Some positive birth stories please!

[tigertum]

Having been following and contributing to the forceps damage thread, I thought it would be good for the board to have a thread full of positive birth stories, maybe even a few accounts of good NHS treatment, good docs & midwives. The forceps thread is very important, but if (like me) you have only experienced one side of childbirth like that, or are pregnant for the first time - I think some positive stories could really benefit allot of readers (myself included).

Come on, lets have a 'feel good' thread

callisto....was your birth at phm or gw hosp?

I woke up at 6.10 am and rushed to the loo, to find I was bleeding (which worried me!) called the hospital who said come straight in. Half an hour later I had my first contractions in the car on the way to hospital.On arriving I was told that I was 9cm dilated (how I managed that I'll never know). Walked to a labour room at the other end of a VERY long coridoor. and gave birth to Joseph standing up after a very short labour. It was a fantastic experience compared to my first birth. I was completely in control, and felt like the midwife respected me and what I wanted. From having 3rd degree tears with my first, I didn't have a single tear ore stich with my second. I regained my confidence in the NHS through a truly wonderful midwife (and by changing hospital!)

i've had two children, they are now 5 and 3 and both births were postive and very stright forward.

all i had on both was gas and air, and on both births never had a single stitch.

both midwifes were fab as well.

Mine was a very positive experience once I realised I was in labour lol
I started feeling like I was constipated about 3pm so I drank some fybogel and carried on as normal than by about 7pm I felt a bit worse and tried going to the loo but nothing then I tried again bout 8pm and as I sat on the loo my waters went!! I wasnt getting any contractions but I was 8 days over so phoned the delivery suite and they said to go in,we got there at 9pm and when they examined me i was 5cm dilated and my constipation was the babys head!!

They took me to a room gave me gas and air and hooked me up to be monitored saying it would be hours but by midnight I felt the need to push and at 0019 I was holding my son! The midwife was fantastic and let me do it my way but just kept a check-I had been so nervous about the labour but now I cant wait for another

Mine was really positive at our hospital - great supportive midwives, encouraged me to stay active, very hands-off low key water birth, immediate skin-to-skin contact with dd, assistance with breastfeeding, dd put in bed with me the first night. I did need some stitches but she was nearly 10lbs and I ignored midwife when she told me not to push when head crowned and just went for it and she shot out ... not surprising I needed a few tbh!

I'm due today with #2 and have absolutely no worries about going back there (hopefully very soon as am sooooo uncomfortable!)

Found this book helpful: Stand and Deliver and other brilliant way to give birth. Second half is entirely good birth stories of all sorts (C-section, home water birth, induction etc)

Both births were positive experiences and although painful, I did enjoy them, as strange as that sounds.

My first one I laboured at home for about 4 hours. Painful contractions but bearable. Got to birth centre fully dilated and ready to push. Again, painful but not unbearable and I never felt scared or not in control. Once head was out midwife told me just to pant hard and rest of baby just slithered out and no stitches required. Baby was born with special needs and the kindness of those midwives sitting on my bed every night giving me cuddles and telling me positive stories and being there for us still moves me to tears. All in all a positive and happy experience.

2nd baby - wanted to have it at home. Got full support from 1-21 midwive even though I was out of the area. Even though she was off duty when I went into labour she was with me in 10 mins anyway and just left me to it. A lot more painful this time as it was a quicker birth and a bigger baby but again, even though these contractions were unbelievabley painful I felt calm and knew I was gonna be ok and it was.

I went in with an open mind. Ddidn't want pain relief but if I hadn't been able to do it would have taken what I needed. A safe delivery is all thta matters. In my case I just felt any kind of pain relief would have interferred with how I was coping and would have taken the control away from me.

The nicest thing aboutbirth #2 was being at home with DP, my best mate and DD1 witnessing the last few minutes so that she saw her sister born. That rocked.

