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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Best part of childbirth

121 replies

Thefoxsbrush · 05/07/2011 22:45

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?

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reikizen · 06/07/2011 16:52

I pretty much enjoyed all of dd2's labour & birth but yes, the best bit about dd1's birth lasted for months afterwards. The feeling of enormous power and achievement. I literally felt like I could do anything I had a mind to. Still do tbh!

Cyclebump · 06/07/2011 16:53

Being told I was ready to push.

The enormous feeling of release as DS was born and the wave of 'He's mine!' when they put him on my chest.

Watching DP see his son for the first time.

Having a hot shower afterwards!

mummyplonk · 06/07/2011 17:03

The first time I ever got in the birthing pool and felt weight free.

I enjoyed the pushing stage too, was just so excited to know he was going to be with us soon.

Having that first proper total explore of his body with no one about, finger nails, eyelashes, toes, dimples and birthmarks.

ifIsaynodontjustaskdad · 06/07/2011 17:13

First cuddle and feed with theory lovely puffy Ness nestling into you and little hands grabbing you. Your baby is just the best thing you will ever see. No matter what the birth is like you forget when you see them safe.
First shower clean sheets and toast are also wonderful.

1944girl · 06/07/2011 20:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

twinklegreen · 06/07/2011 21:25

Ooooh! Lovely thread OP You're making me broody! (note to self, must not have anymore babies!)

My best bits

Realising you are actually in 'real life' labour, and that you will be meeting your baby soon.

The moment you break it to DP that you are in labour.

When the horrible pain of contractions between 8-10cm, change into the 'I'm doing something to bring this baby into the world' contractions, to push the baby out.

The 'ring of fire' because you know in the next push (or two) your baby will be here.

The fantastic moment when the pain stops completely and a warm slippery baby comes out

When you lie there with your baby and they have their first breastfeed, and you know that YOU are all they need.

And the tea and toast, and the bath/shower are wonderful!

MovingAndScared · 06/07/2011 21:34

both times it was went I first I held my babies - but 2nd time had a VBAC - and long time pushing and I held my DS2 - and when madly I did it, I did it!! I was so happy!!

WriterofDreams · 06/07/2011 21:54

-Realising that after weeks of braxton hicks everything was finally kicking off and DS would be arriving very soon
-Being examined and being told I was 5 cms after only two hours of contractions
-Gas and air. Until I had it I felt I couldn't cope, with it I felt totally like I could do it. It was a great high :)
-Feeling like I knew what I was doing even though it was my first time
-His head finally being out and then the slithery feeling of his body and that massive relief of it being over
-Seeing him for the first time, holding his hot little body, looking in his eyes and feeling like I knew him
-Strangely, the suppository the MW stuck up my bum after my stitches. Took away all my pain.
-Seeing DH dressing him as I was stitched. I thought my heart would explode

PipPipPip · 06/07/2011 23:59
  • thinking "this is finally happening"
  • my partner being organised, relaxed, funny, loving
  • the 'rite of passage' of driving to hospital in labour
  • the high from G&A
  • such kind midwives
  • feeling my daughter slip out
  • eating a custard cream biscuit
  • my first shower afterwards
  • a euphoric adrenaline rush
  • helpful hospital staff
  • all the post-birth eating. Food never tasted so good!
NeedsSleepNow · 07/07/2011 00:35

Awh great thread! Feel extremely cheated I didn't get gas and air reading the rave reviews it's getting! (didn't have it where I gave birth :( some carp about women 'overuse' it)

  • the amazing bond with OH, he was my rock
  • the slippy feeling as baby plops out after all the hard work, phew
  • refusing episiotomy and finding out I didn't tear, nerr nerrr nasty MW
  • DD2 being so quick
  • having a baby!
  • finding out what you've had
  • having a shower, heaven heaven heaven
  • walking on air the following weeks, life is an absolute high
  • introducing DD1 to DD2
Fifis25StottieCakes · 07/07/2011 00:48

The crazy photos from dd3. I had my friend there instead of OH. It was an awful labour but i often think back and laugh about it. Friend pushing emergency button instead of the white one when my waters broke and a troup of consultants and midwifes running in. Posing in various positions on a birthing ball. Giggling on gas and air together. Passing out as i had too much gas and air. Friend who acutally delivered the baby with help from the midwife. Its was really quiet on the labour ward so we had a cup of tea and a natter with the midwifes afterwards.

