Anyone want to share a GOOD birth story?!

[BellaCB]

It just seems like everyone has horror stories! And not just the people who are overly keen to share horrific stories - for all my family and friends who have had babies over the past few years its been a litany of forceps, 4-day labours, emcs, inductions with pain off the scale, filthy hospitals...!

I'm 32w with DC1 and could really, really do with hearing about a pretty decent birth before I terrify myself into utter panic!

My labour was nothing like I expected it to be, that's for sure! I had prepared using hypnobirthing, wanted to use the birth pool at the hospital (they only have one, but was assured it's hardly ever used!) and wanted no pain relief and definitely no lying on my back with legs in stirrups!

Well, that all went out the window! I didn't realise I was in labour, it was my due date and you hardly ever hear of anyone giving birth on time do you? I'd read only 5% of babies are born on their due date, so I'd made loads of plans for that day so I wasn't sat around moanin that I'd not gone into labour

It felt like an awful tummy upset, but after 2 hours locked in the bathroom throwing up and feeling desperately like I needed a poo but not going, dh rang labour ward and they insisted I went in to be checked out, turns out I was at 4cm. I asked about the birth pool, but for the first time in days (apparently) there was someone using it . I had some diamorphine, I wasn't getting any noticeable gaps between contractions and didn't feel I could manage without any form of pain relief.

The diamorphine was fantastic, I managed to get some sleep but it had completely worn off before I reached 10cm so I had no pain relief for pushing. It took 2.5hrs for me to push ds out due to his position, I had an episiotomy and they wanted to use forceps but I was adamant I wanted to do it myself. Eventually (as I was on the point of giving up) I managed to pop his head out, I've never been so proud of myself!! Whole thing from first pain to holding my son was just under 10 hours.

Considering I'm the sort of person who cries at a paper cut, I don't think I ever really believed I could actually go through labour, but it's the most amazing, empowering thing I've ever done! Yes it hurt, but would I do it again just to see that first sight of my ds, and feel him latch immediately onto my breast? Absolutely!

It

My story is very positive, even though I had to have an EMCS at the end.

Unfortunately, around the time DS was due, my blood pressure shot through the roof, so I was admitted at two days over due. I had been having what I thought were simply braxton hicks, so imagine my surprise when they told me I was already 3cm dilated!

I went into labour 'properly' about 24 hours later (still in hospital). With hypnotherapy, aromatherapy and TENS, I found the whole thing pretty manageable. Just got into a kind of 'zone' - very quiet, very contained, didn't say much at all. The only moment of 'conscious' discomfort I really had was when DH started tucking into a cornish pasty. The smell - bleaaagh!

Unfortunately, DS is built like a rugby player and needed help making his way out, but even then I felt very calm and controlled, and was just looking forward to meeting him.

The next day, the midwife from the labour ward came up to see me, and told me how impressed she was with the way I handled it all, and how in tune with my body I seemed to be. All hail hypnotherapy!

As others have said, be prepared, trust your body and don't be scared. You'll be absolutely fine!

I have had 2 easy births and am currently 14 weeks pregnant with dc3 (and terrified - thinking surely my luck will run out this time but that's a whole other story!)

DD (dc1) - felt some twinges around 6pm, ate dinner (curry!) but by 7.30pm realised was probably labour starting. Phoned hosp and they said to get in a hot bath which I did. It was lovely. I remember having a real laugh with dh about timing the contractions. He was being very anal with a stopwatch and everything timing them to the second! Bath was so lovely, I didn't want to get out. DH finally persuaded me and we got to hospital about midnight. The pain was quite sharp but manageable due to the gap inbetween. Got an epidural about 1am and fell asleep. Woke about 4.30 thinking I needed a poo. DH was asleep in a chair and I lay for a while wondering whether to wake him (!?). Decided to ring the midwife instead as I was feeling quite uncomfortable and wanted to ask for top up to the epidural. She came, said not poo, baby! Transferred to delivery room, dd born 5.20am after 5 mins pushing. I felt the contractions, felt the urge to push and felt the baby crown. Lovely!

