Any have any nice stories of giving birth??

[MidnightBreeze]

As the title says really, all I seem to read is traumatic births & il be honest it's absolutely freaking me out!!

I just want some good experiences!

My waters started to go at about 1am, I got my first contraction around 2, then my next 3 mins later then 2.5 mins later. Stayed at home for an hour, not by choice but my DH and my Mum were faffing about getting themselves ready

Got to the hospital around 3am, this is my only negative, I was left in reception for an hour on all fours labouring in front of a load of strangers as they didn't believe I was in anything other than early labour. I was eventually taken up to the birthing unit and was examined at 4am and was 5cm. The midwife led me to a lovely big room with a pool, a huge bean bag and mattress on the floor, I sunk into the water, tried two puffs of gas and air but didn't like it, at around 5.30am I got the urge to push, clambered out of the water about 6.30ish and DD arrived at 7.17am.

I had a lovely midwife, and we were left in the room for an hour to just have some time alone the three of us post birth after the midwife had latched DD on for her first feed. It was a great experience, and I felt very lucky that it was so straightforward, particularly being a first time Mum. I used hypnobirthing to give me a sense of control and keep me calm

My last one makes me want to have more or was so lovely...yes it was painful but not the worst pain ever.

I had a planned home birth as I'm a quick nearly didn't make it to hospital last time.

It was a good job as midwife arrived for last push. I had little on in a birthing pool and I put my hands down and lifted him out of the water so I was the first person to hold him. It's uplifting to know I did it all by myself no analgesia.

All of mine haven't been bad. As loads of people have said don't panic, it won't help you one bit. If you are a person who struggles to keep calm start practicing now.

Keep mobile as much as possible it helps put pressure on your cervix & if you can't stay upright go onto your hands & knees as gives you a wider pelvic outlet. The only reason I knew to do this was cause I read up on labor I'm really glad I did.

Good luck I'm sure you'll do great.

Two very straightforward and amazing births here.

DC1 was a bit of a shock (you don't know what to expect etc.), and it DID hurt, of course it did. But I didn't need any pain relief and didn't tear. TENS machine was amazing for me, as was getting into the birthing pool. DS came in the water. It was the most breathtaking moment of my life. I was on such a wave of euphoria and pride I could have taken on the world! I totally get the "Beyonce" feeling! I was also in awe of women and their strength for months after. Still am really.

With DC2 I braised myself for the pain but in the end it wasn't as painful as I had remembered. And she came within minutes, I didn't even have time to take my pants off.

Holding my babies for the first time is such an amazing experience, the thought that I might never give birth again actually makes me really, really sad. I won't tell you to "enjoy" it, because that's probably a step too far. But I can honestly say that giving birth to my kids was the best experience I have ever had. In fact, I might just decide right now that I will definitely have another just so I can have that moment again!

Being pregnant on the other hand...

My second birth was amazing, I was on cloud 9 for weeks after it. I had to be induced but it wasn't too bad, I got going with contractions after a few hours and got in to the bath.
I really got in the zone with it, was able to relax in between contractions which I think was the biggest help. He popped out after a few pushes, I didn't even tear! Was terrified of tearing after Ds1 broke me in two.

It was painful but it was a positive pain.

Me,2 easy lovely wonderful( but hard work) births, third a little tougher but in the end he most amazing experience of my life

Don't be afraid. Educate yourself. Get fit and strong and give it your best shot

First birth was horrific, but the second was like a dream.

Mild contractions night before, had a bath to calm them, slept all night without disturbance, woke up at 8:30am with strong but not painful contractions about 5 mins apart.

Shook DP to let him know I was in labour but not painful so he could go back to sleep as it could be a long ride. Sat on the birthing ball for a bit and had some breakfast.

By 9:15am contractions were 3 mins apart and beginning to get painful, I woke DP and called the midwifery unit to let them know. In a taxi and at the unit by 10:30am, still coping with the pain. 6cm dilated on examination so asked for the pool to be filled. Was in the pool with gas and air by 11:15am and DP was at the side alternating the gas and air with ice cold water at a perfect speed. Midwife was lovely and listened all the way through to what I told her was happening. Waters broke in the pool around midday and DS2 was born at 1:55pm. It was all so peaceful.

I can't say at any point that I really felt like I was in pain, it was like a dream and I would've done it all again from the next day. It was a long way off the first time around.

My second birth was amazing. I never really believed it when people talked about having a positive birth experience until I had one myself. First contraction was around 10am, baby born at 6pm at home in birthing pool. Had lovely playlist of music on Spotify I listened to throughout, candles/low lighting and I stayed active and upright as much as possible. Didn't bother with gas and air as it interfered with my breathing technique. Baby was born in pool and I lifted her out of the water - I was the first person to hold my own baby! Still feel very proud I was able to do that.

Best advice I can give - read "juju sundin's birth skills". I found it had really useful practical advice for coping during labour. My first labour was long and painful due to baby being back to back and she has a chapter on what to do during early labour if you suspect labour is back to back. I used these techniques in my second labour when pain I was feeling was suggestive of back to back positioning and felt it was successful in turning my baby the right way.

