Best part of childbirth

[Thefoxsbrush]

I've just been reading the 'ring of fire' thread! Yikes! Feel like we should re-dress the balance and share our favourite parts of giving birth.

For me with ds1 it was being able to have the natural waterbirth I wanted and it being everything I imagined it to be. With dd1 it is the memory of her being delivered by my husband (didn't make it to hospital) and with ds2 it was special as the midwife had also delivered ds1 and she remembered me. It was lovely to share that bond.

So come on, what were your best bits?

[pinkgirlythoughts]

Knowing that I was completely dependent on DP, but that it was okay, because he'd do absolutely anything for me, and knew exactly what I wanted, so could communicate to the midwives for me.

[JumpJockey]

With DD1, seeing her head in the mirror (water birth) and realising she would be there really soon. Then having her all snuggled up asleep on my chest under my dressing gown with DH next to us.

With DD2, a real sense of "I am woman hear me roar" as I was stood pushing by the side of the hospital bed. Knowing that my body was doing this amazing thing pretty much all by itself. And seeing DH's face - he's a doc and has been at plenty of births, but said he was utterly blown away by seeing his own daughter appear :)

[Quenelle]

Feeling DS's warm, soft, wet back under my hand and seeing his face looking up at me for the first time.

And the tea and toast.

[Bumpsadaisie]

Another one - I had been worrying about whether the first go a breastfeeding would feel weird etc and how it would feel to hold a baby to your boob the first time.

Actually DD took the matter out of my hands all by herself - she was delivered on to my chest and within seconds wiggled a bit and got her mouth on my nipple. And it was lovely!

[melrose]

With DS2 Feeling the first contractions, on my own in the middle of the night and enjoying that first hour of excitement before waking DH.

Giving birth to my baby in my own home

Cuddling my baby in bed an hour after giving birth waiting for DS1 to get home

The amazing feeling of achievement and empowerment.

Thanks for this thread, I am due to do it all again any time soon (due today) and this thread has really helped the excitement levels overtake the fear/ fed up of waiting levels!!#

If you are waiting to give birth, especially for the first time, my top tip would be to ignore all the horror stories and read lots of lovely postivive threads like this!!

[willowstar]

for me a big part of it was discovering just how absolutely stunningly strong capable, loving and totally awesome my husband it. it was beautiful to go through it together. while i was in labour he kept telling me I was gorgeous and that he loved me and he was my strength. I pummelled him, I held on to his near none existant love handles, I almost broke his fingers from gripping them and he was just amazing.

other than that the feeling that someone else described above...the feeling that it was completely, absolutely normal to have my little baby. it didn't feel strange at all, just like she had always been with us.

ooooo...I am 11 weeks pregnant and haven't allowed myself to feel excited yet until we have the scan but just thinking about this is setting me off!

[PirateDinosaur]

For me personally:

• HUGE euphoria immediately afterwards. Absolutely the best natural high ever.
  
• I actually like the pushing bit. For some reason I'm not particularly aware of the pain at that point and there's a sense of power and achievement.
  
• I like gas and air .

[LifeOfKate]

Thank you so much for starting this thread, I'm 35 weeks with DC2 today and have been avoiding the other thread so that I don't start remembering that I've got to do it all over again soon!

I think my favourite bit was DH hopping from one foot to the other shortly after DS had been born, saying 'oh my god, oh my god' over and over :o DH is normally as emotional as a brick but he was utterly fantastic as a birth partner and I found a whole new respect for him :) I'm actually really looking forward to him being there with me again, I feel incredibly safe knowing that he will be :)

[Bicnod]

This thread has made me cry - I am 38+6 weeks pg with DC2 so very much waiting for it all to kick off and more than a wee bit emotional :)

Best bit with DS was when they plopped him on my chest and I looked at him and he opened his little eyes and looked at me and I felt totally calm and right [crap use of the English language emoticon - in my defence I can barely remember my own name at the moment].

Also enjoyed shocking the midwives when I insisted on going in to be checked 'no, no, stay at home, you don't sound like you're in established labour yet' and was 7cm

[Trestired]

Tea and toast???? I don't recall that! : )

My best bit was when the doctor said, 'It's no good. Time for your c-section!' or words to that effect. What a result!

