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

After being induced with dd1 I took matters into my own hands and took castor oil when dd2 was 10 days 'overdue'. Contractions started at midnight and I laboured at home with only 2 paracetamol and some serious groaning for pain relief. At 1.30 rang midwife, 2.30 she arrived and didn't get chance to examine me as I felt baby coming. Bit of gas and air and baby arrived at 3.09. Lovely, shower in own bathroom, back in own clean bed for cuddles, tea and toast. Absolutely lovely, lovely, lovely...

I am on my third pregnancy and plan a homebirth - the baby is due Xmas day of all days!

My first labour was induced by prostglandin - she was 2 weeks late. It was very fast (4hrs start to finish which is fast for a first) and very intense I panicked which definatley made it worse - I had pethidine which made me high as a kite and I didnt like it I also used gas and air! it was like a comedy really I nearly had her in the lift as I was still on the antenatal ward and the midwife wouldnt believe I needed to push she was really dismissive and then her superior came and saw what all the fuss was and literally went white and said 'get her downstairs now' I can remember the midwife who delivered DD in the delivery suite was very annoyed about it! I will never forget the buzz I felt afterwards and despite being exhausted I stayed up and stared at my beautiful daughter all night long I was only 19 years old.

My second labour is a lot more fresh in my mind - born in jan 2006 my DD2's labour was so much more slower and less intense. I started having contractions at 3am - nothing major I knew it was early on but I was excited and couldnt sleep - by 3pm that day I rang delivery suite as I was worried about it happening fast like DD1 did! she told me to come in as they werent busy and she would check me over - in I went and she told me she didnt think I was anywhere near yet as I was so relaxed she examined me anyway and we were both shocked that I was 4cm so she kept me in in case it happened fast! well it didnt! and the contractions started going very irregular but I think it was because I was so tired as I had been up since 3am - my body knew it wasnt ready for it yet. I stayed in and contractions gradually got more and more intense all night I breathed through them and by 8am I started bleeding fresh blood I knew it was close but I was handling contractions just fine, like a bad period. I was sent down to the delivery room where I met my husband and sister who had been phoned to come in and they all commented on how easy I was making it look! I was so calm and knew from my previous labour that to panic would be the worst thing I could do. After all the baby HAS to come out! I got to 8 cm and needed gas and air which helped so much! a few hours later after a lip taking a while to shift she was born - the pushing her out was the painful bit - they dont call it ring of fire for nothing LOL

I recognised transition this time too - now that is a very weird thing - everything just stopped for about 10 mins and I was burning up and really thirsty and exhausted and out of it - then all of a sudden I started thinking really clearly and just went for it - like a new lease of life came over me! very weird!

I get such an adrenalin rush from labour! I am so excited about birthing this one!! especially at home!

xx

DD was born at home. I was expecting to be in labour for days (my mum had very long labours and we are the same build), and was surprised to be told I was 2 cm dilated after having strong contractions for only a couple of hours. I was fully dilated by 1am (4 hours of established labour). I laboured in the downstairs cloakroom with a Tens machine and a doula keeping the midwives (who were lovely btw!) away, so I could get through this stage with privacy. Then I went into the pool. Pushing wasn't a barrel of laughs and I needed an episiotomy in the end. But the whole experience was awesome. I would do it again in a heartbeat, if I wasn't 40, knackered and with a prolapsed uterus.

Had both dds in hospital, both born in birthing pool (would highly recommend it). Midwifery care great during actual delivery, let us get on with it really and seemed to pick up on the needs of both me and dp (to leave us to it until the business part, really!) Managed to get a 6hr discharge home with both. Did tear with both (and needed stiches) but didn't hve any subsequent problems with healing etc.

Both experiences obviously extremely painful blah blah, but both very positive and do-able! Am even contemplating doing it again

I've had three normal deliveries, producing healthy babies and was in labour for a total of about 19 hours altogether (not counting 3rd stage and afterpains!) Two deliveries were in the water and bf was successfully established each time (although it wasn't easy). I found TENS useful before transition or getting into the pool and suffered v little perineal damage, no pnd. Used no drugs except entonox and not even that for the last time. Pelvic floor is ok for tennis, not so good for long distance running or when I have a cold. My advice for any one planning a natural birth is

1 be rested and well nourished before labour
2 take some exercise in pg (swimming is good)
3 in labour be relaxed, move about between contractions for as long as you can before transition, keep as upright as you can. Be assertive about what you want and don't want, and be supported by sympathetic birth partner.

I woke up feeling a bit funny and thought it must be from eating some cake mix the day before. I was having very mild pains and had a runny tummy. After a couple of hours sat reading the paper I started to wonder as the pains were quite regular and starting to get worse although I still didn't believe I was in labour. My sister persuaded me to ring my midwife who said I had better go in as my contractions were about five minutes apart. I phoned my Dp, waited nearly an hour for him to get home whilst pacing the floor, then we went off to hospital. At first they didn't seem very bothered but as the contractions were three minutes apart they had a quick look and discovered I was 5cm dilated. They sent us off to Sainsburys for dinner and we sat outside eating our sandwiches looking at the lovely blue sky and giggling about how easy it was. After a couple of hours it wasn't funny any more and after about six hours I was ready to push (I wish the last 5cm had gone as quickly!)
The gas and air was great, I really liked the pethidine and despite needing a ventouse, an episiotomy and tearing I found my labour a really amazing experience. My body just did what it was meant to do and I went with it. My midwifes were great, stayed longer to help and visited me the day after. The only thing I would change was staying in hospital from three days.
I'm hoping my next labour is even quicker and just as great!

