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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:
stucknoue · 03/05/2019 19:00

It was fine, a bit uncomfortable at times but it's not an acute pain, mine both came without any assistance and within a few hours, without pain meds second time. Best coping tip is to labour rocking on a ball, worked far better than water even. And be distracted I read the paper, did the crossword etc

QuilliamCakespeare · 03/05/2019 19:02

Yep, two quick, troublefree labours. No drugs and a pleasant water birth (first baby) then a quick hospital bed birth (second baby). I'd do birth again, I just couldn't handle the sleepless nights again.

CallMeRachel · 03/05/2019 19:03

Me.

1 birth. Went to hospital when I was 2cm dilated, 4 hours later (and no pain relief as the bastards refused to believe I was progressing so quickly) he was born. I was still in my normal clothes.

Two stitches.

It was pretty straight forward- and I didn't poo during the pushing which was something I was terrified of doing after hearing friends stories of that happening to them.

I kept fit and went to aqua natal classes throughout my pregnancy- I was told this was meant to help have a easier birth.

user2085372673 · 03/05/2019 19:05

I’ve had two births which really weren’t that bad. I didn’t even have gas and air for one of them. I look back on them fondly. Obviously the pain was hard but it followed a pattern and got more and more painful over a period of 6 hours until it was time to push.

I also had one quite traumatic one which I told everyone who would listen every detail of. I don’t tend to say much about the good ones - less interesting.

DramaAlpaca · 03/05/2019 19:05

All three of mine were fine, even the forceps delivery with DC1. The third was brilliant, a really relaxed home birth.

BirdieInTheHand · 03/05/2019 19:05

My second was lovely - longish (about 18hrs) laboured at home for 15 mostly in bath. Went to hospital despite MW telling DH I wasn't ready, DS arrived three hours later, back home in bed that evening 😊

DC3 was an induction in the morning, arrived lunchtime. Left hospital 2 hours later.

Youngandfree · 03/05/2019 19:06

Yep, my first labour was amazing I came out of hospital wondering what the big deal was?!!! 😂😂 my second...however... was the complete opposite!! Now I know!! 🤣🤣

FlatPackPat · 03/05/2019 19:06

Mine was fine OP.
9 days overdue, declined sweeps/induction as baby was fine. Went in to spontaneous labour, was at home for 6/7 hrs then went to hospital and had DS an hour later with no pain relief. Hurt but was okay. Ds was 4.1kgs and I had a 3rd deg tear but even that was fine afterwards and I didn't notice at the time.

I do feel lucky that I had a 'nice' birth though as I have also heard horror stories.

TixieLix · 03/05/2019 19:06

Mine were both fine. Painful, as you would expect, but made do with gas and air both times. Both lasted about a day. First baby was a week over due date, second was a week early (but was stressed as my DF had just been taken into hospital with a heart attack's).

lablablab · 03/05/2019 19:09

No, both of my labours were horrific. Among my friends and acquaintances, I find that's actually the norm - very few women I know had a straightforward birth.

I wish the midwives had prepared me more for what can go wrong. I felt a failure for a long time as I wasn't textbook. It creates a false image and it's the ideal rather than the norm. Imo.

Thatsnotmyotter · 03/05/2019 19:10

I could make out like mine was really traumatic and dramatic if I wanted (contractions for three days, slow progress, OP baby, emergency caesarean) but actually it was fine. I felt in control of the decision making, I was well prepared, and I always felt safe.

Personally I think the more you know and understand, the better.

HerSymphonyAndSong · 03/05/2019 19:10

Yes, mine was long but straightforward. Over 24 hours (at home until the last couple of hours), transition was really painful but gas and air worked wonders, second stage quick and I was lucky enough to get away with no stitches. Actually the bit I found most unpleasant was placenta delivery!

Janleverton · 03/05/2019 19:10

I’ve had three non-horrific labours. First was worse then the second and third, but mostly because I just hadn’t a clue what I was doing. It was the unknown and with hindsight I wasn’t terribly well prepared.

Second, I did ante natal yoga and was more clued up. Planned a home birth but no midwife when the crunch came. Was about 3 hours from start to finish, had him about 40 mins After getting to hospital and they let me home three hours later. Gas and air once I got to hospital.

Third, at home, about 2 hours all in. No pain relief because things just kicked off very quickly so the gas and air was still in the midwife’s car!

34plus4 · 03/05/2019 19:12

I loved this one!