[Piffpaffpoff]

The huge euphoria for me too - after DS was born for about a month afterwards I just thought I was capable of anything and everything.

With DD it was joyful shock, realising that she was here after only 3 hrs of labour. I was induced both times and both times labour started about 4am and DS was born at 6pm so I was convinced DD would take just as long but she came flying out in a rush just after 7am. I spent the first 10 minutes of her life going 'really? Already? So I'm finished now? Really? Are you sure?' Midwives were p*ssing themselves laughing at me.

But the overall best bit was obviously the gas and air. I've never taken any recreational drug in my life but I would happily sook on that every day for the rest of my life.

[Strivingtosmile]

Love this thread! For me, had total euphoria with DS.
Also gas and air - suddenly being able to talk and move again was amazing!
When DD was born, it was more just the feeling like I was glowing after she was born. And the anticipation of first cuddle, first feed etc kept me going - DS had been swept away from me immediately after birth due to traumatic labour and it was just so lovely to have DD straight into my arms

[Fenouille]

Lovely thread :)

The best part was the feeling as DS's body slithered out and despite worrying as I have no maternal bones in my body just feeling like I knew all I needed to with MN there to help too of course

And also later, when you look at this beautiful baby and DH think, "We made this."

[NightLark]

Not sure about best, but I definitely found the time to be interested when the MW told me not to push, so I didn't, and then my body took over and pushed DD2 out without my help. Something quite amazing about that...

And, for DC3, recognising what was happening as she descended, rather than just freaking out!

[notcitrus]

I rather enjoyed labour for the first 12 hours (home then MLU including pool). When else can you make your partner massage your neck for over 6 hours?!
Then it got both painful and tedious.

Then when they said 'we don't expect the ventouse to work... OH MY GOD there's his head!' And pop! :)

And the daffy expression on MrNC's face when he held this red creature and passed it to me, and every part of me just went MINE!!!

And about a week later when I managed to get me and baby to the corner shop and thought I might be able to get the hang of this parental thing...

[shmoz]

That euphoric feeling when they hand you your lovely new baby

A close second was the instant relief from 3 months of constant heartburn.

[Bumpsadaisie]

First night at home - lying down flat!!!!

[Hormoneoverload]

Looking into dh's eyes and seeing them calm, reassuring while I was pushing. and smiley. Chin being born and realising nearly there. Yes, that sloppy feeling of body coming out. Black, deep eyes looking up at me from tiny new dd. Getting into the pool there was no time for before hand. First puff of gas and air.

[ohanotherone]

My waters breaking, feeling the weight off my pelvis, suddenly light again, feeling calm, no pain, touching my babies head as I pushed.

[Jojay]

That urgent need to push - it means it's nearly all over now.

The incomparable high you feel for the next few hours after delivering your baby

Lying in bed on the post natal ward, unable to take your eyes off your baby in his little fish tank cot, and thinking he's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen ( a few months down the line, the photos prove otherwise, but still)

Stretching out in bed - on your front!!! The joy of not being pregnant any more.

I'm 35+4 with twins so I'm particularly looking forward to that last point, after the rubbish nights I'm having atm!

[FrumpyPumpy]

Pushing. Felt such a relief to be able to do something and not just 'get through' a contraction.
Gas & air.
Arriving at hospital to be told was 10cm.
The first feed.
Tea & toast.
That first shower.

Bliss.

[VeryHungryKatypillar]

Apart from the end bit, where you get to hold this wonderful little thing you made and grew inside you and (with DD2) the elation at having achieved it:

• with DD1 (ELCS) finding out that she was a little girl ourselves (they held her over the screen)
  
• with DD2 (VBAC) DH saying, after taking a peek when DD2's head out, "I've seen our baby's face!"
  

[speculationisrife]

Realising when I woke up at midnight wondering why I needed to poo it was actually contractions .

Finding out I was 5 cms and things were actually (finally) going to happen!

Getting into the pool when the midwives arrived, and having two lovely hours just breathing in a really good rhythm and chatting between contractions.

The head finally popping out after over two hours of pushing and a little bit of help (episiotomy) from the lovely mw.

Having DD placed on my chest.

Having a shower aferwards (again with lovely mw's help).

So I guess that's most of it, then

[Mumbrane]

Second birth - elective section. Whole thing was bloody great! Pain-free and calm. I'd never go through the ring of fire again