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!

Cut and pasted from by birth announcement thread. Written three days after the birth.

I woke up on Saturday at 6:30am with a slight pain in my lower abdomen and thought maybe I was constipated. After a fruitless trip to the loo, I decided to have a shower, and realised I was in fact having contractions. They then came thick and fast. At 7:23 I thought, as I was finishing stuffing last-minute items into my bag, that I should time them: every 3mins

Left the house at 7:45am, arrived at the hospital at 7:50am, with the car sporting a fetching souvenir of DH's panic-stricken collision with a barrier while parking. Contractions every 40 seconds.

Someone found a MW, and she asked if I wanted to go into a bedroom or labour room, took one look at me and answered her own question. I had time to get undressed and lie down, she examined me and announced in shocked tones, "Fully dilated, your baby is here, you can start pushing." She then stuck 2 acupuncture needles in the sides of my little toes to help speed up the afterbirth. In spite of being in the throes of full labour, I said "ow" each time.

The MW whose shift began at 8 came in, bent down to look at me, poked me with a finger and recieved my waters all over her chest and neck. Pausing between pushes and yells, I said very Britishly "Oh, excusez-moi", which caused great hilarity. A couple of huge pushes, accompanied by much howling and shouts of "I can't do it", and Alexandre was born at 8:17am, less than 2 hours after the first twinge, 27 mins after arriving at the maternity hospital.

No pain relief, no episiotomy, no after effects, nothing but a huge feeling of triumph. Except when the MW ending her shift accidentally stumbled against one of the acupuncture needles still sticking out of my feet, for which I could have murdered her!

Alex had the cord round his neck, but was put on me straight away and soon recovered, was on my breast after an hour, pooed meconium all over me, and is a beauty.
3.425kg, 50cm long, blonde hair, blue eyes, and a fine line in cooing and snuffling noises. He's feeding like a trooper, and sleeping quite well, too. Long may it last.

I have minor grazes and that is it; I wanted to go home that afternoon, but had to stay in for the regulatory 3 days as there were no senior doctors around over Easter weekend to give me exceptional leave to go home, though the MW said there was no reason to stay, as I was up and walking around a few hours after the birth. So am just back. But the staff were lovely, very supportive but not intrusive, and the whole experience was fantastic.

An amazing contrast to DS1's birth, which involved epidural, episiotomy, horrible stitches and a baby who was whisked away from me at birth to be "heated up" on a glorified plate warmer, so I spent the night without him wondering if I had really given birth and what my baby looked like.

I am still buzzing, and so extraordinarily happy. If all births were like that, we'd each have 10 kids! And a very, very positive experience of birth in France, to counterbalance some other tales.

Yes

DD - I was reasonably scared but desperate to get her out by 40+5. Did lots of walking and nipple tweaking/massaging (which seemed to work as after an hour of that one evening in front of the TV contractions started)

10pm first contraction straight away every five minutes lasting a minute. Fairly painful
11.30pm had a bath which made everything go faster. Woke up DH, went to hospital. Had an epidural (after much pleading!!). Slept for two hours. They broke my waters at 8.30, contractions kicked off big time. At 10 am I started pushing and at 10.20 DD emerged into the world.

I am 29wks with DC2 and am actively looking forward to it this time. I know I can do it!

It was all fairly medicalised, I went with the flow here (in France) and have no qualms about doing it all again (in fact am looking forward to it). I would have lots of children without the nine months of pregnancy that go before!

Good luck!

Oh, I had absolutely no instincts re:what to do.

I recommend Juju Sundin's Birth Skills book to anyone who feels like they've not got a blessed clue what they are doing, 2nd baby is due soon and I am actually kind of looking forward to it! Totally different to being terrified the first time. (And if you are terrified, I do recommend the calming properties of pethidine. It certainly worked on me)

I have had 3 births in a hospital with chequered reputation with respect to maternity services.

I have been fortunate, because not once but three times I have had great births. I remember all 3 with much fondness. With my first birth, I was overdue, had a sweep but then went into labour within 24 hours. I laboured in the pool, with G&A, but gave birth out of the pool. Fantastic experience 9/10.

My second birth was a full waterbirth and it ranks as one of the best experiences of my life. When I think back to my second birth, it is with genuine joy and happiness. One of the best times of my life and would rate it as 10/10.

My third birth did not start promisingly. In fact, had the head of midwifery not turned up when she had, I reckon my third would have died. But the head of midwifery DID turn up in time, and from that point onwards, the birth went from potential disaster to a positive experience with a great blissful. I would rate the birth as 8/10.

