Child birth stories?

[Mumtobexo]

Ladies what was giving birth like for you? What did you experience? Was it what you expected? What would you compare the pain too? How did you feel after birth? What does the move feel like when you first meet your baby and did you cry?

I'm due next year! I'm so curious and scared! I want a natural water birth though.

@Mumtobexo

Ladies what was giving birth like for you? What did you experience? Was it what you expected? What would you compare the pain too? How did you feel after birth? What does the move feel like when you first meet your baby and did you cry?

I'm due next year! I'm so curious and scared! I want a natural water birth though.

Love **

I have been home a few hours after the most perfect water birth! I would recommend it to anyone. I have the tiniest tear which I can't even feel and both my partner and I are elated with the way the birth went. Good luck to you!

I have to say that pushing actually felt like I was pushing out poo!!!!

Don't get too hung up on what you "want" to happen - what you actually get is often the opposite to what you wrote on your birth plan.

Mine were both induced, pain was very intense . About 4 hours for each one, had to have episiotomies both times.

Educate yourself on all the things that might happen - you don't want any surprises on the day. Best wishes 1

I have my 3 week old snoozing in my arms currently. Labour was different to what I expected. I fully expected it to be incredibly painful and that I wouldn't cope and would need all the drugs. I wanted a water birth too .

I only had back contractions for about 12 hours whilst at 1cm. They felt like my lower back was being snapped backwards. Painful but no pain between contractions. Just breathe through them (recommend the positive birth company for this). When my waters broke at 5am there was merconium in them so had to go straight into hospital. I couldn't have my water birth sadly because of this. I was gutted but too busy with contractions to care. I'm about 4 hours later was examined and was 3cm. Things suddenly got more intense and could feel my body pushing. Baby's heart then dropped loads so consultant can't to examine me. I asked for gas and air then. Not convinced it did anything for pain but certainly focused my breathing which helped. When they examined me (an hour after being told I was 3cm) they said I was fully dilated and needed to push. The whole room was shocked.

Unfortunately I needed forceps delivery in the end which was my worst case scenario personally as I'd heard horror stories. Whisked through time theatre where everyone was so smiley and excited for me. Such a positive environment. Had a spinal block which I honestly didn't feel. The. In about 10 mins baby was born. It was amazing but I was stunned it was so quick and I had not felt w thing.

We had skin to skin and husband cut the cord. I had an epesiotomy and a tear both stitched which were fine until day 10! When most of the stitches had come out but one was poking/stabbing my perineum which hurt more than labour I swear lol. Got the community midwife to take it out and was absolutely fine straight away.

Was discharged 24 hrs post delivery. Needed no pain relief once home (except when that 1 bloody stitch hurt) and have already stopped bleeding.

It was an amazing experience and really positive despite the complications and would do it again in a heart beat

Good luck you'll smash it x

I asked this sooo many times but nothing prepares you. I had my baby boy on Tuesday. I’m a FTM.

I was induced at 4pm Monday. They couldn’t break my water so they gave me the gel. Had some rumblings. 6hrs later, they broke my water. Poo in it. So now high risk. Left for another 2hrs. Only 3cm.
So they put me on the drip. Eeee my god. I’m sure being murdered is less painful. Once they started uping it his heart rate kept dropping. I had a shot of diamorphine. It dropped so low, I was rushed to theatre. They managed to get it back up again but I was told I wasn’t allowed anymore diamorphine or pethidine.
Labour was slow. The dr came. He said I’m still not happy with his heart rate. We need this baby out. We’ve wasted time. So they cranked that drip up. I went from 4cm - 10cm in less then 2hrs. Pushed him out in 50mins. In between that, I had 3 failed epidurals 😂 Once he was nearly here, they cut me an episiotomy & in once push & one suction he was out !

I’d do it all over again tomorrow!

I am a FTM and had my baby boy 4 weeks ago and birth was not exactly as I imagined it.

I started getting contractions on a wednesday night. Previous to this i was worried I wouldn't know if I was contracting as I had regular pain and people always said 'oh you'll know when it happens' which annoyed me. It turns out they were right. My contractions were unlike any other pain I'd felt during pregnancy and literally took my breath away. I couldn't concentrate, couldnt sleep through them, felt the need to curl up and clench my fists tightly, paracetamol did nothing and they were regular every 5 minutes.

I went into hospital the next day (thursday) and wasnt quite in established labour (4 cm dilated) but was so close (3cm dilated with a very thin cervix) they admitted me anyway. I went into established labour a few hours later and was then in labour for another 15 hours approx. I took all the pain relief offered (except epidural) as the pain of the contractions was immense.

