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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to ask for your positive birth stories?

39 replies

Ihateedmundelephant · 16/10/2019 04:16

39 weeks pregnant and crazy uncomfortable, emotional and fed up. I had a weirdly nice birth for my first and deep down I know this yet my hormones are getting the better of me and I’m starting to get really emotional and nervous about the upcoming birth! I keep trying to think back to my DCs birth but I feel like I suddenly can’t even remember it - it’s like a mental block when I try to think about it! I suffer quite badly from anxiety at the best of times so I think that together with hormones and pain (got a problem with my back which is making the whole thing worse) I’m just getting myself a bit worked up. Can anyone share their positive birth stories with me to cheer me up and talk me back round? 🙏 Thank you Mumsnet!

OP posts:

facevalue · 16/10/2019 04:53

i think it's normal to freak out at this stage. chat to your midwife and there are youtube videos that help- read positive stories x goodluck

i had an elective c section so mine was a very nice birth story for sure x

Mintjulia · 16/10/2019 05:29

I had a very relaxed run-up to the birth.
Finished work 2 weeks before due date, everything ready, house clean etc. My midwife was twitching about a sweep from 9am on due date but my dp told her to leave us alone. Started contractions 10am 40+3, went to hospital 10am 40+4, ds born 8am 40+5.
Three days tea & sleep (first time older mum), then home. It was lovely. no dramas, very calm.

facevalue · 16/10/2019 05:44

that's probably what will happen this time too

no stress.

older mum? what's that

i'm pregnant now and i'm 40! so are u saying i'm geriatric ? 😂😂😂

Oysterbabe · 16/10/2019 06:13

With my second my waters popped at 1:30am and contractions started immediately and were strong. We had to wait until 3:30am to leave for the hospital because we were waiting for our childcare to arrive. Got to the hospital at 3:45am and DS was born at 4:11am, no issues and dead easy. We were home for lunch.

hopefulhalf · 16/10/2019 06:18

My second went 9 days over. Was in the park with ds all afternoon. Contractions started at 7:30 ish. Regular and strong by 8:30- she was born at 12:40. No lost sleep 2-3 hours of minor discomfort and 2 hours of hard work. I was back at home in my own bed by 3:30. 2nd babies are (statistacally) the most likely to be straightforward.

smaragda · 16/10/2019 06:42

My second was the easiest birth ever. I had back pain from the night before, but no other signs, jumped in the shower at 6 to get some relief for my back and waters went and contractions 2 minutes apart. DD was out by 7:15-I walked to the hospital (just round the corner from my house) and could've walked straight home again :)

Electrocute1980 · 16/10/2019 06:49

DS's birth was lovely. I was already an inpatient in the maternity hospital due to a liver condition I had in pregnancy. Waters broke in bed about 11pm, was down in the labour room pushing by about 12:30 and DS was born 3:32am. It was lovely and calm, just me, DH and the midwife and it seemed so quick! Good luck op

Original poster

Ihateedmundelephant · 16/10/2019 06:56

These are wonderful - I’m feeling so much better already! Thank you so much!

OP posts:

BlueMoon1103 · 16/10/2019 07:06

FTM, went into labour at 5pm, my DS was born at 9:14pm, we went home the next day.

BarrenFieldofFucks · 16/10/2019 07:08

My #3 was fabulous. Other two were fine, but not everyone would view them as positive.

Was due to be induced at 39 wks as I had had a very very quick labour with a large baby for #2. As I had had strep b earlier in pregnancy we wanted to be sure I was able to have the necessary antibiotics so decided on induction. However ward was so busy they couldn't do it.

Big kids were with my parents so we went to m&s, bought nice food and hung out watching TV waiting to be called in.

Went to bed, waters went. Called unit, they said to wait until morning if nothing happened. Reminded them about strep b, they said to come in.

