Any happy lovely childbirth stories out there?

[HolyGuacamole]

OK, long story short. Planning children in the near-ish future, I am completely and irrationaly terrified of any type of medical procedure and the thought of childbirth is like "whoa, ultra mega scary" and that's an understatement.

So does anyone have any really positive birth stories where things went really smoothly and to plan, (preferably with as little gory detail as possible)?

Mine wasn't quite to plan as DS was too impatient and turned up at 35 weeks, but I had a great labour. Started labour about 7pm, DS born at 6am, didn't have any pain relief at all until I was 6cm and it was about 11pm, and didn't have or want more than gas and air.

Even though I had to stay on the bed as was on continual monitoring, I still had the dark, peaceful labour I wanted, even though it was totally different to my hippy waterbirth at birthing centre plan.

there is a thread somewhere called positive birth stories, if you search the archives, with loads and loads of lovely, happy birth stories

you also need to find specific counselling for tokophobia

Holy, definitely. If you haven't considered it before I strongly recommend hypnobirthing. I'm not a HB practitioner BTW! I was just someone who was into and open to complementary medicines and a bit skeptical two years ago yet open to it too. My story (briefly as on lunch). I did HB (listened to tape as much as poss, practised the breathing) before DS1's birth nearly two years ago. The day before I was to be induced (not in birth plan) I went into labour naturally bout 9am. Started very slow and not painful at all so I walked round the house continuously (I kid you not!) for about nine hours. DP came home early afternoon and watched a bit of TV with him. Around 7:30pm DP started panicking a bit that my contractions getting stronger. I wasn't sure but probably were and we had a long trip to hospital. We went. I got there and midwife didn't seem to believe I was in labour. Then she examined me and changed her mind as I was 6cms dilated. Result! After that got in birth pool and continued HB breathing. DS1 swam up to me just under six hours later. I won't say it was completey pain free, it was during the last hour before pushing a bit painful, definitely not agony or anything and something I felt I could get through. I used the gas and air from this point but overall I truly loved my birth. It went to plan and I was so lucky but also I do really believe the HB helped so much. The biggest thing it helps with is in keeping you calm and not panicking cos once or twice I forgot it and panicked and everything got much harder for a few minutes. I am doing it again as DS2 due in two months. Part of me thinks I can't be so lucky again but I would realy recommend both HB and a water birth to you or to anyone.

Yes, I had an horrific first birth. When I found myself pregnant again, 15 months after the first baby was born I was utterly determined that a repeat experience was not going to happen!

So I spent the months leading up to the birth preparing by going to NCT labour classes and reading books about how to manage without drugs. I planned to have a home birth too.

I woke up in labour the morning of my due date. My contractions were manageable and I started breathing through them as I had been told to do. I called the midwife and she came a few hours later and checked me - think I was about 4cm dilated. She helped me to get my breathing right. I felt reasonably fine and was able to talk in between. My baby was posterior as she had been for a few weeks and I was worried that this would cause problems later but the MW told me not to worry. About 6 hours in, the MW decided I should go into hospital because my blood pressure was up.

At the hospital the homebirth midwife stayed with me throughout and tried to keep doctors etc out (I really didn't want intervention)! I got in the birthing pool in an attempt to soften things up to minimise risk of tearing.

It took a while for me to get to 6cm and then I dilated to 9cm in the next 45 minutes! At this point I wanted to get out of the bath and I was struggling to get into a position that I was comfortable in. I was worried because my waters had not yet broken, but the MW said that this didn't matter, did not mean things were not progressing well and that it was actually much nicer for the baby for the fluid to stay intact for as long as possible. At this point I was tearful, making odd noises and the MW said she could see I was in transition.

Finally, I got comfortable lying on my side (before this I had not let myself lie down at all and I kept upright and active). I then had two very painful contractions (during which the MW informed me that I was clenching my bum together - I was afraid of tearing). Then my waters broke and dd2 shot out. I did not consciously push at all but I felt 'something' push her out by itself.

