Rate your first labour from a 1 to 10

[34ransum]

This is a random question, and I'm very aware you can't really objectively quantify a labour and delivery. There will likely have been moments of many emotions and times of pain, worry, relief..

I guess I'd like to know what the average first birth is like. Do we just hear the exciting / horror stories but the majority go smoothly?

I ask as my first labour was an emergency c section, but nothing dramatic. Baby didn't want to come, limited pain as I had the epidural, all was well that ended well. I was disappointed as I had my heart set on a vaginal birth, so I personally didn't feel proud or empowered.

If 1 was a dramatic and painful experience and 10 was the labour I'd hoped for, I'd rate it as a 6 out of 10- all was okay, nothing too eventful, but it wasn't the euphoric natural delivery I'd planned and hoped for.

In this last year, 3 of my SILs, 2 close friends and a few Facebook friends have all had natural and pretty straightforward births. Is this really the norm for 1st timers? Or were they quite lucky?

If you feel like sharing, was your 1st birth easy and wonderful (a 10) or a shit show (1), or somewhere in between?

1st was brillant. At home with a lovely midwife, my husband and mum.

2nd was good. At the hospital because of a breech baby with doctors, nurses, midwifes, my husband and mum.

3rd was ridiculous. At the hospital. Induction 39+0 due to preeclampsia. 36-hour labour ending in an emergency cesarean section. The sh*tshow was with a myriad of doctors, midwifes, nurses, my husband, mum and the two oldet siblings.
The baby was 4.5 kg - which was ridiculous too... - but absolutely cute. Had she been 1st baby I swear we would never have had 3 of them.

Oh my gosh @MumChp ! Fair play having first at home, I'm not sure I'd be brave enough

There are recommendations for home births and discussions with obstetrics and midwifes so we were comfortable with our decision.
We lived 5 minutes walk from a large specialized hospital with delivery and labour wards. It's probably different if you live in the countryside far from a hospital.

I'll give it an 8.5. I was very lucky to have a straightforward vaginal birth with no major complications. The only area it loses points is that I suffered some bad tearing. In the grand scheme of things, I feel I was lucky

1st was a fucking horrific labour but no complications - it was an induction with the hormone drip and zero pain relief, so just an instant onset of searing pain that never eased off - basically one gigantic contraction for the entire duration.

2nd and 3rd were spontaneous labours and both were a walk in the park compared to the 1st. Mostly because natural contractions build, peak and then taper off until the next one.

I would give it a 9, quite quick - about 2 hrs, no tears , up and about straight after - walking the dog while pushing pram within hrs, a point off for being dismissed that the baby was coming and really left to it myself - would have been much better off at home which I was told I couldn't have as 1st baby (realise now that is nonsense)

interesting question, if I'm honest it is a mixed bag.
It took a Looooong time 36+ hours, but, I was at home in a birthing pool.
Pushing at 10cm only took 1 hour, but I tore and needed stitches that were done incorrectly.
So overall probably a 7-8 out of 10 but on the surface no pain relief in a pool at home sounds like it should be higher.

I know you only asked about the first one but DS2 2.5 years later was born in the same birthing pool at the same place in our home in 1.5 hours from start of pain to him being out, a little stitch but def a 10/10 which I know is very lucky.

Labour/birth - 7/10
Postnatal - 10/10
Midwife 1000/10.

Thanks for all answers so far, such interesting reading. Looks like a superb midwife @DidntaskI had a wonderful midwife with my 2nd emergency c section. I just wish she had clocked onto shift 12 hours earlier!!

As luck would have it, I went in to the hospital at 6.30am, midwife started her shift at 7am amd stayed with me until I went onto postnatal at 8pm. I was pretty pathetic in labour tbh, she was so good to me. Kind when I was terrified, and bossy when I was being ridiculous. 😳

1st was a 1. 2nd was an 8.

First was a 6 (8 hours)
Second a 10 (20 minutes)
Third a 2 (3 easy hours)
Fourth & fifth a 6 (4 hours)

First 10/10
Second 9/10*

Both were elective sections (maternal request), so no labour. Very civilised and pleasant with the babies born to my playlist whilst I was in zero discomfort. No issues during section, virtually no blood poss, and easy pain free recoveries. Happily walking round the shops by day 3. Pain free to the extent that I googled 'when do c sections start to hurt'. I took pain killers religiously for about 10 days just in case the pain turned up though.

I loved.my births.

• Marked slightly lower as the spinal wasn't quite as strong this time, so whilst no discomfort/pain, I felt the 'washing up' sensation more, which was mildly disconcerting. Also, I had a little pain on day 2, but that was the uterus contracting I think. It wasn't severe.

First was horrific but that was because it was a back-to-back presentation and wasn’t progressing, I’m guessing about 3/10. Second was a dream in comparison, even though I was induced, 8/10.

Probably a two. Generally not something I would choose to do again.

My back started pinging at 10am Saturday
Built up gradually to Sunday lunchtime. Went to hospital
Waters broke & active labour 6pm Sunday
Passed out from exhaustion (& drugs?) Monday 5am
They lost ds' heartbeat 7.45am Monday
Crash team arrived 7.46, ds delivered 7.47am Monday

I don't remember ds being born. I woke up 2pm Monday to be told I had a boy. It transpired ds was an 8lb (50 percentile) baby with a 95 percentile head and I have narrow hips. At least we both came home in one piece which is all that really matters.

I appreciate everyone sharing, I know some stories are hard to tell ❤️

@BabyboomtasticI'm glad to see you rate your electives so highly. I'll likely have one with DC3 and I've heard their much nicer than emergency ones!

Currently pregnant on my second so just have one labour to note. -1000 for back to back contractions. 10 once I got the epidural and started pushing. It was a really lovely calm experience and I hope for similar with this baby.

1. Straightforward vaginal birth. I was in hospital when my labour started because I was almost 42 weeks. Nobody noticed for about 3 hours that I was in labour and I was too stressed to tell anyone. DC1 was born 2 hours later and I was totally fine afterwards.

First - 5/10. Back to back 24 hour labour, epidural and episiotomy, two hours of pushing and a second degree tear.
Second - 8/10. Went from 2-10cm in just over an hour, delivered very quickly (after a panic bedpush down to delivery suite ) off two paracetamol and a diazepam.
Same midwife present both times.

Mine was a 1 because a lot went wrong

First birth I’m rating 5/10 despite amazing midwives. Very long Labour (over 24 hours), augmented on drip eventually, very long pushing stage and a postpartum haemorrhage.

1st was an 8.5 ( vaginal birth with gas and air, but long and exhausting labour- 8 hours in active labour)
2nd was a 10 done in less than 3 hrs, no tears, no stiches, home after 2 hours and walking to the GPs for the 1st day check pushing the pram 12 hours later- perfect.

First was minus one million out of ten. I would have happily taken a gun and pulled the trigger on myself if someone offered me it.

Second was the best experience of my life. I would do it every day if I could! Rapid normal delivery no drugs. 10000000000000/10.

Third was an induction, was very anxious and it was quite painful but over quite quickly. So I would rate it 7/10.

I was lucky because I had 2 easy, drug free labours. First was back to back, but I can’t honestly say that made a difference.

The second was ridiculously quick and easy.

So interesting to see the variation. It really is SO different for every woman.

A common theme is that 2nd labour seemed better for many!