Are there ANY positive childbirth stories you want to share?

[Dozeyland]

I know its called labour for a reason. And of course positive definitely means that the baby is healthy. but do any of you have a positive labour & birth experiences?

I am totally realistic and expecting the worst & hoping for the best (first-timer) but Horror stories are not what i need to keep hearing!!

any joy??

i actually enjoyed giving birth :)

contractions were more painful than i had been prepared for, but actual pushing part and delivery were a fabulous experience..

when is your baby due?

22nd October :)

did you have a natural birth?

I loved giving birth, I managed and coped and felt completely safe the whole time, and Im looking forward to doing it again in 8 weeks :)

I enjoyed giving birth to DD1 (DC1). She was a planned breech HB with IMs and was 9lb 12. Having IMs meant that, even though I only booked them at 36 weeks, I knew who would be coming when I went into labour and had complete trust in them to keep me and DD safe - it made it very easy to put my worries aside and go with the flow. I was also very quiet to the point the MWs had to ask me to tell them when I had a contraction - no moaning, groaning, screaming or cursing at all. I used a TENS machine and yoga breathing through the 1st stage, and the only time I started to think "this isn't doing so well now - I want to get in the pool" it turned out I must have been in transition as everything changed very shortly afterwards (for the better - I FAR preferred the contractions in the 2nd stage). I'd describe my labour as intense rather than painful - I'd honestly say that very little of it actually hurt.

(And one of my MWs was called Joy :o)

The only way I can describe labout is a good kind of pain. Your body kind of takes over and you go with the flow (well I did..)

I was in hospital and was continuously monitored (dd born 5 weeks early after waters breaking a few days before..) but despite this the whole experience was amazing. I can't say it didn't hurt, I do remember transition and saying I couldn't do it anymore! I got to 10cm on just breathing, leaning on birthing ball and codeine! Then gas and air to relieve the intense contractions until it was time to push. I don't remember the pushing actually hurting as I wanted to meet my baby! Apparently I didn't make much noise just groaned a bit!

Relax as much as you possibly can, and remember it is a totally natural experience, and your body will know what to do - trust it. Good luck!

I had 2 very positive births, I had not expected the pain to go away in between contractions so that was a very wierd and pleasant surprise. It felt a bit like I was faking at times so a minute of strong contraction followed by 5-6 minutes (early on) of absolutely nothing.

I had both boys at home, I watched DVD's, listened to music, snuggled on the sofa with DH, sat in the garden on my birth ball whilst DH did gardening. It really really was bearable, and then once things got closer together I had got to 5cms and got into the birthing pool which was such an amazingly relaxing feeling. It was really a fabulous experience.
With DS2 it was a very quick experience but still very very positive, at home feeling supported and loved and as relaxed as I could feel.

Had gas and air both times for my stitches but no other pain relief for the labour or birth.

Listen to your body, it will know what to do, even if that is recognising that you need further outside assistance, there is no failure in anything to do with giving birth, if you feel you are coping with out drugs then great, but equally if you feel you would be able to cope better with some drugs then they are there for a reason.. use them.

Enjoy!

it's a bit like an extreme sport! you hate it at the time but afterwards you get this real high and feeling of immense satisfaction - well that's how I feel about my births anyway. often fondly reminiscing about something or other. it is a fabulous and amazing experience.

Good to hear these!! keep them coming!

I dread tearing :( / episiotomy/ etc

but i am planning on trying my best to be calm, trust my body. plan on using water/breathing/ and active ... otherwise go with the flow

hi Dozeyland! I have had three boys, all three labours and births were fantastic. First one was 3 hours from 3cm to baby in my arms, no tearing, no pain relief of any kind and only the last 30 minutes of contractions were really painful because I was lying on the bed (in retrospect it most likely would have gone faster and been less painful if I stayed on my feet). DS1 was 9lb 1oz. Second labour was 2 hours from 3cm to baby in my arms, no tearing, used gas and air. Found the labour more painful, I think because I was on the bed due to being exhausted in general. Still a great labour though. DS2 was 9lb 6oz. Third labour was AMAZING. Easy, mild contractions and 45 minutes from 3cm to baby in arms, no tearing, and only 2 really painful contractions right at the end (for this one I was on my feet until his head was crowning and waters went, then I jumped on the bed and pushed him out). DS3 was 8lb 8oz. So excited to be having DC4, don't know the sex, and planning a homebirth (35 weeks now!). Hope your labour and birth goes well, my best advice is stay on your feet! :)

Mine was fine too!

Managed until 5cm dilated at home (hot baths and paracetomol) - contractions started coming very fast with no breaks in between (this was the worst bit, the drive to the hospital was uncomfortable!). At the hospital I was examined, found to be 5cm and was taken through to the birthing pool room (my advice, get your partner to request this if you want it as by that point I was in no fit state to remember birthing plan!)

Got into the pool (lovely and warm) and got on the gas and air which provided amazing relief . . . around 2 and a half hours in the pool till dd was born. Pushing stage was about half an hour - that was physically hard work but your body does kind of take over. Crowning does sting and that was the part I said "ow ow ow!" but then it's over. Dd swam out into the water!

I did need a few stitches which I had with more gas and air. Honestly by that point you are really not bothered and you have a beautiful baby to admire while they do it!

Another one who loved giving birth and would have a 4th just to go through that again. First one at hospital, 26 hour labour but lovely midwives and great support from DH and best friend. Next two were at home - 12 hours and 3 hours. Both fantastic experiences. No pain relief but waking about, yoga breathing and, during the 12 hour one, a warm bath. I have never had stitches with any of them and very quick recoveries. For DD2 the midwives were in the house for less than an hour. The friends and family with champagne took much longer to get rid of!