DS - felt twinges about 9.30pm. DH came home from work very late just after that. Mentioned to him about 10.30pm that I was maybe having contractions but not to worry as I had been having bh for weeks. About 11.15pm, I let dh take me to hospital protesting that it was probably nothing. Got there 11.30pm, monitored for half an hour. DH popped out to the shop to get me some snacks as we thought it would be a loong night as I was only 2 cm on arrival (and had been 2cm for weeks previously anyway). While he was out pain intensified enormously and because I was being monitored could not move off the bed. Once off the monitor I walked around until I decided I needed a poo (did I not learn from the first time??). Didn't occur to me to call the midwife but she just happened to pop in. Asked her to help me go to the toilet. She said not poo, Baby! She had to hold him in with her hand while I climbed back up on the bed. My doctor arrived - wouldn't let me push as he was worried about it being too quick and me tearing. DS eventually eased his way out at 2.05h. No pain relief, no time to ask!

Fingers crossed for no. 3!

Good luck OP. i have no real advice except try not to be scared no matter how painful you find it. It IS normal! I think that was my mistake. I did panic a little when it got really sore and forgot to breathe!

Mememe! Although apparently by UK standards it's not great but I feel it was positive.

DS was born at 40+4, obligingly waiting until the new bodybalance release was out so I could freak the visiting instructors out with my bump. I decided I wanted to go for a walk that evening to help him along, went round the block and Braxton Hicks turned into real contractions - not painful but not walkable through. Went home, knitted and called my best friend who said I'd have a 7lber, went to go to bed but contractions hurt lying down so I got up and paced reading on my kindle, then had a warm bath which was bliss and when I got out was definitely in labour. At this point I went to the loo about 5 times because I was more comfy there! Walked round and leant on table with wheat bag on back through contractions. Around 2am I woke DH and told him to call the maternity. They said they were full cue me panicking (because the other local place is dire) and telling my body to stop. I had a full on meltdown so DH called back and asked when they'd have space and how to get first on the queue. They said to go in at 7am so I flopped onto a beanbag with relief and felt DS shift. He was perfectly LOA, not any more! Clearly he took the instruction to slow down seriously. (I now think had I kept upright it would have been shorter because OP positioning made it tougher).

Anyway the pain was now all in my back and pretty constant. We left at 6.30, got there and was examined/monitored for 30mins as per stupid French policy. 3cm and not dilating but strong contractions, then put into a side room (with a woman who'd just given birth) until a delivery room was free. With one thing and another (full delivery rooms, EMCS) it was nearly 1pm before I saw anyone again for another 30mins monitoring and a delivery room was free so I went there, 7cm. I had to have CFM so was a bit restricted and being on my back in transition was awful so I had gas and air (bloody wonderful, I wouldn't give it back).

Waters went with a pop and I felt the urge to push so struggled into all 4s and that was so much better! At one point I reached down and felt DS's head so called for MW and she told me to start pushing. It felt like every cm was a battle and when DS was born at 16.05 we saw why - huge head, despite pointiness from pushing, no rotation, 8lb4oz. MW said she was surprised I avoided intervention given the circumstances.

DS came out very calm and alert, lunged for boob and stayed there for 2 hours. Natural third stage taking around 45 mins and I had a 2nd degree tear internal and external so skin and muscle needed stitching but it seems okay. Lavender oil helped healing.

People think I had a tough time and maybe physically I did but for me, despite the medicalisation of some bits, it was fine. Sometimes I think that had it been a planned HB, or the maternity hadn't been full, or I'd been in the bath in the later stages it would have been even better but as it was I really can't complain.

Hi OP, I was okay with my first birth!

I went into labour just as I got into bed a few days overdue. My waters broke and I was having very regular contractions straight away so I went into hospital. When I arrived I was only 1cm dilated so the MWs were discussing whether I should go home or not. I got really panicky! So they immediately said I could stay and gave me some pethidine which helped me calm down - MWs were in my humble opinion, totally fab in the situation, as it could easily still have been a day or more before I gave birth.

