Nice first birth stories please!

[BorgLady]

I'm currently 31 weeks with my first baby, and to say that I am bricking it about the birth would be an understatement.

Everywhere I seem to be reading horrors about people's first births! People keep telling me that you never hear the good stories, only the bad, so in the interest of redressing the balance, please could you share your nice birth stories with me please and hopefully calm me down!

Of course, if this thread goes unanswered, I probably shan't sleep at all for the next nine weeks!

Contractions started and continued gently for 24 hours, then sped up big style. Baby born in to water five hours later, natural placental delivery, no stitches. Thought it was wonderful and by far the worst bit was the exhaustion and sickness, much worse than the pain. Second one was even better, but much quicker and no vomming, so perfect really.

awww

if its any consolation, i was struck by the terrors about a week before the first one too. utterly illogical hysteria along the lines of; 'no! it'll just have to stay in there forever!' and this after the longest seeming 3rd trimester ever ever ever

you are about to do something really amazing. revel in that for a bit and make dp run about after you madly. coz soon enough you will never be the star of the show again!

Textbook first birth, much much better than I expected (just over a year ago )
Contractions from the Wednesday night (only really got badly painful on Friday morning) waters broke at 3pm on Friday, dashed to hospital, was quickly assessed and told they would come back to me as I obviously wasn't that far along. Next contraction I pressed the button, was examined and ready to push! Pushing was very hard work!! Baby was born at 5.35, no tearing, only had time for a couple of breaths of G&A.
Only lingering pain was where I pulled a muscle in my calf while pushing - OUCH, and my feet were swollen for a while.
A few weeks later I was saying I would do it again in an instant, now I have a baby who moves I am less keen
Was definitely a day I look back on happily. Bits of it can make me cry with happiness - coming out of the first shower and seeing my DH cuddling DS...

It was painful but the worst thing IMO about pain is not knowing what's caused it and what's wrong with you - obv in this case, nothing! So not a worrying pain.
Every labour is different - I will have exactly the same plan for my next one, go with the flow, remember to breathe and walk around during contractions and have pain relief if you need it.

do you know what? actually it is the best experience i ever had. to know that i could go through that and bring a new person into the world... well its overwhelming.

making me have tears in my eyes just remembering.

being pregnant is rubbish compared to the birth and having your own child to look after.

and the moment you look into your sons eyes for the first time you know you would go through it a million times over.

Hi borglady - congrats! I don't like pregnancy at all, but birth was pretty okay, so the rule worked for me - hope it does for you!

Had a 14 hour homebirth for my first, including early contraction niggles (that the midwives don't count - probably 10 hours from 'established' labour). I managed on 2 paracetemol (?!) for about 9-10 hours (til 7 cm dilated), and breathing and concentration was enough to cope with that. When the midwife came I got lovely, lovely gas and air and was able to giggle and relax a bit more in between contractions. In fact I think gas and air might be the major reason in me deciding on a second baby .

I had really regular contractions, which helped me get into a rhythm, my waters didn't break until pushing, which people say make the contractions less intense. Pushing was my least favourite bit but he was out safe and sound (despite cord round his neck) within 3-4 pushes. I didn't listen to the midwife, or my body and pushed just to get him out, so tore, but you don't notice at the time, and its all fine now. The midwives were great - gave suggestions that helped, but were hands off when they needed to be. My partner caught the baby so the first hands on him were 'family'! All in all it was a calm, fairly quiet, meditative and very very intense experience, and the memory of it seemed to stay in the house for days afterwards. Oh, and the neighbours heard his first cry when he was born and rushed out to get cards and we felt like he was born into our community, not just our family. My parents were in the house and my mum saw him born and it remains one of the most incredible moments of their lives, being there so early on in his life.

It was hard work, and bits were very painful, but it was manageable, and I felt amazing (exhilarated, relaxed, stunned etc.) afterwards.

And a week later I said I'd give birth 10 times over rather than endure another feed, or in exchange for one, single 8 hour stretch of sleep, but thats a whole other issue.

Good luck - meeting your baby is just amazing, however it comes out! I hope whatever birth you have feels like a 'good' birth for you.