Started having mild contractions in the car. Arrived, got antibiotics. Contractions getting stronger, didn't want gas and air as had thrush in my throat and knew it wouldn't help. Was checked, at 10cms

Went to labour ward, midwife I had in community came on shift and appeared with me. She knew I was v nervous about damage given the nasty 3rd deg year I'd had with #2 so so kept a close eye on proceedings. About 20 mins later DS arrived at 8lb6oz.

So about 4 hours from waters going to him appearing, quickly followed by placenta. No years, just a slight graze. Fed straight away, happy boy.

I felt right as rain within hours, bar a bit tired from lack of sleep.

He is 2 and the weekend and an utter terror. 💗

yummychoccy · 16/10/2019 07:08

If you google 'positive birth stories' there are a couple of fab websites with lots of stories on.

NotQuiteUsual · 16/10/2019 07:09

Mine was an induction. The day after my due date I was booked in. Had a great nights sleep, lovely breakfast. Dropped DD to school and DS to my mum's. 10am we headed into antenatal at hospital and right away I had a quick scan to check baby was head down, then went on a monitor till 11.

The pessary went in at 11 and my cervix was not looking favourable, but as it was my third time they explained that wasn't a big deal and it could happen quickly or slowly, but it would happen. Contractions started instantly, they were gentle and felt just like the start of spontaneous labour.

Over the day they got stronger at a consistent pace. They were three in ten minutes, but I always have contractions close together from the start. By 8pm I was 4cm and taken to delivery. I had the most lovely, calm labour and in the early hours I started to push. She was born just before the sun started to rise and I was back home less than 12 hours later.

It was honestly perfect, I don't think I would have changed a thing. Good luck with your second labour! I hope you're cuddling your beautiful baby soon!

Sipperskipper · 16/10/2019 07:10

Another type of birth, but still positive! I ended up with an emergency section, but it was great. Felt really calm and in control. Speedy recovery too! I have great memories of it all.

Enidcat5 · 16/10/2019 07:14

I had an elcs with my 2nd and it was wonderful. We laughed and joked all the way up to the spinal being put in. I did hypnobirthing then through the prep and was lovely and calm. My DD was taken out and held against my face immediately skin to skin, with cord pulsating as they did delayed cord clamping.

She was wrapped up and I held her on my chest while being stitched up. My dh also held her when I was feeling bit woozy.

We were wheeled to recovery where she fed immediately. I then did skin to skin with her for the rest of the day, watching Netflix with my dh, eating toast and drinking tea. I was home by lunchtime 24 hours after c section.

I very much think hypnobirthing and positive affirmations can really help your mindset for birth. You are amazing to have grown this baby and you can do this! Good luck :)

MogThoughtDarkThoughts · 16/10/2019 07:19

I was making birthday tea for DS1, who was turning 3 that day, when I started to feel that sort of dragging pressure. But I thought 'No, that's ridiculous, I can't have 2 kids with the same birthday!' and tried to ignore them. An hour later I was calling my partner to come home from work! 4 hours later and my son had a little brother. Labour was blissfully short compared to my first and the midwives kept saying how brilliant it was that I was so calm and relaxed. No drugs, no dramas. The only irritation was waiting to deliver my placenta, which took an age!

Oh, and the lovely midwife sourced a plateful of biscuits and sandwiches for me afterwards - I'd been off the carbs for months as I was borderline for gestational diabetes. Never has anything tasted so good as those bourbons....

yummychoccy · 16/10/2019 07:21

Both of my births were amazing. First one was 10 hours and ended in a water birth. Second one was 3 hours and so so speedy! The contractions felt the same in both births, but were intense and frequent much more quickly with the second.

MogThoughtDarkThoughts · 16/10/2019 07:25

Good luck to you OP! I definitely agree with Enidcat that a positive mindset helps get you in the right frame of mind.

I did hypnobirthing CDs beforehand both times - it wasn't a total panacea or anything but did frame it in a way that made it seem manageable, and I know it helped with the breathing/relaxing.