I'd also recommend practising 4-8 breath (or 3-6 breathing) which is where you breathe in for a count of 4 and out for a count of 8. I did this during my contractions in my second birth and meant I coped with the pain so much more.

Only pushed 3 times

No stitches

First baby

I had a lovely experience!

Waters broke at 10pm, had no indication that they would go at all. Mild contractions until 11:30 when I felt the urge to push.
DH packed up the car, drove to hospital and was 9cm dilated.
Wheeled through to birthing suite and DD was born after about 30 minutes of pushing.
I had gas and air and a go in the birthing pool. Felt calm throughout, lovely midwife.

Can't wait to do it again!!

I had my first 3 years ago. Although it was quite a long labour (about 18 hours start to finish) and it was an assisted delivery. I managed on just gas and air. My second (6months ago) was super quick. 3 hours start to finish. Didn't even have time for gas and air. I would say just enjoy your pregnancy. Don't overthink! What helped me was the thought after each contraction that I had one less to go. Giving birth was hard but not as bad as I imagined.

I had a great labour. I planned hoped for a home birth, so rang labour ward when I realised I was having contractions about every 4-5 mins, Fri early evening. Then they said to time them and call again when they were more regular. They were roughly every 10 mins all night, then Saturday they were about 3-5 mins apart and by 6pm they were 3 mins apart exactly.
My midwife wanted to put her kids to bed first! so asked if I could wait til 8pm and by then I was only 2cm. She said as it was first birth it'd probably be the following morning.
At 11pm I rang back saying I think I was in labour and she was lovely but a bit
She got to mine at 00.03 and I had DD standing up leaning against the sofa at 00.16. She barely had time to get the gas out and throw some large puppy training pads down. She did however have to tell me I might want to take my joggers off... oh yeah! Hadn't occurred to me.
I had rented a birthing pool but we didn't have time to fill it.
I had done Marie Mongan hypnobirthing CD, read all the Juju Sundin / Ina May / Grantly Dick Read books in the world religiously bounced on my ball, stretched my fanny and tweaked my nips but at the end of the day I was just very lucky that it all went smoothly.
TENS was a great help and apart from 2 paracetamol honestly what was the fucking point I didn't have any other pain relief.
I don't like to tell people either as it sounds showy-offy. I recognise I was lucky and it could be very different next time.

DD1 I woke up at 3am with contractions, went to hospital to be told all sorts of rubbish (I was 17 & terrified!), was told I needed an epidural even though I said I didn't want one but they got my partner to agree to it. She was born at 9.21am & I hated every minute of it.

DD2, was 7 years later (lost 2 in between but real reason for big gap was thought of going through that again!) 40+2 had appointment with midwife, she wasn't happy to let me go much further so wanted me seen at hospital, kept in overnight. Following day DH came first thing to be told nothing happening, he was sent home at 12.30 whilst patients were having lunch. Got examined around 1pm to be told I was 10cm but hadn't felt a thing, DH came rushing back & she was born at 1.49pm with just 2 puffs of G&A.

10 years since last time I gave birth - I'm currently 37+3 & want to give birth at birthing centre this time, had look round & its amazing but had the worst time being pregnant this time so slightly worried it'll be a bad labour. The hospital I had both DD's doesn't have a maternity ward anymore so if any problems arise it'll be ambulance from birthing centre to next hospital which is 30 minutes away.

So easy to say but please don't read horror stories. They don't prepare you for reality, they scare you to death without giving you details of the full facts leading up to the ostensibly horrific experience, make you more stressed and as such, have the potential to negatively impact your own labour because your body is concentrating on panicking and not on having a baby. Obviously, some labours can be terrible but hearing about these won't help you. By all means, read objectively written articles about difficulties if you also read how these are addressed - I find this helps me (I'm due my second in January) because I like to know what would happen in the event of x, y and z.

I had a lovely first birth overall. It was hard yes (40 hours) and I did have forceps at the end and one incident where I felt I wasn't listened to (midwife administered peth despite me clearly refusing it) BUT, I also got a gorgeous little baby, a labour that was calm most of the way through, stitches that healed quickly etc etc. As a PP said, try to tell yourself that the baby has to come out, it just has to - you can't really do a massive amount to influence what happens on delivery day, but you can ignore people trying to scare you, get an objective view of potential problems and keep yourself as relaxed as is humanly possible in a time which can be terrifying. Maybe try hypnobirthing to help with this?

I had what could have been a traumatic birth but really I thought it was fine. Way better than I expected. Had a sweep and slowly contracted and dialated to 3cm within about 12 hours. Just used the TENS machine. Went to the midwife led unit and into the bath. Contractions were sore but because I knew why it hurt I wasn't worried. It was totally manageable. I did ask for pethadine while in transition as I figured I'd be ages, but I felt the need to push while the midwife went to get it. I spent a long time pushing (about 2 hours) mainly because DD was back to back. She eventually turned and was born quickly after that. I found pushing the most uncomfortable but I didn't use gas and air as I found it spaced me out. I totally felt like superwoman after she was born and remember thinking it wasn't bad at all! Saying that I was told that if I'd had an epidural they would have needed rotational forceps to turn her, so I was glad I was ok without it!
I think the main think is to accept the pain and go with the flow. I just let my body do what it needed to do. Active labour and pushing took about 6 hours total, so pretty quick! I only had minor tears and she was just over 8lb.

