Please tell me happy first baby childbirth stories....

[octanegirl]

I'm due in a few days and now bricking it having reads recent threads about tears, episiotomies, incontinence and whatnot.
Please will people with happy straightforward births tell their stories so I don't have a total meltdown...?
Thank you!

With dd1, I had contractions all day at home, hurt but bearable. At 8pm, DH finally said let's go to hospital. When we got there I was 6cm dilated. At midnight, I was fully dilated and started pushing. She was born 1 1/2 hours later. I had a second degree tear, but was stitched up quickly and the stitches never bothered me and I didn't have incontinence issues.

With dd2, it was much the same but slightly faster. I was 7cm dilated when we got to hospital. Ready to push 4 hours after we got to hospital and she was out in 1/2 hour. Again second degree tear, stitched quickly and they were no bother.

Good luck, I hope you have a quick and easy birth. It will hurt, but the pain is bearable, either naturally or with drugs. :)

I gave birth to DD1 11 years ago. Like you, I was scared, having only heard horror stories ( I don't know why people tell you those when you're already pregnant, it's like shutting the gate when the horse has bolted!). The birth was 'text-book'. Contractions started at 2am, went to hospital at 2.30pm. Was 5-6cm dilated. Had gas and air, lost the plot a bit at 8cm ( was going through transition), and had some pethidine. Didn't really need it though, because 10 mins later I needed to push. 2nd stage took 40 minutes, no problems. Had a tiny labial graze, but didn't need stitches. Placenta was delivered without a hitch.

Just remember, the horror stories are in the minority, the majority of births are problem-free. I've gone on to have three more daughters, and would gladly do it again!

I think mine was probably pretty straightforward... 11 hour labour of which only the last couple of hours were hard going.

The bad news - I did have second degree tearing and an epistiotomy, and shit like a bastard The thing is, and I know everyone says this and it's impossible to believe pre-birth, but it's really not that big a deal at the time. You don't feel any pain from the tearing/epi, I think because the baby's head presses on the nerve endings or something (?). You don't notice the poo, and they're very tactful about it Post-birth you get given painkillers so it's not too bad at all. As for the pain... bad, yes, unbearable, no IME. I was kind of going from moment-to-moment, so it wasn't really like 11 hours of pain, just lots of moments.

Don't stress! It'll be over before you know it.

Oh ok then...

Started getting pains about half 3 in the morning, woke DH about 8 and put on my TENS machine and went to the shops and for a lovely walk in the local park with DH. Enjoyed a nice lunch (interspaced with the odd pain!) and went to hospital about half 3 in the afternoon (contractions were about 3 - 4 minutes apart by then) and was 3cm. They gave me some codeine and paracetamol.

Went home and had a lovley bath, then spent the next couple of hours with a good book, some chocolate and getting in and out of the bath (time spent out of the bath was with my tens).

Went back to hospital about half 9, pain was getting quite bad by then, my waters broke as I tried to give a wee sample! Was still only 3.5cm dilates so they sent me off to the midwife led unit where I had another bath then some pethodine at about 10:30. More pethodine at 3:30, then an exam showed I was 5cm so they took me across to delivery so I could start on the wonderful gas and air. Remember the midwife asking if I wanted to get dressed and me deciding to walk the lenth of the ward with just a sheet to protect my dignity!

Stayed with just the sheet for the rest of labour, loved the gas and air (growled at anyone who tried to take it away apparently!)

At about 5:30am I felt like I wanted to push but midwife told me I probably just needed the toilet. Went to sit on the loo and felt the baby's head. DD was born at 5:47am after 3 pushes. Midwife said it was one of the nicest calmest births she'd been involved in :)

Slight tear, didn't need any stitches. DD was put on my tummy and did the bob up to find boob and latched on pretty much imediately. It was a lovely experience.

I had a lovely first birth! It was at home, laboured in the water, got out to give birth and was pushing for about 15 maybe 20 minutes. No trauma, no tears, no injury at all. The midwives packed up their equipment and left me and DH to it, tucked up in bed for our first night as a family. It was heaven.

Good luck!

I had a lovely first birth- 12 hours start to finish, watched a movie at home for the first few hours, timing contractions while I watched and walked about the house/bounced on the swiss ball.

DP filled the pool and had a nap. Had a shower when the pain got tough, and when my mother arrived, she looked at me, called the midwife (I thought it was still early days). Midwives arrived (homebirth), quickly checked me -9cms. Got in the pool, DD1 born 45 minutes later, no tears, placenta delivered easily and all wrapped up in bed within an hour.

Midwives delivered hot water bottle, tea and toast and then sat in the lounge watching tv and reading the paper for a few hours, then let themselves out!

DD2, also at home- slightly longer but also simple birth and I would do it again any day of the week.

I am not generally good with pain, but used gravity and reminded myself that every contraction was one more out of the way and that my body knew what it was doing. Accupressure was also useful- worth googling IMO.

hoping your birth goes smoothly and easily for you.

