Positive birth stories

[Doo5]

Sorry if this has been done recently but I could really do with reading some positive birth stories! Getting induced in a few days (ftm) and I've been reading so many scary childbirth stories. So please if anyone is willing to share, I would love to read!

I've had 2 very positive experiences. I honestly came away both times absolutely in awe of my body and what an incredible experience it was.

First time was at 37 weeks - waters went unexpectedly in the middle of the night, got checked out, had a day at home, contractions had ramped up by 8pm so went to birthing unit. Blood pressure was doing funny things so had to be transferred to hospital, baby born by midnight.

Second time was at just after 40 weeks. Contractions started in the middle of the night, went to birthing unit at 7am, was able to use birthing pool, baby born in the water at 10am.

I remember vividly just letting my body take over - there was no point trying to control anything, my body just got on with it.

Doo5. I listened to a podcast by a Swedish midwife called positive birth stories. All sorts of births and all positive.
I was due for an induction as had gestational diabetes, got to the hospital on to morning of to find I was already 2cm. From there I just had contractions over the next 1.5 days. So no intervention required, much to my relief. Then finding out that my cervix was protruding over babies head. Then after being in labour all night in the am found that he was back to back. Que lots of drs, poking and prodding. They wanted to try forceps and given epidural just in case as section may be required. Prepped and numbed, one go with forceps but no joy. Csection and in minutes the boy was born. All in all, no drama at all. Not what I wanted or planned for but it was all pretty calm, measured and relaxed. What I learned from it all was that births don’t go to plan and to not sweat it when it takes a different path. Because in the end, you’ll have a baby which is nothing but positive! It’s all about getting your head in the place to know that the road can take you anywhere and to roll with it. Good luck Mama, you’ll do great!

Thank you @Nix32 I love the idea that your body just took over!

@Wildgoose84 I have GD too which is why I'm being induced but would love to go before it comes to that! Thank you for the podcast recommendation, I will definitely check it out!

I've had 3 really lovely positive births.

1st started with gentle contractions that gradually got stronger. I used a birthing ball, shower and DH massaging my back to get through it. After around 24 hours the contractions really ramped up and I went in to get checked out. I was open 4cm, got into pool in birth centre and started pushing about 2.5 hours later. Had to get out of the pool as baby's heartbeat started going. I had an episiotomy and baby born ten mins later or so with cord twice around the neck- he was fine!

2nd from first contraction to baby born was just over 2 hours. Was such an easy birth, I remember telling midwife immediately afterwards that it was so easy, i'm ready to do it again! Baby born in pool, slight tear.

3rd basically the same as DS2 just a little bit longer!

Best of luck OP, you can do it!

I remember vividly just letting my body take over - there was no point trying to control anything, my body just got on with it

My experience was exactly the same. And I remember saying afterwards that it was nowhere near as bad as I was expecting. I’ve had far worse experiences.

Thank you so much for sharing!

Thanks for sharing, hope there are more to come. I’m pregnant and have never really been worried about childbirth but the more I read and look into it I am now! So these stories are nice to hear.

Mine were exactly the same, marvellous experiences.

Both of my daughters births were positive experiences for me. Each labour took around 4 hours so quite quick and intense but I found the pain manageable. I used a tens machine for both during early contractions. For DD1 I had gas and air for the pushing stage and for DD2 I just had paracetamol. I wouldn't call it enjoyable but I wouldn't be scared to do it again tomorrow.
Both times I had a second degree tear which was stitched under local anaesthetic. This was a bit unpleasant but didn't take too long and I was able to hold my baby while they were doing it. If you had a worse tear they might take you into surgery to fix it up, to make sure it is done properly. If you have an epidural or spinal block, you wouldn't be able to feel the stitches at all

With DD1 I was out of hospital after 20 hours and DD2 6 hours.

Both of my sons’ births were very positive experience.

#1 I had a stretch and sweep done at 40+5, my waters broke around 8 hours after that and he was born 12 hours after my water broke. Laboured mostly at home in the shower/bath. Midwife came to our house in the morning and I was already 5cm so headed to the hospital and he was born 2.5 hours after we got there. Used the shower and gas at the hospital, 25 minutes of pushing, tiny tear, no stitches needed. 7lb4oz and 52.5cm.

#2 went into spontaneous labour at 40+2, contractions started around 5am, they weren’t too bad, I got my husband to take our eldest to daycare and while he was out I had a shower, contractions were around 4-5 minutes apart after my shower so we headed to the hospital when he got home. I used a labour tens machine for pain relief at home and in the car, contractions were every 2 minutes in the car. Had baby 45 minutes after I got to the hospital. Only had a few contractions in the room then needed to go to the toilet and my waters broke after I stood up from the toilet. Got into the birth pool at which point I freaked out and said to the midwife that I didn’t want to do it, and anyway no one had checked how dilated I was so I was probably only 2cm anyway. She told me to trust my body and my son was born 10 minutes later. It wasn’t really like pushing, more like trying not to let him come out so quickly because I didn’t want to tear. Tiny graze, no stitches needed, no drugs because it was so quick. 9lb1oz and 57cm so he was a big boy.

All the best for your experience.

In my opinion I think I was lucky that everything went well with no issues but also I prepared as much as possible by doing pregnancy yoga and calm birthing, had an amazing private midwife so felt very supported and my husband was a great support too.

To be honest I really don’t think MN does any prospective first time mum any favours. There’s almost a competition for who has the worst birth story and post partum with anyone who thinks it’s a perfectly natural process that your body’s designed for getting shouted down.

These are making me feel so much more positive. I agree, it's hard to find threads with positive birth stories and when you're a ftm it's nice to read about others' positive experiences. So thank you ladies!