All three births were on the NHS, and all three experiences were great. I would opin the reason as to why I had such good births because I had good midwives looking after me. Even with the 3rd birth, things did improve dramatically within just a few minutes. I later found out that 1 midwife was a trainee and the other one had just qualified, and for some reason, were both allocated to look after me in the begining. However, when it became clear that they weren't coping as well as they should be, the head of midwifery stepped in and she was fantastic. The sort of person you want as a friend. The point I am trying to make is that even with a dodgy start, you can end up with a fabulous birth!

HTH

I had a lovely birth with ds - planned homebirth in pool with a very quick labour. Went from 5cms dilated to pushing in 45 mins! The only problem was the anxiety of whether dh would make it home in time (he came in around the 5cm point too). Dd, then 4, was with the neighbour, preparing for a sleepover if necessary, but was able to come home and meet her brother at about 6pm when he was less than an hour old.
I really recommend the pool, so wonderful for helping you relax between contractions then get into best position for pushing.

I had a lovely birth with DD2. I have cut and paste my birth story below so sorry if it is a bit long! DD1 was also fine despite having been induced, and being back to back but from the point of having the drip at 2am, the labour lasted about 8 hours and only had a few stitches! Try not to listen to all the horror stories. Not all births are like that honestly.

DD2 - Waters broke in the middle of the night and everything stopped for rest of that day. About 1.30 the following morning contractions came every 5 mins, phoned midwife at 2.30, she came at 3am and I was 4cm dilated.

Then, it all got very intense very quickly. DH made us tea and toast (piles and piles of it, MW thought he was wonderful) and covered the sofa in sheets. I was coping quite well and then at 5am started involuntary groaning, I had some gas and air, was examined - 8cm dilated. About 5.30am I asked the MW if I was nearly there and she phoned the second midwife. Had to get on the sofa to monitor heartbeat and decided I couldn't get off. 5.45am - started pushing in earnest. MW was FANTASTIC - calm, encouraing and excited. 6am - crowning. I howled "it hurts" which proabably woke the neighbours. One more push and she arrived, delivered on my tummy looking like her big sister. 7lb 2oz. Polly. It was an amazing moment in my own home.

3rd stage was over in minutes, didn't need any stiches, and mess claened up in no time.

By 8am I'd had the best shower ever and was tucked up in my clean fresh bed with polly which is where we atayed until saturday lunchtime. DD1 arrived at 9am and got into bed with us. We watched a film and ate chocolate and she went to her nannas in the afrernoon for a sleepover (she'd realised that actually her baby sister didn't do much by that point!)

All four of my births have been good (horrible pregnancies though) but dc4 in particular was about as good as it can get I think! My waters broke at 10.30pm with only a slight sharp little pain, a few minutes later I had a massive urge to push. This was followed by contractions every few minutes, none of which were painful just massive urges to push (about like really REALLY needing the toilet!!)! After a race to the hospital dc4 was born at 11.10 - he literally flew out

Two easy births here! Both in hospital with lovely midwives.

Ds was 9lbs and 8 hours from waters breaking to popping out. Would've been quicker, but I kept refusing to push (5 years of puilates gave me a cracking pelvic floor!). Had 2 superficial stitches and in pre-preg jeans 3 weeks later, although I did walk like john Wayne for a week after the birth and had to sit gingerly on cushions.

DD was just under 9 lbs and 2.5 hours from start to finish - 4 minutes of pushing. If I hadn't told Dh to go and have a look to seee how I was getting on, he'd have missed it! I was off my face on gas and air so managed to talk all the way through this birth. Couple of 2nd degree stitches, but can't feel 'em.

Bleeding almost stopped less than 3 weeks later, I can fit into most of my jeans and have to keep reminding myself that I have recently had a baby. If it wasn't for madam keeping me awake and feeding pretty constantly, I'd be angling for a 3rd.

I had a not so great birth (but should have been great, my body was doing everything it should have done) followed by a wonderful birth.
I had back ache and period pains and had to stop and concentrate for a second or two so called for help. I was coping fine, just walked about leaned on things and then when I felt tired had a lie down. DH called to ask for a midwife but they sent an ambulance instead. When they arrived I had been feeling I wanted to push but was too scared to without a medical person there in case I needed help. The ambulance crew arrived the pushing urge stopped when they came in the room and they lifted me under my arms and encouraged me to climb 9 steps out in the garden to get to the road. I was bluelighted to hospital. My DH lost where we were in the hospital. I was put on a bed on my back with sensors attached. The MW seemed upset and told me that she couldn't hear the heartbeat clearly (I've since found out that this is normal in late labour as the baby is so far down. I thought there was something wrong. She told me I had to have the scalp monitor fitted to my babies head. She told me if I hadn't given birth within the hour that she would need to get the Dr which to me meant that things must be going wrong. It terrified me and I got expulsion reflex and in one contraction I pushed my baby out. My DH made it to be by my side but there was no one to catch my baby as the MW was up messing about with the machine as she was planning on leaving the room. I ended up with a lot of stitches, physical problems which eventually resolved and I think it triggered PND.
Here comes the good bit as contrast.
Second birth 6 months ago. My waters broke whilst planting strawberries. I was so happy. I went into the house told them I expected a MW soon. I was relaxed, pain was entirely bearable akin to a bad period coming in waves until the pushing bit when actually the pain felt good because I felt I was doing something great. I was having a baby. I couldn't have felt happier. I would liken it to the good pain you get when climbing a mountain. It's sore, hard work but feels great. Within just over an hour and a half from planting strawberries I was breastfeeding my brand new lovely baby. I had caught her myself. The midwife was there in case I needed her help but everything went normally so I didn't, just like most births. She listened in on the monitor to check heartbeat a couple of times which is only as often as the check the machines in hospital anyway except she moved the monitor to where the baby was so she could hear properly. She brought with her the kit she need for God forbid resus or if I started bleeding more than usual. It wasn't needed in this birth as it isn't in the majority either. No stitches required and I felt amazing, really really amazing afterwards. In under two hours I had the towels that were under me in the washing machine, cup of tea and piece of cake. My summer dress did not even have a spot on it.

