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.

I wanted a water birth, but couldn’t have one as my waters went at home and contractions didn’t start, so I had to be induced and as it had been over 24hrs since waters had gone the pool was too risky. This all happened last weekend btw so very fresh in my mind!

I had the drip put in at 10am on Sunday morning, was around 3cm dilated already, had increasingly painful contractions all day managed only with paracetamol and TENS as I hated gas & air and did not want pethidine (history of anxiety and I had a strong feeling it would make me very anxious because the gas & air did). Requested epidural around 5pm as pain was becoming unmanageable and luckily there was an anaesthetist available to do one more or less immediately and it worked really well. Pain completely went and I was able to get a bit of rest. Got to fully dilated around 2am but more or less painless despite still being on the drip. Pushed for 90min, baby turned transverse somehow so I was taken straight into theatre, epidural topped up, had episiotomy and baby was turned and pulled out with forceps just after 5am on Monday morning. Very quick and painless including being stitched up for second degree tear.

Best advice I can give you to prepare is do your research on different options for giving birth and pain management (e.g. I went in knowing there were types of pain relief I probably wouldn’t get on with). Make sure your birth partner knows what you want, listens to you and gives you lots to eat and drink as you need it including actually feeding it to you if necessary! And just be prepared that what actually happens may not look anything like you imagined or hoped for. If you need an epidural then ask for one!

It’s funny though, less than a week later I’d do it all over again. DS is so precious and meeting him made it all worth it.

I had an EMC under general anaesthetic at 31 weeks. They tried so had to give me an epidural so my husband could be in theatre with me, but it turns out I have a slight twist in my lower spine so they couldn’t administer the injection.
I didn’t see my DD for 11 hours and when I did I was so tired I could barely make her out in her incubator with all her bubble wrap and wires. I did touch her wee hand though.
3 days before we got our cuddles.
I’m ready to have another now.

I asked for a water birth, but by the time I got to the hospital things moved pretty quickly and I changed my mind. I was just in a "let's do this" state of mind and didn't want to faff about!

DD was 10 days overdue but when she decided to come out she didn't waste any time. I laboured in the delivery room for just 90 minutes before she was born. I didn't like gas & air and there was no time for anything else so it was essentially a natural birth. It most definitely did hurt, but the strangest thing for me was feeling my body do these things I had no control over, it was very animalistic (and DH said I roared like a bear). Crowning was also painful but when I realized I could actually feel my daughter being born I was blown away and I remember that incredible feeling and not the pain.

I didn't feel a huge surge of love straight away. I was tired, bleeding and concentrating on keeping her alive. Took about six weeks before I suddenly realized I loved her.

I was always very anxious about childbirth but the closer I got to it the more I realised that even if it is long and complicated, it is a relatively short duration compared to the time you will have a child. Very best of luck to you, OP!

Mine was horrible but my kids are lovely!

My first was an induction. 10 days late

9.30pm pessary was put in. Dr explained it takes 48 hours plus in many cases. Told me to get a good night's sleep ready for the next day.

10pm back on the ward trying to sleep. Read a magazine for five minutes. Felt exhausted so shut my eyes. 10.45ish I started shaking. Pressed the buzzer. I was rushed down to the labour ward. Stopped shaking. They put me on a monitor.

11.30ish I got my first contraction. It was intense. They came every three minutes. Partner got the midwife and I was given gas and air. Paracetamol. It was very painful. About 2.30am I wanted an epidural but I couldn't have one due to emergencies. It was around 6.00am a consultant said my babies heart rate was dropping. I was 9cm. She said we needed to deliver her now. So they got a suction cup. I managed to push her out myself though. She was born at 6.32am. a room full of people. But she was fine ......

Baby number two. 4 days overdue.

Watched netflix until midnight. Went to bed. Woke up at 2.36am. felt abit strange. Went for a wee. Had a contraction on the toilet. My plug came away on the tissue. It was not painful at all. I decided to run a bath. I got in and had contractions every 3 minutes. At exactly 3.05am I called my mum. Told her I wanted to bring my DD over as I thought labour had started. She said ring the midwife. The midwife said to go over whenever I was ready. My partner took my DD to my mums at 3.45 (just over an hour after I woke) whilst he was taking her they got slightly more painful. Had to breathe through them abit. At 4am (1 hours and 25 minutes after I started labour) I said I wanted to get to the hospital. 40 minute drive it was. Contraction every 3 minutes. Sipping water and quite calm. Listened to the radio.

4.40am we get out the car and it takes us 5 minutes to get inside. 5 more minutes to get to the room. midwife took me in a wheelchair. Got into the room at 4.50am. midwife popped out for paperwork. I started using the gas and air. 5.00am she came back in. I remember just saying to her in shock I think I need to push. I laid on the bed. She looked! She then calmly said go with your body. I was thinking why is she not telling me what's happening. Then I remember my partner going all teary and saying i can see his head. Then I pushed and pushed. At 5.17am i had my first cuddle.

My mum couldn't believe it when I rang an hour and half after dropping our DD off. She said oh are they sending you home. I said no he's here I've had him. She said bluddy hell you are kidding lol.

Second birth was good. Positive. Quick. Manageable. I would do it again.

First was abit Painful and I did feel anxious and it was intense. But we got through it with no problems x

After DD birth my bum/tailbone was bruised so sitting down was hard. But felt ok. Just sickly tired.

Ds I was really tired and had less energy after he was born. I remember the day after he was born just feeling exhausted and weak. I was anemic though.

I had stitches with both. My first was on the outside. Didn't feel them at all. Second I had a couple inside and out. Not bad at all.

Everyone is different though.

Contractions are like a tightening. If you imagine sort of an ow ow ow ow then it relaxes off again and goes away. You get breaks in between.

I found myself just thinking things to myself. Sounds stupid but I used to think If people can survive war and cancer treatment then I can smash this pain.

Water or a drink is really soothing in between pains. I found it comforting and refreshing. Music was helpful too.

You can do all the planning and worrying. But when it happens you will smash it. I promise. You just do it. It happens and you cope. It's not one long horrible pain x