I delivered the placenta about 10 minutes afterwards naturally (and had very little bleeding in the weeks afterwards). Then I stood up and could not believe how normal I felt compared with the first time!

Thanks very much

I shall check out the other thread too....it's so nice to read about positive stories! Liking the sound of this waterbirthing and will def read into hypnobirthing! Well, not liking but you know what i mean

I've had 2 great births - DD was born after about 4 hrs (and 3 pushes), and DS2 was born after 2.5 hours and about the same number of pushes.

In all of mine I've used the birthing pool to labour, and delivered on 'dry land', keeping upright and active and focussing on my breathing and keeping as relaxed as possible. I sort of go into a 'zone' - not really sure what it's called.

I've just used gas and air, which is amazing really as I have a zero pain threshold in RL and need diazepam for a filling at the dentist

I had 3 good births,

DD1- in hospital in a birthing pool, 5.5hrs no pain relief and no damage
DD2- at home in bedroom, 1hr 40 gas&air and no damage
DS- at home in kitchen, 25mins, no pain relief ( or midwife!) and no damage.
Everyones experiences are different but you can reduce the risks for yourself and your baby by being as healthy as you can, look after your body and mind, research your options and have lots of support (if poss) A good thread to read is also the one on women being educated about childbirth.

I just had my 2nd child by c-section (5 weeks ago) and it was lovely. Seriously. You don't often hear people say that, but it was. And I am ultra squeamish and sacred of needles, btw!

scared...not sacred!?

I had my dd 5 months ago and was in labor for 3 days. I am not gonna lie. It was painful but there is a lot of drugs that do really help a lot with it. I did it on just gas and air and in birthing pool towards the end. The gas and air is great. im not just saying thar. It really was for me anyway. It didnt make me giggle or anything just helped a lot with the pain. I wouldnt let it out my sight lol.

I had no complications apart from a 2nd deg tear which was no bother at all and healed very well and quickly and all back to nomal downstaries in no time.

DD was born very very healthy. She was fine during labour and after. It just went v. smoothly.

Despite the pain it is without doubt the BEST experince of my whole life and i will just love to go though it all again to relive it coz i am starting to forget. Every night i reply it in my mind just to try and keep remembering it.

I am i wuss but when labor started i didnt feel scared but really strong and felt i can do it. Its my biggest achievement by far.

Giving birth to my ds was a much better experience than I'd anticipated & I'm actually looking forward to doing it again. My waters broke at 0930 when I was almost 37 weeks. Phoned hospital then had breakfast, shower, dried hair then went to hospital. I wasn't in any pain worth mentioning until about 1430 & ds was born with no pain relief at 1730. No stitches afterwards & I was back in pre pregnancy jeans within a week. I am the biggest wimp going usually & thought I'd be begging for an epidural within minutes but had a really positive empowering experience.

I`was also back in me size 8s a week later and my stretch marks have pratically faded away.

I cant wait for the nxt one and cant wait for labour again

i had a great labour with my dd, 26 hours from start to finish with no pain relief except tens machine which i loved. i went into a peaceful state between pushes and delivery was fine. had to have my waters broken which was fine and cathoter was sore but no problems.
worst part for me was last hour before i could push when i was sick.
all well worth it to have my lovely dd.

I am gobsmacked to hear people saying they cannot wait to go through it again! Wow! That is definitely positive! So glad I asked this question, every post I read is making me feel better

Thanks to everyone for responding, it really is helpful. I know it probably sounds daft to ask such a thing when I am not even pregnant but I wanted to check it all out beforehand and to have confirmation that women can and do have really good experiences.

I am thinking far ahead and love the sound of homebirth, pool, hypnotherapy and gas and air and am gonna do lots of research plus a visit to my GP for a chat

I had two really good births.

The first was about 7 hours, start to finish; a little bit of Gas and Air during the pushing bit. Minimal tearing and no stitches. Absolutely brilliant for a first birth although I remember my overriding feeling throughout was one of fear (I kept getting fobbed off by midwives who didn't think I was in 'real' labour) and that did make it very hard to cope with the contractions- I was fighting them and trying to get away from the pain.

