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!

Ledkr that's so lovely.

DS3 was there at the beginning of my labour with DS5. He kept saying "don't worry Mummy" and asking me if I had everything. He insisted I took a doll with me in my suitcase, I think he thought that you were supposed to bring a baby to the hospital with you .

midnight I also suffer with IBS and have horrific attacks like you describe (cramps, cold sweats, not passing out but I do vomit). Neither of my labours (first difficult and long, second amazing birth, very positive and "easy" in comparison to my first) were anything like IBS attacks. Honestly, labour was more painful but a different kind of pain and my body didn't react in the same way as with an IBS attack. I can't really describe it. Again, I would really recommend learning relaxation breathing techniques, as you might find they help when you have an IBS attack (I do). Good luck and try not to stress about it, just go into it with an open mind and be aware of your options for pain relief etc.

My established labour was just short of 5 hours. They broke my waters for me, yes contractions are bloody awful but the pushing is a wonderful relief. I only pushed for a short time, 30mins tops I'd say. I did mine with only gas and air. I asked for an epidural a few times during but I think the midwife knew it was too late for me haha. My lg is 3 months old and I can't wait to do it all again!xx

I had 2 great births mainly because they were quick. I'm not having a third because I feel like my luck could run out!

Dd1 was a water-birth. 6 hours from first pain to birth.
Dd2 was born at home albeit unintentionally - luckily everything was OK and she was 3 hours from first pain to birth.

It would be great if I enjoyed pregnancy and didn't find birth boring.... I'd probably have another 2!!

I mean I find labour boring, not the birth of my children!!!!

I have a birth story.

It's moral is "Best get an elCS"

DC2's birth was good. I arrived at hospital and found to be 9cm dilated already. After a brief mini-panic when I realised I was too late for any pain relief besides gas and air (!) I got on with it and it was fine. I'd be lying if I said it was pain-free, but it was perfectly manageable.
I didn't have a birth plan but the midwife was lovely and just knew what to do. She kept herself out of the way (but stayed in the room, just sat in the corner making notes and having a chat now and then). I felt supported by her but there was no unnecessary monitoring or poking around. It was exactly what I wanted, without having to ask for it.
DS was born about an hour after arriving at hospital. Midwife was very hands off during the delivery and invited me to be the one to lift him up after he was out (he was born onto the bed). I was the first person to really touch / hold him which was lovely. I discovered his sex and also cut the cord (DH is very squeamish so sat well away!).

I was terrified of giving birth. Turns out I'm pretty good at at, waters went at 5am, went to the hospital at 2pm, expecting them to say I was only a couple of cm gone. Turns out I was pretty much fully dilated.

No pain relief, not even has and air and DS was born at 4.03pm.
No stitches, small tear that healed quickly

Was at home by 11pm.

As PP said, I also felt like Beyoncé - like I could take on the world

I loved my birth experience .
10 days over, didn't have a sweep, hoping things would get going on their own, started with mild surges at about 6am (can you tell I did hypnobirthing? Surges ).
I'd done the birth classes, read the books, and it all just proceeded like I expected. Contractions got slowly stronger, and we stayed at home until they were 3mins apart. 6pm drive to hospital and walk to antenatal was admittedly slightly fraught as I couldn't be in a position that was comfy, but that was only 25mins or so. I was 5cm, so they got me some gas and air and ran the birth pool.
Got in (with DH too!) at 9pm, continued with gas and air, and just had the most gloriously trippy and pleasant 2hrs or so floating in the water Started to spontaneously push (my uterus just on on with it, I wasn't really involved, very odd sensation!) about 11pm, born just after midnight. Got a bit sweary towards the end. Absolutely amazing experience!

I think what okalidokili said is just so true, 'For me I felt calm because whilst it did hurt, it hurt in exactly the way I would have expected it to hurt - there were no surprises!'

I think mine was pretty special. I had moved house 3 days before (very stressful, everything ran late, previous owners had left it very dirty) and decided to go for a nap Monday afternoon. I popped to the loo when I woke up and saw blood. I did panic a bit but thought I'd just go tell my husband and call the midwife. As I stood up to wash my hands, pain ripped through me and I dropped onto my knees. I didn't have enough breath in me to shout, so I banged on the floor.

My husband raced upstairs and I said I needed help. The pain subsided so we went downstairs and made plans. I called the hospital who said to come in but don't rush as it will be early stages. When I put the phone down, I had more pain so we jumped in the car.

I had a couple more (what turned out to be contractions) on the way and one at the desk of the maternity unit. I was told they would check me over but I'd probably be going home.

When I finally got on the bed (bit tricky in between contractions and SPD), I was told I was 9cm! Basically, within about half an hour of waking I'd done all my labouring!

They had time to run the pool and about 40mins later my baby was born (no painrelief which is as I'd hoped as I had read up on hypnobirthing).

It was amazing. Painful, but manageable. I think keeping calm helped and I found the pool a good distraction. I couldn't really say much except for water and can you see him yet but I definitely felt empowered by the whole experience.

I'd say try and go with the flow and breathe in any way which calms you (you don't need to do special panting techniques).

Hi, mine were pretty good. Terrified before first birth as heard so many stories of big age gaps between children in order to have time to "forget how bad the birth was" etc. However once my children were out I remember thinking "was that it?" And also thinking if I absolutely had to I could do it all over again right away. Hope that helps alleviate some fears. Not enough positive stories I agree !

Marmite, thank you! I needed that!
All im worried about is it being similar to an IBS attack, as long as my body doesn't react like with those, then I think il handle it as I do handle other pain well, just not IBS!
I fully expect it to hurt pretty bad, however a ELCS is not an option, I want to be able to walk out and comfortably care for my baby, rather than crying every time I lift him up because it hurts my stomach, i don't cope well with pain like that! So as much as I don't want the pain for the labour, I'd take that than having to recover from a ELCS! The only way I'd have one is if it was an EMCS!
I've nothing against anyone who chooses to have one, I just find it to be more hassle than it's worth.