Had an accidental home birth with dd2:

Pottered with TENS for a couple of hours, dh got neighbour (thorough dyed in the wool tree hugging lentil weaver - thankfully) to come and watch dd1, by which time I was ready to push.

Phoned 999, leaned against the hoover in the dining room while wonderful neighbour spoke soothingly and dh flapped like a maestro, and dd1 asked to play jigsaws while peering round the business end saying "Ewww, bleughy mummy".

Amidst some worry, but mainly disbelieving giggles, dd2 entered the world, neighbour wiped bits of me off her with her bare hands and dh made me a tuna sandwich while we waited for the midwife.

1 hour later, dd2 fed and asleep, me showered and dressed, dd1 reading stories on my lap, and dh off down to the river "to get his head round all this"

Very positive, wonderful, hilarious, manic experience. Enjoy yours if you've had a bad one previously, my first was dire, but the second was amazing, I'd do it again now if I could, just to hear dh's pained falsetto on hearing he had to deliver the baby himself!

My births have all been quite straight forward.

3 sons - each with a fast labour despite first being back to back on arrival and third being back to back before turning himself around before popping out.

Gas and air only all three times, one episiotomy, two tears - but all pain free even afterwards. One retained placenta, but that was quickly whipped out.

First established labour was 4.5 hours, second labour was a couple of hours from first twinges, third was a couple of hours of twinges but established labour a couple of hours.

DS 2 years ago LONG AND PAINFUL and LOTS of complications...

BUT DD 9 weeks ago and fantastic. Laboured mainly at home (only for a few hours), arrived at 8cm and basically had my waters broken and she was born 15 min later after just a few short pushes. From arrival to hospital to birth was about 30 min in total.

I fed DD, showered and was eating a pizza in no time.

They're all different labours. You can never predict what yours will be like, even if you've done it before.
My ante-natal instructor lady said 1st labours generally lasted between 12-24 hours. Yeah right.
My 1st - DD - lasted 2 and a half hours. I walked up stairs to second floor of London Victorian hospital and on each half landing hung onto the radiator and screamed like a banshee, my husband had gone on ahead to let them know I was coming. He came back to find me and on seeing that I had not moved far asked "what are you doing?!"
DD was born just 20 minutes after arriving in hospital. I was in a lot of pain and could not lie on the bed for an examination. Finally I stayed on bed for long enough for midwife to see what was happening. She said 'I can see the baby's head', 2 pushes later, completely involuntary, DS born.
It was intense but amazing, so straightforward and involuntary - my body did it all with little input from my concious self.

With my second I was worried that it would be quicker and I would not get to hospital in time. So I opted for a home birth, I felt out of necessity. I found a local independent midwife who demonstrated on a dry run that she could get to me 12 minutes after getting the call! DS was bigger and longer - 6 hours and an hour of pushing. He was born into birth pool in my dining room and within an hour he and I and my husband were tucked up in bed with toast and tea. A few hours later my daughter woke up and joined us. Absolutely lovely.

Now expecting number 3. Will go for a home birth again, having had such a great time last time. I wonder what it will be like.

Had a fantastic experience in hindsight Gave Birth at the Rosie in Cambridge and was on Midwife led - they were brilliant. Just Gas and Air, a bit long - 26 hours in total but no unwanted examinations or monitoring. Pushed her out on a Birthing Stool - I highly recommend them!
For a first Baby I have been told it all went well, I had some small tears which were stitched but that was because I was being a bit overenthusiastic (sp?) with the pushing!

My aftercare was fab - I chose to stay in for a night which was a mistake as DD did not sleep so I ended up being awake for about 50 hours with only a couple of 10 min naps, should have come home so DP could help me.

I had a fantastic labour - I would even go as far as to say I quite enjoyed it!

I had a few pregnancy complications - vomited frequently throughout the day throughout the pregnancy - not one sick free day!!!! I had a blood disorder and wasn't allowed an epidural. Tightening from 25 weeks so had to give up work early and be on house rest. High blood pressure. BIG baby on board (or so they kept telling me often - warning me re c section). Oh yes - also went 13 days overdue.....

However, the day before induction my waters went in the night - after a bit of brisk walking my contractions started at midday and I delivered her at 9.30 pm with just a bit of gas and air and a one shot of pethadine right at the end. I won't lie and say that it didn't hurt but I just knew that it would be over soon and I was looking forward not to be bloody pregnant anymore! My midwife was absolutely amazing- really empowered me - I wouldn't have been as calm and realxed if it wasn't for her. I was so grateful to her that in the drugged up confused state I was in moments after giving birth I remember telling her and my husband that I think we should give her our house!!!!!!!