My second birth was at home, in a birthing pool. About 5 hours, no drugs. This time, there was no fear. I had absolute confidence in my body and just went with it. It was a pleasant experience, up until the last hour which was intense and very painful.

I would love to have another go at giving birth but don't think we're going to have any more children so I shall just have to cherish the memories of the two I've already had. They are up there with the best, most exhilarating and wonderful moments of my life.

Slightly alternative one: I had an induction, epidural and DS was born alive and well. Fabulous. Both midwives cried.

I've had 4. First was scary due to cmlications that are rare but even then there wasn't mass pain or anything like that.

Second was lovely- NHS unit, aromatherapy, slow but almost pain free until latests stages

third 4 hours over and done could have gone home (was annoyed I couldnt geta discharge - paed not there- as wanted to go to a baptism)

ds4- 35 minutes at home, MW and doula, school run later that day.

That do ya? LOL

ds - baby facing the wrong way around and I had very high blood pressure (have forgotten the name of that bad blood pressure thing they thought I had). Woke up with contractions, lounged in the bed and bath all morning, went for a short lunchtime walk, went into hospital, baby arrived 28 minutes later. Gas only, felt great, could have happily done it all over again straight away. Was fab, I loved it, it still makes me smile!

For me, absolutely fantastic experience. I've done it 9 times and would love to do it again. (2 inductions and 7 spontaneous).
Sooo scarily exciting when you know that labour has started. Hard work and teeth gritting determination. Exhausted exhilaration when you push your baby's head into the world and then the final push as the rest slithers out. Wondrous amazement as the little being is given to you and gazes into your eyes immediately and roots for it's first feed.
Ooooh I'm going all tingly.

Mine
First baby, contractions at home mostly, everything went smoothly and I remember it as a lovely day.
The pain was pain but because I knew what was causing it it wasn't so bad. Pain since has been very scary as I've been worried about what it signifies.
Coming over all hippy-ish but don't see it as a medical procedure (it isn't!)see it as your body doing what it's designed to do!

9 times!! Wow! That is impressive! Ladies like you make me feel like a woos but in a nice way if you know what I mean Great to read of these nice experiences!!

I have had 2 lovely births, never had more than tens for pain relief, thinking of having another baby so I can try gas and air! Cannot recommend a home water birth enough, I didn't have stitches either time and my second stage (pushing) for DD was just 6 mins! I actually enjoy giving birth, apart from the few minutes of transition when I say things like Make it stop!

Hi I added this to another similar post the other day....

I had a VERY easy and quick labour, well deserved id say after a terrible constant sickness every minute of every day throughout the whole pregancy!!!!
Everyone said it was going to be horrible as was my first etc etc but....

11 days early and 4 hours long with NO pain relieve... was lovely!!!!
I say 4 hours but my water broke at just gone 8am and my daughter was out at 11:37am, they nearly didnt get me into the delivey room in time lol

I was scared as was only 21 (gave birth day after my 21st) but she had to get out somehow! I just kept telling myself that Id done the 9 months (well nearly) and then had the rest of my life to enjoy with my little bundle of joy so this was the smallest part of having a baby. Dont go into it thinking its going to be bad as it prob wont be as bad as you expect but dont go in thinking its going to be well easy otherwise every little pain will feel worse than it is as will be unexpected (if that makes sense to you!!) Think of how many people have done it over and over again so it cant be that bad, certainly hasnt put me off.
Just enjoy it :-)

i had a great pregnancy and birth...contractions started at about 6.30am, was at hospital by 8am having contractions every minute. (dont think the midwife believed me at first!!) i had a beautiful baby boy at 12.30 lunch time. ds was back to back so the midwife said he took a bit more pushing than was usual and i did have to have some stitches (which i found worse than the actual labour!!) but other than that it was a wonderful experience! because of this i am now shi**ing bricks about this one in case it comes just as quick!!!