How did your first vaginal birth turn out?

[littlemisssunshine247]

If you aimed for a vaginal birth for your first baby, how did it all turn out, particularly if you have a low pain threshold?

Did you have pain relief? Did you find hypnobirthing/deep breathing helped if you did that? Did you need forceps or a c section in the end?

I'm just trying to decide on the type of birth to go for, from real experiences. Worth adding in an absolute wuss with pain!

Every birth, every woman and every baby is different.

I had an excrutiating first birth, pain I cannot begin to describe, and a relatively pain free second. First was hospital, drugs etc etc, ventouse, baby was face up, dragged out and 3rd degree tear.

Second, home water birth, hynobirthed, small tear, no drugs. Beautiful and calm.

Preparing by being full informed, having a birth plan so you can give informed consent (no not because you're demanding - you don't need to be a "cool girl"), practising relaxation techniques water etc can all help. Resting for as long as possible at home in early stages.

Most importantly - be prepared and read as much as you can. Arm yourself with knowledge so you can make choices.

Seems like a real mixed bag in terms of everyone's experiences!

I guess the only concern I have with a VB as opposed to an elective CS, is the risk of permanent damage to me from forceps.

I gave birth in a midwifery centre attached to a hospital and was very open to any kind of interventions required. But it ended up being much less painful than I’d imagined, and quite a stress free calm experience. The most effective pain relief I experienced was the birthing pool. I hadn’t intended to use that at all but ended up birthing my daughter in it which was wonderful. No real tearing or injuries.

If that’s an option then it might be worth looking into?

Was 2 weeks overdue (according to them*) so had to be induced. Got to 9cm and progressed no further, so I was offered an epidural. Ended up delivering in stirrups with ventouse and an episiotomy.

Second baby was a water birth with gas and air only, spontaneous labour. Arrived the day before his due date.

*My calculations based on first day of LMP made my due date 10 Dec. She was born on 11 Dec.

Induced at 10 days late with pessary, in AGONY until 6cm when I had an epidural. Then had a lovely nap and calmed right down. Found it hard to push on my back with the monitor on though and had an episiotomy. Good luck with whatever you decide op!

It was fabulous!

18 hours total. 12 at home with TENS then into the midwife unit and into the pool. DD1 was born underwater.

Very straight forward. Didn't go overdue, no interventions, no pain relief, managed by moving position when I wanted to, all done and dusted from first pain to the end in 6 hours... walked from delivery run to the ward and said to DH "I'll do that again" - didn't realise it'd be so soon though (15 months later!).

I’m here to tell you it’s not necessarily your pain threshold but the duration that will take its toll on your planned coping mechanisms. My first contraction was 5 days before the birth. I learnt:

1. if you have an epidural, don’t be shy when it’s being placed and SPEAK UP if you feel pain and say on which side. Mine took ages to place, but worked perfectly. If it’s going in the right place, you’re NOT supposed to feel pain.

2. if you have the synthetic oxytocin the aim is speeding up your labour without stressing out your baby. If they keep turning it up and down, they’re trying to strike the right balance. You’re more likely to ask for an epidural with this as it hurts more.

3. if someone asks you to do something you don’t want to do (examinations, drugs, break your water, c section etc) you have every right to ask them: what will happen if we wait an hour and see? What’s the alternative? How is the baby coping? Etc. If it’s urgent, you’ll be told.

Ultimately you’ll be dealt the cards you’re dealt. Do whatever you need to do to get through it and whatever happens, you’ll be amazing at it, and it will be a miracle, because birth always is.

Home water birth both times. First time was too quick for the midwives to get to me so unmedicated. Second time they came early and stayed so they didn't miss it. Good job as both births were nearly identical. 2nd degree tear stitched at home both times with more gas (and a local anaesthetic) for that than I did for the second birth. I'd do the same again.

Mine was good, home birth, no pain relief, five hour labour, intense but ok!

I hoped for a straightforward vaginal birth with my first baby.

I ended up being induced for reduced movements, 30 hours of unproductive labour ending in an emergency C-section and an unexpectedly tiny baby.

Second baby was an uncomplicated VBAC, went into labour more or less spontaneously (after a sweep), about 16 hours of early labour and then two hours of active labour, small tear, baby with a healthy birth weight, easy recovery. Oh and I had an epidural for the last three hours or so which was great. Still definitely felt the urge to push. I think I tore slightly because she came out so fast.

My birth plan was to have water birth and minimal pain relief and I really didn’t want an epidural. Turned out the water pool was out of action and near the end I caved and was begging for pethidine. That made baby a bit sleepy but he soon picked up. I was happy there was no surgery, forceps or stitches etc

My first vaginal birth was long and gruelling but worked out ok in the end.

I was in labour for 37 hours or so. She was the right way round to begin with but spun on her head as she moved down and so ended up back-to-back. I had diamorphine and then gas when they decided to augment the labour due to failure to progress.

I pushed for about half an hour but she was really badly positioned so they decided on a ventouse. I rejected the epidural. She came out on the last push of 3 (OB said if she didn't come on 3 we'd be going for a C-section). She was face up (doctor called it by the alluring name of "face-to-pubes", but the midwives said she was a stargazer which I loved!).

I had a tear that needed stitches but I'd avoided an episiotomy which I was glad of. I healed up really well.

She was 9lb 12oz!

