Positive vaginal births

[Twizbe]

I'm starting a thread for positive vaginal birth stories. We get so many negative stories it would be nice to have some positive ones for a change.

Please come and post your positive vaginal birth stories (I'll come back to post mine when the kids are in bed)

Disclaimer: there is no 'best way' to give birth and every woman must make choices based on her risk profile and medical advice.

2 straight forward vaginal water births for me. The second was very quick, waters broke at 9pm and when i arrived at hospital i was fully dilated and she was born 45 minutes later so less than 6 hours total. Although i think i took too much gas and air at one point as I can't actually remember her coming out!

I'm very thankful i had a positive experience, I can still remember how bloody painful it was at times but all in all I'm glad it went the way it did

4 vaginal deliveries with very few issues .. blood transfusion after one but that was it

Was in and out in 5 hrs with the last one

Can't see my fanny anyway so don't really care if it looks like punched lasagne

No concerns with bladder or muscle tone for sex

3 vaginal births with no issues at all, one was footling breech!
I had stitches for my first, they were fine, induced for 2nd also fine and my 3rd, the footling (was a small baby) nothing much to report.
I loved giving birth, each one was great! I'd do it again tomorrow but don't want another baby to care for 😂

Had my first baby in March & wasn’t sure what to expect but went absolutely brilliantly.

Waters broke 5pm, went into hospital to check, back home by 10pm to let it happen naturally. Bad backache by 4am, back into hospital at 6.45am and was 9cm dilated. Couldn’t have water birth as my blood pressure was going up & down to much.

Only used gas & air with little man arriving at 11.53am. 2nd degree tear so had stitches and went home following day as my BP was low due to losing quite a bit of blood.

You always hear the horror stories about birth so great to have a thread about positive birthing experiences :)

3 vaginal births, very quick natural labours (less than 3 hours) and no resulting issues whatsoever.
No pain relief, no interventions. Home with two of them 2 hours after giving birth.

I had heard so many horror stories beforehand I said to the midwife had I just been lucky? She said no, actually most births are fairly straightforward! You just hear about the bad ones.

Had a somewhat challenging labour with DC1 and to a lesser extent with my mammoth DC3, but DC2 was textbook. The midwives discharged me with the comment “you can come back ANY day!” hahaha.

Labour was quick (though with plenty of time to get to hospital after DC1’s hair cut!), pushed for only a couple of minutes about 2 hours after I arrived. There was obviously a fair bit of pain but it was manageable with some gas and air. No tearing, small but perfectly healthy baby, placenta came right out, baby latched right onto the breast, home 3 hours later. He’s the middle child but will be my favourite forever thanks to that birth experience. 😝🤫

Really positive experience with my vaginal birth as a first time Mum. Contractions started at 6.30pm, went on throughout the night totally manageable and went to hospital at 1pm the following day when they ramped up, 5cm dilated. Examined at 5pm, was only 6cm so had my waters broken, DS born at 9.11pm. No pain relief (obviously I was screaming for it at the end!). Had to have an episiotomy, didn’t feel a thing and DS was out two pushes later. Didn’t tear, the cut healed really well. Was an incredible experience, not at all what I imagined and wouldn’t be frightened to give birth again! Read a fab hypnobirthing book which I believe helped to keep me calm - it is painful of course, but if you are lucky enough to have no complications then staying calm is the best thing you can do to manage the pain.

First and only birth.

My body did exactly what it needed to do (it's amazing when you think about it!).
I'd been in labour longer than I thought because I didn't really know what to expect - a few hours prior i was clearly getting contractions! Contractions were the worst part, pushing was ok. Honestly, never knew that I had that fierceness in me!
Gorgeous DS born. We had to stay in the hospital longer than normal due to other complications but all in all, I'm glad it pushed my baby in to the world.
Although however delivered - healthy baby is best x

I definitely need this thread. Commenting so I still get notifications (and hopefully I’ll have my own positive story in a few months time) ☺️

I've had 3.

Dd1 was difficult but I was immensely empowered by doing it. She was 9lb 12, OP and I ended up with augmentation then a ventouse. But she came out (with a wee pointy head!) after 37 hours and I'm so proud of what I achieved in that delivery. She came out face up. The doctor said she was "face to pubes". The midwife called her a stargazer. I had stitches but healed really well and have a great pelvic floor due to the visit of a womens physio the next day who scared the bejesus out of me with tales of being incontinent at 40!

Ds was a straightforward 10 hour labour at 10 days early. Waters broke, hung around most of the night and he was born easily at 8 am. Couple of stitches along my old scar line.

Dd2 was induced at 37 weeks (pregnancy was affecting my kidneys). 12 hours start to finish but quite a big tear as the waters only went on the last push. Easy labour though, just a touch of gas.

Vaginal deliveries aren't always a nightmare, and I count mine as great acheivments. I know that can upset people who didn't do it, but that's my experience.

Vaginal birth here. Had epidural so all very pain free but could feel the contractions. Did need forceps at the end. Small episeotomy (sp?) and stitches. No lasting issues and positive memories of my labor (I was very much the means to an end school of thought so had no preconceptions).

4 VBs. All challenging & their own adventure on the day but zero long-term (or medium term, or short term actually) issues. Had small PPH with one, but no need for transfusion. Breastfeeding worked with all. Some minor tears repaired. No toileting horrors.

Standing is the business: wish now I had stood for all the births (lean on something or someone).

