Positive birth stories

[Walkinthesun]

Hi everyone.

I struggled to conceive for years and was blessed to fall pregnant with a baby girl.
Tomorrow I am 38 weeks pregnant but I am getting anxious about the birth.
This is my second child and I am 34 years old.
I had my first when I was 22 and the birth was all well and straight forward, obviously painful but no interventions or anything.

I have seen random videos come up on social media about conditions (I won't name because TW) that are life threatening during birth. Things I'd never even heard of during my last pregnancy and obviously ignorance is bliss but it has given me anxiety.
I'm alot older now than I was then so part of me wonders if I am going to struggle more during labour and childbirth.

Does anyone have positive birth stories to share with me so I don't keep doomscrolling!
If it's a second birth, then even better!

I had two positive births, first aged 31 and second age 33. Most stressful part of first birth was getting to the hospital, so I opted for a home birth the second time around. Both around 11 hours but second was much more relaxed and quicker on the pushing stage (only 9 mins compared to over an hour the first time around). I can honestly say I enjoyed both births.
I have no medical qualifications, but I think the fact you had no interventions the first time probably gives you a good chance of having the same the second time.
Learning some breathing techniques also really helped me deal with the pain, so I’d recommend that.

Second births are much more likely to be trouble free than first births, so you've done the hard bit! Have you looked at hypnobirthing? I was so calm with my second that the midwife wasn't even in the room when she was born (no pain relief either!).

I know 34 might seem 'old' because you were only 22 when you had your first but it's really not. Why do you think that would make you struggle?

The vast majority of people I know had easier second births.

Congratulations xx

2 births, last aged 35. I loved both my births, both at home, I would love to do it all over again.
hypnobirthing helped me massively both times but especially first time round, mainly the breathing part.

Thanks everyone.

It's reassuring to know that your second births were quicker.
I will have to look into hypnobirthing. Is this something you can do online or is it classes?

Another reason I worry I'll struggle is that this pregnancy has been alot harder than my last one. I've had no energy at all throughout!

Positive birth company for an online course :)

I have four children and have four lovely births.

All quite quick - longest being 4 hours, shortest being 30 minutes. Babies born between 36 weeks and 39 weeks. Last one was a 36 weeker and I had gestational diabetes. Was born late Sunday evening and I drove myself home Monday lunchtime. Labours were all quite intense be cause they were short, but didn't need anything more than gas and air. All bahies born in one or two pushes. One was born too fast to have even that. Third baby was probably the worst becaus he was the one that caused the third degree tear and had to have stitches under an epidural. Didn't put me off number 4!

I've had a 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree tear so had to have stitches which healed beautifully with no pain.

Never had to take a single paracetamol in the post partum period even with stitches and mild after pains.

I know that sounds incredibly smug and I am aware I have been very fortunate, but there's four very positive birth experiences for ya!

Yeah, all mine (5) were quick and straightforward with no problems or major interventions (or pain relief - apart from with the first)!

Would happily go through it all again 😀

Oh, they lasted 8.5 hours, 20 minutes, 2.5 hours, 4 hours, respectively.

So I did an online hypnobirthing course (Suffolk babies, would absolutely recommend) and although it feels a bit hippy dippy at the time the science is sound and it worked well during labour. Just remember that the pain isn't harmful in the way that a broken leg is - it's just your body doing it's job ❤️

Second born at home with no pain relief but did hypnobirthing which helped massively. Doesn’t take the pain away but helps you to deal with it and take your mind to a different place! Was longer than my first labour but was so lovely being in the comfort of my own home and getting straight into my own bed with baby after

My first was hard slog. 2nd was about 2 hours beginning to end

Thank you for all your replies.
They have helped me!
Feeling alot of pressure down there today so wondering if things are not too far off now 😮‍💨

Hi OP, I had my two DCs at 31 and 35. DC1 was a natural birth with gas and air and a ventouse and DC2 was an ELCS due to their larger size. Both very different births, both magical and lovely and gorgeous in their own way ♥️

Slept through early labour. Arrived at the MLU to find I was already 7cm. Three hours and a lot of G&A later, DS popped out after five pushes. Absolute dream.

Can I ask how large your second was?
My first was 6.13lbs and they say this one is going to be larger. She's already estimated to be around 7.4lbs and I still have over a week to go!

That sounds like a lovely birth story ❤️

Second birth, bent down to put some washing away and felt my waters pop and they started leaking. Called dh to come home from work and mil to come for eldest. Headed to hospital about an hour later. As I walked into hospital my waters went with a gush and contractions started at full intensity one after another with no break. Went into the room and continued to contract and felt like I needed to push forty minutes later. She was born around five minutes later, didn't need stitches and all was good.

Third was even easier, had no contraction pain at all just woke in the night with my body involuntarily pushing. Sped to hospital panting against my body pushing to try slow it down and he was born in the Assessment room when we got there, waters burst as he was coming out.

Each of mine were almost 2lb bigger than the last and each birth was faster and easier. 6lb, 8lb 0.5 and 9lb 9.5. They were however born at. 36, 38 and 39+5, so had two weeks longer to grow than the last.

2 positive births here aged 32 and 41. Both water births, gas and air, no stitches needed, fairly quick. Try and think positive if you can. I know it's always a worry how things will go. Doing a few hypnobirthing meditations (you can get free ones on YouTube) might help.

Of course, DC2 ended up being pretty much 10lb! They had measured big from the beginning and I’d had various tests without any result that would explain it. However…me and DH are tall. In fact DH is very tall and I think DC2 was just destined to be a tall baby! However, I’m glad that I had an ELCS. I know some larger babies arrive perfectly fine but I knew in my heart that ELCS was the right choice for me on this occasion.

DC2 was 10lb at 39+4 when they were born.

Just to counteract that, DC1 was 8lb 10oz and I delivered them naturally so I’m very much not advocating for sections for any baby over 7lb! It was just the thought of delivering a 10lb baby that made me wince slightly !!

Oh wow! Both super fast births for you!

I did have a look on YouTube last night and had a listen. I might try and remember to take my earphones to the hospital to have a little listen in labour!

Oh woe! 10lbs!
I think I would have gone for the C section in that circumstance!

I'm having a sweep today so wonder if that will get anything moving for me. It didn't work with my daughter though.
I've been having contractions for the past week but they never seem to get regular so obviously just BH 🙈

Haha yes it was definitely the right choice! I was the size of a bus when I was pregnant second time around, my feet quadrupled in size from the swelling alone!

I had two sweeps before DC1 arrived so don’t worry if it doesn’t “work” the first time. Second sweep I went into labour 24 hours later 😊