Every time a friend is due a baby I always say 'try and enjoy it', it is possible to.

i have had five children,my first was when i was 21 i suffered pre eclampsia when i had my daughter weighing 6lb 14oz and on time
was in labour for 8 hours the actual birth lasted an hour with very little problems just had shoulder got stuck but didnt have any help.had stitches which was painful as they forgot to turn on gas and air but never mind.
second child my son weighing 7lb 8oz when i was 25.all straight forward just made it to the hospital and within ten mins there he was,he was two weeks early,he had the cord loosely round his neck but was fine and the only one i breastfed, for only two weeks.he has adhd
my third child i had when i was 27,my son whilst carrying him had a kidney infection and i also had placenta previa it was a very difficult pregnancy and i had to be in hospital for a month due to bleeds,he was delivered early at 36 weeks and weighing 7lb 8oz as well.i was in labour for four hours after being induced ds suffers from asd.
my twins arrived when i was 29 born at 33 wks via emergancy c/section,one twin was transverse whilst the other breech one weighing 5lb 8oz and the other 3lb 14oz both had a few probs with weight and feeding and sugar levels and keeping warm and jaundice and the bigger twin had a few probs with breathing but both now about to start school.
i wont be having anymore children but i thank god for them all being healthy and how lucky i am and wouldnt have it any other way.

many complications including pre eclampsia, baby face up instead of face down (and distressed), ventouse delivery and many many stitches, 33 hours long but was still great!!

i thank the lord for epidurals-i was under epidural for the last 13hours of my labour-i couldn't feel a thing and was still able to move my legs and retain some mobility (it wasn't 'mobile epidural tho)

the experience was exciting as i knew i'd get to meet my baby soon and i'll admit i loved all the attention. pethidine wasn't best choice for me as it did slow my labour right down-i'd go straight to epidural next time once the gas and air isnt enough!!

good luck!

Waters broke at 21.30, 2.5 weeks early, as DP and I were ordering dinner in a local restaurant. (a pregnant woman's nightmare, but when it happens you take it in your stride.)
Called my mother and told her to get on the train TOOT SWEET! Had to drive home, because DP can't drive - stuck a plastic bag on the seat.
Paced up and down the flat like a crazy woman, giving DP instructions for my hospital bag. Just had to keep moving.
Took taxi to hospital about 22.30, to be told I was in labour. Mother turned up from Brighton about 23.00.
Lovely midwife was with me throughout. Mother, midwife and I really worked as a team. Plenty of gas and air, which I didn't think at the time was working, but left me pretty spaced. DD arrived at 1.46 - 4 and a bit hours from ordering dinner.
Mother and DP went outside to swig from a bottle of wine together. Mother got back on the milk train.
Wouldn't want to do it everyday, but it was still pretty cool.

I was induced (jelly, waters broken, then drip on high), but all the time i had a very supportive midwife. When i had my waters broken i was tired and scared and when the midwife saw how upset i was she asked if i wanted an epidural. I wasnt sure as i had not planned on having it but i have a very low pain threshhold and my MW delayed me havong the drip so i could have my epidural.
This made the prcess of being induced so relaxed i managed to watch two films on the tv and when the drip did its job i had enough energy for the pushing.
My midwife was so lovely and she even talked to my mum on the phone when i was upset to reassure her! (DP was on the way to the hospital and i was on my own)
Hope this helps koshka x x

1st baby, DS, total nighmare, 34hrs, enough said
2nd baby, DD, induced after 40+10, admitted to nice quiet Maternity Assessment Ward 9am first pessary at 10am, nowt. 2nd pessary at 4pm, within half an hour i was having contractions every five minutes, put my tens machine on, went for a walk to speed things up, had a bit of dinner, had a bath (again) which suddenly seemed to speed things up, i was offered gas and air but as i thought i was in for the long haul like ds i opted for just paracetamol, just after i had taken them i threw up and had another bath (so clean) and accepted the gas and air and agreed to try a birthing ball. by now it was about 9.30.
I spent about 11/2hrs on the birthing ball as high as a kite when i suddenly felt the urge to push, the mw examined me and rushed off to phone delivery as my waters went with a huge gush. got up to delivery about 11.30 and after 30 mins of pushing, my dd was born all at once just after midnight and the midwife had to literally catch her. she was so beautiful straight away, all pink and with virtually no gunk on her.
it may not be everyones idea of a perfect birth but i was so pleased that it only lasted 8hrs after the trauma of ds and so proud to have only had gas and air

DS1: waters broke 4 weeks early ... after packing bag & shaving legs (priorities, hey..) into hospital - went into labout naturally few hours later, start to finish 4 hours, managed fine with only gas & air - had 10 mins transition where I thought m,aybe babies were a bad idea, but otherwise, really fine. Had a fabulous, encouraging m/w, who tried to accomodate my desires for an active birth, and was full of support & help, and kept the doctors away from me(!) ... and when she asked what we were planning to call DS, it turned out that her son had the same name (few runny eyes all round...)