Both babies were just over 9lb.

Yes y birth was good! I said 10 minutes after she was born "well that was actually fine - could do that again" definitely nothing to do with the hormones

Didn't realise I was in labour the night before (despite contractions every 4-6 mins lasting about a minute - I thought they were Braxton Hicks ). Went to bed, woke up at 4:30 and rushed to loo about 10 times in half an hour. Couldn't work out what I had eaten... Nor could my husband. realised I had pains regularly and he timed and they were about 2m30/3 mins apart lasting 1min30. Called hospital about an hour later (not sure what we were doing between then but we just didn't think I would be in labour - 39 weeks) and ended up going in at 7am. I was 5cm dilated but cx were every 2 mins lasting 1min40 which was fairly intense.

Anyway had an epidural at 8am and then just chilled out (honestly) for a while, but let the epidural wear off as I wanted to feel to push. Had to wait a bit as she was in a slightly odd position. She was born at 1:30 with 50 mins of pushing and we discovered that she had her hand by her head, hence the odd head position etc. Amazingly I had a small internal tear where her hand had scraped me on the way out and a tiny labial graze with 1 stitch. Neither of those gave me any trouble whatsoever. I expected perineal trauma given her hand was behind her head!

Anyway it was totally fine (thanks to the epidural, for me) so they do happen! The bad births seem to get more press... Good luck!

My first birth was a horror story - but now I realise it was mainly because I tried to 'avoid' the birth- pretending it wasn't happening and then was too stoic when I should have been demanding. It meant I had all the wrong kind of intervention...

The second was so amazing - it was the most amazing experience of my life without question - absolutely thrilling! I was on my own and was being told how to deliver the baby down the phone. Because I was able to put the phone down and ignore the instructions when I wanted to (instead of having people in my face shouting at me, telling me all my instincts - like to make noise- were wrong), I was able to let my body move all the ways it wanted to and cry out when I wanted to. The ambulance arrived after my waters broke and I gave birth in it - and because I was lying on my side, I was able to guide the baby out myself and didn't even require stiches! Even though the baby was 9lbs!

Then of course at the hospital I had unpleasant experiences of being painfully poked about while an experienced midwive was showing off to a trainee how to examine after the birth, and various other rough/disrespectful treatments I've come to expect.

But over all I am desperate to do it again - the rush of the century and I was all on a high having a curry half an hour afterwards - it totally worked up an appetite!

Yes, a classic that still makes me giggle 9 years later

My broad N.E. DH when asked by the midwife if we'd like the placenta -

"Eeee no Pet, were vegetarians"

we're not were

Oh, that & after hearing friends go on & on about feeling sick in labour & my being queezy anyway, coupled with another friends great labout tip of "when contractions start - count to 60, as no contraction lasts more than a minute & it gives you something else to focus on"

meant that I looked like barking mad woman, frantically counting at the top of my voice, bum in air, carrying my own red bucket & irrationally refusing to let go of it even to get into the cab to hospital - must have been a real sight for the cab driver

lots of people have positive stories, but i think a previous poster was right and that we don't talk about them too loudly or we risk upsetting/rubbing it in to people who haven't had good experiences. I'm convinced your mindset has a lot to do with it so pratice relaxing yourself and doing deep breathing as much as you can before the birth, go to some yoga classes (i did an active birth yoga class and it was fantastic) and above all try to get into your head the fact that it is a completely natural process that is much more likely to go right than to go wrong. I had a home water birth with my DS and it was an amazing experience. I was fully dilated by the time the midwife arrived as we were nervous about calling her out too early!! therfore didn't need any pain relief (apart from TENS and some yoga breathing/poses). If i was pregnant again I would be looking forward to the birth, that?s how positive it was! Worrying a bit is only natural but let yourself also imagine that you might remember it as enjoyable.