All three of mine were fine, but DC3 was the best. I woke up at 2.45am with cramping pains and weirdly (having already given birth twice) it took me ages to realise it really was labour. I woke DP about 4.30am. We got our lovely neighbour to come round and mind DCs 1&2 and got to hospital at 6.10am.
It being my third, I thought I knew where to go, but everything had changed in the six years since DC2 was born, so we went up and down in the lifts, trying to find where to go, all the while poor DP saying "can I get you a wheelchair?" and me completely ignoring him, walking at a snails pace and huffing and puffing.
Finally got to be checked in and I was 9cm, having had nothing except a couple of paracetamol. It really wasn't that painful. DC3 was born at 8.00am. No major tears. Nice and easy, I was back home less than 12 hours after my first contraction, having had tea and toast and a blissful shower.

Number 1 was traumatic and horrific to most I tell the tale to, to me, it got me a healthy boy safely.

2nd time round was great, calm, organized, wasn't keen on the gangster rap on the radio in the corner, other than that, twas fine. Was gagging for a bacon butty after that one.

Mine was a straight forward, quick birth, 6 hours of labour, of course I felt some pain but the pain relief made it much more bearable and left me calm and relaxed. I was so terrified as well, sobbing and having a horrible anxious feeling in my stomach leading up to the birth, I don't deal with pain well at all. But if my next birth is anything like my next one I will be very happy. I did milk it big time to my other half however so he would continue massaging my feet and back with my lovely aromatherapy massage oil

I've only given birth once and it was hard, long and painful but it was the most amazing experience. For weeks after and even now 16 months on when I think about it it's the most empowered I have ever felt. The midwife who was there when I delivered was the one I wanted as she was into my birth plan, my husbands reaction and my mums was phenomenal, it was sublime & engulfing when I pushed and she was born.

Can't wait to do it again!

Had an emergency CS and it was really all v calm and pleasant.
Nothing about the process was scary.

My first time was really good, 12 hour labour but the birth went really well and it was all down to having a great midwife and doing everything she told me too. Don't try to swim against the tide and it'll be fine. My 2nd time I swam against the tide :/ but I has been induced and it all went too fast for me. I think I had expected the same wonderful experience as the first time. But, you know, once you have your baby in your arms the pain and all that just melt away.

My 3rd birth sounds awful - DD delivered by DH in the living room because she was just too quick for us to get to hospital - and I was totally shitting myself literally at the time but afterwards I felt amazing!

It was like me and DH were this incredible team and I couldn't wait to tell everyone I knew what I had done! Still feel epic when I think about it 6 months later!

It was my easiest birth to recover from too - we didn't have to go to hospital afterwards so was in the comfort of my own home, my other 2 met her when she was only 30 mins old and showed her off at a wedding at 3 days - definitely ended my childbearing on a high!

Both mine were homebirths and they were great :-) Not easy - the biggest physical challenges I've ever undertaken, but both times the wholeexperience was exciting and magical. Everything seemed so vivid and charmed afterwards. I refused to hear any horror sstories beforehand - obviously I knew birth wasn't all kittens and rainbows but there is really no point in going into it terrified. And I recommend doing a birth plan too. Loads of people will tell you there's no point because you can't plan it, but I think it's more about focusing on your state of mind and getting excited. And you never know, it might all go to plan - mine did! (I realise I was really lucky). Congratulations! And good luck.

Labour is the easy part.....! It's the following weeks that are traumatic! Xx

2 planned c-sections. Breech babies.

Music in the theatre, epidural no biggie (and I am a massive wuss with needles). Babies out within 15 mins each time.

Recovery longer but fine actually. Easier the second time in fact.

Lots of women panic about c-section (or emcs if natural birth planned) but it can actually be pretty good experience...

I had the misfortune of being pregnant (after several miscarriages and thus high risk) during a time someone was working though some big time birth trauma, with all the rage and memories that entails. As a result I saw their story many times (100% not a criticism just unfortunately what I saw and latched on to) plus many comments about how any suggestion of an ok birth is a lie.

I was absolutely terrified.

In actual fact my birth was short and "intense" (painful). BUT it was fine - as in it wasn't scary, I had excellent midwives and the pain was nasty but like a very very amped up version of stomach cramps so I knew it was birthing pain not injury.
I tore quite a lot BUT that was ok too. Numbed, stitched and no complications to that, most women have a stitch or two and most they heal just fine.
So even unexpected/imperfect births can be pretty un-scary.

I think it helps to know/expect that it will be painful and undignified, but to have checked your hospital/birth centre etc out so you feel you know the score as far as can be expected. Like I said mine bloody hurt and I was stitch-o-ram Frankenstein fanny after, but I sort of knew those things often happen and aren't disasters - and also felt comforted by knowing where the c section ward and Drs were at the back of my mind, and trusting my midwife to call for help if needed.

Now breastfeeding a slow grower ... that was stressful!! But it also passed.