NEW MUMS TO BE READ THIS- labour isn't always terrible

[Minkus]

Well that's a bit of a lie but what I meant is that just because it's terrible desn't mean that it's not positive, if that makes sense.

Yes it bloody hurts like nothing before. BUT- you can do it. It's what your body is made for and it won't hurt forever. My ds was born 1 week early, waters broke at home at 11pm contractions started at midnight, we were in the hospital by 02:30 and he was born at 03:18. Used my tens machine from the start of contractions and had 10 mins of gas and air in hospital (they took it away as it was making me too comfortable to push, grrr the evil evil things )

And I felt really "able" all the way through. There was not one point when I though that I wasn't going to be able to do it, as basic an experience as labour is (lots of pain, primeval animal noises etc!) YOU CAN DO IT

This isn't a thread to boast about a "brilliant" birth experience, more to share a secret- that even if it's a bit scary and painful not all births are traumatic for the mums involved and you won't necessarily be left still telling your sorry tale to all and sundry when your children are at primary school. Not to say of course that some mums don't have a traumatic time because of course there is the flip side too.

Any more positive birth experiences to be shared out there?

Good luck new mums
xxxx

I spent most of my pregnancy secretly thinking i would crumble and have a private C-section, not as an 'easy' option but because i thought i would be in more control (thought of not knowing what was going to happen and being at MW mercy really fetaked me ou!.)
Somehow got to end of pregnancy without going down this route, went to NCt classes and listened to a freiend hypno-birthing tapes, although I didn't ahve an awful lot of faith if i am honest repeating the phrases in my head whilst in labour really helped.
Had a really long labour but (nearly 40hrs )had two birthing partners (DP and best friend- would definately recommend this strategy) and this sustained me for the long boring bits even managed to laugh, listen to music, talk about all sorts, knowing they were there kept me going even when the contractions were really intense.
Got to 8 cm dilated 'naturally' but Ds was getting 'tired' and they gave me a drip to speed up labour. This was more painful and I decided to have an epidural which for me was a massive help as allowed me to have a rest before pushing.
'Despite' giving birth in an NHS hospital I have nothing but praise for the midwives, doctors and anaestheist who I saw and I was not left alone at all for the last eight hours of the labour, they were fantastic (GWH in Swindon if anyone is interested).
My thpoughts on the contractions are that yes, they are probably the most intense feeling you will physically have in your life and yes they can be hard to get through, but if you are relaxed overall and have good support and feel safe they really are fine, you kind of go into a different place when they peak.
Anyway, it was the best day of my life even including the pain and I have gone from having literally a mortal dread of childbirth to one where I would do it all again tomorrow.

I've had three children. The first two I gave birth to virtually lying down which took hours and the second birth was horrendous for lots of reasons I won't horrify you with! For my third baby, I knelt up, using the head of the bed for support which was amazingly different in my experience. The whole labour and birth took two hours altogether, the pain was far better managed, pushing was more effective and I had no stitches. I am now absolutely evangelical about this position for giving birth! Once your contractions get going and you're needing gas and air, get up on your knees - you can do what comes naturally which is to bend down and hold your tummy, and you are in the perfect position for pushing that baby out - please, please believe me!!

I had my second baby 5 weeks ago at colchester general by cs and it was a wonderful experience . Cs was planned but my waters broke 2 weeks early and so I had my op early. I was absolutely terrified (i could physically see my legs trembling as I sat on the table to have my epidural) and it was fine. Everybody was very reassuring and suddenly my baby was just there - it was magical and very lovely. It did not hurt - the epidural and the local anaesthetic sting a little bit but you are never going to get away scot free!

The first few days were painful once the drugs wore off but I can do everything I normally would now and can't believe how well I feel (far better than throughout my whole pregnancy).

The staff at the hospital were wonderful, really helpful ad encouraging with feeding and nothing was too much trouble. I really wanted to share this positive story because I was terrified of having a cs and everything was just fine.

5 weeks on and baby number three is already being planned!

Had a very straightforward birth after a couple of weeks of contractions (went for a full day of contractions had two/three days off, had another full day, another gap and so on). My waters broke at 10am after a couple of hours of contractions, I knew that this was it and after a day of calling the maternity unit for reassurance (and being sent home once), I went in at 4pm. Was just 4cm dilated but with intense contractions that really got going by about 8pm and got G&A at that point - huge help.
Climbed into the pool about an hour later and went right through to full dilation in the pool. The midwife insisted on me getting out so that she could check my dilation and I then gave birth kneeling up on a bed, in about half an hour. She said it was 4 pushes - it felt more like 9 to me, but maybe that was the difference of the inside and outside experience!
I did have stitches, and next time I want to do the whole thing in the water, but it was as natural as I think was realistic and we have a gorgeous 5 month old angel now (who answers to "princess"). Would do the whole thing again, with the exception of coming out of the pool. My little girl loves the water too!

LOL I do think it's strange that women feel the urge to tell expectant mothers their horror stories - it happened to me (with my first) and thankfully I paid them little attention!

My waters broke and I immediately started having contractions 6 minutes apart. Within 4-5 hours they were every 4 mins and I wasn't dilating. I was put on a drip to dilate my cervix and was given diamorphine for the pain and to slow the labour down. All was ok and I was just bored waiting to have my baby.

I had a partial epidural at around 12 hours - I could still move my legs ets and could feel the contractions but not the pain, if you know what I mean!

25 hours from start to finish and my little girl was born at 11.27pm .Perfectly healthy but with a little forcep encouragement. I needed 3 stiches but was up and about in no time.

I left the hospital at 5pm the following day. All in all it was a wonderful experience! No horror stories.

Good luck to all expectant mums - it's not as bad as some people tell you. Besides, if it was, we wouldn't all be doing it!

Agree with you Minkus, you can do it! Agree too that everyone is ready to tell you their horror stories, but no-one says that the opposite can happen too. Did for me! Goodness knows why as my Mum didn't have a great time so can't take after her....
With DS I had a few twinges 1 day early, but nothing much really till tea-time, then just period pains. Put TENS machine on at 8:30pm. Was loading dishwasher at 10:15pm. Made decision to go to hospital and arrived bang on midnight. Huffed & puffed across to delivery suite and DS born 34 mins, and 3 pushes later!!! Barely had time to get undressed. Certainly no time to get on bed!!
DD, 2 years later, took abit longer but even so, once waters broke she arrived 40 mins later. No-one offerd me any painrelief at all. Just focussed on breathing through the contractions. And squeezing DH's shoulders alot.

I think people tell horror stories because they are their stories - we all need to tell our birth stories, some of us more than others of course, but they are part of who we are and we never forget them.
It's good to read threads like this though. I read the stories on an unassisted birth website when I was pregnant, and I think the laughter got the baby's head engaged... [only half-joking]

What a positive thread! I just had to add. I am pregnant with number 2 so thankfully havent had anyones horror birth stories rammed down my throat this time but I do remember this last time. Me and DH were constantly amazed at why people would want to share a horrible birth story with a heavily pregnant woman. It has to be said it was never the woman herself but their partners/friends. I therefore make sure I keep schtum unless someone asks my opinion or if someone else is talking about their birth and I think the balance needs to redressed. I was lucky and had a great birth. DD born on due date, epidural, great midwife. Yes it hurt but the best bit is the contrations come and go. I also found I went into my own little world and just got on woth it which I hadnt expected. The time flew as well. Especially the pushing stage. I am no where near as scared this time. Best of luck to you all especially the first time mums!