Pushing felt like having a very big poo and the relief when the baby comes out was amazing as all the pain immediately subsided except a small burning sensation down below.

I only got skin to skin for 10 minutes unfortunately as I was told I have a 4th degree tear and needed immediate surgery.

If I am completely honest, I didnt bond immediately or have love at first sight with my son. I was very sleep deprived and completely overwhelmed and exhausted with the whole experiance. The midwifes were amazing though and helped me immensely with how to care for my son. I feel in love with my son after a week or two when I started to feel myself again physically and emotionally.

Everyone always tells you that you get an immediate wave of love when you first see or hold your child but the truth is sometimes you dont and it takes a while to develop. This is normal though and does not make you strange or a bad person.

Pregnancy and labour are so individual and you may well have an experiance that is the complete polar opposite to mine. My friend had a labour lasting only 1 hr with her first and felt hardly any pain and no complications.

For me (after a horrendous birth followed by a trip to theatre to attempt to repair the damage), rather than love, the feeling was more like "I've invested a lot in this baby, I've got to make sure it's looked after properly". I was and am very happy with the baby but I wouldn't really describe the feeling as love (not for the first few months at least).
I am left with long term damage but it's worth it - never been happier than the last year. I do feel a bit sad about my poor body though.

Had a water birth, but nothing to compare it to so don't know how different a non-water birth would be!

Pain of contractions is nothing you can prepare for because it's just not imaginable... but, we're trying to get pregnant again (IVF) and of everything I'm worried about, the pain of birth is not one (even though it's the most pain I've ever experienced in my life!). I know that there will be drugs and medical staff available and that it will all be worth it and forgotten soon.

For me the pain I'm dreading if we are lucky enough to get pregnant again is: the embryo transfer, months of nausea, the first poo after birth, weeing for the first week after birth and I breast fed for a day with a baby with the worst tongue the the specialist had come across in years. --> but still happy to do all of those things (except maybe the last) because of that tiny little baby in your arms.

I wanted a water birth and as little drugs as possible. Ended up being induced due to meconium in my waters and had every drug going! Was long and intense, 19 hour labour, 25 hours from waters first breaking and over two hours pushing which was agony as my epidural had run out and was confined to the bed due to being induced.

I only had a second degree tear (Do your perineal massage!). Really happy i was allowed to push for 2 hours and they didn't jump straight to intervention. My hospital was amazing, was taken to a private room afterwards and stayed for 4 nights for recovery and due to my DD who didn't wee as had bf latching issues so she wasn't drinking much.

My biggest takeaway is if you have to be induced, then you may as well have an epidural as you're confined to the bed anyway. They are amazing. I was so against having one as was nervous about the whole needle in your back thing, but my god what a difference. And don't touch pethedine with a barge pole!!!!

And don't do what I did and for some strange reason refuse an epidural top up before pushing stage. Pushing without any pain relief was definitely the most physically painful experience I've been through.

You will poo during pushing. You won't know or care

My overriding feeling about my births is that they were nowhere near as bad as I thought they would be.
I seemed to attract people who told me horror stories when I was pregnant with DC1. By DC2 I had found the courage to tell them to zip it.

I woke up in the early hours the day before my due date and felt some pressure in my back, it wasn't painful at that point, but I just knew it was the start of labour; and despite being terrified about it previously, or worried that I wouldn't know, I felt calm. I managed to fall back asleep for a few hours, and sure enough I was getting waves by that time. I downloaded an app to time them, and it was actually not as bad as I though (I'm a huge wimp and was petrfiied!). They did start to increase in intensity and discomfort, but I took some paracetamol and popped my TENS machine in my handbag. Tried to keep active and walked around the supermarket with the tens on haha. Went into the MLU about 14 hours after I felt the first twinge, and it progressed okay from there. Watched some TV, made some toast, walked around the carpark every so often, filled my hot water bottle up and alternated the tens machine with the bottle- it was starting to get uncomfortable but tried to keep a bit distracted. As soon as I was allowed in the birthing pool though I was straight in, and it helped immensely, it's like the pain and discomfort melted away! The contractions themselves were painful, but gas and air helped. I got to 10cm that way and it was managable (I normally faint when I have injections and have a very low pain threshold). Unfortunately baby didn't turn properly so I was blue lighted to hospital for forceps, that was very painful until I had the injection, but that was only because it wasn't progressing as it should, if that wasnt the case birth wouldn't have been as bad as I had thought. But it was fine to be honest, I was surprisingly calm, and not because I'm brave, I'm not sure why- but even though it wasn't what I planned at all, it was managable.

