feel worse.

If I had my time again I would pay pay for pre natal classes and look into things like hypno birthing. The class at the nhs hospital was rubbish. At the time I didn't have the money.

I had gas and air which was great. I was then in so much pain I asked for an epidural. After they gave me it the nurse said oh look the gas and air had run out (I was inhaling nothing). The epidural slowed things down and meant I had to have a ventouse but it was fine.

The thing that no one tells you is that you might not necessarily feel a rush of love for your newborn. I didn't and I absolutely adore my now 11 year old more than anything.

Also, it's really normal to feel crap a few days after the birth. No one told me that and I was really worried I would get post natal depression.

Don't worry too much about it. It bloody hurts (like the most awful period pain ever) but when the baby is out the pain is gone and you forget about it.

Expected the worst but both not too bad! Also we were expecting health problems with both and difficult labours due to expecting either really tiny or really huge babies

DS - latent labour for a good 2 weeks (this was the worst part) and then once things kicked in on his due date I was in active labour for 4 hours, pushed for 20 minutes and out with minor tearing - was home 6 hours later.

DD - latent labour for a week or so (seemingly my uterus doesn’t like to do things quickly). On DDs due date I spent all night dreaming that today was the day - woke up with a huge pain, rushed to hospital to have her born 40 mins later! A few big tears and a bleed due to speed of delivery and home the next day!

Gas and air with both, I have an extremely low pain threshold and I really surprised myself, both were 8lb+ so a good size as well! Good luck, hope it goes smoothly!

Ds1-due date, woke at 4am, arrived at hospital 0505, delivered at 0507.

Ds2-35. 5 wks, thought I had a stomach bug, I delivered him while dh was downstairs calling the ambulance. He didn't breath immediately so was a bit concerning but all good in the end.

Dd- term, first contraction 2pm, born at 3pm. The midwife did a 40 minute journey in 25mins for a planned home birth.

All 3dc are now teens and doing well.

Waters broke on the Monday evening after having had a stretch and sweep that morning. Nothing happened. Could have gone home but chose to stay in due to distance we live from the hospital.

Induced 24hrs later so Tuesday evening. Finally gave birth at 11.30am the next day. Contracted all night with gas and air. On my feet most of the time. Asked for an epidural in the early hours as I was exhausted and wanted some sleep.

Epidural meant I enjoyed pushing and I would love to have the same experience next time (apart from the tear....not so fun!)

2 weeks late. Early contractions but still induced at 9am. 11am midwives not happy with baby response to contractions - want to admit me. No beds. Walk round outpatients for hours. 10 hours later get me a bed. For the prior 8 hours I was in absolute agony with not one person examining me and told 'it's just the pessary that's painful.' Insist on pain relief as soon as I finally get to my bed in ward. They give paracetamol. I'm crying and demand more. They can't they say as I'm not in established labour yet. I say pain too bad and how would they know as nobody examined me for ten hours? Eventually they send someone to examine me. Waters burst all over nurse - I am 10cm. Meconium in waters. Baby distressed. Spinal for what may be emergency csection but out with forceps.
Haemmorage after which everyone neglects to tell me until visiting midwife at home 5 days later talks about it on my notes.
Baby 8lb, fine, now 12 months, walking and talking non stop, absolute joy.

Tried to eat some dinner on the Saturday evening (40+7) then had very bad diarrhoea, lay on the couch having period like cramps. Got dh to make me a hot water bottle and went to bed.
Woke at 3am having proper contractions every 6 minutes or so to begin with. Left dh sleeping in spare room for a couple of hours until they became closer together and longer. At some point the pain had moved round to my back with a shooting pain in my bum each time.
Phoned the hospital and was told to come in. Was only 2-3cm so was told to go home.
Went home in agony and sat with the shower on my back. Kept feeling like I needed to poo, sat on the toilet and felt a pop and a gush with a contraction (waters breaking). Asked dh to phone hospital again. They wanted me to put a pad on and lie on my side for 20 minutes then walk around for 20 minutes. I said I was in far too much pain to lie down for 20 minutes and asked dh to take me back to hospital.
Back at hospital was only 4cm even though contractions were every 2-3 minutes. Asked for birthing pool, was run a bath and left with dh for hours. I finally couldn't take anymore and asked dh to get someone. Was taken to labour room and was 8cm. Told baby was back to back and they'd have to try and get him to turn - was throwing up with every contraction by this point. Gas & air didn't work as was too sick so asked for epidural.
Epidural was fab, they then put me on a drip to make my contractions stronger in an effort to turn him, didn't work. Got to 10cm and they asked me to try pushing, tried for over an hour with no luck. Doctor came and tried to manually turn him but couldn't manage, sustained a tear.
They prepped me for theatre and said they'd try once with rotational forceps and then section if that didn't work. They gave me an episiotomy.
Ds was born pretty purple and not crying they took him to the side and after what felt like an age he started screaming. Tears were rolling down my face.
I couldn't hold him as my arms were numb and I was shaking. Was put on oxygen for a while and left in recovery for a few hours.

