Positive natural birth experiences please!!

[Amytitch]

I am desperate to hear some positive (even neutral will do) VB experiences on here! Everything I have read has made me terrified and so anxious as it all seems to end in months and years of recovery or leaving you traumatised from how bad it was. Surely there must be some good ones out there? I know it's never going to be enjoyable but it would be nice to read about births that didn't end in huge tears and forceps etc 😬

It was mentioned above, but I really recommend the Positive Birth Company. It totally changed my attitude to giving birth and actually made me feel excited about it. My first pregnancy was with twins and, although it wasn’t traumatic or distressing, I had a lot of interventions and felt very out of control most of the time. The PBC really changed that for me and the affirmations and breathing helped keep me calm throughout most of the labour.

I had really manageable contractions starting early in the morning on Christmas Eve, the day before I was due. My waters broke at about 6.30pm and I got in the bath, listened to my affirmations and breathed through the contractions while my husband ran around trying to sort out everything for the next morning.

Eventually I couldn’t manage staying in the bath because there was so much pressure. My husband tried to get me dressed so we could drive up the road to the MLU, but I couldn’t make it. I had a few moments where I felt totally overwhelmed and like I wanted to escape my own body, and then her head came out. My husband caught the rest of her and then called the paramedics. By the time they arrived, we were on the bathroom floor, holding our baby girl, and she latched on and started feeding a few minutes later.

We had to go to hospital to deliver the placenta and have a few stitches, but we were home by 2.30am and ready for Christmas the next day. Her birth was, without question, one of the best experiences of my life and I would do it all again if I had the chance.

My recovery was instant.

6hr active labour and I didn’t even need so much as a paracetamol afterwards. I was up and fine immediately, first wee and poo didn’t hurt either and everything looks the same too! No lasting damage whatsoever to my bits.
I had 3 tiny internal stitches (there was debate as to whether to stitch or leave). I never felt them and couldn’t have told you where they were.

Oh and I’m old too, was 41 (first baby).

OP I think sometimes people don't talk about positive birth stories in case it comes over as a bit smug or insensitive around people that have had a more difficult time. However, I'd say a fairly high proportion of women I know have had them - I know several who have had home births and a friend who had twins (one baby was breech) vaginally.

I had a Waterbirth with my DC. It was so calm and wasn’t anywhere near as painful as what I imagined! I managed only on gas and air. The only advice I would give is to really get your breathing technique right as this got me most of the way through and if they offer you to get in the pool I would highly recommend it (and I don’t usually like taking baths!) I was in established labour for 5 hours and only pushed for 20 minutes. I had a 2nd degree tear due to baby coming out so quickly which I had no idea about until I asked the midwife if I had torn.

Just think that if it was that bad women would only have 1 baby and never go through child birth again!

After birth I even googled how to become a surrogate as honestly it was an enjoyable, positive experience for me- id do it again in a heartbeat. Good luck OP!

I had a brilliant home birth as a first time mum. I used the Positive Birth Company and highly recommend it. I'm pregnant again and hoping for another home birth too.

After birth I even googled how to become a surrogate as honestly it was an enjoyable, positive experience for me I also considered this as I had very easy pregnancies too - never felt sick at all or had any health problems.

I had 2 positive experiences. DC1, first birth, about 12 hours start to finish, had her in hospital, went in was only 3cm, went home, had paracetamol and a bath, returned a couple hours later, had gas and air and then pethidine which was brilliant, second stage about an hour, had excellent care, midwife stayed about an hour after her shift because I was nearly there. She did come out like superman and so although my perineum was intact I had a vaginal wall tear, that was stitched and healed well. I felt amazing after giving birth, the adrenaline kick was awesome and after a rubbish pregnancy I felt myself again which was fantastic.

Dc2 was a long slow labour, stop start for 5 days, but second stage was about 3 minutes. Next day I felt fine, took the kids to the the park, wasn't even aching. I did tear, probably because I was in a lot of pain as I tried to be a hero and just have gas and air. Again stitches healed.

I'd never want to be pregnant again, but birth was fine and I'd do it again. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

I'm very positive about all three of my birth experiences. During the first I had an epidural which led to a forceps delivery, but honestly it was fine. No issues afterwards and healed really well. The second was a straightforward natural birth, I needed a lot of stitches which took a while to heal but that was the worst of it. The third was a perfect home birth, no intervention at all, one of the best experiences of my life. If I wasn't too old I'd love to do it again tomorrow - I wouldn't want to be pregnant again though!

Not a VB birth but wanted to post to point out that births can be incredibly positive even when they don't go to plan.
I had a 72 hour labour that ended with an EMCS. Within a week I was walking around again and looking back it was such a wonderfully positive experience and I felt fully in control of everything.

Unfortunately people love a horror story. Most people with a positive or neutral
birth experience dont feel the need to go on about it.

Both of mine were vaginal births with no pain relief and no complications. Active labour of less than 2 hours (drive to the hospital wasnt fun!) I had a second degree tear both times, repaired while I had gas and air. All healed fine within a few weeks and no lasting issues

Just think that if it was that bad women would only have 1 baby and never go through child birth again!
I find this so strange. Friend of mine hated being pregnant and had a horrible back to back labour for 50 hours. Still did it again 2 years later though!

Labour was 5-6 hours total, I never really had an early labour though. It obviously hurt but it was sort of manageable. 15 minutes of pushing. No tears / stitches. I had a 'graze' which stung but that was fine within days.