First labour was a spontaneous birth at 39weeks. Waters went in house at about 12 noon. Lasted at home til 4pm, went to maternity assessment who told me I was about 4cm dilated and sent me up to a ward to wait till I was dilated enough for the delivery suite. 6.30pm I was in agony, with lots of blood. Midwife said it was just my show but this was fresh red blood, they eventually examined me and I was 10cm dilated and crowning. Delivered at 7.26pm with minimal tearing, needed one stitch. Got by with just gas and air when it came time to push.

I’ve had 4 subsequent labours- all have been very quick, no tearing and managed with either nothing or gas & air.

I had a Homebirth. It was a great experience! I was in labour for about 24 hours from first contraction to baby coming out. I was probably only in established labour for 3 or 4 hours.

I opted out of all vaginal examinations and had baby in a birth pool in my lounge with a midwife. My body knew exactly what it needed to do. My body pushed on its own, there was no coached pushing. I had hand my hand on baby’s head feeling him come out with the contractions. When baby was born I picked him up out of the water myself and he breastfed on his own straightaway. It was probably about 5 minutes before we thought to check if he was a boy or a girl. The whole thing was euphoric and beautiful. I feel really privileged to have been able to experience birth in this way.

I had a second degree tear but I didn’t feel it happen, it healed well, all went back to normal afterwards. Pushing didn’t hurt that much but the placenta coming out did sting!

Transition was hard for me or I think the word I’d use is brutal. But it needed to happen. That’s meant to be the hard part.

I found a lot of it was about keeping my cool. Parts were hard but I knew I was safe and I was loved, each contraction came but it also went, what was happening was exactly what needed to happen.

I found having a very thorough understanding of the processes involved in labour and birth very useful. It meant when each stage happened I knew what was happening and why and felt a trust in my body.

I should add that my second birth was hilarious. I did know I was in labour but barely noticed transition. Didn’t have a pushing stage. Babys head came out in one go as I did a wee on the toilet 😂😂 not quite the beautiful experience I had with my first.

I thought I’d request epidural etc until I did a hypnobirthing course (positive birth company). It completely changed my outlook and I birthed without needing any pain relief. Same for my second.

Terribly! I think the crucial point for me was that I was induced, so it was unnatural. Although not sure I would have ever gone into labour naturally 😂

Induction, meaning I hyper-reacted to the induction drug (just had the pessary),
meaning DS’ heart rate went mad,
meaning I needed forceps, no pain relief (literally none - no time).
Meaning I had a massive tear, plus episiotomy, massive recovery.
2cm-born in 40 mins, meaning he blasted through me.

Do not recommend. Would have been a different story if I hadn’t been induced that’s for sure.

I was determined to have a vaginal birth, ideally in the birthing pool.

In reality I never progressed past 3cm dilated even after being induced for +24 hours, so had to have a c section.

It did feel sad to not get the birth I wanted, but what really mattered was we were both safe.

Wishing you lots of luck whatever happens.

Water birth, and used gas and air after I passed transition stage. I bloody love gas and air. Pain is beyond anything I can explain in all honesty, but it doesn't kill you. 2nd degree internal and external tearing needing stitches. Baby born pink and crying. I was euphoric for days. Stitches were a fucker.

But all the birth stories in the world won't help you decide in all honesty. You need to learn about physiological birth if you want a natural birth. Otherwise i'd get an elective C section and never ever an induction.

I bloody love gas and air

Me too! 😂 Loved the high of it. I still felt the pain, but I didn't care

I had a water birth and some gas and air but it made feel dizzy.
It was a lot more painful than I thought, I think I was a bit in shock afterwards!
But I never doubted my ability to cope, you do get breathers between contractions so it's not continuous pain.
I did tear very badly though, I was encouraged to push and I did as I wanted it to be over!
However I found out in a subsequent pregnancy that the best advice (from memory it's been a while) is when you feel a stingy stretchy sensation and baby is going round the U Bend, pant don't push - this can prevent tearing - wish I'd known that for my first two DC!

I was mostly scared of episiotomy and forceps so I did put in my birth plan if it's still an option safety wise then I'd rather have c section over forceps, but at the time I don't think I'd have stuck to this. I also wanted the midwife led unit and water birth (in same building as labour ward). But I ended up on the drip induction as waters broke but labour didn't start.
I used gas and air quite early on and found the most helpful thing it did was help me focus on my hypnobirthing breathing, I didn't get the high or laugh others sometimes mention.
Had an epidural after 6 hours of 3 contractions within every 10 mins yet very slow dilation
Epidural worked fine I was still able to feel and move my legs, was placed 3 hours after I'd asked
Felt my body pushing and huge pressure then had a very quick pushing phase, no interventions needed
Stitches for internal grazes only as I bleed a lot, otherwise they weren't going to stitch but due to bleeding they did
Zero pain afterwards, only very mild discomfort every now and again, no pain when going to the toilet

It was great. Unfortunately the next three were nowhere near as good and Included forceps and an emergency section.

I did hypnobirthing and also employed a doula for DC1. The end result was a ventouse and an episiotomy however the journey to get there was so much better than expected, I perceive myself to have a low pain threshold and the hypnobirthing helped reframe my mind and I look back on that birth so proudly.

my DC2 needed to be a planned section and it was fine too, but a lot more medicalised (understandably). I would say that I don’t think a section is preferable to vaginal birth for a low risk pregnancy. It is always luck of the draw if you have a positive experience with any form of birth but you can equip yourself with so many coping techniques that really give you the best shot at a good birth.

I found the crowing agony but it's over quickly. I tore which made it worse. Up to that point, the contractions became increasingly fierce and painful but were manageable with gas and air and deep breathing. My first labour was about 26 hours so in all honestly it was only the very last bit with crowning which was truly awful.