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 would say my birth was positive 😊 waters started leaking in the morning, contractions started at around 7pm, got to the hospital about 1am and was sent to birthing centre. Went in the pool for a bit then got out to be checked and was ready to push, decided I didn't want to move to get back in but was fine, baby born at 7am naturally with no intervention. I did need stitches but all was well!

Good luck!

Positive birth story from me, too. Had my DS at home in a birthing pool with just a few paracetamol then gas and air.
Contractions started early morning but I managed to sleep/ doze through them on and off until early afternoon, then I was up and about pacing in the living room. I took a few paracetamol at this point as felt I needed something - am not a pill popper so quite unusual for me.
Called the midwife for some support and pain relief and got in the birthing pool when she arrived about 4/430pm, then baby arrived at 7pm :)
Had done no birth prep at all and no expectations. It was relaxed and calm with just me, DH and midwife for the last few hours.

Two vaginal births here.
First one I went to hospital because of bleeding (nobody told me to expect that) 4 weeks before due date and discovered I was 8cm dilated with no pains. Baby born after 2 or 3 contractions, again no pain just urge to push, no stitches.
Baby 2, waters broken, 6 huge contractions, painful this time, job done again no stitches.

First/second babies (was an elective section with twins) followed by two amazing homebirths in 2020 and another just six weeks ago. Did some hypno with my first but honestly went in with absolutely no expectations, I knew it would be hard at times and went with the flow. What I did find useful was knowing stages of labour so when transition hit I understood what it was and it helped me get through it.

I don’t have a super high pain threshold but managed on gas & air. Both times I had a second degree tear (absolutely fine didn’t feel it) I chose not to be stitched this time around and it’s been great. Educate yourself (naked doula on IG and positive birth company) and if possibly stay away from interventions unless it’s medically needed.

I had two speedy natural water births, neither with any pain relief other than the warm water, and honestly they were two of the most positive experiences of my life. If I only had to do delivery and not pregnancy and parenting I’d have had a couple more!

Two lovely quick pretty much pain free births after which I felt like an absolute queen. Loved giving birth and would do it every day if I could!

I had all my DC via spontaneous vaginal labour, the first in hospital and the others at home. Had a shot of pethidine with the first but hated it so though we had some in reserve I delivered the others with gas, air and swearing. Syntometrine with the first, but not with the others - didn't need it, and it made me throw up the first time.

I had to be stitched up after the first one but only minor tearing with the others.

Quick, straightforward labours, big fat healthy babies at the end of them. I was very fortunate, but I've known plenty of others the same.

I think i had a positive birth, like you i didn’t want medical intervention and the thought of forceps terrified me; i told the hospital i wanted a c-section over forceps but i ended up with forceps anyway but feel it was positive 🙂

On the Thursday i was checked internally at 38 weeks due to gestational diabetes and a baby where her growth had slowed down, i agreed to the examination to make a plan for induction/c-section.
I was 2cm dilated and my waters were bulging so i was booked in for my waters breaking the following Monday.

Due to reduced movement was taken in on the Saturday evening; my waters broke and the drip started as my contractions were irregular and the midwife felt i needed a bit of help!
I opted for an epidural (even though i didn’t want one before, the midwives explained it would be the best option as id undergone surgery on my stomach weeks prior)!

The epidural didn’t work and numbed one leg, felt every contraction but couldn’t move around as one leg was like lead!

I was checked at 10pm when my waters were broken and was 2cm, checked again at 4am and was fully dilated! The look of shock on my face when the midwife happily told me i was 10cm.
Other than the failed epidural i had no other pain relief.

We waited an hour before pushing, but when we started baby just didn’t come down as far as needed. After one hour the midwife spoke to the doctor and my babies heart rate had started to drop so medical intervention was needed.

i remember crying to my mum and boyfriend because forceps were the last thing i wanted and i felt like id felt myself down.
I was cut and one push with forceps delivered my tiny girl, she was estimated 8-9lbs because of the GD but she was born healthy weighing 5lbs on the nose.

My recovery was easy and stitches have healed perfectly, even though it wasn’t the birth i wanted or planned for it was a really positive experience with the happiest outcome! X

I was 41 and it was short and very painful as I couldn’t have an epidural. In the midst of it, it was scary. But DD born with no damage to me and I was literally bouncing off the walls within hours and didn’t even need a paracetamol afterwards. TMI but even first wee and poo was painless. I couldn’t believe it and felt like superwoman.

I had really wanted an ELCS as I was convinced I couldn’t do it. As I was older I was meant to be induced but that went wrong (I had a rare reaction) and actually had a spontaneous labour. Just 6.5hrs and went from 2cm-10 very fast. I did panic and it wasn’t pretty, but it was incredible.

This might sound a bit wanky, so apologies but my birth experience has had a really positive impact on me long term. It’s like a reverse of PTSD, in difficult situations (mentally or physically) I get triggered back to the birth and it gives me this inner strength-that if I can do that I can do anything feeling.
That might sound a bit crackers. But it really has had a huge positive impact on me. I don’t say it in real life as I feel people will think it’s weird. But I draw on it quite often to power me on.

2 vaginally births with gas and air. Episiotomy with my first ( healed beautifully) and needed 1 tiny stitch with second. I would have so done it again if it wasn't for the money they cost. But pregnancy and childbirth absolutely.

Thanks for starting this thread OP. Sometimes we really need some positivity around birth!

I have 1 DC and am currently pregnant with our second.

I had a planned home birth, the early stages of labour started at around 2am and I managed to sleep for a bit longer, during the next day I watched some tv, made a cake, went for a walk round the local park and ate 3 decent sized meals, my contractions were generally around 15 minutes apart but weren’t particularly painful, I probably had to stop what I was doing but could still talk.