First one was a natural birth in hospital. Waters broke in the morning, a few hours later contractions started but I felt very able to deal with it. Went to hospital and within 30 mins of being in hospital dd was born. No pain relief as I felt in control and didn’t want any distractions.
Second birth was at home as baby was born within 35 mins and husband delivered - ambulance arrived when baby had just been born.
I feel I have been very lucky and have such positive experiences about the births. One thing I kept in mind was that 1000s of women over the whole world are going through it at the same time and we can do it .
And I had a few friends with v difficult birthing stories so I kept thinking ‘it’s going to get a lot worse’ until dd was actually born.
Good luck and wishing you your own positive birth too x

My 2nd was physically traumatic but was spoken to, communicated with and heard by the mws and drs so I feel very positive about it.

I was more afraid of tearing than any other part of childbirth. Luckily despite heavy babies with huge fucking heads, I did not need any stitches. (I am only 5’4” and was tiny in those days) My midwives were amazing.

My first birth was brilliant. 19 hours from first contraction to baby out. I gave birth in the MLU and used only my TENS and the water. Felt amazing afterwards. Didn't tear. Walked down to postnatal ward, and in fact could have walked right out of hospital, they were happy to discharge me straight from the delivery room but I stayed in voluntarily for feeding help.

It hurt, but the water was very soothing and I was able to manage it with breathing and just letting it wash over me. I'd love to do it again.

(My second birth was also totally fine, but had to be induced for various reasons so was not quite so much fun. But again no tears, straight back on my feet, and would happily do it again.)

Thank you all for sharing❤️ I have started watching a few videos from the positive birth company which are very useful and make me feel like I can do it that little bit more! It may actually help with my general anxiety too and making sure I stay in control.
I think I will put a ban on friends telling me their stories as it is not helpful with keeping me relaxed!!!
I'm so pleased so many of you seemed to have truly enjoyed your birth experiences☺️

Positive births here! High as a kite on Nature's endorphins and I loved it! Good luck!

I've had three different types of births. My first was a very long labour and eventually I had an epidural and it ended in forceps, ventouse and episiotomy....however it was a lovely birth and I felt supported by the medical team. I recovered quickly and was out walking with baby within a day. I just say this so you know that it isn't a disaster if your birth takes a different turn to how you planned. My second birth was very quick and I just had gas and air. In some ways the speed and intensity of a quick natural birth were not as calm as my first more medicalised birth. My third was an induction as my waters broke but no labour; I'd heard bad things about induction but honestly it was fine. I didn't like being on the bed for monitoring as much as free to move around BUT I realised it was necessary. Just had and air for this birth too. I just wanted to give a bit of balance that although only one birth has been a classic 'natural' birth without Interventions they were all fine. Painful but fine, with a healthy baby at the end. I think I would just encourage you to be calm and positive whatever happens and try to not get hung up on a particular type of birth. Do everything in your control to have the birth you want but realise a lot of it is out of your control. The medical team will only use interventions to make sure your baby gets here safe and sound. Good luck

High as a kite on Nature's endorphins and I loved it!

Me too. That shit is the best. Like a runner's high x100.

I also found hypnobirthing tracks on my phone really useful. They gave me a focus during contractions and distracted me

I wont tell you my first as that was far from ideal but my second was wonderful!
5 hour labour, TENS machine for pain relief(really recommend) 20 mins of pushing and she was born - 10lb 4oz!
I bled a fair bit but more because of her size which is why I'm being monitored for growth in this pregnancy.
Hoping for a home birth this time round but have to be transferred to MW led care before 36weeks for that to happen

I started out at home with a pool. I ended up in hospital, and required an episiotomy and ventouse and then had a retained placenta! Had quite a lot of stitches and lost a lot of blood, ended up having to stay in overnight. BUT, I would do it again in a heart beat to have my baby and I remember the whole thing positively. I felt in control, the midwives and doctors were helpful, professional and kind. I felt my choices were respected and I was part of the decision making. It was a huge natural high. I used gas and air through out and the pain was manageable. When I describe my labour I will often say it was 'complicated', but I don't like to use words like traumatic or difficult because that's not how it felt. Definitely look into hypnobirthing. It's not about having the perfect intervention free water birth. Its about how you feel through the whole process, even if you end up with interventions and it doesn't go 'to plan'.

NCT had a dvd called happy birthday. It,s a few years old but may be worth googling to see if available to watch.

Whilst it's not something you'd willingly want to do every day, I loved birth and felt like an absolute warrior afterwards as I'm an absolute wally where simple needles are concerned!

First baby, woke up at 41+1 with weird pains at 05.13. Started timing them whilst getting up and doing my hair (priorities!) but they didn't go away. Felt more like sharp pains in my back/bum. Definitely wasn't pleasant and fairly strong but not enough that I couldn't breathe through.

Went into hospital for about 14.00 at 5cm dilated, wanted a water birth but monkey had meconium when my waters went so that put paid to that! Was kneeled on the floor with my head on the bed for ages, felt like waves of desperately needing a massive poo and body just pushing it out without me doing anything. Would advise drinking loads as I underestimated how sweaty you get and this was in Feb!

Ended up needing to be on my back on the bed for monitoring as he was a little stressed as I was dehydrated. Wasn't as horrific as I thought, until Dr came in and threatened me with episiotomy to get him out so I shoved him out whilst she was prepping to avoid 😂. Born at 16.13 after 20 mins pushing with no pain relief or noise and a second degree tear which needed stitching but tiny blood loss. I had a puff or two of gas and air but found it put me off my breathing so gave up on that. Honestly can't remember any pain at all from him actually being born, thought contractions were worse. DP was absolutely baffled as when my placenta was born, asked the midwives to show me and tell me about it 🙈.

Was out the next day - worst part 100% was trying to wee and poo afterwards and then walk.

Go in with an open mind and if you want pain relief take it, there's no medals, just what worked for me. I'm now scared to have another one as I loved it so much!