Positive birth stories

[bethandgus]

Hello all!

After much to-ing and fro-ing I've decided to go for a natural birth but elected for a c section if I need to be induced or have any medical intervention.
I feel this is the best decision for me, but coming here and reading the stories has put me right off!

Are there any positive natural vaginal birthing stories?
There has to be some people out there! 🤞🏻

I’m due next month and my preference of c-section over induction / intervention is the same as yours! I feel like it is quite rare as most people go ahead with inductions but I personally just don’t feel it’s for me.

I had a water birth with just gas and air and my baby weighed in at 11lb2. It was by far a better experience compared to my son's birth where I was induced and had an epidural. In preparation for my water birth I signed on to a hypnobirtbing course - I didn't know what to expect but it was a huge help mentally. It really have me the tools to keep calm during labour and to trust that my body knew what it was doing. Watching positive birth videos on YouTube helped also as birth on TV (one born every minute in particular) often show birth as a screaming woman and feeling out of control, when actually birth can be a really positive experience.

I just had a pool birth VBAC this morning. Managed contractions at home for 24hrs on a couple of paracetamol. 7cm on arrival at hospital, delivered in the pool 2 hours after arriving.

My previous birth was an induction that was slow and didn't progress and technically an emergency c section but there was nothing panicked, got skin to skin after, music playing in theatre, husband cut the cord.

I watched lots of positive birth videos beforehand. Mainly Americans that had hired birth videographers but that really put me in a positive mindset.

I had two natural vaginal births, both with babies over 9lb. Practised hypnobirthing beforehand (and most importantly made my partner practise it so they could help me). First birth I kept active and basically walked throughout labour and had a fairly quick delivery. Second birth was a water birth, also fairly quick and was incredible! The second one I had no tears as well which I put down to being in water for a few hours.

I've had 3 babies and while the first was a bit of a shock, the 2nd and 3rd were absolutely magical and I would honestly do it every day! I had them both at home, no pain relief (that wasn't my plan, I just didn't feel I needed it and/or didn't have time!). Had aimed to be in the pool for no2 but didn't get in in time! I did all the hypnobirthing prep the first time but found it hard to apply as I didn't have a great midwife and baby was 4 weeks early so everyone was a bit stressy and medical in hospital, but it worked amazingly the 2nd and 3rd times as I knew what was happening and compeltely trusted my body and just went in the zone. No2 was 11lb4, which was a complete surprise as he measured completely average throughout pregnancy and was absolutely my easiest birth. My 3rd was 8lb10. They obviously did hurt, it's not pain free, but it was manageable and there is something really incredible in the feeling - so powerful! Good luck :)

I had a great water birth at home - honestly amazing.

And for a dose of realism, I tore quite badly but it really wasn't a big deal. You don't feel it happen and it healed fine.

Planning another one this summer!

Mumsnet is really not the place for positive birth stories but you'll find loads online and on Instagram.

2 very positive experiences here, both v quick, just gas & air as I was too late for anything else

DC1 - Went in to be checked for a bleed, 3cm so put on prenatal ward, 2 days later I was 5cm but labour didn't establish so put on the hormone drip and baby was born 3hrs later. Gas and air for pain relief and laboured on the birthing ball, really positive experience.

DC2 - Waters broke and went to get checked, 3cm again so taken to prenatal ward as my labour with DC1 was quick they didn't want to risk me having a baby on the kitchen floor. 30hrs later still no established labour so put on the drip again 2hrs later baby was born with gas and air. This time I laboured sitting on the bed because I was absolutely exhausted and didn't have the strength to get on the ball. Positive experience again.

Didn't do any labour prep except look at funny labour stories, no idea why but it made it all less scary. Time is totally different in the labour room hours can seem like minutes (in my experience). Good luck OP

Two natural vaginal births here. They were fine and both took under eight hours from start to finish.
Do remember that people usually only share special stories, where’s something out of the ordinary. Most woman don’t put their birth stories online, like you wouldn’t post a review of a restaurant experience that was nothing special.

Yep, I had three! Quick, easy labours, minimal tear (just a skin tear so healed well and quickly) with one but none on the other two, home within a few hours each time with no complications whatsoever. I didn't have to stay in hospital overnight with any of them (until they were older and the broken bones started, lol).

Friends had had me believe every birth is a horror story. I asked the midwife who delivered my eldest son and she laughed and said most births are relatively straightforward, you just hear more about the bad experiences.

My second was all natural and good. Over in about 2.5 hours so quite intense but I managed with gas and air and a birthing pool. No examinations or anything, no being told to push, my body knew what to do and I just went along for the ride. I was the first person to touch my baby ☺️

3 vaginal home births here, all good. Gas and air used, water birth with 3rd, best money I ever spent getting a 2nd hand birthing pool!

Hi, mine is a positive story and included intervention. When you said if intervention was needed you were going to opt to a c-section did you mean instead of ventouse or forceps?

To be clear I was terrified of needing intervention. My labour was fast - got to the hospital at 2am baby out by 7am. Towards the end of pushing the midwife called for help and I needed episiotomy and ventouse support but key was that my baby was out in minutes. I barely remember it.

My second was a planned induction due to risk factors that led to a c-section. Although both births were positive - I recovered much faster from birth one.

This isn't to say don't choose c-section just to give a view that intervention isn't always a bad birth.

