Okay, how about the BEST bits of childbirth!

[VisualiseAHorse]

Now we're done scaring the soon-to-be first time mums with our labour horror stories, how bout we coax them back with the best bits of labour? No poo/vomit/tears/threatening the midwives stories please.

Ringing my little sister (aged 18) at 2am to tell her I'd gone into labour and could she find mum's number for me? She actually squealed down the phone at me.

I remember sitting on my birthing ball at home, wearing nothing but a toga made of an old bed sheet, eating Rice Krispies and chatting to my mum down the phone, and her telling me about my birth.

Also, touching LO's head, just as he was crowning, whilst holding my OH's hand. Even though I have no recollection of seeing or holding him for the first time, this will stay with me forever. That soft, furry little head.

The minute they put DD on my chest. Best moment of my life.
Um, that's it tho sorry.

The first kiss I gave to both my sons - on the centre of their warm, damp foreheads.

How absolutely amazing my DH was when I was in labour - and the power of that loved up feeling.

The toast afterwards. Wow.

I'd imagined the baby being some sort of mix of me and DH, best bit of childbirth was staring at him when he was put on my chest after CS delivery and seeing eyes that were neither mine or DHs or even a mix, but just HIS a whole new person's eyes

Apart from the baby:

The sheer excitement of driving to hospital despite the agony.
The smug feeling of MW realising I was fully dilated - she thought labour wasn't established...
The cup of tea afterwards.

With DD the feeling of her head crowning (with DS I had forceps so never felt it) and having a feeling of power. Was odd but good :)

No one believes me, but I honestly enjoyed both of my labours. I truly believe if you get the right pain-relief at the right times, labour doesn't have to be so bad... that being said I was lucky I guess that both DS1 and DS2 were babies that were lying in the right position in the womb to come out.

The diamorphine.

Being told I needed an EMCS - after having been refused an ELCS when I asked .

Definetly when you are given your baby, and you literally feel yourself fall in love

at Geraldine!!

I loved giving birth.

The best part for me was when the midwife handed me DD1 and I looked in her eyes and thought- aha! It's you! I know you!

When DD was lifted up out of the water (pool birth) onto my belly and DD looked right in my eyes. I will never forget her expression of wonder!

When I handed DS to DH for the first time & he promptly pooed all over his jeans! He was so besotted he didn't care but I was trying to clean him (DH) up while also passing the placenta! Thankfully we were at home at the time so he could get changed right after but it was one of those moments that's become an in joke. DH says he's going to make sure we include a change of clothes for him in my hospital bag this time, just incase!

Being told I was 6cm dilated when I arrived and therefore was actually in labour (was so worried I wasn't)

The first few gulps of gas and air - I love that stuff!!

Feeling DS slither out into the pool, seeing him open his eyes under the water, and picking him up - being the first person in the whole world to touch him

DH cuddling DS and them just staring at each other whilst I had my stitches (but this is a happy thread so we won't discuss those)

Looking at DS and not even needing to go through our list of names because we just knew what his name was. He brought it with him I reckon.

Apart from my beautiful little boy and my (then) DH and the midwives:

The gas and air.

The baby at the end of it. The drugs during.

Well I had a EMCS so among the frantic activity it was the sound of ds wailing when he came out - it let us know that all was ok!

When i caught the baby, lift it from the water and held it.

In a distant second place, when i arrived at the hospital and was told i was 8cm dilated.

Before that, ds1 birth was rubbish, but the moment he was put on my chest and found the breast was great.

Yep the labour for me-hypnobirthing worked wonders and whilst not pain free, was brilliant. gas and air was amazing, who knew I could be so witty and amusing when i was off my face on it?!

The feeling of power. This primeval sensation that demonstrates how strong women really are. Everything since the first time around, every moment where I've needed confidence, I think back to what I can achieve.

That and the three lovely children of course ...

When the epidural kicked in.

The high that came from holding my baby. Just Ten minutes after saying "I'm only doing this once" I was saying "I can't just do this once in my life".

Back to back, my pushing stage lasted for an hour. The feeling of progress is pretty good too. As was getting him out minutes before the forceps arrived..l

Seeing DS's face and thinking 'its you! Of course it's you'.
I felt like I had known this brand new person forever.

Oh god, this is making me broody!

Oh, and then when DS did a wee all down my brother's leg.

Oh the gas and air! Amazing

Oh and the bond I created for life with my best friend who was my birthing partner