DS1: less said the better
DTBs: Elective gentle caesarean at 37w+5d - heavenly experience.

So much of vaginal birth is down to luck, it really is. FTMs often try and prepare as much as possible for it, because with so much else in life, good preparation leads to good results, but in the end, some people can do all the special breathing / learning / trusting your body / hypnobirthing in the world like me and have a terrible experience like me and equally, some people can potter along and be terrified and actively avoid all mention of childbirth and unexpectedly have a smooth, quick labour that was massively less painful than they expected.

There are many more factors beyond our control (size, position and gestational age of baby, baby's health, your body's internal configuration, time of day, medical team, equipment / staff availability etc etc) than factors within it (mental attitude).

You haven't asked for advice, but here it is anyway:

1. It's just one day (or slightly more than that in my case with DS1). I wish I'd focussed more on preparing to be the parent of a newborn than preparing to go through labour.

2. As my darling mother, retired nurse and midwife, has wisely said: there are no medals for bravery handed out in the delivery room.

I wish I had been less brave with my first, and got the pain relief (then epidural) I actually needed.

Lastly, OP, you've GOT this. You have spent all this time growing a human being from scratch. There is NOTHING you cannot do, and this tiny person's day of birth is just one part of your journey to be an awesome mother.

@ordinarygirl spot on xx

@midnightbreeze honestly my elcs was the least traumatic part of delivering either of my children. Hopefully nothing happens before the end of your pregnancy which means you need one if you're dead against it. I found the best way to deal with people's horror stories is to read about everything, that way its not so daunting. Either way there are risks of complications regardless of what way you birth your child. The main thing is that you will have that wee bundle in your arms and what ever you go through for that moment is absolutely worth it.

My first birth was fine. Not what I would've chosen, but unfortunately I was way less informed of my rights to refuse an induction than I am now! I ended up agreeing to an induction at 38 weeks. My labour was 3 hours from start to finish, horrendously painful contractions due to my body being forced to labour when it wasn't ready. The experience wasn't particularly traumatic, just not very nice.
My second birth was absolutely perfect!! No medical interference, no examinations, no poking and prodding like in hospital. I was at home, just me, my husband and a very "hands off" midwife who just took a back seat, sat with a coffee and let me crack on with everything until the time came to push. My son was born on my living room floor and a couple of hours later I was sat in my own bed, munching on a big fat Chinese takeaway

Mine was fine and I was really scared. Had to be induced with a drip but was fine once I had the epidural. 12 hours in total and a small tear.

The aftermath was worse for me I think that's the part no-one warns you about - being stuck on a ward with screaming babies and a woman who snored. Plus a blood transfusion which was not nice - moral of the story make sure you take iron tablets!

When I gave birth in July, I was induced at 40+12 after 4 failed sweeps.

Arrived 6:45am.. Had the pessary inserted 07:15am. Immediate back ache and contractions shortly after. Pain started about 1:00pm... At 4:00pm I was 4cm, 4:30pm 7cm and DD was born at 6:30pm. 2 hours of active labour including 45 mins of pushing and placenta delivery. Just gas and air pain relief.

The pain was nowhere near as bad as I had imagined and this is coming from the worlds biggest pudding! It was a great experience! 🙈

With my last birth DS 3 years ago contractions started 4.30 not painful and random so assumed braxton hicks instead they randomly with no patern continued through the day about 9pm I realised they was contractions he was a planned home birth I said to ex DP call hospital now oh no actually wait I need to push waters broke 2 pushes later son was born midwife arrived about 20 mins after birth cut the cord stayed 2 hours and we went to bed! Nice easy relaxing birth with no problems 😊 I'm now 38+5 and hoping for another easy birth

I had a good experience, my waters started to go at 1am, first contraction at 2am, immediately 2-3 mins apart. I was examined on the birthing unit at 4am and found to be 5cm, and got in the birthing pool, I was then ready to push at around 5.45am, pushed for a while in the pool then decided I was too warm, so went on all fours on a huge mat on the floor with a giant beanbag, my DD arrived at 7.17am :) apart from being sick a fair bit, it went really well and without pain relief.

I had my first baby earlier this year.
Had a great pregnancy and loved being pregnant, I was so relaxed all the way through and even when due date came and went I was still chilled. I firmly believe this helped me in labour.
The day came and I woke at 2am with a bit of a bad back but went back to sleep woke my partner at 4am to tell him my back was still aching, he told me to take a paracetamol and turned over and went back to sleep lol. He woke at 5.30 went to the gym sauna and jacuzzi (loving his life) little did we know that back ache I had was actually labour. Rung my mum at about 7 she said she could tell I was in labour right away and so came down to my house. When she arrived I was in the bath, she lost her shit because the pain I was getting was every 5minuted. I still refused to believe I was in labour as the pain was not what I had imagined it would be. Partner went off to work, my mum freaked out even more as contractions were coming thick and fast. Called my partner home from work at about 9.30 we had some breakfast and headed for hospital because mother was convinced I was in labour I wasn't but baby movement had slowed down.
Arrived at hospital at about 11.30ish the put me on monitor for 2 hours to monitor baby movement and heartbeat and examined me at 1.30 at which point I was 9cm dilated and my waters broke on her hand. My little boy was born at 16.18 that day and I was home by 21:30 that night.
I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Thank you so much for this thread 💕
I'm also getting ready for my first experience of childbirth and it is very hard not to worry or think every one will be a drama. I have loved reading all these wonderful experiences. Thank you x