Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Has anyone had a labour that wasn't horrific?

179 replies

Leleophants · 03/05/2019 18:42

There are so many horror stories and I feel like some women like to scare others who've yet to go through it. You only hear about how bad it is.

Anyone think it WASN'T as bad as they thought? Or found really good ways to cope?

Helpful advice is better than fear!

OP posts:
Sizeofalentil · 03/05/2019 18:46

Mine was horrific on paper - three days, no pain relief, epidural when eventually given didn't work, ending in emergency c section. But in reality, it wasn't so bad.

It was horrible, but do-able. If you get what I mean?

I was so proud and impressed with my body and what it did. I also found that Paul McKenna self hypnosis tape from YouTube massively helped me.

haverhill · 03/05/2019 18:47

Yes. I was quite overdue and had a full induction with a drip. After labouring for about 8 hours, I asked for an epidural and was then able to sleep for 2 hours before DS was delivered after another 35 minutes. I had some stitches as he was over 10lbs. The whole experience was absolutely fine; it was painful at times before the epidural but nothing unbearable. My stitches healed quickly.
To be honest, the next 8 weeks or so were infinitely more draining and traumatic!

Wolfiefan · 03/05/2019 18:47

Me!
Laboured at home until DH talked me into going to hospital. Thought they would send me home to have a bath and take paracetamol. DS born two and a half hours later. Water birth. Lovely.
Second. Was quick. Bloody quick. But very straightforward.
People who have a more difficult time probably feel the need to talk it over more IYSWIM.
Good luck!!

PhannyMcNee · 03/05/2019 18:48

3 that were all ok.

Painful (as to be expected) but certainly not horrific or traumatic or awful.

gokartdillydilly · 03/05/2019 18:49

I loved mine! I went to antenatal yoga, practised meditating and joined an NCT group. Read books on water births, co-sleeping and pregnancy development. I ignored anyone who said 'you wait' or 'such and such happened to me' so it's going to happen to you . I just made myself very very aware. Good luck!

flashbac · 03/05/2019 18:49

Mine was fine. So we my sister's three babies' births. Remember ppl with normal births don't tend to post or publicise them hence the horrors stories outnumber the rest and distort perceptions.

whiteroseredrose · 03/05/2019 18:49

My actual labour with DD (second child) was fine. I only needed the tens machine and everything was quite quick. Six hours from leaving home to delivery. DS wasn't bad either. I started off in a birthing pool but got too hot so got out. Twelve hours from first twinges to delivery.

StuntCroissant · 03/05/2019 18:50

Mine were both fine, but my second (homebirth) in particular was ideal really. I realise I was lucky in this respect. But the pain was totally manageable (I had a pool) and it was quick - just a few hours. Two pushes and DS was out. No tears or intervention. I don't think it was as a result of anything I did (although I did use hypnnobirthing and was very relaxed), I think I was just really fortunate.

Baloonphobia · 03/05/2019 18:50

Mine was pretty ok. Very quick, too quick for epidural, but it wasn't too bad. I'm due again in a few weeks and I'm relatively relaxed about the prospect.

Tootyfrooty35 · 03/05/2019 18:50

I had a home birth with ds2 who weighed 11lb5... It was intense, that's the best word but I felt incredible after. Like a super human.
Similar with DS3, hospital this time, he was even bigger and it was VERY intense and he had slightly sticky shoulders so a bit scary at the end but it was still was amazing and not at all horrendous.
Your body can do amazing things.

duvetfan · 03/05/2019 18:51

My 2 labours were fine, the first easier than the second. First time 4.5 hours no tearing etc. Second was 1.5 hours but back to back so a bit more painful. I realise I was very lucky and don't mention it very often as I know it isn't appropriate as so many people have very different experiences. Everyone is different. Try not to listen to other people. Good luck. Smile

Overstating · 03/05/2019 18:51

I think the horror stories people tell you are more in focus because they're more detailed and involved. The deliveries that go smoothly just go unremarked. FWIW, I had a long, exhausting first that made me immensely grateful for the epidural (I slept) and that I wasn't giving birth a century ago. The second was a dream, in the water and just gas/air.

lolablink · 03/05/2019 18:52

My labour wasn't bad at all (as labour goes!). My waters broke on the Friday evening, I was induced on the Saturday evening after not progressing (had the pessary), and had her on the Sunday morning which was her due date Smile

Beachbodynowayready · 03/05/2019 18:53

I enjoyed my labours. Some were effortless.
Prob why I had so many dc tbh!!