Because of the bruising and swelling ds had on his face and jaw due to the forceps he couldn't feed and I expressed for almost 12 weeks. I was still sore down there for at least 12 weeks and still not completely back to normal 17 months later.
I wouldn't consent to rotational forceps again and would ask for c section the minute I was told baby was back to back (if it happens again)

Alls well that ends well and ds is a lovely healthy toddler now,

Very positive expirience after crappy pregnancy, water broke few weeks early, induced next day, walked as much as possible to move things along, was 9cm before anyone realised I was in labour, two hours later after Dd was born, most amazing experience of my life. Good luck for January and beyond

Forgot to say, whole labour was around 24 hours and was on drip afterwards for a while to try and contract uterus.

DD1 - 42 hours from first contraction until birth. I hadn't slept for days and kept falling asleep in the birthing pool, DH kept having to pull my head out the water by my hair😳. I was determined to have a hypnobirth but in the end got morphine (which was WAY better at pain relief!). Had my waters broken at 7cm, when it came to the pushing stage she was out within 10mins and MW didn't even have time to put gloves on. No stitches. Gave birth in a medium sized hospital, care and experience was good overall.

DD2 was much quicker, probably around 18 hours from first contraction until birth. Gave birth in tiny local MW led community hospital, had a pool birth with only G&A for last hour. My waters didn't break so she was born in her sack, in the pool! A true water baby. Didn't have to push at all - told MW she was coming and she was out in 2 contractions. Lost a bit of blood, had to have stitches and had trouble delivering placenta but overall was a great experience that I look back on with fondness. I almost 'enjoyed' it.

Pregnancy and labour are the easy parts, it's having a baby to look after for the next 18 years + that's the difficult part!

Good luck OP, I hope you have a good experience and the Labour you want.

Kaytee87 I thought I was reading my own birth story. I am due dc2 soon and have quite clearly expressed that they arn't bringing the barbecue tongs in the same room as me. If baby is back to back again I want a csection.

He was a month early. Waters broke at about 8.20pm, called the hospital then went straight in, contractions started about 11.30pm and built throughout the night. Transferred to delivery suite around 8am. There for an hour before began pushing. Had gas and air. He wasn't budging. Midwife found his head was at a funny angle so he was stuck. Had spinal, then epidural and rested for a bit. Began pushing again, it looked as though an instrumental delivery might be necessary but then out he came at 2pm! So less than 24 hours start to finish.
Hope your birth goes smoothly!

We're planning to ttc #2 in October time. I've toyed with the idea of asking for an elective section but so many people I know have had far easier labours the second time so think I might brave it. Good luck with number 2 @Ilovechocolatetoomuch

Dc1 - 41 weeks very slow and gradual start. Stupidly spent 2 nights awake thinking things were starting and then getting frustrated when it didn’t go anywhere. Should have just slept. Finally built up through the day then went to hospital at 5pm, told I was 3cm but couldn’t go home and baby heart rate high. Was given iv fluids. Didn’t handle pain that well and got a bit panicked. 3 hrs later was only 3.5cm and I just had visions of a complicated labour and was a bit terrified of being in pain for hours more so had an epidural at 9pm. Was then fine and in bed talking and joking and sleeping. Was 10cm at 12am but was told to sleep for an hour ready for pushing. So bizarre. So I did! Came back at 1am and told I could push for an hour and then if no baby would go to theatre for forceps etc. Pushed for 50 mins and born! Had a retained placenta so straight down to theatre. Failed attempt to breastfeed so first 24hrs were pretty stressful and didn’t really bond or adjust that well. All fine when Home and on formula.