Two completely straightforward vaginal births. No tearing, no complications, my genitals are fine and so is my pelvic floor. I got up and walked away from both births.

One spontaneous labour with no pain relief, one induced labour with an epidural for the last few hours. Both very positive experiences I'd do again any day, especially the spontaneous labour.

Oh, and I didn't have any issues with toileting afterwards at all. Didn't have any issues sitting. Mild afterpains with birth 2 that I took paracetamol for.

Baby came at 4 weeks but labour very positive. Had wanted an epidural but developed too fast. Gas and air for contractions, nothing for birth. One stitch. No bladder or other issues
Sex is way better now btw

2 VBs here. Both spontaneous labours at 41+1 and 40+5

1st one very long. 3.5 day latent labour, 12 hour active labour in pool at local birth centre. Waters broke 14 hours before baby arrived. Baby born in water. Experience was proper marathon level as hadn't slept for days but the active labour was so calm and lovely. Gas and air and two grazes.

2nd birth much faster and more furious. Contractions started early hours of morning. Admitted at 2pm - sadly birth Centre full but was given delivery suite room with a pool. Gas and air although after 3 hours of intense contractions in pool and waters still not breaking I began making demands for pethidine, an epidural and a consultant to come to the room to arrange a c section (you've got laugh looking back). Got out of pool to receive my ordered menu of pain relief (!!) and waters went within 15 mins. Baby arrived 15 mins after waters went! No tears- minimal grazes. And midwife told me afterwards that she could have given me the pethidine straight away but had a feeling I was close to the end so dilly dallied a bit 'finding the pethidine' by which time waters had gone. Wise woman indeed!

4 vaginal births, all 8lb plus, no stitches. 2 with just paracetamol, 2 epidurals. 2 with cords round necks, 2 with meconium in waters, one back to back. Recovered quickly every time. No probs with sex or continence. Longest stay in hospital was 24 hrs with baby 1 as she had a heart murmur. The others were 6 hour discharges, the minimum in our trust. Such a mixed bag even with the 4 positive experiences. Best one was baby 2 who was just 3 hours from first twinge to being born, home by 2am in my own bed!

Both births were positive experiences but not without challenges.

With my first DC I had contractions for a few hours, which were manageable. Used a tens machine which helped. Went to hospital and was 7 cm. I started off in the pool but had to get out for delivery. Ended up with an episiotomy and ventouse. But all staff were v supportive throughout. Recovery was fine. He was born at 7am and I was home by 5pm.

My second Dc was a water birth. Felt more painful than the first! I needed stitches after as I tore a little which I'd been v worried about but it was fine and recovery was v quick. Stayed in over night which was lovely as I got a break from the toddler 😁. Up until I went into hospital I was pretty unwell with a chest infection and bad cough. I'd also pretty much lost my voice at that point so the midwives commented on how quiet it was in the room! Once contractions started I didn't cough once. It's amazing how our bodies work. Just had gas and air for both. But I thought at the time if I ever gave birth again I would have an epidural!

2 vaginal births for me.

Both quite quick. Gas & air only, delivered in a midwife unit each time, which was lovely and peaceful. Couple of stitches after the first birth, but none after the second even though he was huge.

First one I stayed in overnight to get a bit of help with breastfeeding, but second baby I went in at breakfast time, had baby and was back home in time for tea.

Two vaginal birth stories here and both positive!

First baby - contractions started 12.30am. Stayed at home for as long as possible, arrived at the hospital at 4.30am and was 10cm dilated. Straight through to the delivery room, waters broke on their own and soon after baby was born at 6.15am. No time for any medication and coped fine, plus I was very young!

Second baby - contractions started at 11.30pm but were much more intense than the first labour so went to the hospital an hour later at 12.30am where I was 4cm and by 1am I was 10cm and pushing! And baby was here at 1.20am. Never had much time for gas and air either.

Not all birth stories have to be horrible 😊

I always say (when appropriate!) to not stay on your back if at all possible. Lean over the bed, lean over the headboard, bounce on a ball (not when pushing obvs).

UFO, upright, forward and open. I think it opens the pelvis 25% more than being on your back pushing against gravity.

3 vaginal births and I'm sure the only reason the first needed forceps is because they got me on the monitor and I wasn't allowed to be in the optimum position. They can monitor you standing, it's not as easy.

Birth 2 and 3, slight tears but much much easier.

Three vaginal births here. All different, big babies, one involved epidural and forceps, two involved stitches, one was induced - but they were all actually okay and the babies were healthy and beautiful. I healed pretty quickly and the figure recovered as well as can be expected too!

Textbook water birth, first baby. Doing the hypnobirthing digital pack by the positive birth company really helped.

Wonderful, easy home birth with DD2. Three hours from first twinge of labour until baby in my arms. Just DH and a fabulous midwife with me. Eating a bacon sandwich in my own bed and drinking tea an hour after baby was born. Up and about as usual the next morning (DD born in the evening) and a fast recovery. Best thing for our family for me to give birth at home.

Second DC came out really quickly. My waters broke before I started contractions so knew I would have a baby soon one way or another. Was having dinner at home at 9.30 when mild contractions started and baby was born around 4 hours later in the maternity unit.

By the time we got to the maternity unit I was around 7cm dilated and by the time I was checked by the midwife I was saying that I 'needed the loo'. The midwife correctly told me that I didn't need the loo and was ready was push and DC was born around 30 minutes later!

Had a small tear that was dealt with and healed pretty quickly, but was a really easy birth overall