I do credit my antenatal yoga classes for giving me the very best chance of going with the flow of my body with confidence and to actually relax between contractions. I found it a very powerful and joyous experience. Luck comes into it too, but the majority of births are natural and we should be taught not to fear the pain but to use it and recognise it as a determined marathon runner might!

Reading threads like this makes me really want a 4th one!

I want to add that I have had two C-sections which weren't what I imagined as a "positive" birth, but they were still positive, lovely experiences and I remember the moment of birth well and it's still special to me. It can go "wrong" or not end up as you expect and still not be a disaster.

I had a lovely 2nd birth, contractions started late afternoon, but weren't bad - I was still reading a bedtime story to my son when I realised they were coming twice a page and perhaps I should ring the labour ward! Got ds to bed, got to the hospital around 8, walking around with gas and air for an hour and a half or so then suddenly started to feel I couldn't do it any more - then got examined and was 10 cm. Lovely midwife got a colleague in, got me down on the floor, I think maybe 5 or 6 pushes? waters went on the 2nd to last push, pushed head out and she started crying before her body was delivered, bit odd but at least we knew she was OK! She was born in the amniotic sac which is supposed to be good luck, handed to me, partner cut cord and me and dd lay on the bed staring into each others' eyes and feeding for a couple of hours. Delivered placenta easily with a push or two while she was on my chest. It was lovely and I would do it again in a heartbeat - if I didn't have to be pregnant for 9 months beforehand that is!

And I did have a 2nd degree tear (maybe because the pushing stage was so quick?) but I didn't realise it at the time, and I was too involved with dd to really notice the stitching afterwards. Even now if I have to have any uncomfortable medical procedures now I dissociate myself by imagining I'm back on that bed with my daughter on my chest and nothing else matters.

Any birth story that ends with a healthy baby will be a positive one. Labour is such a relative short period of time in comparison with the incredible experience of becoming a mum. My 2 labours were not easy, but I don't mind a minute (or hour) of them as the end results were easily worth the hard work! I don't want to dismiss your fears, but you'll get what I'm trying to say when you've been through it too.

tiredandgrumpy - I'm sorry, but I don't agree with this:
"Any birth story that ends with a healthy baby will be a positive one."
and neither do I agree with the reverse.

With DD2 I wasn't left with a healthy baby, but the way we (DH and I, MWs, consultants) handled the birth meant it was still a positive experience. Conversely, I've friends who got a perfectly healthy baby but had an awful experience that took a lot of time to recover from as they were not cared for in a supportive manner.

For me, a lot of having a positive experience was in my state of mind. Before DD1 I listened to Natal Hypnotherapy CD's and reminded myself that every single female ancestor I have seems to have managed to give birth - if they could do it (most with much less care, support and medical back up than is available to us now), why on earth wouldn't I?

I also tried to work out what I was most afraid of, and for me that was having everything taken out of my control. So I made myself as informed as possible and trained DH to be my advocate - I didn't necessarily want to discount all medical advice, but I did want to understand fully all the reasons and implications before agreeing to it (or not). There are very few obstetric emergencies when there genuinely isn't time to ask questions and get answers before making a decision. Things I found that helped me (and DH, I think) were an acronym we were taught in antenatal classes - remember to use your BRAINS:
B - what are the Benefits?
R - what are the Risks?
A - what are the Alternatives?
I - what does my Intuition say?
N - what happens if we do Nothing (or delay)?
S - Smile!

And memorising these phrases by Mary Cronk.

I see my story as positive even though it didn't go completely to plan.

I really wanted a natural drug free birth in a local midwife unit, but unfortunately DD just didn't want to come out so I was induced in hospital at 42 weeks.

However it was still possible to make the most of it. I kept active, lots of bouncing on birth ball and used tens and aromtherapy and gas and air. They even let me in the pool for a while.

Labour was pretty intense after the induction, and long (22 hours) but I did cope with the pain with the less medical methods and breathing and visualising.

My positive thinking and determination got me through till nearly the end when I cracked and asked for an epidural, but I couldn't by then as I was 8cm and nearly ready to push.

My advice would be to stay positive as this really helps and keep control of your breathing as this will help control the pain.

Good luck OP hope it all goes well.

1st timers are very brave reading these boards imo!

I had a very premature birth, so DD was whisked off to the resuscitaire immediately and then to intensive care. However, I always thought of the birth as a positive experience.

I had a fairly easy labour (ehm, actually I did not realise I was in labour... I just thought I had back pain). Anyway, when it got bad I rushed to hospital when they told me I was fully dilated and I had to push thirty secs after I arrived. I had a puff of gas and air, and DD was out in 4-5 pushes. No tears or anything, was on my feet about 1 hr later. I do not know how to explain - I was in shock becasue I did not expect the birth so early, but I felt I was really "in control" when pushing, and somehow it came to me naturally? It's like my brain just tuned on the situation and responded automatically - so despite the emergency situation it was definitely a good experience...

I had a fantastic birth with DS (DC2). He was born at home (planned it that way) I had a 4 hour labour in which the contractions stayed short, no drugs, no tearing and tea and toast in my own bed afterward.

It was an amazing experience and I'd do it again this very afternoon.

i have had 3 good HBs, all as planned. only had stitches first time round - doing the last pish les forcefully might have stopped that.

I have had two very positive births, yes they were painful but all you have to focus on is managing the pain. I didn't tear and was up and about immediately.

Labour with DC1 very positive

Straightforward, no complications. Started with contractions, progressed normally. Arrived at hospital, got in pool, dd1 born 4 and a half hours later

2nd degree tear and stitches but in all honesty never had problems related to this... healed well etc etc

Gas and air as pain relief

Home 6hrs later

DC2's went much the same way

Good luck