Questions on first births?

[Gonnabmummy]

I know every birth is different but would love to here about your first.

How far along we're you when labour started?
Was it obvious it was labour from the off or did it build up?
How long we're you at home before going to hosp and how did you cope at home?
How many cm were you when you got to hosp and how often we're contractions coming at this point?
Time from start to finish, times for each stage if you remember?
What drugs did you use if any?
How did you feel at the different stages?
And lastly your little bundles weight?
Thanks for any replies :) x

Ooh, I love thinking about my birth as you cannot beat that feeling of holding your little one for the first time.

I was 39 weeks, my waters broke at 11.30pm so it was obvious I was in labour! I phoned up the birth centre and they told me to go in because my waters had broke. I was 2cm and having mild contractions.

They sent me home - I put on a tens machine and paced up and down the living room or sat on the ball. DH timed the contractions on a computer app. TV was on but I can't remember what it was. I really didn't want a bath or food.

We went to hospital about 5am as I wanted more pain relief. I had gas and air. I pushed for at least 2 hours which was physically exhausting - I barely had the strength in my arms to hold him when he was born. He was 8lb 15oz. He was born at 1pm.

I just felt determined the whole time. When I started pushing I was unbelievably excited and emotional - I couldn't quite believe that I was about to give birth.

Saying all of that - it hurt! A lot.

Ds1 - 40+4. Woke at 3am with hideous contractions. Hospital at 5am. Was 4cm on arrival. He arrived at 10am so 7 hour labour. Weighed 7lb15. Gas and air. Pool. He was back to back. It hurt a lot. Some grazes.
Ds2 - 39 weeks. had a few big contractions so went round to unit to be checked. This was at 8.30pm. Was 4cm. Told to stay. Had him at 11.40pm so about a 3 and a half hour labour. Pool. Little gas and air. He weighed 7lb 7. That was mMother's Day. He is now a chubby thighed 4 month old.

Second Gherkins - you'll get a lot of different answers!

I was 37 weeks

It was obviously labour because my waters broke first, but contractions were far between and manageable for a while

Waters went at 6am and didn't go into hospital till about 5pm. I got some jobs done in town in the morning, had a coffee in Starbucks... Lunch at home and coerced into a walk in the park afterwards, which was when contractions got stronger

Used exercise ball at home as rocking motion helped, had a bath and used TENS, which was great for less heavy contractions

Went into hospital when you're supposed to (contractions 4 mins apart I think?) and was 3cm

Had intense contractions but no pushing till about 10pm with gas and air (rubbish for me!) and Pethidine. Baby was back to back to pain was very strong and they gave me epidural. Unfortunately by the time it was in and working (total bliss!!) I was already 10cm and ready to push and it made active labour much slower

Had forceps and ventouse to get baby with extra large head out

Baby arrived 6.45am the following day weighing 8 1/2 lb

Hope that's useful!

I know everyone will be different but its nice to here makes me feel better lol.
Only hospital or home birth here.
The hospital is still 40 minutes away have had a tour and its really nice feel totally comfortable there. I'm hoping for water birth with gas and air, but have not ruled out any other pain relief .

My EDD was 19 Dec, based on a dating scan at 17 weeks, which is when I found out I was pregnant. Induction was attempted with 3 lots of gel on 26/27 Dec.

I never progressed past 1cm dilated, so not far enough along to start pitocin. OB wanted to break my waters but I refused. He thought I wasn't progressing because baby was big (he estimated 8lbs).

I didn't want to risk infection and ending up with an EMCS, so elected to have a section. DS born 9.22pm on 27 Dec weighing 10lb 11oz :)

I was feeling very "light" contractions all day and night. The next day they got a little bit stronger but my instincts told me this wasn't "it". My mum panicked though and we went off to the hospital. I had slightly raised blood pressure so they kept me in the labour ward and I wanted to give birth in the midwife led unit

I was examined, given a couple of paracetamol and told it was going to be a long night and to get some sleep, this was about 5 pm. I laboured alone for the next few hours not realising I was in labour and thinking I was a wimp as it really hurt! I kept dashing to the loo and biting a towel to stop me from making noise as I was in a very quiet ward of sleeping women.