Dc2 - was determined to have a more relaxing birth and no epidural. Practiced breathing and relaxation techniques. 41 weeks much the same slow start but kept relaxed and slept. Waters went at 8.30pm at 40+5. Went to hospital no contractions, told I had 48hrs. Went back to bed. Spent all next day walking and bouncing etc but nothing. Went back at 9.30pm for check up and some mild tightenings. Went back to bed at got up at 12am with contractions. Went downstairs on my own and watched tv on my ball and stayed calm etc. Called for sleeping dh at 4.45am to come to take me to hospital. Got to hospital at 5.15 (dm staying overnight with dc1) and was left to it with g&air. Baby was born after 20 mins pushing at 7.20am. Lovely calm birth!

Dc3- Waters went at 6am lying in bed at 37+6 weeks no contractions. Went to hospital but was kept in as had tested positive for b strep the previous week. Put on iv antibiotics. Told I had 24hrs or would be induced. Took every bit of strength I had to remain positive and not panic. (Didn’t get to properly say goodbye to dc). Tried to get labour going but no luck. Induced at 11am with drip. Managed til 7cm with no pain relief and just moving about (in one place!) and breathing techniques. Midwifes didn’t think I was in active labour as was so calm. Told Them i needed gas and air and wanted to push. Checked and I was only 7cm. You don’t need to push they said. Baby was born 5 mins later! 9 hr induction.

I had a terrible time with dc1, induction, forceps and blood loss. It was hideous and I needed councelling for ptsd. It has taken me 5 years to contemplate dc2, now 11 weeks. I have requested an elcs.

DC1: woke at 6.30am and my waters immediately went. Recognised meconium in them and called the hospital. Went straight in, they confirmed meconium and told me that baby would be born that day, one way or another, as they needed them out.

I was 2cm at 8.30am and given paracetamol. Then I started contracting. At 9.30am I was 6cm and went onto gas and air. By 10.30am I was fully dilated and started pushing.

DD was showing distress during contractions and wasn't coming down the birth canal to be born, so I was told they were taking me to theatre for forceps. However, on examination in theatre they realised she was too high up for forceps so went straight to EMCS. She was properly stuck and took a few attempts to release. She needed resuscitating and was in SCBU for 4 hours to stabilise her blood gases.

Afterwards I discovered she was face / brow presentation so wasn't going to be exiting on her own in a month of Sundays!

Recovery was tough going as I'd had a hard, fast, labour followed by the smash and grab EMCS.

DC2: 13 months' later. I'd elected for an ELCS which was agreed with the date arranged for 39 weeks. DS had other plans and refused to go head down, choosing to stay sideways across me, known as an unstable lie.

I was therefore admitted at 37 weeks and monitored daily, and was told to hit the alarm and put my bum in the air if my waters broke to try to avoid cord prolapse. They'd had whisked me to theatre and done a crash section if that had happened.

As it was, he was born by scheduled CS at 38 weeks. The scheduled section was bloody lovely and such a relaxed experience compared to the EMCS of DD. The surgeon even joked with us saying 'I know what you're having!' as she was preparing the cut to remove DS, as she knew we hadn't found out!

So, neither of my children would've made it out naturally. I'm a big fan of c sections!

This seems to be the place where you come to relive your nightmare labour. Not great reading when you are being induced tomorrow with a back to back baby!! Sorry so many of you had horrific experiences. I am trying to convince myself that people are more likely to tell their story if there is one to tell, so plenty of straightforward labours will not have been mentioned....

Dd1, 8 days late, contractions started at 3pm but very irregular, went for a long walk with DH and the dog. 9pm had some unexplained bleeding but hospital weren't bothered and told me to stay home. Midnight contractions were every 4 minutes, so went in. Midwives didn't like that I was bleeding at this point. Epidural, forceps and an episiotomy later, she was out. Came out with her hand by her face and cord wrapped round her neck and arm.

Dd2, had shoe night before and most of the Morning (used a whole loo roll trying to clean up that.) Went for brunch at PILs and couldn't sit down as all the chairs/sofas were too low. Came home, tried to nap but contractions were annoying me. Got to hospital at 4pm, everything at this point slowed down. 6.30pm went for a walk to find food. 7.30pm contractions were more painful and frequent. 8.30, new midwife came on duty, waters break in a spectacular fashion 15 minutes later. Dd was out with just G&A in 30 mins.

