to ask for your positive birth stories?

[Ihateedmundelephant]

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!

DC3, started off with period pains at 3am- got into bath to ease pesky period pains- remembered I’m pregnant and don’t have periods so was labour- contractions started at 4am- baby flew out the door at 6.55am

I’ve got two. Both very straightforward and easy births. First one I had at home. 4 hours, birthing pool. Really relaxed, no complications and I didn’t even tear. Got to use my own shower and snuggled up with baby in my own bed.
2nd had to go to hospital as I was under consultant care, but again very quick, no complications at all and again didn’t tear. I was extremely lucky with both. I was so nervous about my second because I had such a straightforward easy time with the first and I was quite a bit older. But once everything kicked off I realised hey, I’ve done this before and calmed right down and relaxed.
I definitely recommend water birth if you can, makes the whole thing so much better.

Loving these! I’m finally starting to feel excited more than nervous! Thank you all so much! If anyone else has any stories I’d love to hear them! ☺️

Number 2 was fab. Woke with contractions at 12:15am timed them for a bit and realised they were 2 minutes apart so woke DH. He called unit and we went in. Arrived at Hospital at 1:30 ish, got the gas an air DS was born at 2:45 am. No drama, easy labour and only pushed for a few minutes before he popped out. Then home by lunch that day.

A friend of mine woke up having contractions (2nd baby). She woke her husband up and told him. He said "Right. I'll put the kettle on." They had a cup of tea, and then went to the hospital. Baby was born less than 4 hours later. Home not long after that. Everything was calm, relaxed and straightforward.

My 3rd was the easiest. 40+9 with a home birth planned. Single parent and my parents OS and no set birth partner.
Contractions started around 6am but manageable so got the kids ready and drove them to school, pulling over for contractions.
Had a sleep at 11.15am and woke up at 11.45 with much stronger contractions. Had a shower thinking I'd ring the midwife once I'd showered.
Started pushing in the shower; got to the kitchen and rang the midwife. Birthed my babe into my own arms 15 mins later in a calm and powerful birth with the midwife on speaker. I've never felt anything like it in all my three labours; I could feel her head engage and slip through my pelvis. Was on my knees on the floor surrounded by old towels. Apart from the burning ring of fire, the pain was minor. More powerful than anything else.
Curled up in front of the fire with babe on my breast until midwife arrived. An hour later, showered and jammies on, in bed with babe and a houseful of women taking care of everything especially the mess on the kitchen floor 😳
Best birth ever. So much love and support from the women around me.

DD2s birth was fab. Was brought in for an induction at 41 weeks, was dreading getting induction as everyone said it would end up in a cascade of interventions but nope.

They broke my waters at 9am and sent me on a walk around the hospital. I walked up and down the stairs for a half hour before contractions started gently. Back in the induction suite and by 12pm the contractions had become more intense so the midwife said she'd check my cervix. I was sure she'd tell me I was only 2/3cms but it turned out I was at 10cm!

An hour later and DD was in my arms. I had a not so wonderful first birth so the second time around felt truly amazing. Even during the pushing stage I remember thinking to myself "this is so cool!" It was a really positive experience all round. Best of luck OP

That sounds amazing Colbinabbin

My second birth was great too. I rang the maternity ward at about 2am because my contractions were every two minutes. The MW said that they were not long enough to be doing anything. At 3am I had a baby's head between my legs so we drove to the hospital. DS2 was born just as I staggered into the delivery room. He weighed 9 Ib 8 oz, and I needed no pain relief.

Try not to worry about your delivery, OP. That’s the obstetric staff’s job!
Nobody can guarantee that your birth will be straightforward, but in an NHS hospital you can be reassured that you have a theatre team, obstetrician, anaesthetist, and paediatrician all on stand by to deal with any problems and get you and baby safely through it.
My own second labour seemed perfectly ok- no pain relief needed, spontaneous delivery, full term, 8lb baby.
However, unexpectedly, DD was barely alive with an Apgar score of 1, no attempt to breathe, convulsing, hemiplegic and with a heart rate under 50.
The paed crash team, and the neonatal unit, were superb, and after intra cardiac adrenalin, 24 hours ventilation, 3 different anticonvulsant drugs, a brain scan and a week in ITU, DD came home. She graduated uni, travelled the world, and is now a senior manager!
Forget your worries and trust your doctors. Best wishes for a happy outcome.

I had such an easy birth with dd2 - contractions started at 4am, came on thick & fast so at 6.30am we went to the hospital. Nobody was around & all the doors were open (???), so my DH took me to the same labour room we had been to last time because that was the only bit we could remember from DD1 - a midwife appeared and freaked out & asked what on earth we were doing in there, to which I replied "HAVING A BABY!"

She took a look at my vag and concurred, so she kept us where we were & booked me in.

90 minutes and a mere 3 pushes later, DD2 was here, and she just napped while DH went home to get a car seat to bring us home. We were back in my own bed having breakfast by 11am or something.

Gas & air only as no time for epi, so it, um, STUNG, shall we say, but also, 3 pushes! So you know, it was all fine.

(DD1 was DAYS coming out - very tedious and very tiring)

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000760l

The opening few minutes of this programme is me describing the birth of my daughter.

I had an epidural. Everything was so peaceful. We were very lucky.

Really loved all my births! Some longer than others but that pushing part at the end is my absolute favourite - brings me sooo much relief every time. Hospital staff have always been lovely and attentive. And I’ve always pushed out my amazing little ones within the space of 15 minutes! Good luck and congratulations!

Oh my I absolutely love your story @fleamadonna ! Just had a listen. Really lovely.