DD2: after niggly pains for two nights, had a bleed, so into hosiptal - contractions painful but nearly talk-able through, they broke my waters to see what was going on ... had her in my arms 45 mins later - I was the woman you see on casualty, being pushed through the corridor, with someone shouting 'don't push yet...' !! Really was (wierd to be using this word) a LOVELY experience - felt totally in control, was watching birds circling out of the window as I pushed... Am not normally such a hippy . Again, wonderful midwife.

Hi just had DD3!!
DD1 was cs at 34 weeks due to a condition i had called cholestasis and her being breech. Cs was fine , no pain just a bit of a weird tugging sensation.
DD2 arrived of her own accord at 36 weeks. Felt some mild backache and had a show at midday, got a little more uncomfortable and so at 5pm went to hospital. Midwife ran me a lovely bath and then doctor examined me at about 7pm. contractions were just like having bad backache then at 8pm doc decided to break my waters and gave me 2 hours to progress before having to go for the cs. Contrations got lots worse but had pethadine which relaxed me. DD2 arrived 2mins before doc returned. home next morning - lovely
DD3 was induced at 37 weeks (again i had cholestasis so had to have early delivery) Went in at 9am and given pessary, no real pain just a bit of discomfort. Walked around, chatted to DH and read mags. At 4.50pm my waters were broken and contractions intensified lots , had gas and air and within 20 mins was feeling urge to push, dd3 arrived at 5.26pm. midwife was amazed at how quick she arrived (so was I!!) Home next day, happy days!!

I was induced at 12 days late with a pessary. I was 2-3 cms dialted already (was my 2nd pg) but not cervix was still long. Had the usual examination/ monitoring etc first then pessary was inserted about 10:30am. Was monitored again for half an hour then sent off for a walk to try and get things moving. After a very tedious few hours on the ward with absolutely no twinges I made dh drive me to our local shopping centre (about 10 mins away) for some lunch. (Wouldn't recommend this - got a bit of a telling off by the mw's!) Went back to the hospital, still nothing happening. Was examined/monitored again and was 3-4 cms but no contractions. Mw didn't want to give me another pessary as the delivery ward was really busy so we walked over to the canteen for a drink. As we walked in I had a massive contraction, followed about a minute later by another one. Staggered back to the ward having huge contractions every 1-2 mins, the mw took one look at me and took me to delivery. This was 5:00pm. Had a bit of gas and air, was examined again and was 7 cm so they broke my waters. Within half an hour was having very strong urges to push but when I did baby's heartrate went down. Mw examined me and said I was still only 7 cms so had to stop pushing but I couldn't, the urge was too strong. I had been standing leaning over the bed so she made me get up and lie on the bed so she could check me again. As soon as I changed position I went from 7 - 10 cms in about 30 seconds and pushed dd out 10 mins later.

I'm hoping this time round will be as good!!

I was induced at 36+6 weeks and in labour for almost 24 hours. It was honestly the best experience of my life and I would do it all again tomorrow. Gas and air are wonderful things especially teamed with an epidural.

At one point I was laughing so much from the gas and air I started to wee but I couldn't stop laughing to tell anyone, so there was my partner and mother, both reading the daily papers, and the midwife writing her notes, all sitting at the foot of my bed, and all of a sudden the midwife looked up and said 'can you hear running water?' and it was only when she looked at me literally pissing myself laughing that the penny dropped as to what the running water sound was!

Wonderful experience, lovely midwives, very smart PFI hospital (University Hospital of North Durham) - I'd do it all again tomorrow!

