Want to hear some positive vaginal or natural birth experiences

[letssiq]

Hi everyone,

I am now 28 weeks pregnant and a first timer. I feel that since I entered third trimester, I came across that inevitable awareness that the childbirth experience, much feared by me, is just around the corner. I plan to have a vaginal birth, and if possible, a natural birth with no interventions. I have heard so many negative stories over the last month, so I was hoping to hear from you some positive vaginal/ natural birth experiences, especially from first time deliveries.

I had two babies completely natural not my intended choice but the pain wasn't to bad for me. I delivered them just fine had no tears no grazes didn't need stitches at all. I was up in the shower and eating tea and toast within 20 minutes of delivering

Yeah i was showered dressed and makeup on aswell within 40 mins lol midwife thought she had walked into the wrong room my third i needed help from my mum and fiance to shower :( xx

I found The Positive Birth Book by Milli Hill really helped me to get into the right headspace. I'd been to hypnobirthing classes, and found the relaxation useful
but as a firm believer in evolution rather than intelligent design, I don't accept that my body was designed to do anything, and am aware from all the horror stories that things can sometimes go wrong which no amount of positive thinking can prevent. The book helped me to plan how I would deal with different situations, and keep a sense of control.
In the end my labour was very fast and not very painful. I told my husband not to go to work at 7am as I didn't feel quite right, my baby was born by 11am with no drugs at all. This was not a deliberate attempt to keep things natural, I just never felt the need to ask.

First baby I had one contraction just after arriving at the hospital, I thought, can't do this going to have to abandon my waterbirth and have an epidural. Half an hour later she was born...in the water. Second and third home waterbirths. Painful but manageable. You have to remember you're getting a fantastic, squishy lovely baby out of it all. It is totally worth it!

DD1 was 7lb 11oz. 28 hour labour. Gas and air plus pethidine. Ended up having an episiotomy as she was posterior presentation and stuck. This was 30+ years ago when you had to stay in bed, it was pretty brutal. Felt totally in shock afterwards for a few weeks.
Fast forward 10 years. DD2 was 9lb 4 oz. induced labour taking about 4 hours from actually being in active labour. No pain relief, as I had hated pethidine 1st time round, and no time for an epidural. Gas and air made me sick on the first suck so got rid. Very minimal need for a midwife, in fact I'd have been ok on my own I think! Felt totally amazing afterwards 👏🏻👶🏼

These stories are so reassuring, I wish we heard more positive birth stories in general 💓