Hey BorgLady, congratulations for the birth to come I'm 25 weeks with my first and just starting to really cack it about delivery, so imagine I shall be returning to this thread more than once in the weeks ahead

Having a friend with this wonderful birth story and talking things through with her has helped me - it really was as calm for her as she's described here, and her little boy is gorgeous

Good point - I would much rather give birth agaion than have the suspected infected appendix I had a few months later - pain not as acute but whole experience 100x worse (that's discounting the fact you get a baby at the end of the birth as well )

Waters broe at 2pm, s I went in to be checked out and was told I'd have to stay in as I was having contractions (not even aware that I was Being my first, I put off mentioning pain when it started, so eventually asked for a paracetaml, had a bath and was sick (11pm, dp had been sent home) Midwife then checked me and found I was fully dilated
Mad rush to get dp back in,and transfer to delivery,where everything slowed right down for a bit.
spent a while spaced out on gas and air, and dd was born at 2am

I was so confidentthat I planned my next as a home birth, 15 months later.

Another dreadful pregnancy here - had antenatal depression throughout and everything else going pretty much

BUT the birth was lovely. Wouldn't describe it as textbook, needed sytoxcin (can't remember how that is spelt but the stuff that gets things going quicker) and had to be monitored etc. but was an overwhelming experience and although it hurts you quickly forget when you have your baby.

Have you read 'Blooming Birth' - is a great book if you are apprehensive. Makes you address your fears. You do need to get over the afraid stage before you can really prepare properly for labour. I would try and think through each of your fears and see if there is anything you can do to address them. For instance I am really squeamish and one of my fears was seeing all the blood etc - I told my midwife and she kept everything out of my sight which kept me calm. I was also afraid of losing my dignity - fortunately by the time I went into labour I couldn't have cared less who saw what!

Another quick first birth here: show early Sat morning, mild contractions on and off all day (I got my hair cut and met friends for a drink, so not exactly established labour), TENs machine on in evening, woke DH up to get to hospital about 1am as cx every 5 mins, got there 1:30 and was 5 cm dilated, DS born at 4:30. Episiotomy (big head) but no pain relief other than TENS.

I was expecting it to last a LOT longer as well!

Hey Borglady - I had a fab 4 hour labour at home with my first, and it was nothing I couldn't cope with (just had gas and air!) I'm expecting number 2 in August and weirdly quite looking forward to giving birth again!

Sure you'll be absolutely fine - try to get your hands on this book, it really made me feel better when I was pregnant first time around and not really knowing what to expect. Best of luck!

Home birth with first baby - true labour for only about 4 hours, a little gas and air, painful but by no means unbearable, lovely ds, 8lbs 4oz

I had a lovely first birth - home water birth, very calm and peaceful, felt totally in control. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Good luck for your birth! I hope it's really lovely.

I had a lovely first birth as well.

Did it with just tens and gas and air, and water for pain relief, and found it a fairly enjoyable experience and would definitely do it again.

I had a good first birth imo, it started in tescos!! at half six in the evening, and i managed the nxt six hours just pacing in my livingroom eating ineapple, whilst dp wrote a computer program to time contractions, (sad i know)they were 5mins apart and id managed on a couple o paracetamol.

At half eleven, we decided to go into the hosp, even though mw on fone told me i wasnt in labour as id had no show. we got to hosp at midnight and was examined (and gven two more paracteamol) and was 6cm dilated!!! So much for not bein in labour, had a bath but hated bein still durin contractions so popped into room and stayed on birthin ball, was just on gas and air for about 7 hours then got examined - doc accidentally broke my waters and scared my baba!! he turned and go a bit stuck and did a poo!!

They gave me the choice of an epidural or c-section. Chose epidural and continued to labour for a couple more hours until they said they couldnt see him turning the way they wanted so had to get forceps. Had baba at half seven following evening - 25hr labour!!! But i thought it was good.

Just wantd to share

sorry its long

Much faster and easier than I thought it would be - (the midwife at classes had made such a thing about 1st labours being 24hrs)

waters broke at 3am - phoned hospital who said take time.

Got to hospital at 6.30am blood pressure high so kept in for observation.

Around 5.30pm started to get period like cramps

DH and Mum sat timing my contractions in between me trapsing back and forth for a wee.

7.30 pm Said to DH to call midwife over as pain was taking my breath away. She checked and I was 10cm dilated. As they started to wheel me to the lift to go to delivery room I had a strong urge to push.

Gave birth on the maternity ward (in a room by the lift) 10 minutes later after 3 pushes.

I'm so glad my blood pressure was up otherwise I'm sure I'd have been on way to hospital when Ds was born!!