I had my dd 3 months ago and it was an amazing experience. I had planned a home birth, with full support from the community mws and my dh. I went into labour a week earlier than expected and was in a state of denial for the early stages but as soon as full blown labour began, something really clicked together and I became really calm and focused (am sure hypnobirthing cds and yoga helped). The two attending mws, who I had never met before, were wonderful - really supportive, respectful and not at all overbearing. I had a 15 hour labour, with tens and a little gas and air for pain relief and a little tear that needed no stitches. I really thought it would be distant dream after the fact but it's still crystal clear - I ate jam sandwiches and sipped cold orange juice throughout and listened to the conversations dh and the mws were having in between contractions. Afterwards, the mws ran me a bath, cleared up and me, dh and our little beautiful daughter climbed into bed and stayed there for the next two days! For the next two weeks I felt like super woman - and the 'come down' wasn't that bad either.

Throughout my pregnancy, I became sick of other women's comments about birth - what to expect and the horrors that were in store. Some really seemed to delight in relaying gory stories. I had one colleague who said that she actually enjoyed the births of her two daughters but then felt that she had to apologise! Yes, labour is hard work but I really did enjoy it - it was incredibly emotional and empowering. Having had such a positive experience is tricky - I often feel that people think you're being smug or underplaying the pain but I'm doing neither- honest!

I totally agree with you marjean. I was sick of people's comments throughout my pregnancy. I'm a little over 5 foot and a size 6-8 and everyone was telling me how i'd have a c section or an epidural at the very minimum. I had my 1st baby 3 weeks ago. I stayed at home for most of the time ( danced to house music in between contractions and had sex at one stage) Got to the hospital when the pain was difficult to cope with and had half dose pethidine. Was fully dilated under 3 hrs later and actually enjoyed the experience of pushing him out as it was such a relief that it was finally ending. I felt I had a really positive experience and the mw was just right - htere but not too intrusive. Wish people would spout off the positive as well as the negative.

Good luck and lots of love x

Why do people rush up to pregnant women to tell them birthing horror stories? I was quite rude to them by the end of my second pregnancy. Both my births were painful but short, uncomplicated and amazing experiences. I love the way that the whole world shrinks down to one room when you're in labour, and although the rose-tinted glasses of hindsight are great, it is a magical experience.

It's so nice to read these positives (especially the last couple of home birth ones) - I'm 31 weeks, have planned a home water birth, have been doing yoga; hypnobirthing CDs etc. I've been feeling that everyone (including those who've never given birth and none who've given birth at home) has been trying to scare the bejesus out of me and tell me how I can't be prepared/will need tons of pain relief/won't be able to have it at home/have unrealistic expectations. Grrrrr

So thank you for posting!!

All these fairy tale births Im reading on this thread seem unreal to me, well done, you're the lucky ones!

But you either have a good experience or you don't. What you have to look at is the end result, you don't get a medal for giving birth.

A few years down the line you forget how painful it was, (if it was), you just remember it hurt, (if it hurt)

Good luck, just focus on your beautiful baby! and how lucky you are to have the opportunity!

But yes its good to have a happy birth thread, so sorry if I just quashed it, I didn't read from the bottom of thread

My last three birth experiences were very positive. The last one was a fantasic home birth. I had no complications during preg or labour. they were all born without pain relief.
I used a Doula, which I can highly recommend. Pushing stages got quicker and quicker with each one, the last being only 2 mins and she was big for me at 9lb 2oz .
I wonder whether people love to tell expectant mothers about their awful stories because they are harbouring alot of negative emotions and anger and it is a way of putting them onto someone else. I tell pregnant women about all my wonderful experiences

I have three kids and would have more just to give birth again because I loved it. Same experience each time really - went into labour at about 6pm with 3 min contractions straight away, went off to hospital. Contractions slowed right down after a few hours and I didn't really dilate very much, so had epidural everytime with oxytocin drip to speed it all up which worked brilliantly. Pushing stage was 1 1/2 hours the first time and v.painful as epidural had worn off, but exciting at same time. Second and third times 2 or 3 pushes did it. Took between 12 and 18 hours every time.

(I wasn't in UK, so never had to deal with things like midwives telling me to go home because of not dilating fast or other daft advice like that. Looking at some of the other mn threads, could all have been very different in NHS hospital)

Just checked bakc on this thread and am so pleased to read all these lovely positive birth stories. Will be sending this thread to my friend who is due to give birth to her 1st DB in a month or so. Thanks everyone and keep them coming!