Very positive! 1 Dc, 37 weeks, 2 hours from start to finish. Spontaneous water breaking, then to hospital to be checked over to find out I was over 8cm dilated, straight into birthing pool!
Good luck! X

Ive had 3 vaginal births. All spontaneous labours. No major problems, lovely midwives, home within a few hours.

Not every story is horrific 😊

I had 3 natural births (except for two paracetamol for my second DC). All amazing experiences, I was very much in control and my labours were quick but not frighteningly so. No stitches or tears.
I was back home within six hours.

I had an induction at 39 weeks due to ivf pregnancy which resulted in an emergency section.

Tbh I wish I had gone for an elective as the induction was hideous. I was having contractions every 2 mins and was 1cm dilated! Baby was getting stressed inside me meconim in waters and heart rate dropped so they pressed the button and got him out.
The recovery from the section has been a dream. I had about 2 days of really struggling and other than that its been fine. I thought it would be so much worse. But I know its different for everyone.
Honestly had more of a pain with the breastfeeding that the section! 😂

Thank you all for your lovely responses!
It really has made me feel more positive about the situation.

@lifehappens12 yes, I really don't want forceps so if it gets to that stage they said they'd do a c section.

Getting more and more excited for the day to come now, whereas before was filled with dread! ❤️

DC1 - delivered at home unassisted. Used TENS machine to 4/10 and delivered her in the bedroom into DHs hands.

DTs - induced in hospital. Broke waters at 1pm and delivered them 4 hours later and went straight home from delivery suite. Used gas and air.

Hospital birth was definitely harder because they made me lay on my back which I had been really against. Still angry at myself for allowing them to railroad me like that as it made delivering them so much harder. Otherwise I really can't complain.

Three positive birth stories here!

I went into labour spontaneously (albeit late) all three times. DC1 was the longest (28 hours from waters breaking to birth), and I had an epidural and an episiotomy, but I still consider it a positive story because there were no significant interventions and I felt that I was listened to (eg when I said I wanted an epidural).

DC2 and DC3 were much quicker - gas and air only.

First vaginal birth was ok, some good some bad. Had induction and an epidural. Second one was quicker and really great. Felt good after. I used a tens machine and the pain was in my back and bum, not abdomen at all. I didn't want an epidural if I could cope. I got to hospital with the tens machine in. Had a room with soft play style cubes to change up birthing position. I lent against walls and was on hands and knees mostly. I was given codine when I asked for not epidural pain relief. They managed to monitor with the us probe on my hands and knees. I may have gone on my back briefly. Midwife ran me a bath, which I wasn't in long as I came out to push. The crowning was not painful at all dispite babys hand being by his face and giving me very mild tears.

I was induced with dc 2, so although I was in hospital for 2 days waiting for the pessary x2 to work, it was actually a calm experience for me. My waters broke around midnight on the 2nd day and I gave birth a few hours later. I opted for gas & air . Yes, the pushing stage was painful but I managed & I knew I was getting closer with each push, I felt euphoric afterwards. Lovely baby boy 8 lbs , I was up walking around within the hour and we were all back home 7 hours later! I’ve had a great recovery so far. Very different to my first induction with my Dc no1. I had an epidural, then forceps, we ended up in hospital for a week, so I was determined not to repeat that scenario. The big difference this time was I felt more in control and didn’t do anything I didn’t want to.

My second birth I woke up at 5.30am at 38+2 and didn't feel right. I'm not going to say I was having contractions as they weren't painful but I was having something. Got up and went on my ball and they got more painful. I actually needed to see my midwife that day to drop a urine sample in (I'd had my 38 week appointment the day before and my urine showed glucose for what felt like the hundredth time, not important anyway!) and I told DH to go to work as normal as I could be like this for days and I'd ask my mum to take me to the midwife with the sample. It got to around 6.20am and my then 4 year old got up so I went and sat on the toilet as by this point it was getting painful and I didn't want her to see me. I was timing contractions on an app and it changed to go to hospital, I rolled my eyes and thought no way they'll send me back home. Looked in the toilet bowl and there was blood. Rang the hospital who told me it sounded like it was happening but wasn't imminent so make my way in at my leisure. My parents arrived around 40 minutes later to look after my DD. I was in agony by this point. Got to hospital around 7.30, before even examining me they started filling the pool up and gave me G+A. Was examined and was 7cm. Got in the pool. After 40 minutes or so I thought I needed a poo. Decided there was no way I was getting out so told the MW and DH I'm sorry but I'm pooing in here pushed, nothing came out but the pressure I'd been feeling vanished, think this was my waters looking back. Then had another go. MW then said head was out, one more push and baby was out at 8.37am so just over 3 hours after waking up. No stitches and I was back home for when DD came out of school. It was without a doubt the most exhilarating experience of my life and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Both of mine were fine, and under seven hours start to finish. I did need an episiotomy for my first but it really wasn’t that bad and it healed fine. Second was a water birth and I was home the same day.

Also, both mine were on the larger side and started out back to back - I always seem to be reading on here that you have no chance of a good birth with a back to back baby but it wasn’t the case for me, I think they just turned to the correct position during labour.

You mean natural as no drugs? Me! My baby was 4kg so I couldn't have her in the pool but it was grand it was good to be able to move about and feel in control of my body. We went to the hospital at about 6pm and she was born at 11.14pm. My second I was induced but also opted for no epidural.