11pm occasional period-like cramps
1.30am frequent cramps, realise these are contractions
4am got to hospital
(this was the hardest bit as I had to wait for the pool to be free)
7am got in pool
8am dd born
12noon announced birth on MN

DH was most impressed that he didn't even have to miss a meal

great first labour
although it was long.
started having pains a bit like period pains 3am Saturday morning
lay in bed dozing / timing them about every 10 minutes
told DH when we got up, it continued like this all through saturday, sitting in the garden on the birthing ball, in the sittingroom watching DVD's.
Saturday evening still the same pains stronger but still about every 10 minutes.
watching films, tv, slobbing on the sofa
1am Sunday morning got sad - felt tired, midwife came out (we had homebirth planned)
she sat with me for a few hours whilst DH got some sleep. contractions went to every 6 minutes.
Midwife changed shifts at 8am, new midwife examined me we had only got to 3 CMs! told me to have a shower and get changed. I did that, went up and down the stairs a few times, she checked me again and we were at 6 cms and I could get into the birthing pool

took a little while to fill. Got in at 2pm
LOVED the freedom of movement, felt so relaxing. after a couple of hours, (that felt like 10 minutes) I needed to push, DS1 was born, after his head came out the midwife suggested I lean forward and lift him up with the next contraction so I did, it was amazing.

We stayed in the water to deliver the placenta. He was born at 5pm (ish) Sunday .. Forgot to ask for gas and air..

I loved it..

Mine was fine. Miles better than the rubbish pregnancy. At least with birth you know the pain will end AT SOME POINT (ie. a matter of hours) whereas pregnancy for me was months and months of pain. (SPD- not fun).

My waters went at 1 in the morning, I was only in pain when I was 5 cm dilated, and I was holding my DD by breakfast time. Only had gas and air. Felt like a goddess (sorry if that sounds a bit naff)- doing this incredible thing that only I could do.

Bear in mind that people will want to tell you horrible stories and just say "LaLaLa can't hear you". It will not be helpful for you to hear unpleasant accounts- so if people start, just tell 'em to shut up!

If you are really freaking out do consider hypnotherapy - I really found it useful to turn around the language about fearing birth to being excited about this wonderful time.

www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk/1676/30409.html

Oh, and good luck.

Hiya, i had my first child in March and to say i was absolutely terrified about birth was an understatement. Especially as it came and went past my due date, i actually wanted him to come early so i didn't have time to think and panic, but oh no, 11 days later i had to be induced. I have to say it was actually alright! The contractions reminded me of trapped wind, just a little stronger and suddenly you want to push-most bizarre feeling ever.
I don't want to go into detail cos it aint pretty, but i ended up loving it and could bore you for a couple of hours with my stories.
But i promise you, you will just love it, within a week i had forgotten what it was like was thinking about the next pregnancy.
Just remember it is JUST a couple of hours, maybe a day of pain but look what you get at the end of it. The most beautiful baby! Good luck! X

Congratulations! How exciting! I was really apprehensive before my first daughter - but it was ok - don't get me wrong it does hurt - but you know why its hurting and you know what you need to do, so its more than bearable and its so exciting and you feel so proud when the baby is born. So relax and enjoy it and you will be surprisingly calm when it all starts - honest!!

Hi Borglady,
My first birth was 5 1/2 hours from est labour to meeting my baby. I was at hospital in a low risk room- think big squashy mattress, pilates ball, things to kneel on/ lean against. Being active really helped and giving birth in squatting position meant no stitches, I believe.

It was v painful (I had G&A and TENS) and at one point (transition?) I was scared, but I had a great MW who guided me and told me what to do and I got through it all relatively unscathed. I was sick a lot- but that's just me! I don't think I'd change much.

Back home in my own bed after 12 hours.

Here's a visualisation for you: Imagine all the great women who have become mothers to enable you to become a mother too- your mum, her mum and so on. Then imagine them standing behind you supporting you. You can do this too!

OMG Peartart,.. I know I am emotional tonight but that visualisation has bought tears to my eyes... beautiful

I had a wonderful first labour - also had a terrible, terrible pregnancy!

2.00am waters went
8.30am walked to hopital to be checked over, all well just a couple of dull period type pains
10.30am walked home from hospital but they started to hurt and had to keep leaning over walls and park benches when i had contractions on the way home. Was still laughing about things with dh though.
3pm contractions started to hurt quite a lot but I was excited and keen to get rubbish pregnancy over with - went to hospital.
3.30pm only 3cms!! argh! However, things hotted up and I just closed my eyes with each contraction and concentrated as much as possible on just breathing in and out.
9.25 progressed to fully dilated with gas and air and a fantastic midwife.
9.30pm Pushed dd out in 5 mins. I couldn't hold her immediately as I felt really floppy and out of things so dh had her first.

I didn't bond with my baby initially. I remember looking at her thinking that she looked nice but she could have been anybodies really! Even the during the initial breastfeding days - I kept thinking some-one might knock on the door asking for their baby back and thank you so much for looking after her! Of course, a few weeks later I loved her so much I wanted to eat her.