is there anyone here who have had lovely births????

[psychomum5]

there are so many sad sad threads here of women who have had truly awful times, and someone (sorry, can;t think who now), commented that we only really here the awful stuff and never the nice births.

so, in some type of helpful way, maybe we can have a thread where women can go that can be an encouragement that some births can be lovely and fabuous........VB and CS births.

will post this now and then come and say mine

piprabbit Sounds like a wonderful birth. I remember the slither and the lift onto tummy it is an amazing feeling.

Thanks for asking this psychome5. I don?t think I have ever talked about it, as you say most people like to hear the horror stories.

I have always been blessed with large hips and giving birth made we see why. It was really easy. I had been to aqua natal and that really helped with the breathing.

I had contractions on the Thursday but they were no too bad so I packed DH off to work as usual. I sat down and watched telly with good old Radio 4 in the background. I remember looking in the cot thinking there is going to be a little me in therer soon. Me a mum?

By 3pm I was thinking perhaps DH should come back. Called him, he was in total shock (not sure why he had 9 months to get ready). His train was delayed, he was hot sweaty and panicked. This made me smile I was in control and he was not. I then made him sit down and have a descent meal.

I had bath, did my hair I was ready. I left it quite late to go to hospital, the contractions only 2 minutes apart. I remember then as period pains not much more painful than that. I think the gas and air is just for the DS to keep him occupied as it didn?t really help. What surprised me is the contractions do stop so you get a breather. At one point I was nearly asleep. I thought it was going to be continuous pain.

When your waters break that is a really weird feeling. It?s as if someone has flushed the toilet inside you. When your body is ready it will push. This surprised me I thought I would have some control over it but I didn?t. After 20 minutes actual pushing he as out. The relief is amazing.

DH said the delivery room looked like there had been a murder there was so much blood. I have no memory of that. The cup of tea and toast is the best you will ever have.

The only thing I would change would be to have a private room in the NHS hospital as I was next to a lady who could snore and this made be very

My first birth was ok but slightly traumatic (prolonged pushing stage, ventouse, episiostomy) however the next two were lovely experiences.

I was actually induced at 14 days overdue with ds. Had the gel at 1pm started to get tingly feelings straight away, by 4pm was getting regular contractions but were totally bearable, was examined and was 6cm dialated, went onto the delivery ward at about 6.30pm put strictly come dancing on the tv, just after the theme tune contractions stepped up a gear (how annoyed was I, it was the results show and everything)had to push gave birth to a lovely 10lb6oz baby boy at 7.50pm, small tear no stitches, had the most WONDERFUL bath and was home by 10.30pm. Only had (alot) of g&a and tens pain relief.

dd2 was even better. went into labour spontaneously (I was sooo thrilled!) at 2 days overdue. started getting contractions at about 1.30am, spent the next 2 hours on the computer playing minesweeper and posting on MN. Put on the TENS machine at about 3.30am, rang the hospital at 4, they asked if I was coping with the pain (I was) so they told me to have a couple of paracetamol, have a bath and ring back in an hour. Hung up the phone and decided I was going to ignore them and go in, contractions were about 3 mins apart by now and I just knew I wouldn't last another hour. Got to the hospital at 4.40am, did all the paperwork (blood pressure etc) had a few jokes with the midwife, got examined and was told I was fully dialated, next contraction had to push. Midwife sat at the bottom of the bed and didn't say a word, just let me get on with it. DD2 born at 5.40am,no tears, I was home at 9.30am a truly wonderful experience I would do it all again right now if I could

DS - I was induced post dates and I was really anxious - he was back to back and the epidural didn't do a lot. The one thing I didn't want was pethidine but they gave me some after discussion and I relaxed - everything just happened after that and I was fully awake and with it and pushed him out with no real problem

DD - I started with very mild contractions at lunchtime - had a bath and they were still coming every 30 minutes or so. Went for a lovely walk with DH and DS on the beach, came home had tea and then because we had to leave DS to a friend's house and it was approaching his bedtime we went to hers and then to hospital. When I was with my friend she didn't believe I was in labour as I stood chatting for about 20 minutes (contracting every 10) and just held onto the door frame and breathed deeply when it was there. Arrived at hospital about 8pm and was about 3cm so had another bath and stayed there until I had gone distinctly prune like. Got the G&A then and a TENS machine and paced about while DH watched Match of the Day. Examined again just before midnight as contractions coming faster - still playing with TENS and G&A were enough. The next thing they said I was ready and then the MW said she could see the head and I remember wondering how because I hadn't actually started pushing! She slid out and I saw first that it was a girl and I said so and then "she's beautiful" She still is. It was lovely. So why am I so stressed about next time in May? (probably because I'm a whole lot older now!)

I always giggle when I remember the day DD was born. I spent the morning of my due date quickly finishing last minute errands, went home for lunch and a laze on the sofa. I felt a pop! The waters had broke so I gently rolled off (DH was in the floor below, came running up at the thud on the floor!), as I was scared it might gush, and toddled off to the bathroom. At that point I told DH, I think the waters have broken but there are no contractions but I am meant to call it in as they start to watch the clock. The hospital said that I had to go in to check that the waters had broke and I told DH that we had to go in but I didn't see the point... then the contractions started. Off we went to the car and I started to time my contractions... must have gotten it wrong - three and a half minutes! By time we got to the hospital on the other side of town (10 min drive), they were down to three minutes. Made our way across the road inbetween contractions (DH smacked the car in the pavement, most unlike him )and went to the birthing unit. Checked in and was seen by ob. who told me they may have to move me to the next town as v.busy. I remember lying there thinking - well, I don't know much about this but not sure if I can make it. DD was born in under 2 h (waters breaking to delivery of placenta). To think of all the weeks of preparation... we had tennis balls for massage DD plays with them now... Have been warned that I will probably not make it to hospital next time, so maybe a homebirth?

I have to read this thread in very short stages because I end up crying (am 31 wks with DC1).

Thank you all for your wonderful posts. They are so encouraging. I have also forwarded this thread on to a friend who is nearing full-term and panicking about the labour in the hope that it has the same effect on her.

My son's birth was amazing. I had a long first stage where I moved around my living room with my DH as I needed to. The contractions were not too bad, I just needed to stop for a minute and breathe and then got back on with moving around. DD was in and out with my mother, drawing pictures of me!

When the contractions started to get painful I had my mother and DH on either side rubbing my stomach and back and encouraging me, whilst the midwives stayed at the kitchen table. I only had an hour of painful contractions before I felt the need to push and moved to the sofa. Once there I went into a world of my own, I could feel him descending with every push but it wasnt painful and I didnt feel the need to make any noise. When I felt his head was near the exit I called over the midwives and let them deliver it. I was brought out of my trance when I heard his first cry and my mum called out 'he's here'. He was put on my chest and everyone said I put my head up immediately with the goofiest smile. The midwives said it was like a little girl at Xmas who got everything she wanted. And I did , I have never felt a rush of love like it (DD's birth was not as positive and I didnt feel like I bonded with her for at least a month).

Afterwards the midwives said it was a perfect gentle birth and tried to persuade DH to write about it to persuade other DH's that homebirth was ok.

I had an amazing time with DD. She was an elective section and I was worried that it would be overmedicalised, but it was wonderful.

Everyone was fab. The anaesitist was lovely and lifted my head and shoulders up so that I could see DD being born. DH had skin-to-skin and all was wonderful.

Very, very, happy memories. xx

I am glad to have found this thread. I am 40+2 with DC1 and sh*tting myself. In fact I am almost sure I was on the verge of being in labour in the night, and panicked myself out of it!! Must read and re-read this thread repeatedly....