I have two DC. My first labour was abit of a shock if I'm honest I agree nothing prepares you. I also wish I knew that the urge to push was like needing a massive poo. I actually thought to myself oh no I need a poo and tried to hold it in . With both labours they started of like period pains and it was only in the last few hours of each labour that the pain became very intense. Both times I got to the hospital I was 6/7cm. With my second I had a water birth and it was fantastic. I was so much more relaxed and focused and literally had zero intervention. The midwife kept saying she had never seen someone so calm giving birth. I would highly recommend a water birth. I had second degree tears with both but didn't feel either.
With both my babies I wouldn't say I felt the rush of love either if I'm honest. With my first in particular I think I went into shock. I almost couldn't believe she was here and just kept looking at her thinking it's an actual baby . The love does come though it can take a few weeks. I did feel a strong urge to protect though.
To the PP asking about poo. I can confirm it's true. When I got out of my water birth I had a floater . Tbh it is very normal and I didn't care. I think if you don't have a water birth the midwife just cleans it up before anyone sees.

I didn't poo during labour, not everyone does! But the midwives have seen it all, don't worry.

I had low level contractions for about 24 hours, didn't hurt that much and managed to get a bit of sleep. Then it all got very intense pretty quickly, and had a very fast delivery in the end, went from 2cm to 10 in a couple of hours. Once in active labour, the pain felt like someone was squeezing my insides with a fist. But then you get a break in between. Mine were pretty irregular so the midwives didn't want me to come in but it's a good job I did!

I had tens machine at first and then gas and air. Managed a water birth, just - the baby was born within half an hour or so of getting to the unit. Second degree tear, with a 9lb baby, and that healed with no issues. I found pregnancy worse with massively painful SPD.

I had an ELCS and loved it so much. No pain, all over in 45 minutes and I recovered in no time at all . I'm neurotic and a wimp who doesn't do pain, so it was my perfect birth.

With DC 1 I started having contractions around 8pm. I stayed up all night managing the contractions with a TENS machine. It was very effective at controlling the pain. It seemed to neutralise it completely. I had a long bath to relax. By 8am in the morning the contractions were very close together and very intense. We went to the hospital and by now I was in agony. I remember kneeling on the floor and vomiting in to a bin. It was extremely painful and uncomfortable. I felt a little delerious. It was the sort of pain that takes your breath away and you just don't know what to do with yourself. By now the TENS machine was doing nothing - but I'd still recommend it because for about 9 hours it was brilliant. My mid wife got me on to the bed and got me breathing gas and air. She calmed me down and the gas and air really helped. She examined me and I was fully dilated, transitioning! I'd only been at the hospital 15 mins and they were very impressed that I was so far along without any pain relief and that I'd managed at home. I then spent 7 hours pushing!! This is not allowed. I believe you are not meant to be in the pushing stage for more than 2 hours but the maternity wing was extremely busy and there was nothing they could do. DD wasn't coming out on her own. I don't know why. It was an anticlimax as I'd done so well up to that point and now I couldn't push her out. I think I got scared about the final part and was too weak and exhausted. I'd had no sleep and had been in labour for 20 hours. I remember there was a specific point when I knew I was probably going to have a forceps birth and I just gave up with the pushing. I focussed on getting through the contractions but made no more effort to get her out. I had a spinal injection and then a forceps delivery. It was completely fine. I couldn't feel a thing and my ordeal was over. At last the pain had stopped and I could relax. It was amazing to finally see her face. Nothing else compares to that feeling. I didn't rest enough after the birth and did too much. I felt depressed on day 4 and for a few weeks and months as the sleep deprivation is horrific. My baby also cried so much! As for love it's not something I instantly felt. It grew over the next few months and it came in waves. One minute I'd be looking at her feeling normal then this overwhelming wave of love would wash over me. It would be so intense I'd be moved to tears! Then I'd feel normal again. The love really grew as she grew and we got to know each other. By the time she was 1 I was completely in love.

Just seen the other posts. I've had 2 births and didn't poo with either! When I started labour with DC2 I had diarrhea (at home) so that cleared me out in time for the pushing stage. Didn't happen with DC1 either.

I never expected the feeling of needing to poo to be quite so intense as it was... me and DH laugh now at how many times I shouted that I feel like I'm going to poo myself 😂 but you really wont care in the moment about embarrassment trust me. You just completely lose your normal dignity and dont care one bit, let it all go!