PirateWeasel · 03/05/2019 19:14

It was ouchy, obviously, but mine was long and tiring rather than horrible. I hadn't slept or eaten for 48 hours by the end - that was the worst part!

princesstinnedpeach · 03/05/2019 19:14
  • 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 agree with you re the lack of support, but as a first time expectant mother quite a lot of people (who I wouldn't necessarily expect to offer a level of emotional support to - e.g. work colleagues) seem keen to discuss their bad experiences of pregnancy and birth with me. I don't think it's at all a fair thing to do to a pregnant woman who hasn't specifically sought that kind of information. There are other ways to seek support that don't involve potentially upsetting someone who's likely to be feeling anxious already.

greyby25 · 03/05/2019 19:16

Me ! I was induced at 39+6 for reduced fetal movements. Two hours after I had the pessary I had period like cramps which gradually got more intense and developed into labour. I managed on codeine and paracetamol, bouncing on my ball and walking, i laboured through the whole night and the pain amped up after I had a bath and my waters broke, I had another bath and then diamorphine and an anti sickness injection as I kept being sick during contractions which I honestly think was the worst bit. I pushed for about half an hour max, no gas and air as I didn't like it. I just didn't think it was as bad as everyone said it would be, I wholly loved my birth experience! My daughter arrived exactly 24 hrs after the pessary was inserted and I went home the same night, and she was born on her due date ! Currently pregnant with twins and looking to be induced again around 36 weeks x

DontPanic42 · 03/05/2019 19:20

Me! And some parts of them I even enjoyed, first was 11 hours active labour mostly in a pool and second only 1 hour. And I thought the gas and air was amazing!

harper30 · 03/05/2019 19:22

Me! My DD's birth was lovely. I had slow labour for a couple of days which was frustrating but not particularly awful. I'd highly recommend a tens machine, I borrowed one from the hospital.
We've got a lovely midwife led unit here where we had a big private room with like mood lighting and a big birthing pool and fans for the temp and all sorts.
Laboured at home mainly then in the unit for a few hours in the pool with gas and air then got out for the final few pushes just because it felt right and there she was!
I did need stitches after but it honestly didn't even seem like an issue and I'm lucky that they healed well.
Good luck!! Be as positive as you can but if things don't go exactly to plan don't worry too much. I didn't even write a birth plan as I didn't want to jinx it or feel like I hadn't 'achieved' what I wanted if I needed intervention or a csection or whatever was necessary.

WindsweptEgret · 03/05/2019 19:23

I was 22. My labour was fairly short, 8 hours after I woke up with contractions 5 minutes apart. I had a hospital birth and luckily needed no pain relief or interventions, it was more intense than painful. I had a couple of stitches. I stayed two nights in hospital and was glad to get home to a familiar environment with only my own baby crying!

soundsystem · 03/05/2019 19:24

Mine were both fine!

Quick and pretty intense, but no horror stories! Both at home.

I found Juju Sundin's Birth Skills book really helpful preparation, and also Maggie Howell's hypnobirthing.

Good luck!

feelingverylazytoday · 03/05/2019 19:25

Yes, I've had 3, and none of them were horrific. My Mum had 5 babies and said she actually enjoyed them Shock, I was her 2nd child and was born at home in 20 minutes.
Let me tell you about my own births -

  1. born at hospital, labour lasted 10 hours, had pethidine and Gas and air. The only crap bit was I tore and had stitches which got infected and took a while to heal.
  2. labour lasted 4 hours, just made it into hospital in time, pushed twice, he was born. Had a few grazes but no stitches, discharged home after 3 hours, absolutely fine.
  3. planned home birth, took 2 hours, no tear, got up out of bed an hour later, bathed and dressed and downstairs. I know quite a few women who had straightforward easy births like me, it isn't unusual at all. Best of luck Smile
Mintypea5 · 03/05/2019 19:25

Both mine have been inductions. 1st at 42 weeks and 2nd at 38 (reduces movements)

Both mine were extremely positive. Went as far as I could with just gas & air but once the drip got unbearable(and I'm a wimp🙈) I had an epidural both time. Once thy kicked in it was great! No issues pushing and no tears or grazes.

MarshaBradyo · 03/05/2019 19:27

Yes my second was really good considering

At home contractions didn’t hurt that much, at 8cm by the time midwife rocked up

Transition hurt more but then it was over, all standing up

RomanyQueen1 · 03/05/2019 19:27

Me, please don't think I'm smug or boasting. But to put your mind at rest.

We have 3 dc and in total I spent 4 hours in labour, with gas and air.
I've had more pain at the hairdressers when they used to pull your hair through a cap to colour it.

first was 2 hours, second 90 mins and third 30 mins. Each time very lucky to make it to hospital on time.