Salene · 16/10/2019 07:32

Woke up at 4am screaming the baby is coming , for some stupid reason I thought the neighbour was a midwifes I I screamed at husband to go to her house, so he ran off. I ran to bathroom and 1 minute later two pushes I was holding my baby. Husband arrived back a few minutes later on his own as she wasn't a midwife and I was sat on bathroom floor holding the baby.

Total from waking till husband arriving back 4 minutes

Was a bit scary at the time but looking back , a 2 minute labour isn't all that bad ;-)

Honeybee85 · 16/10/2019 07:57

OP I was horrified thinking about the birth of DS.
It was a beautiful experience in the end!

I was induced, first contractions at 9 in the morning. By 11 they became quite painful and I got my epidural by then. From that moment, everything went fine for a few hours until the baby’s heartbeat dropped and I was only having 2 cms dilation. Gyn went away to give instructions to prepare an operation room for emergency ceasarian and told me that she would check me again in 30 minutes. She came back in after 20 minutes, turned out I had gone from 2 to cms to being fully dilated in that time and I could start pushing. About 30-45 minutes later, baby was born. I had no pain because of epidural, DH was holding my right hand, wonderful female anesthesiologist was holding my left hand and all of them (all female staff: 3 doctors, 1 midwife, nurses and ofcourse DH) were cheering for me as I was bringing our son into this world. The atmosphere was great and the midwife gave me a beautiful handwritten letter as I left the hospital to tell me how much she enjoyed being there and how nice it was because I was laughing and joking during the birth.
It was a very special experience.

hairyturkey · 16/10/2019 08:23

Just thought I'd add mine as it was an induction and I know lots of people freak out when thing become medicalised.... but honestly it was a dream.

Went in with bags in the morning, pessary, nothing happened for 12 hours, stretch and sweep which accidentally broke my waters and kicked it all off. Laboured actively through the night, down to delivery suite. Just getting to the point when I wanted an epidural but babies head was showing so moved position and out she came. Wonderful moment being handed my baby, finding out her sex. Home the same day.

ncbaaybeee · 16/10/2019 08:55

Like you I got a bit nervous before DC2 ... had a totally natural birth first time, but felt so much more tired going into the second one I was worried I wouldn't have the stamina or mental focus. Went into labour at 8am, pushing at 11am and he popped out 20 mins later! Was home by 3pm that day in my jammies eating a pizza and snuggling by beautiful boy. You got this mama xxx

cafenoirbiscuit · 16/10/2019 09:08

A day early, mild contractions, active labour from 2pm. Undiagnosed breech birth discovered at 5.55pm, he was half out by the time the team arrived, all over by 6.05. 3 stitches. Tucked up on the ward 3 hours later, reading my book.
He’s still a no-fuss kind of boy 21 years later.
Good luck.

Damntheman · 16/10/2019 09:17

Both of mine were very straight forward! Second was so fast I barely remember it at all! Water broke at 10am, contractions didn't even start until about 4pm, they finally picked up enough for hospital at about 10pm, baby was out 10.45pm job done! It's going to be fine OP :)

GoosetheCat · 16/10/2019 09:24

I think everyone has the same feeling running up to their due date. I was so worried I was a bag of nerves! I think I worried myself so much I thought it would be worse than it actually was.

I was taken in to be induced, but just as we got to the hospital my DS decided he was ready to move things along on his own! Went into labor around 2pm, he was born 8:30pm. Couldn't have gone better and the hospital staff were lovely

Anon234 · 16/10/2019 09:25

2nd delivery was by far the best. Waters went at 6am, went in to hospital at 8am to be examined. Contractions came on thick and fast by 9, she was out by 10.30am. No stitches, no drama, completely straightforward. By 11am, I was in my nice clean hospital pjs, cuppa in one hand, baby in the other! You'll be absolutely fine, good luck! X

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