NowWeAreSuckingDiesel · 03/05/2019 18:53

Me! Midwife let unit, in the water until 7cm, did hypnobirthing techniques and it was painful but manageable. Gas and air for pushing stage and stitches for 2nd degree tear. Healed with no problems, had piles after but dealt with with prescription cream.

Would highly recommend hypnobirthing.

Unescorted · 03/05/2019 18:53

Me - I had my first contraction as I was paying for the shopping in Tesco. Drove home, put the shopping away had a couple more contractions, went to the maternity unit and he was born before they had time to set up the gas and air. It was about 2 hours start to finish, no stitches nothing.

ChanklyBore · 03/05/2019 18:55

I loved giving birth. I’d do it again tomorrow. Best days of my life. Pregnancy is stressful, painful and frustrating for me, so part of it is the sheer pleasure of not being pregnant any more. Part of it is of course luck, because I was able to give birth the way I wished to. Part of it was the unrivalled high of meeting my babies.

My best tip is that I hated the idea of the focus being on me, of everyone watching me and essentially sitting around waiting for my body to do things, I disliked the thought of labour being like a performance, that people watch me do. So for my comfort I didn’t allow that focus, and was able to have the labour/baby as something important but incidental that happened that day, alongside other things going on. I was much more comfortable that way.

I also spent my whole labours walking about/standing up/dancing around/going up and down stairs until ten minutes before birth with one and through the entire labour with the second, born with me standing up and I didn’t sit at all until afterward.

GaraMedouar · 03/05/2019 18:55

Had 3rd baby at home. Was wonderful. Probably 6 hours from first twinges to giving birth. Some gas and air but that’s about it (nothing for pushing stage). Was so relaxed. Sat straddled a kitchen chair most of the time watching a film, partner making tea and biscuits for us and the midwife . Midwife made me stand up for gravity to get things moving, waters went like a tsunami, and then short amount of pushing and she was there. Quick dip in the bath, midwives cleared up (I had covered lounge floor with plastic sheeting). Into bed. That was it.

Aquamarine1029 · 03/05/2019 18:56

Both of mine were a breeze and very, very quick. I didn't use any pain relief and actually couldn't because there wasn't enough time. I am fully aware how lucky I was.

Baloonphobia · 03/05/2019 18:56

Unescorted how did the driving while contracting go? It's a prospect I may be facing due to dhs work schedule etc if the baby comes early.

ReganSomerset · 03/05/2019 18:57

Yes. Not my most fun day, but very manageable until transition when the need to push begins, which was absolute agony, though short lived. Pushing itself not so bad- kinda like being incredibly constipated! Early labour was on a birthing ball watching DVDs with a tens machine, started at 4 in the morning. Active Labour requiring pain relief was four hours. Baby arrived at 4, 24 hours after labour started, but I was at home for 17 of those hours, and only needed pain relief for four o f them. Second degree tear which healed well, normal vaginal delivery, no needles apart from the stitching at the end.

I would say keeping calm is the main thing.

SinkGirl · 03/05/2019 18:57

I feel like some women like to scare others who've yet to go through it. You only hear about how bad it is.

Sorry, but this makes me quite cross. The reason that women who’ve had bad birth experiences talk about it like that is because they’ve experienced a trauma and there’s almost no support for that. It’s shocking what women are expected to endure, and implying that women who haven’t had a lovely birth should shut up and go away so as not to scare other people is ludicrous

I had an emergency section, it was very scary. I know plenty of women who’ve had positive birth experiences. We’ve all talked about them.

Loyaultemelie · 03/05/2019 18:58

With dd2 vbac I had a 4 hour labour which really wasn't bad at all, I was induced by breaking the waters and was nervous because I'd heard that made it more intense but it was completely fine.

WoollyMummoth · 03/05/2019 18:58

My first was a bit tricky, dds heartbeat slowed so needs doctor to intervene with ventouse. But I wasn’t traumatised by it. Had ds 2 years later. Gas and air, lovely staff, straightforward birth, had some toast and was home that evening.

Seniorschoolmum · 03/05/2019 19:00

Yes. I was an older mum. I got the first twinges on a Saturday morning, called the unit Saturday evening when they speeded up a bit. They told me to get some sleep and ring when it was getting uncomfortable. I drove myself in at noon on Sunday-slowly- and spent a couple of hours in the hospital, then waters broke. Laboured through the night. It all got a bit lively at 7.45 on Monday morning and ds arrives pink & wailing at 7.50.

Then I slept for 6 hours and we spent three days being spoilt while I recovered. Went home Thursday lunchtime. Thank you Salisbury Odstock. They were brilliant.