2 straight forward births. No pain relief, intervention and most importantly no stitches!

DD1 born in hospital after a very short labour. Suddenly felt the urge to push... and out she came!

DS1 born at home also a very short labour. Wonderful to be in my home environment. Excellent care throughout by two fantastic midwives.

DD2 born at home also very short labour. Attended to by two amazing midwives who chatted to us, rubbed my back etc throughout and then stayed until we were all tucked up in bed.

I kept active throughout and listened to my body. It was great being at home as we had the two midwives with us the whole time and they they kept everything calm and serene.

I had dd1 in hospital, lots of intervention, whispering doctors, felt a lot like it was a traumatic event that happened to me, iyswim.

Dd2 was 14 days overdue. I declined induction (having had her checked out and knowing she was fine) and had a water birth at home. I used hypnotherapy and it was beautiful! I honestly thought people made up really lovely birth stories before dd2 was born, but it was great. I felt in control, present and calm throughout. The pain felt very manageable, very constructive. I had the uninterrupted care of two fabulous midwives and a student midwife for the duration, although was already 7cm dilated when they arrived. The memory of reaching into the pool to deliver my own baby into the world is something I will cherish forever. And the midwives tucked me up in bed and we all had breakfast together in my room afterwards! They even deflated the pool and ran the Hoover round before they left. Fan-bloody-tastic!!

Dd (dc3) was an amazing birth. In pool, bit of gas, really didn't hurt much at all. I'd had terrible hyperemesis all way through and was a hermit for 9 months so when I was getting all drunk off the gas I honestly thought me and the student midwife were going to be lifelong friends! She was verycool and we really clicked. I was enjoying being out of the house, not feeling sick and being off my head on gas so much the pain was really not bothering me at all. Was quite a social occasion!

Ds2 wasn't too bad either because I was still laughing at the fact that a policeman had pulled us over on the way to his to tell us our back light was out. I was 8cm dilated-shouted at dh to let me out of car and proceeded to tell policeman I didn't care about back light as I was having a contraction. His face! He said to dh 'it's bad mate, get on your way!'

Good luck op.

Ds1: Long labour but ended with a water birth.
Ds2: Sweep at 9am, tummy ache in the afternoon, picked mum up from the station having contractions 8pm, fish pie and a glass of wine, called mlu at 11 pm, laboured at home, admitted 3.30am, waterbirth - ds born at 5.30 am, home by 10am with the telegraph and a costa
Ok the paper and the coffee bit is fiction but the rest is true. Twas amazing

All mine were fab births (if there is such a thing)
dd1 was born after 30 mins in hospital - laboured at home, painful for last couple of hours. mw broke waters upon arrival at hospital. 6lb
ds1 born at home after a s&s later afternoon. Midwives and dh sat round watching football for most of it. Painful for last hour. mw broke waters 30 mins before he arrived. 8.5 lb
dd2 born at home - Very intense, painful labour 1 hr 40 start to finish. Midwives / paramedics did not arrive in time so dh delivered her. waters broke naturally this time and dd2 was born 15 mins later 7.5 lb

just marking my place to read some of these later. :)

*that was meant to say (if there is such a thing when in labour)

My MIL swears that she gave birth to my husband in her sleep. Don't get any better than that but I swear she complains that she "missed"it !!!

10lb2oz DD (DC2) born in a lovely warm birth pool in a MLU with DH holding my hand and a brilliant health care assistant talking me through the pushing and the most wonderful midwife (I wrote to the head of midwifery at our hospital to say so). Not a single stitch and could have done the whole thing again within a week.

The whole labour was about 6 hours with about 10 hours of very low key prelabour before that (wasn't even sure I was in labour). I was fine with the just the tens machine and rocking on a ball/walking around until about 1 hour before the end - when I got into the pool (which was bliss). I pushed for about 30 mins. It wasn't painless, but it was a lot less painful than a dislocated shoulder and I got my beautiful girl at the end of it! Our family is complete now but I am actually sad I won't be able to give birth again. I never would have thought I'd say that after DS's birth.

Good luck for your birth and enjoy your lovely little one.

DS2 homebirth, contractions started at 11.30, at 1am was sat up in my own bed in my own house with cup of tea/toast, DS happily breastfeeding. DS1 who was 19months at time, slept through whole thing. Was happiest feeling in the world. DS1 altho hospital birth so not quite as relaxing was speedy too (contractions at 3am, rang hospital, told to wait, as was 1st child so nothing would be happening for ages (!). Arrived at hospital at 5am, 8cm, DS1 born at 8.10am. As others have said I have always kept very quiet about my birth stories as I know other people have had dreadful time, so you've probably not had a true picture