Two births, both natural delivery's, no pain relief and quick, DS1 nearly 9lbs DS2 nearly 10lbs and a fortnight early. Good luck OP, try not to worry about it, your body is stronger than you think.

I would say I almost enjoyed my two births.

DD1 my waters broke at 1am (after we'd stayed up all night watching Seinfeld!, think I had an hours sleep) 12 hour labour, an epidural (best thing ever!!) 30 mins of pushing and she arrived. Small tear but with the epidural I was sewn up and healed quickly and well.

DD2, waters broke two weeks early then nothing! Spent all day walking around, jumping up and down on those big balls. Was given two sweeps- nothing. After 24 hours I was given the oxytocin drip at the same time as an epidural so started having contractions that I could feel happening but with no pain. She was born two hours later with ten minutes of pushing.

OP, my biggest struggle was the shock first time around of having a newborn with difficulties feeding ( posterior tongue tie that wasn't spotted) I was lucky to have excellent care for the births and second time around because I had gestational diabetes baby and I had to be monitored so I was given more support with breastfeeding. My DD2 is now 12 weeks old.

Good luck and don't panic!

Baby 1. Waters went at around 1am. Nothing then happened for 15 hours (other than dilating to 2cm). Contractions started around 4:30pm. By 7:30pm I was in hospital (still 2cm so no pain relief). By 9:30/10pm I told midwife I wanted to push. They checked me and said if I was 4cm I could have gas and air - I was 10cm and baby was on his way out!! Cue quick wheelchair ride to delivery, followed by over 2 hours of pushing!! Episiotomy and more tearing. Lost quite a lot of blood, blood pressure went down, temp up. Didn't need a transfusion (high iron levels) but did have a couple of different antibiotics as they thought I had an infection but no idea where. The worst part was when my calf cramped in the middle of pushing!!!! Baby 9lbs 1.5 oz - 2 weeks late. Stayed 3 days in hospital.

Baby 2. Had a sweep from consultant 2 days after due date. She wasn't hopeful it would do anything. Started contracting at midnight that night. Was up all night but then contractions stopped at 6am! Next night contractions started at 1am. Had a heavy bleed so had to go in to be checked (was under consultant after losing quite a lot of blood with baby 1). Contractions got stronger through the night. Stopped again at 6am!!! Was around 3/4cm by this point. Had the option of having waters broken and drip. Went with that option. Water were broken at 1:30pm, drip started at 2:40 pm. Holding baby at 4:20pm. Far more intense, but after a few stitches (no episiotomy but did tear!!) I was home by 7:30pm!! Baby was 7lbs 8oz.

Was a bit shit.

Two weeks prelabour- contractions lasting a minute, ten minutes apart. Strong enough to make me stop and gasp every time. I thought it was just back pain because everyone had told me I'd feel the contractions in my belly-nope, all in my lower back. So, started off utterly shattered.

Eventually went into hospital- 2cm dilated. Gas and air for ages, then pethidine. Had my waters broken, lots of walking around. Just really awful back pain- like being kicked repeatedly in the kidneys by a rugby plater. Epidural after 15 hours, and eventually after nearly twenty-four hours made it to 6cm dilated.
DD's heart rate was up and down, so they put me on the monitor and after another hour started a syntocin drip because I was still at 6cm. Literally the worst agony ever, I honestly thought I was on fire from the middle of my back out. Faded in and out a bit, came to to find myself being pushed to theatre at great speedy speed, with lots of flashing lights and noisy bells.

DD, the little turdette, came out at APGAR 8 and 9. I was transferred to the closest women's tertiary ASCU for the next 24 hours after a PPH that was determined to miniaturise the Niagra Falls, then back to the local for another four days. DD remained ridiculously healthy- charmed midwives and specialists, while I occasionally surfaced long enough to marvel at her cuteness.
After being home for almost a week, I made the tactical error of going for a gentle stroll to the park with my dad. This ended badly- had another week in the women's tertiary.

Oddly enough, DD is an only.

Honestly though, OP, mine is an outlier of Bullshit Things That Can Go Wrong. In all likelihood your labour will be .
I don't usually tell expectant mums about it because nobody needs a horror story, but, well...you did ask.