Finally at 11pm I was examined, my waters were broken during the exam and I was just about ready to push. One hour later I gave birth, my partner just made it in time. There was no time for pain relief except for as and air.

She was a tiny 5lb 6 oz.

Thanks for the stories so far :)
boysrule lovely story :)
Just reading the posts makes me smile I can't wait

Wow dirtymistress what a difference between time between the two

It was the best experience of my life by a mile. I'm just sorry I only got to do it once.

I was 41 weeks and woke up at about 5am with contractions and knew that it was labour - just knew. Had a cup of tea and breakfast then woke DH.

Called midwife at 11am as they were coming thick and fast, she came over (home birth), laboured away until ds arrived at 8pm after 2 hours of pushing no pain relief. Had to go in for stitches though.

moose he was a good size!

Went into labour at 40+7. I'd been having BH contractions for weeks, but real labour began with my waters breaking. Contractions started soon after.

I laboured at home for about 6 hours with my tens machine. By then contractions were about 4 mins apart so I went into hospital (half an hour away) and was told I was 5cm dilated. Started on gas and air.

After another 14 hours of contractions I was still only 8cm so decided to have an epidural as I felt I couldn't cope with the pain any longer. Epidural was great and gave me a chance to rest.

5 hours after that I was 10cm and was told to start pushing. DS1 arrived after an hour of pushing. Weight 8lb 10oz.

So a bit of a marathon but I got there in the end! Second and third births were much easier!

Good luck OP.

For dd1 I was 41 weeks plus one.

Had a sweep at 4:30pm

Went for a walk to get a magazine at 5pm

When my husband got home at about half past seven I was feeling a little uncomfortable, but decided to watch some telly.

It got more uncomfortable, so I had a bath at about 10.30pm

When I got out of the bath at about 11pm I was in agony and contractions were long and coming one and top of the other.

We went to the hospital with me crouched on the seat facing forward unable to sit down as the urge to push was unbearable. I had to crawl across the hospital car park.

When they finally let us in - more crawling! I was examined and found to be 10cm and ready to push. I was too scared to so I walked around a bit longer before the midwife said - right time to get cruel and made me lie on the bed doing the knees to my chest thing - not at all what I wanted to do.

Twenty minutes of pushing later and I was cuddling dd.
Total labour was less than three hours.

Really fast so a bit of a shock! My teeth were chattering!

My labour started at 12.30am at 40 + 11. It was full on from the start strong contraction straight away which woke me up, then another about 15 mins later.

Went to the loo and there was blood when I wiped (bloody show) so spent a couple of hours going too and from the toilet contracting every 10ish mins. I then phoned hospital at 3am as I was concerned about the blood which they told me was fine.

Got in the bath about half 3, contracting every 6 to 4 mins (irregular length each time) got out of bath after a bit and got DH to put tens machine on went to get back into bed at 5 when my waters went.

Contractions were really painful by then so phoned hospital back and told them we were coming. Got to hospital for 6am and was told to lay in obs bed and wait for an hour as contractions were still a bit irregular (midwife didn't believe I was in proper labour due to irregular contractions). After 10 mins they gave me gas and air due to me begging for it and she checked me and I was 5cm, 10 mins after that after me shouting 'I need a wee and a poo!' they checked me again and I was 8/9cm.

Shuffled me off to the delivery room between contractions and dd was born at 07.59am with just gas and air (lovely stuff!) and my TENS as it was too late for anything else.

I loved my labour it was very empowering and at the end my body pushed dd out, I didn't. It was a strange feeling, like being sick but down there!

