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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Can anything equal or beat the 'high' of childbirth?

97 replies

earlycomputers · 02/09/2009 12:51

Having had 3 kids, I always feel kind of sad when it's all over - ie the birth. Whether the birth went well or not, having a baby is such amazing experience and I feel can be likened to the feeling people might get if they did some superhuman achievement (eg sail round the world/jump out of a plane etc etc). The feelings of happiness/adrenaline etc if the birth went well is also great. Everything, after having a baby, seems to pale into insignificance...

The question I have is - what can equal or beat the high of having a baby? What have others done that's rivalled this high? I would like some suggestions (only legal ones please and ones that dont involve jumping out of a plane as I dont like heights)!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

lynniep · 02/09/2009 13:50

theres a high??

so not a big gaping sense of absolutely feeling nothing then?

oh well, maybe next time...

belgo · 02/09/2009 13:50

In answer to earlycomputers orignial question:
Reaching Machu Picchu at the crack of dawn, having spent four very tough and painful days hiking to get there. That was incredible.

morningpaper · 02/09/2009 13:51

I definitely had a gaping sense

CMOTdibbler · 02/09/2009 13:55

Many things in my life were better than birth. Certainly wasn't any sort of high, and neither was any point of the pregnancy.

sausagerolemodel · 02/09/2009 13:59

I had the most massive high after the birth, that lasted altogether for 3-4 weeks (although the immediate intensity was greatest in the 24 hours following birth. It was only akin to a non-legal highs that I experienced in my younger years. I was also aware in about the third week after birth that I was "coming down" from the high, and would have moments of clarity in the same way as you get coming down from drugs, (but altogether more gentle) and remember feeling sad during those moments because I wanted the ecstasy of that time to last forever and I was worried I might not feel the same about my daughter afterwards. I did, of course! I had no drugs during the birth (although I had both G&A and spinal block for the placenta removal afterwards) and have often wondered whether I was just lucky in the way my biochemistry worked or whether if I had had interventions/drugs during the birth they might have interfered with that. (I had intended to ask for G&A but it was a HB and the MWs didn't offer and I never thought to actually ask in the end, but if I thought it would interfere with the high, I would avoid it next time too) I would be interested in hearing other opinions on this.

cat64 · 02/09/2009 14:02

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norktasticninja · 02/09/2009 14:18

Just yesterday I was thinking that I'd love to give birth once more, I just mean the labour, not actually having another baby.

Maybe I'm crazy, I don't know, but I enjoy the challenge. It's mind control in the extreme and I love it!

DDs birth was tough at the end, the midwife forced me to push to early and I ended up needing a ventouse delivery and felt quite traumatised. But, up until that point it was great, a truly interesting experience.

DSs birth was fab through and through, short and sweet. I'd do it again this very afternoon!

I really don't want to ever be pregnant again (I hate it) and two is enough children for me so that's that.

belgo · 02/09/2009 14:39

norktasticninja - I experienced a high every time I gave birth, but nothing would make me want to go through labour again!

PinkTulips · 02/09/2009 15:36

funnily enough i feel exactly the same ninja... i despise pregnancy, couldn't do it again and am happy with 3 kids but i'm quite sad i'll never labour again.

and not all 3 of mine were easy, i was ripped and torn inside and out but i loved them.... the sense of power and exhileration that i got from labour were unlike anything i've ever experianced

norktasticninja · 02/09/2009 15:41

lol PT I was just thinking I should have said something about the sense of power!

PinkTulips · 02/09/2009 15:45

he he, at least i'm not the only crazed one then

norktasticninja · 02/09/2009 15:53

oneopinionatedmother · 02/09/2009 20:46

I had a fantastic high with DD1 which lasted until my husband & ILs arrived (long story).
DS felt really happy though wasn't quite the same...much more relaxed time.

i think there a few things in life - once survived a realy bad car accident with 'cuts & bruises' (car ended up upside down facing the wrong way on the road, bent part way round a tree) - that was a phenomenal rush.

though i won't be keen to repeat that one.
I spent my labour with DS reminding myself how good i was going to feel once it was over.

CricketsMum · 02/09/2009 21:07

Didn't feel a 'high' with dd but was definitely energised - 48 hours of no sleep by that point & wasn't tired at all. Amazing experience, but isn't up there from a 'rush' perspective for me (ie didn't give me a rush, rather than not in a rush to revisit)... scuba diving with Manta Rays on the other hand...

mummytowillow · 02/09/2009 21:14

I had a C section so didn't really get the high from giving birth, but when the surgeon held our daughter up for my husband to tell me the sex of our new baby, well words can't explain it, it was wonderful!

Oh and finally seeing the two blue lines come up after three lots of IVF treatment, that was an unbelievable high!!

GreenMonkies · 02/09/2009 21:22

I loved it, DD2 was born at home, drug free and wonderful. Very empowering and euphoric!

MrsMerryHenry · 02/09/2009 21:27

I was as high as a kite after giving birth.

Just as well as my fanjo looked like a hurricane had been through it.

nevergoogledragonbutter · 02/09/2009 21:34

I had no high after childbirth.

The first was more sheer terror.

The second was just a relief.

I was about to say Macchu Picchu but belgo beat me to it and might think i'm copying.

DogAgain · 02/09/2009 21:37

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PacificDogwood · 02/09/2009 21:42

DS1 - induced vag delivery: happy, not high
DS2 - emCS at 31 weeks: worried for him
DS3 - VBAC: MAHOOSIVE high, maybe because I had no meds other than G+A??

Also have had similar high when reaching peak after particularly exhausting near death experience hill climbs.

DogAgain · 02/09/2009 21:42

This reply has been deleted

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NotanOtter · 02/09/2009 21:50

dogagain Noooooooo

well maybe just that whiffing lochia bit

AtheneNoctua · 02/09/2009 22:01

What high from childbirth?

Now skydiving did give me a high. It was sooooooooo much fun. But I think I'm too chicken to do it again.

twirlywhirly · 02/09/2009 22:14

surely not a high,then only high is when you hold the baby in your arms.

emmarussell · 02/09/2009 23:27

The moments/ hours after giving birth to both of my son's was the greatest high I have ever known. All those endorphins and adrenalin! I have taken alot of recreational drugs in my youth and the natural high of childbirth surpassed it all. I felt so elated that it had all gone OK and a huge sense of achievement that I had managed the pain etc... Unfortunately, after any high there is a comedown and for me it was quite bad. I had really bad postnatal depression both times!

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