I was induced but had gone into early labour naturally with roughly 12 hours of contractions at home. Manageable pain but uncomfortable (hopped in the bath but it was overnight so dozed on and off).

Went to hospital and was 1cm dilated, midwife offered to let me go home and wait or stay and be induced that afternoon. Chose to be induced knowing it would probably mean more intense contractions but would likely have my baby that night and be in the right place if anything happened.

Gas and air for 3 hours plus bath but just found the pain too much and as I was only 3cm decided to have an epidural.

Absolute bliss. Rested for a few hours, 45 minutes of pushing and our daughter was born. Felt well enough to go home less than 24 hours after. Healed really well with no interventions.

Would honestly do it agin tomorrow.

I agree with a Pp, contractions are more uncomfortable than painful. Like being hugged tightly round the stomach. I had no pain relief because I didn’t feel I needed it. I had a 2nd degree tear but I didn’t feel it happen and I remember being very shocked when I was told I needed stitches! I went home within 6 hours and my recovery was brilliant. I had no pain with my stitches at all.
My advice would be to take every minute as it comes and think about the ‘now’ and not ‘what if xyz happens’.
I’d do it again in a heartbeat and it’s true what they say, you truly do forget the pain once your baby has arrived.
The female body is an absolutely incredible thing no matter what type of birth experience you have. If things don’t go to plan, you will be in very good hands and you’ll be very well looked after

I had a pretty good birth. Went in worried about reduced movement and hospital recommended induction. Was hesitant but agreed. Whilst waiting for the induction, contractions kicked in naturally. My main feeling was wanting to hide in the bathroom, which I did, until the nurse noticed me sneaking off to the bathroom every few minutes and suggested I might want to go up to the birthing station :D When the contractions started getting really intense, I told myself, ‘this must be transition’ and it was. I was ready to push. Pain was strong until I worked out to breathe the gas and air normally - was trying to take it in slowly like my controlled breaths - don’t do that, breathe it in properly like as if you want to inhale lots of something! A few pushes later and baby was out. The sewing up hurt the most but by that time I had a lovely baby and was riding a big high.
Here’s a positive induction birth story for you.

My little girl I was induced for, as of reduced movement. It was very quick for me (but was second birth). From the drip going in, she was born in under two hours!! Everyone said how fast. No tears as they used a warm compress against me as her head came out. I think our hospital call it the STOMP method. Good luck :)

My first was lovely - 11 hours in total with no pain relief and 20 mins of pushing. Went into hospital at 14.00 and born just after 16.00.
It was the day I was supposed to be induced but went spontaneously at 41+1.
I have no recollection of the times, it seemed to fly over as I was completely focused and almost went into a weird other world. It wasn’t pleasant by all accounts, was like a recurring awful period pain but nothing horrendous.
I found my body just seemed to take over and do things itself without too much intervention from me.
2nd degree tear but not involving any muscles, would absolutely rather give birth again than have someone inject me with local in the vajay or have the first wee or poo after birth 😂
Good luck with your little one!

Just for a different perspective, I ended up with a forceps birth, but it was still such a positive experience! I’d been labouring for 2 days and by the time I was 10cm and had pushed for 2+ hrs I was completely exhausted and just running our of steam. By that point, I just wanted baby to be out. Forceps was my worst nightmare before birth but I was given all my options at the time (assisted delivery, or try a bit longer on a drip as my contractions had slowed as I was so knackered), and I choose the assisted delivery as I knew that was the best thing for me at the time. It was a completely calm positive experience. Everyone in theatre was totally lovely, I was SO happy when my spinal took effect as no more contraction pain. Two pushes with the help of episiotomy and forceps and she was out. No drama. All stitched up and healed fine. More pain in my coccyx from the 48hrs of back to back labour than from the stiches!

Anyway i’m telling you this because I want you to know that even if things don’t go the way you plan, it can still be a positive experience. Not every assisted birth/emergency c-section ect ends up in birth trauma! It can be a completely positive experience too.

@OrDis that is so true and such wise advice!

Thank you @OrDis because forceps delivery is my worst nightmare! But it seems like having a good mindset makes a huge difference.

I really appreciate all of these!

@doo5 honestly it was my worst nightmare too. I even had no forceps plastered on my birth plan, but when it came down to it I knew that was the best thing for me at the time, and I felt well informed and most importantly, given the choice, which I think helps a lot. I know this might not be a lot if peoples experience though, as sometimes it’s more of an emergency (for example DD was never in distress so the urgency I guess that some people feel wasnt there- I had time to make a decision and be presented with options), but I do just like to mention that it isnt all doom and gloom where forceps are concerned. 😊

Good luck with your birth! Mumsnet is full of horror stories- it’s almost like a review site sometimes where you only get the negative ones, but as people have mentioned above, most people have completely normal experiences without any drama.

I definitely agree about the amount of horror stories you get on here haha.

Both mine were good, though at the time I wasn't too pleased with my first birth as afterwards felt muscles i never even knew existed 😅

Birth 1, long drawn out labour because my full waters had gone 2 days previously so was a dry birth and back to back for a while which was pain! But, was a waterbirth. No complications.

I do remember having no forceps almost tattooed to my husband, so when pushing had taken a long time, i saw the senior MW put her head through the door and knew they were considering it - that's all the motivation I needed and DD was out within 15 minutes 😂

2nd birth - amazing as i did so much hypnobirthing research. Read Ina May Gaskin book and had a homebirth where i laboured with just DH until i was ready to push and MW arrived.

Your body does take over. The best thing I learned was do NOT tense when the contraction happens as the pain is 1000% worse. Just force your body to completely relax through it.

After 2nd birth i said I'd do it again haha