I was 40+11 and went in on a Tuesday evening )7pm) for an overnight monitor before being induced the next morning.
I was hooked up to a monitor and left htere for an hour or so, DH was counting beeps and wiggles on the print out.
MW noted these blips and said I'd been having (obv very small) contractions, then she said, "I'm just going to examine you" and gave me a sweep which hurt like an hijo de puta (excuse my Spanish). At some point over the next couple of hours, she examined me again and said, "oh, it seems your waters have broken". I felt nothing, no wetness, I couldn't tell.
Contractions started building up around midnight, I walked around my room a lot (wards don't exist in Spain, each room has two beds, I was the only one in my room for the duration of my stay - lucky!) mooing like a cow.
Went to the birthing room/suite/whatever and had an epidural at 3am (no gas and air, just epidural or grit your teeth) as I was 8cam dilated.
At 6am they realised DS was back-to-back, I have no recollection, however, if they manually moved him or if he came out that way. I was pushing like a bastard for two hours but nothing, they told me to 'take it easy' until the 8am shift change.
8am shift change comes in, WONDERFUL midwife rocks up, examines me, asks a few questions, gets in the obstetrician plus a friend, plus 8 other people who hold my knees to my chin and hoik DS out with forceps at 9.20am.
I didn't see him until 4pm. He was born with shoulder distocia, which luckily healed itself.
Obstetrician had told me I was allowed 'one more push' or they'd whip me next door for an emcs, at which point I lost the plot and burst out crying, lovely midwife stroked my face and calmed me down. DH was also being wonderful
I had an episiotomy up to my eyebrows - not sure if 2nd degree, 4th degree - nothing is very clear. DS is 19mo and I'm still having problems with tampons/mooncup, imternal pain, have had sex... I think about 5 times. Pelvic floor shot to shit. Had an operation when DS was 12mo to 'widen' vagina as they'd sewn me too tight.
I was in hospital until Saturday around 4pm as my iron was low, so 5 days in total. I needed it, I was exhausted.

I felt pretty calm, actually, during the process up until 8am when it all got really scary.

DS was 4.4kg (about 9lb something??)

Congratulations, OP, and good luck

wow, monster post - sorry!

I was 39 weeks; had horrendous hip pain in the morning. Saw the midwife; baby was starting to engage. In the afternoon I felt better so decided to go to London (live near Gatwick) for dinner with DH and work colleagues.

4pm started to get what I thought were braxton hicks - nothing painful; about one every song on the iPhone.

5.30pm Met DH and mentioned it but decided to go for dinner anyway - first babys are not early right?

6.30pm I figure that we need to head home if couldn't get to the loo and back (3 flights of stairs) without a contraction - que 3!

Got a taxi and the 7:30pm train from Victoria then another taxi home - I was on the phone to the hospital, who clearly thought I was joking (first timer, in labour on a train, going home to get the car from London to drive to Chichester). I remember very clearly eyeing up the guy in front's beer as I wanted to take paracetmol and had no water!

Got home and had a show, DH had to unload his band kit from the car(!) and we left around 9:00pm. TBH I don't remember an awful lot of the 50 minute trip, I had the seat back, rolled on my side, clinging to the overhead hand hold for dear life. I do remember going round roundabouts being worse than actually giving birth (no idea why)!

Got to the hospital at 9:50, absolutely refused to let DH drop me at the door and told him I wanted an epidural (very obvious now I was in transition). I told the midwife too, who very cheerfully said they would check I was in labour first (still clearly thinking I was being OTT).

They put us in a room and went off to do paperwork cue waters exploding; they were somewhat surprised to find I was a 'nice stretchy 7cm' and ready to push! This was roughly 10:30.

DD was born at 11:24 on 2 paracetmol and gas n air. I had a couple of minor grazes which they stitched and gave me a codine suppository (fabulous).

6 hour ish proper labour start to finish. I wouldn't recommend labour on a packed commuter train but I wouldn't change how we did it and remember it fondly as a great experience :)

Sorry should have added; we had done a 1:1 Hypnobirthing course which I think helped a lot!

I woke on my exact due date at 5.30am with a massive bleed (I'd had them all through pregnancy) so rang the mat unit and said I'd wander in after I'd had a shower, said I felt a bit weird so might be in really early labour but that I wasn't in any pain so was fully expecting to be sent home after checks.

I was planning on driving myself in, but something made me call my mum and ask her to come over (I was single) by time I got out shower I was struggling to get stuff done, and by time my mum arrived I was on all 4's on the birthing ball with the front door wide open as I knew I couldn't walk to open it when she knocked.

Got to hospital and they didn't believe I was in labour as when I'd called an hour ago I was fine, bitch of a midwife laughed at me when I tried to strip off and then got stuck on the loo. She examined me and said it couldn't possibly be right and got a colleague to have a look - I was 10cm and pushing!