Agree with the others about not feeling this instant rush of love , Hollywood moment of tears as the baby as placed in your arms. After a 12 hour labour on the drip , failed epidurals and constantly vomiting /needing fluids added to my cannula, I ended up having an emergency section and i was so out of it from exhaustion and lack of energy that I think I was just in shock when my baby was shown to me. DH on the other hand couldnt compose himself. The love does come , trust me

DC1 was an EMCS after failed induction and DC2 an ELCS. The CSs themselves were amazing, the failed induction I'd happily have gone without. Totally agree about the love thing - I knew I loved them, but the feelings grew as I got to know them.

The only thing I'd say is to read around your stats and intervention risk - that isn't to worry you but to ensure you can make informed decisions if needed. I wish I'd done this rather than assume.

Was it what I expected- absolutely not. I gave birth to my little girl 14 weeks ago. It’s one of those things you just cannot describe unless you’ve went through it. It’s an outerworldly experience and the contractions are extremely intense. It’s a pain that is indescribable for me. But when you feel you’ve reached your limit then remind yourself it’s nearly over (likely transition) you get some super power strength that gets you through. I didn't cry afterwards probably because I was literally zonked our but whatever natural high my body gave me lol I actually don’t think I really registered she was on me infact I don’t think I could actually see out of my eyes and I was too tired to cry, I was over it lol the relief when they are born is like nothing else you’ll ever experience. An extremely powerful thing your body goes through. My labour was really quick (natural at home), less than 4 hours so I didn’t have much of a break so I’m not sure if it’s always as intense that quickly in longer labours. But one thing I will say it try and let go of any fear and educate yourself as much as you can. It really makes your contractions worse when your scared. It took me a while to realise that. This is literally the moment she arrived and I just sat there lol not what I imagined my response to be when you meet your baby for the first time.

Ever since I gave birth I felt like I've 'accomplished' something in life...like I literally feel like superwoman 🤣
My birth went nothing like I expected it too - I thought I'd be in hospital hours, was wanting all the pain relief possible, was after a water birth etc. I also had it in my head I would tear really badly as I'm really petite.
I had contractions 5 minutes apart for 36 hours, it literally took me 30 hours to go from 1cm to 2cm. He was back to back and I'd already been in hospital twice to get checked. I'd started googling about back to back labours and read 4 million horror stories on being in labour for days and it all ending in forceps, huge tears or emergency section.

The 3rd time I went in at 36 hours, I was 10cm dilated, already unknowingly pushing (I had such pressure in my bum my body was automatically pushing at each contraction but I didnt know. FTM.) and then 20 minutes later DS was born on just gas & air at the last minute. No interventions. I had grazes and a tiny 2nd degree tear that needed 1 stitch. Recovery has been amazing and DS is a wonderful baby.

I had an elective cesarian.
It was fabulous, calm, quick and planned.
No pain afterwards whatsoever.

Reading some of these has also reminded me how different everyone's experience is. I didn't do any pushing. I was sort of almost on all fours but holding onto the side of the pool with my bum shoved out behind me (my body just got into that position and stayed there for 5 hours!) My body just pushed. Just before he was born I remember saying "I feel like I want to push but that if I do I'll rip in 2, what should I do?" And got the reply "Do whatever you feel" so I didn't push (I didn't want to rip in two!). My body just did it- I don't mean that my subconscious took over, I mean that I definitely wasn't pushing but I could feel my body moving him down. I think it's like when you have a poo and sometimes you have to put in effort and sometime you don't! Anyway, the midwife said he'd be here after the next push, but he wasn't, so I thought I'd best give pushing a go. One push from me on the next contraction and he came out. (Although it turns out that I was right as my pelvic floor muscles on one side was ripped from the bone- but I don't think I felt that and it gives me no pain now). SO those images of people putting in effort and being told to push for hours have absolutely no link to my experience of birth.

The other thing about the pain is that I found contractions just so intense- just indescribable. You go into this zone of pain where you don't even know where you are and then a few minutes later you're back in the room. Gas and air just about made it manageable for me. My midwide tried to get me to have a contraction without using it at one point (because it was running out) but there was no chance. But the head crowning was actually the most painful bit - but it's a more recognisable pain. At that point I was saying "Ow. Dear God that hurts." And lots of swear words. But actually, the fact that I could talk shows how different the pain was. And i actually was then at that point much more in control of myself - i was able to not use the gas and air as I wanted to be 'sober' to experience him coming out.