My first birth was very long but still brilliant. I had DS at home so no pain relief. Didn't ever feel as though I needed it. It was nowhere near as bad as appendicitis!

I tore a bit (enormous baby) but then had local anaesthetic and a shed load of gas and air whilst the midwife did my stitches. And honestly they healed very quickly.

I was sooo pleased with myself afterwards tucked up in bed with DH and DS. I remember almost the minute he was born thinking "Hey! That was definitely not as bad as I thought it would be!"

Top tip - eat! Don't let your blood sugar drop. You need energy.

Without sounding too wooo, once you are in labour just keep telling yourself "I CAN DO IT!!" out loud if necessary.

Don't worry too much if your plans go awry. If you forget to bring the whale music or you end up having pain relief / a section whatever - you just do what you have to do. It's not a disaster if that is what has to happen. Giving birth is just the beginning. You CAN do it!

Oh, and

You never know your luck!

My first birth was great

I went into early labour at home and stayed there until my waters broke, then went into hospital fell asleep and had to be woken up when it was time to push pushed him out in 15 mins (my longest second stage by far!) and there he was my beautiful firstborn son. No stitches, was up and about straight away he took to breast feeding like a duck to water and I just held him and gazed at him in wonder while the sun came up on his first day on earth

Ok, I was induced at 40+12 which was a drag but the actual labour / birth was brilliant - if I could do it again tomorrow I would, in a heartbeat. It was very, very empowering and I'm not the type of person to talk like that but it genuinely was.

I had to have the drip and also my waters broken for me but no other intervention such as episiotomies, forceps, ventouse, section etx. I was having contractions only for 6 hours and he was born just after midnight it was honestly a piece of piss. I tore a little but only a couple of stitches and it wasn't a big deal.

You'll be ok - so long and you and the baby are ok anything else doesn't matter in the long run. Don't try for a 'perfect' birth experience, take drugs if you want or need them and have a birth partner who'll advocate for you.

I was a nervous wreck thinking about labour beforehand (so I just didnt think about it) - but I had lovely plans for a water birth etc etc. However, at 35 weeks my waters broke at home for no good reason, so I found myself taking the bikini out of my hospital bag...that was at 1am...nobody believed I was in labour (bastards kept saying things would settle) until they examined me at2pm and I was 10cms...lovely daughter was born 1 and a half hours later.

I share this with you because despite things being completely opposite to my plan, having no pain relief, being wired to a CTG machine, and having dh making inappropriate jokes, it was still the most amazing experience, and nothing like as bad as I had imagined in the dead of night for months weeks beforehand...

The feeling afterwards was indescribable - cloud 9 doesn't even come close - and, as has been said before, you forget it all the instant they put your gorgeous baby in your arms. Good luck and you will be fine

Also, search for the thread about funny birth experiences - that helped. A lot!

I had a straightfoward birth with dd. Woke up at 1am wet, my waters had partly gone and was having mild contractions. Threw towel over wet patch as wanted dp to sleep as long as poss!! Phoned labour ward who said to ring back once contractions got to about 5 mins apart. At this point they were every 10-12mins. Laboured at home until 6.30am, watched some crappy tv whilst I bounced about on a bean bag! Rang back labour ward once contractions were getting closer together and more intense, was told to go in to be assessed. Woke dp and off we went. Was left for a couple of hours and then examined, wasn't very dliated at that point, think it was about 12-1am by then, midwife said she'd leave me to it with g&a for a little while and if there was no progress we'd have to go home. About half an hour later the contractions stopped hurting as much & started to feel pressure to push down!! Told dp who got the midwife and I was fully dilated. Eventually (after a lot of pushing!) dd was born at 15:42, no tears and didn't use the g&a for last couple of hours as it made me really thirsty and my mouth dry. Midwife left us alone for a little while then came back and ran me a lovely warm bath. It was lush!! I'm now 38wks+2 with ds and can't wait, it wasn't half as bad as I thought it was going to be and I'm very proud of myself!

I was induced with mine at 40+11, had 2 pessarys, waters broken and the drip. It was intense and I did have a few complications with the drip but it was nothing to worry about.

Everything started at 11.40 and my ds was born at 10.03pm. It was a painful but an amazing experience.

My ds was born with his hand by his face, I needed no stitches, no intervention. And I DIDN'T POO!

I went in open minded, very nervous but I really enjoyed my labour. I believe my labour was better than my sisters, she went naturally but I was dreading that.

I actually told my Dp I would do it again in a heartbeat the very next day.

Mine was, apparently, a 'failure' - induced early due to pre-existing diabetes, 38 hours of labour, lots of monitoring, eventually exhausted DS was whipped out by EMCS.