They took me through to delivery and DS heartbeat dropped so they called a crash team, gave me an episiotomy and forceps and DS was born at 9.20am! No pain relief, it hurt like buggery, but DS was fine and 7lbs 5. I still think he will be an only child though, I really don't think I could do it again.

Congratulations to you op though, I hope it goes really well for you :)

I went into labour at 38 + 2.

It wasn't obvious that it was labour as such as my contractions wernt very painful at the beginning, but when they started coming regularly I realised what it was they built up and got stronger as time went on

I started contractions at 4pm on the Thursday and went into hospital at 10.30am the Friday, I coped ok but was very tired as contracting all night. They just weren't close enough together to go to hospital.

I was 4cm when I got to hospital and I was having contractions every minute and half lasting a minute long.

My first stage was really long, about 10 hours.then when I started pushing was about an hour and half, but my DS was back to back and his heart date was too low so ended up having a forceps delivery

I was given pethidine when I went in at 10.30 to help me sleep, and hour and half later I had gone from 4cm to 9cm. Then I was taken to labour ward and had gas and air, ended up with a spinal block though for the forceps.

I felt five through the stages, in pain, but not unbearable pain. I just kept thinking I was going to meet my baby at the end of this at it kept me going.

And my gorgeous little boy was 7lb 13oz

39 weeks 6 days I went into labour

At the time the build up wasn't at all obvious, but looking back there was a lot of signs. The first I knew of it though was waking up to contractions 3-4 minutes apart

I was in bed at home on a Saturday morning. I coped at home by watching crappy films and feeling sorry for myself laying in bed. Also skyping my family members giddily. I stayed at from till 10pm that night and went in, but was turned away as only 2cm, then went back at 2am still only 2cm but was kept in cos of dehydration. so that was 20 hours at home

Contractions were still 3 minutes apart when I was at hospital at 2cms.

Latent phase lasted 20 hours, active was 3 hours 30 minutes- 1 hour of which was pushing. So I had a very slow and very quick labour.

I had Gas and Air and it was lovely lovely stuff. I did ask for an epidural half heartedly at 8cm, but the midwife said no because I couldn't stay awake between contractions and they needed me awake when it came to pushing.

Latent phase was worst for me. I couldn't hold anything down, not even sips of water so I was very dehydrated. Active labour was no problem. Pushing was fine too. I mean it hurt and all but after 20 hours of an intense latent phase it was nothing.

I had a very cute 7lb 1oz little girl

How far along we're you when labour started? 40 + 6
Was it obvious it was labour from the off or did it build up? I had no idea I thought I had trapped wind and was popping Rennie's all night!
How long we're you at home before going to hosp and how did you cope at home?I had a home birth so didn't go to hospital. I felt uncomfortable from about 5 am and called midwife about 11:30 once my husband twigged I was in labour
How many cm were you when you got to hosp and how often we're contractions coming at this point? 7 cm
Time from start to finish, times for each stage if you remember? No idea! I couldn't really tell them apart except the pushing stage that feels different.
What drugs did you use if any? Gas and air and paracetemol
How did you feel at the different stages? Pushing stage I remember not really feeling contractions, it didn't really hurt any more. To be honest the whole thing was no where near as painful as I had expected.
And lastly your little bundles weight? 7 lbs

First time was about 8.5 hours start to finish. No 'show' before and waters had to be broken with both births. Although i was in pain we both thought it wasnt the real thing despite being 40+3! Went into hosp at 7am and contractions a couple of mins apart. Contractions got worse on way to hosp, midwife examined me and i was 8-9cms dilated. Went straight into delivery suite. Got to say the Midwife was an angel! Will be forever grateful to her!
Had to have an episiotomy. I was worried about this happening the whole way thru pregnancy. My advice to first time mums is try not to worry about labour. When you are in it and the doc says the need to do something to get baby out safe, you'd do anything!

Came out next push after cut, weight 8lbs 2oz.
Second time round it was only 3.5 hours from 1stcontraction to birth.

No pain relief ex 2paracetamols with first. I was very lucky really compared to some others.
Good luck!

Forget to add.. You will know when to push. I was worried about knowing when but your body takes over.