As it was 7hrs later DD arrived, I'd just been having G&A - I didn't have any birth plan re: drugs, it was just all I felt like I needed. The G&A made me sleepy but as soon as I stopped having quite so much I woke up for the pushing bit. DD was out in a few minutes and a couple of pushes.

I had a 2nd degree tear which was stitched up quickly with no fuss, while they did that I did skin to skin with DD and decided she was bloody amazing - she was a bit sleepy and didn't feed straight away. MWs helped me to the shower afterwards while DH had a DD cuddle.

Everyone was really busy as it was baby rush season, on the recovery ward as well, but everyone was nice and took time to answer questions and check on me.

Stranded - amazing story, so happy it all ended well, and you weren't on your own for the birth!

3 good births here. All 3 very similar - waters broke around 7pm, then contractions began, speeded up quite quickly, went to hospital, some gas & air, and baby appeared. First one took 8.5 hours, second one 3 hours, third one 2.5 hours.

If I could live only one day of my life again, it would be one of those 3 days :)

Two lovely births here (will gloss over other two)

DC1 was early, I was scared and things didn't go to plan. As a result I was terrified of having DC2 and was in denial

Fortunately with DC2 I went into labour naturally, pottered round the house for a few hours, watched some TV, spent 5 hours (really) in the bath and when pain got too much went to hospital where I was examined and was ready to push. We left when DS was exactly 6hours old.

DC3 was stillborn (through no fault - I don't want to scare you) and so DC4's arrival was longed for but dreaded. I had chosen to be induced early and so was aprehensive. Went to hospital, was given pessary, mooched around had lunch, given second pessary. Contractions started, asked for some gas and air to take away edge, asked if I could get in the pool, MW sort of smiled 15 minutes later I was holding my beautiful DD. 47 minutes start to finish and to top it off they let us leave when she was 2 hours old so I was home in my bed the same day. perfect.

Good luck.

stranded your post has just made me cry What a wonderful story - good luck to you all.

3 Good op births here I have a funny shape womb so all my births were posterior and I am five ft one and a size 8.

DS waters broke at 1am and contractions started straight away, I had to stay in hospital and be monitered because waters had gone (it was the policy then). I didnt really care how much pain it was going to be because I had a nightmare of a pg and spent 4 months in hospital, so just wanted it over. I contracted through the day it was manageable but after 22 1/2hours I felt tired and the pain had increased, I asked to be checked and was told I was only 2 cms so because I thought I still had a long way to go I asked for some pain relief so I could get a good sleep. Because I was only 2 cms they said I could only have a quarter of the usual amount of pethadine given. That was given and 10 minutes later I said I need to push. The Mw laughed and said I only checked you 30 minutes ago. I said well something must be wrong because I really need to push. She checked and said good lord you are 10cms so I was rushed over to delivery and DS was born still op 30minutes after no stitches. Total time 23 1/2 hours.

DD1 was my best birth mild contractions started in the morning but I sent DP to work as they were mild. They stayed mild till about 12.00pm when I went to hospital and even though I was only 3 cms they let me stay because of DS birth. At 1.40 I called the MW in and she wrote 6cms at 1.43 she was about to get some pain relief when she spotted dd head and DD was born at 1.46. No stitches.

DD2 was born at home I was having irregular contractions for about 24 hours and I called the Mw after 38 hours just to check everything was ok. She came out and I was 4 cms so decided to stay. After 41 hours I said to fill the pool but she said she doesnt think I was far enough yet. I said I think I am but she kept saying no. After 41hr 40 minutes I said I am starting to feel pressure and 20 minutes later DD2 was born no time to fill pool. I pushed much slower this time because after dd1s birth I went into shock so DD2 pushing stage was 10 minutes again no stitches.

Even though she is only 7weeks today I feel sad that I will never give birth again.

What lovely stories!

Tho - I must admit - when I read the title 'Good' birth stories - I misinterpreted it - I thought it meant 'good' as in telling your mates about it over a glass of wine, and having a laugh

So you definitely won't be wanting my story about how I pinned the doctor to the wall with my nether regions whilst in stirrups and wee'd myself laughing in his face......

goes off for some lunch.......