LoveBeingAbleToNamechange · 07/07/2011 07:06

Sticky toffee pudding that the mw bought me afterwards, nothing has ever tasted so good Grin

LifeOfKate · 07/07/2011 07:45

Sticky toffee pudding?! Shock Where did you give birth? Envy

SittingBull · 07/07/2011 07:57

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Thefoxsbrush · 07/07/2011 08:44

I'm so pleased I started this thread- its lovely reading everyone's stories.

OP posts:
TanteRose · 07/07/2011 09:01

best part of my births..

they were both short!

first one, water broke at 1am, proper labour started at 3 am and DD arrived at 6am.
I laboured on my own with her - DH had been told to go home and come back the next morning as nothing would be happening til then...and one thing I will never forget is the ripple of contractions (I could see as each contraction rippled down my stomach) and her outline under my skin during each contraction. Weird, but comforting Smile

Second birth - woke up with contractions at 5am, made breakfast for DD (17 months), stirring her porridge between contractions, and set off for the clinic at just before 8am. DS was born at 8:45am.

the newborn smell, a bit like clay (because of the vernix, I guess), was just amazing...Smile

JumpJockey · 07/07/2011 09:01

awww SittingBull you've made me well up!

Pussinglads · 07/07/2011 09:12

Apart from the baby? Well:
the best cup of tea in the world ever
A fab midwife (nicky at LRI birth centre)
Surprising aforementioned mw by being fully dilated rather than not in proper labour as assumed.
Delivering an 8lb9 on 2 paracetomol. Pure luck, I know, but I used to have no confidence in my body.

befuzzled · 07/07/2011 09:13

Them ending! (with healthy babies)

springboksaplenty · 07/07/2011 10:00

Oh this thread is much nicer.

The shot of pethidine (the thing that I had said I definitely didn't want) after 14 hrs of contractions 3 min apart but only 2cm dilated. The relief was just so amazing.

The slippery feeling of ds coming out and being handed to me and the shock of "look what I made"!

After a fairly hairy bit, when I got to recovery and saw my ds again he was crying and unsettled. I was upset and then my lovely lovely midwife told everyone to go away and leave me, ds and dh alone. We then had skin to skin for the first time properly and ds sort of sighed, settled into my chest, calmed down and fell asleep. I felt like a proper mom then!

thelittlefriend · 07/07/2011 14:28

Reading sittingbulls post has made me well up too! How lovely to have made your mum so happy.

My favourite part was being told I was 10cm when I got to hospital. The midwife laughed when I responded with "thank fuck for that!"

I couldn't stop grinning with happiness after my dd was born. Especially watching my dp hold her - even though I was having my stitches done!

aStarInStrangeways · 07/07/2011 18:00

My waters breaking. I was a week overdue and quite convinced DS was never going to come out.

My body pushing him out all by itself. After hours of me pushing with no apparent result, it was pure relief to feel my body doing it all on its own. Even crowning was amazing because it felt right; I could feel him finally getting here, and the relief when the lovely mw said "just one more push for the shoulders now" and his body slithered out was just amazing.

Having this fluorescent purple person placed on my chest, looking him in the eye and thinking "oh hello...it's you!"

Watching DH gazing at DS while I was having endless stitches done.

36 weeks with DC2, now I'm actually kind of looking forward to it again!

Skillbo · 07/07/2011 23:41

What a fab thread...

The taxi drivers face when we got in the taxi, quite obviously in labour!
Being 8cm dilated when I was convinced it was going to be hours more
Discovering Gas & Air - that stuff is amazing!
My DH - just wonderful

Was just saying to DH, wow - lots of people seemed to have tea & toast and he said I did too - and was totally made up and said it was the best thing about the whole thing... had completely forgot! Too wrapped up in DD, I guess Smile

BreastmilkDoesAFabLatte · 08/07/2011 09:10

What a lovely thread Grin

For me, just that very first glimpse of the newborn DC. Best feeling in the world...

Gilberte · 08/07/2011 09:26

The high you can get afterwards(with a straightforward birth) is incredible like no feeling I've ever experienced. I felt amazing.

Didn't get this natural high with DC1 as I was too zonked/weak due to lack of sleep for about 40 hours/food for about 12 hours and side effects of epidural/ergometrine.

The tea and toast is out of this world. I was ravenous and just wanted to eat everything in sight- hospital food never tasted so good.

The skin to skin/first breastfeed is pretty magical too.