You know what? It was AMAZING. It was very medicalised, very painful, and never got to the pushing stage. But I had gas and air (which I loved :)), lovely MW's who dos their best to be unobtrusive, explain everything in depth before doing anything, and an awesome consultant who came in at 6am to do the EMCS herself! I also had lively low lighting, free use of the birth pool pre- IV insulin and in between monitoring, and a CD of my gave metal songs (DS was laboured with a whole load of Scandinavian metalcore!).

Best of all, I had DH by my side. We talked, cuddled, kissed and he held my hair and cleaned up when I vomited all over him (note - you're meant to put the G&A DOWN when not contracting...). It was the most beautiful time and we both cry when we reminisce.

I had a health DS. That was all that mattered to me!

I hope this helps in some way - even a technically 'difficult' birth can actually be amazing :)

I had a very straightforward and happy first birth. Waters went at lunch time. Niggles by dinner time. Went to MLU at midnight. In the pool by about 1am. Stayed there until baby was born at 7:30am. Had gas and air for the last couple of hours. I had a 2nd degree tear that needed stitching but I didn't feel anything at the time.

Good luck. I share my postitive birth story with pregnant friends that want to hear it. Too many people want to tell you the horror stories.

First birth was lovely.

First contraction at 3.30am, DS was born at 10.50pm. All very relaxed and chilled, have no recollection of at least 4 hours as was in the pool half asleep! Did have 2nd degree tear but didn't feel a thing, even thought I'd got away with it for a bit!

I was told so many not so nice birth stories I wasn't looking forward to it at all, until my mum asked me why exactly I thought I couldn't do it when I had ''all the right parts'' for the job, for some reason this made me feel so much better!

I had a really positive first birth experience and have since gone on to have 2 more.

First sign of labour was waters breaking at midnight. Phoned hospital who advised taking paracetamol and staying at home as long as I could - good advice. Laboured calmly in our living room using TENS and JuJu Sundin techniques from her brilliant book 'Birth Skills' then went to hospital at 7am. DD1 was born at 10.45am after 45 min second stage. It was hard work and it did hurt but the pain was manageable and goes away the instant your baby is in your arms. I coped with just TENS all 3 times, positive thinking, as someone else has said, is of huge benefit imho.

It feels amazing afterwards, I felt as high as a kite with the adrenalin of it all for the best part of 2 weeks, like I could take on the world and win. Giving birth is truly the most incredible feeling the power of it can feel overwhelming but you can do it. I feel quite sad that I'll never get to experience it again.

Very best wishes, also check out www.tellmeagoodbirthstory.org

sorry should have been www.tellmeagoodbirthstory.com

gah...I'll get it right in a minute....... www.tellmeagoodbirthstory.com

I was induced at 39 weeks, had been mildly contracting for 10 hours at that point. Slow progression until a sweep 12 hours later and then my waters went with a massive pop really cool

Two hours later I was in active labour, it hurt but the gas and air was awesome. Was fully dilated in 9 more hours and pushed him out in another hour. Sounds long but it flew by high as a kite on g&a

I had no stitches, no tears. they threatened me with an episiotomy and I pushed him out in 2 more contractions!

The second they handed him to me I forgot all about it and I'd do it again right now (DS is 18 days old). I had my Sunday dinner and was in the shower an hour later.

Not everyone has a bad experience, it was the best day of my life. Painful but so worth it. Good luck, I'm sure you'll do great

Mine was perfect - I'd spent pretty much the whole pregnancy imagining what I wanted and pretty much got it. I had a home water birth.

2pm waters broke, mw came out to do a stretch and sweep to get things going so I could have a home birth within 24hrs. 3.30 contractions started. Swayed around the house for a few hours, swished around the pool for a few hours. Around 8pm mw's said I needed to start pushing as his heart rate was dipping a bit, ds1 born at 9pm all by myself with no drugs or g&a. Placenta arrived as I was thinking of getting out the pool. Had dinner in bed cuddling my lovely new baby.
I did have a small tear and refused stitches - after a totally natural birth I really didn't want them and that was my only regret because it would have healed better with stitches.

Both mine were easy and I thought I had a low pain threshold, was v worried before first labour but now I'd happily go through childbirth again but not the 9mths of pregnancy.

Ds1 - waters broke on sun am, went to hospital to be checked, sent me home and told to come back when proper contractions, a few minor niggles the next day, about 5pm realised they were getting pretty regular, called dh home from work, went to hospital, ds1 arrived 1.5hrs after arriving at the hospital, gas & air only, minor 1st degree tear.

Ds2 - waters broke, went to hospital to be checked, sent home to wait, a few hours later niggly pains turned into full on rapid contractions, back to hospital, ds2 born immediately we got there (45mins labour in total), no time for gas & air or any pain relief, no tears at all - lovely experience (other than the worry I would have him in the car on the way )

Good luck!

I had two easy births too. I have a low pain threshold (I have to take plasters off in the bath under water!!!) but I managed with gas and air. I did not have an epidural and did not need it.

I did have stitches, but no problems, I just followed advice and made sure I kept them as dry as possible.