I had a planned c section at 40 weeks with my first. It snowed heavily the night before and we went in early through the quiet snow filled streets in our taxi with our huge hospital bag. So excited that she was going to be with us by lunchtime.
The hospital staff were lovely, so kind and attentive, they explained everything thoroughly. My H looked all clammy and white as they injected the anesthetic.
The birth had this great start the day feel. It was the first op of the day for that team. The Obstetrician was specially selected for what they knew might be a complicated procedure in my case - so she was just really good at the surgery part of things. I just felt totally reassured that this was the best possible solution for us.
Our daughter got lifted out, we had a screen as I didnt want to see the op. But my first glimpse of her is sight that remains etched onto my eyelids. (its the only image that I can actually close my eyes and call to mind) all curled up and steaming. Looking around with that unearthly thing newborns have just after they're born (but before they turn into babies) where they seem like beings from another universe, looking around serenely, all-knowing, taking us in like she'd known us forever.
Cuddling her skin to skin as they stitched me up and her latching on as soon as I was on the ward.
And finally: the surgeon coming through later and telling us we'd done the right thing with the planned c-section and definitely would not recommend attempting a vaginal delivery as an emergency c--section would be really risky for me. She'd been so calm all through yet it had actually been a really difficult op.
It was wonderful

my dd was a lovely straightforward birth but i was 17 and scared and hated it, although there was no 'horror'

ds was a lovely birth, went into the hospital at 3am and he was born at 6am, no problems other than meconium which meant they put us in a private room for the night and i got peace and quiet rather than being sent home within 2hrs and having dd around :)

Good luck

I have had four children - three of whom I have had without any pain relief other than a bit of gas and air (with number 2 - no time with nos 3 and 4)!. All very straightforward, easy and quick even though they were all hospital births. My youngest was almost born in the car park - he was a 3 hour delivery from first contraction to arrival. (I won't tell you about my first one .

Awww OP...hope these positive stories are helping :)

I have given birth twice, first one was fine; second was wonderful.

First one was totally textbook; about 6 hours of labour, 1 hour of pushing, one toke on the G&A but not until the pushing stage, by which point it was counter-productive. Minor tearing, no stitches required. Only negative point I would say is that I did feel quite panicky and scared throughout; mainly because it was progressing quicker than I had expected and I spent a lot of it in the car between home, MLU and hospital. I don't recommend spending most of one's labour in the car.

For the 2nd one, I stayed at home. Woke up at 7.30am to mild contractions. Had a shower and breakfast. Bounced on birthing ball and watched Jeremy Kyle(!) Midwife arrived and I got in the pool. Pushing took about 45 mins this time. Baby born at 12.45 so about 5 hours of labour, only 1 of which was properly painful. Amazing experience; no drugs, no stitches, no problems. I felt like superwoman afterwards.

So much of it is luck OP....but there is also something to be said for doing your research too. Really hope you get an uneventful and straightforward birth.

DS is my first and I was surprised how easy it was. Had a pretty horrible pregnancy but at 38+5 I woke at 6am with slight contractions. They kept getting faster and harder until we went into hospital at 11.30am. 3cm at 12.15, then the contractions got really painful with no breaks. So I had an epidural at around 3pm. 5 hours later DS was born with 6 pushes.

Duing the epidural part I just got a bit bored. Could feel the contractions but they barely hurt. Once I started to want to push I stopped the epidural (I controlled the doses manually) so I could feel whenever I needed to push. But it didn't really hurt.

DS's heart was slowing though so they gave me an episiotomy and he came out easily. Episiotomy healed fine, plus the hospital gave me 2 weeks worth of painkillers so I didn't feel anything afterwards!

Oh yeah, pushed for less than 10 mins

i have 2 good birth stories. with dd, i was 8cm when we arrived at hospital. she did take a while to push out but no tearing or intervention needed. with ds, i was 4cm when we arrived, but they told me to come in sooner this time as it was likely to progress quickly. i asked them to break my waters, pretty soon after that was fully dilated and he was out in 3 pushes. got dressed and went straight home once we were allowed to.