At around 9pm things ramped up a bit and the midwife came to check on us at around 11 when contractions were getting more intense they did general obvs and I declined vaginal examinations. I was happy not knowing how dilated I was. I probably put the tens machine on around then.

At around 11:30 after the midwife left my waters broke. Which tbh was really quite funny every time I had a contraction more liquid gushed out. I remember me and and DH laughing in the bathroom.

I did find transition difficult but I think everyone does, I was able to stay calm and keep breathing.

There was really quite an incredible moment when my body first started pushing when I saw the outline of the baby in the stomach as my body contracted. On the whole my body did most of the pushing by itself, it was probably only for the actual baby coming out part that I consciously pushed too.

DS was born in the pool at around 1am, I scooped him up out of the water and he was perfect. He did a little cry and started feeding almost immediately. The midwife just listened to his heart beat once when I was holding him and then stepped back.

I was on such a high afterwards. It really was an incredible feeling. I think I announced that they didn’t make drugs that could make you feel this good (like I would know 😂).

I think I birthed the placenta about 30 minutes afterwards also in the pool, we cut the chord just before then so DH could have skin to skin with baby whilst I pushed it out.

I did have a second degree tear with some stitches that the midwives could do at home. It was sore for a week or two afterwards but overalls it’s healed great and everything’s back to normal. I didn’t feel the tear happen at the time.

It was quite an amazing experience, I’m looking forward to doing it again with the DC I’m pregnant with now.

I found watching videos of unassisted and free births really helpful. I never intended to free birth but it’s useful to be able to actually see birth in that context where the women just gets on with it with nobody intervening.

I also found hypnobirthing really useful as it educated me about exactly what what happening to my body at each stage. I also found the imagery of a contraction being like riding a wave very useful too, it builds up had a peak and then goes away quickly.

I feel like this too, I found my birth really powerful and like a spiritual experience really. I feel like a actually did go to another dimension and bring my baby back. So there you go, I've topped your wankiness now 😂

I had a wonderful vaginal birth with my eldest.

Contractions started during the night, but I could nap between so didn't bother to wake DH. Told him before he went to work tha today would be the day, but not soon. 5pm contractions were getting close together and lasting longer. Arranged to meet DH at train station (my mum drove me) and we got to the hospital at 6pm. Midwives had a look and said I was progressing well so they got the birthing pool ready for me. Into it at 7pm. DD born at 8pm.

Honestly, I kept waiting for the pain to become unbearable. I didn't find it like that at all. Contractions hurt, but not like I was being injured (so not a stabbing/burning/sharp feeling), more like how your thigh muscle feels when you're struggling in a race. And as it came and went rather than being constant it was always totally manageable. Uncomfortable and hard work, but not in any way agonising.

Crowning hurt as I did get a tear. But that was incredibly brief - I gasped and it was done. I didn't actually realise I'd torn until the midwife told me when she checked my bleeding.

I would highly recommend a water birth if you can have one. I felt less tired, more comfortable and more mobile in the water.

The only thing i REALLY didn't like was when the senior midwife came to check if my tear needed stitches. That was highly unpleasant!!!

Had to have a section 2nd time (complications with twins that had to be delivered rapidly at 35 weeks). Hoping for a VBAC this time and they have given me the all clear to get for another water birth in the midwife led unit. Hope it's exactly like my first!

I had forceps. It was fine! Rather that than a c section

So, it turns out I needn't have worried about what the birth would be like as she was born on 15th June, 6 weeks early weighing only 3lb 3oz!

I went to hospital with reduced movements and they quickly found out I had severe preeclampsia and the baby had little to no fluid around her, and I had a cat 1 emergency c section!

We named her Poppy and she's currently in NICU. All very healthy, some issues with her blood sugars which are now sorted, just trying to get her to gain some weight and hopefully in a few weeks she can come home 🙂

I can't remember much of the birth to be honest as I was in shock and pretty poorly!

Thanks all for your responses ❤️❤️

Congratulations on your daughter's arrival! I hope you are recovering well and she doesn't have to spend much longer in NICU.

I ended up choosing an ELCS second time around due to concerns over babies size. Not going to lie I was freaked out, it was my first ever surgery and I could not imagine how it could possibly play out and for me to be ok! But everyone was so chilled and friendly, particularly the anaesthetic team. I could not believe a baby could be born so quickly (24 hour labour for DC1 and DC2 out in about 10 minutes!). If you end up needing a c-section, particularly a planned one that isn’t an emergency, I promise everyone is so lovely and meeting baby is just as special as any other birth!

Oh gosh sorry I didn’t notice your update! CONGRATULATIONS!!! Please ignore my last post 🤣 DC2 was up at 4am for the day and I’m currently in zombie mode!

I am a first time Mum and was very anxious about birth for most of my pregnancy. Try your best to ignore unhelpful birth stories, they are so many positive birth stories out there which don't get the same air time as the negative ones.

I had laboured at home for 2 hours, mostly sat in the bath breathing through the contractions. I called the hospital and they said it would be unlikely that baby would arrive soon with it being my first pregnancy. I waited for another half an hour and I just knew things were progressing. I then headed into hospital as the contractions were immediately one after another. When I arrived I was checked and was 8 cm dilated! I'd always had my mind focused on an epidural but the midwife was confident the baby was on the way and empowered me to persevere with gas and air (she also numbed down there in case I needed an episiotomy - which I didn't in the end).

My daughter then arrived 2-3 hours later (total labour was 5 hours). I had two tears which were swiftly stitched and no where near as scary as I had imagined. The whole experience was a whirlwind but I was so proud of myself. I know I was so lucky with the speed of my labour but your body really does know what it's doing as do the midwifes. You can do it and just take it step by step :)