Instead of the various birth stories around. Find out a bit more about the hospital or unit you are likely to give birth in. Mine was known to have a good reproductive health unit. It has adopted unicef standards that include promoting breast-feeding and skin to skin (both things that I wanted) so we were well matched.

I've also experienced two very different births - DD was an induction, 48 hour active labour, failure to progress, syntocinon, epidural, on my back, retained placenta requiring surgery, large and painful episiotomy. DS was still a complicated labour but much shorter - 6 hours active labour with a TENS machine. I was being continually monitored as his heart beat disappeared with every contraction, but managed to be on my side rather than back, fantastic support from midwives and DH. It was a positive experience that I can reflect without any problem.

I think good birth stories are far too rarely heard so this is a great idea!

DS was a fairly straightforward birth but I was young and a bit scared. Still, no stitches and home by tea time.

DD was born in Feb and had so much fun having her I almost want another. Woke up at 39 weeks about 7 am thinking I'd wet myself, realised it was waters breaking. Had a coffee, made DS's school lunch, put a wash on, rang my Mum, DH built new Ikea unit and made some phone calls. Went to hospital at 11 am, quick bit of gas and air and my little darling made her appearance at 11.45 am. We were home in time to put DS to bed. Absolutely wonderful.

Please listen to all of the people who say staying calm is the most important thing. Both times I just trusted my body which meant I needed little pain relief (edpidural was written in marker pen on both birth plans and subsequently abandoned!). I'm no hippy and advocate using whatever it takes to get you through. But you can't underestimate the power of your own mind, and the strength you discover you never knew you had.

Oh, what a good idea for a thread - I do get a bit fed up with the '3 days in agonising pain' stories: not that that does not exist, but it is easy to forget that usually things go ok.

I had 4 good deliveries:
Vaginal birth after induction. Laboured over night, epidural @ 7am, DS1 delivered 2.20pm - all good.
'Emergency' CS at 31 weeks for placenta praevia (DS2 was always going to born by CS, but was not planned as such as had to happen when I bled and did not stop. Was 6 hours from decision to deliver being made to actual surgery, so all nice and calm and overall lovely).
VBAC - 4 hours from first contraction.
VBAC - 3 hours from when waters broke .

I enjoyed all my labours/births, even the pain, as I was so aware that these contractions were doing something. Not like dropping a hammer on your toe - totally pointless pain IYKWIM.
And I have never so utterly understood the feminist battle cry: 'I am woman, hear me ROAR' than in the immediate post-delivery high - I wish you could bottle that feeling of being a Goddess .

Very best of luck, Bella, when the time comes.

So agree with your last paragraph Gavi. As I said, both of my labours were straightforward and reasonably quick but the first was panicky, the second was calm; it made ALL the difference to how I experienced the pain. Making a conscious decision to submit to it really worked for me.

x-post, Gavi!

DS2 and DS4 are born on the same day 6 years apart, so when I woke with a huge gush of waters having gone @ midnight, but no contractions yet, I iced DS2's cake before eventually heading off to hospital (btw I truly thought I might not make it out of the car and have him then and there - it was a FAST labour). Our friend who came to stay to mind the older 3 kept telling all and sundry that I had iced cake whilst in labour - em, no; waters gone, yes, contractions, no.

Very positive home birth here - I had a doula booked from early on in pregnancy so had been well educated about how natural it is, and how my body will know what to do. Avoided all ante natal classes.

Went to supermarket at lunchtime and felt a bit odd. Contractions started at 2pm, ended up with three midwives at home with me because of a shift change. Little chap arrived by 6pm, with me on my knees in and leaning on my sofa. Midwives, doula and DH drank champagne.

No drugs, no gas and air, I remember saying "this really hurts" and being told, "that's because you're having a baby". Fair comment. All good, and happy memories of being tucked up in bed by 9pm with DH and new DS.