What was the best bit about giving birth?

[dizietsma]

Let's have a little balance for all the nervous new mums here, myself included. Obviously, meeting your new baby is the most fantastic thing about giving birth, but what else was good?

Having another one and forgetting the pain you have to go through the first time!!!!! (me after baby no.4 )

The epidural and then of course meeting my baby girl!

Lol jabm - I loved the epidural too! Wasn't going to have one but risk of e cs so consultant suggested it might be a good idea and as soon as it kicked in I thought WHY didn't I have this straight away? But although it was painful, I loved the fact that the whole world came down to the room, me, my dh and our new baby. Really magical.

Hearing her heartbeat motoring away strongly every time she was monitored. Fantastically reassuring. Kept me going through deserts of vast eternity.

The birthing ball! Fab contraption and I will purchase one for home use for my next birth...

Lovely midwives who were so caring and considerate, I felt totally protected and at ease the whole time I was in the delivery suite (about 28 hours), I knew my baby was Ok as he was monitored so well and I completely trusted the midwives and doctors, they were stars......

With DS1 it was the the lovely lovely man who gave me the epidural and with DS2 it was the feeling of him wooshing out and knowing that I'd done it all by myself that time with no medical intervention

Tommy.....same here! DS1 was 5 weeks early because of PE and so needed an epidural. Teams of nurses swooped in when he was born and whisked him away from me. Just hearing the tiny 'aah' he made was SOOOO reassuring and I knew he would be fine although he was in SCBU for a week.

Second time round was totally natural without complications. No gas and air - nothing. I was so proud of myself and when I gave birth in water I was really chuffed. He was handed to me and we bonded in water for 20 mins. DH was there and it was perfect.

Laughing about it afterwards. Look at this thread

Watching DH just hold her afterwards whilst I was delivering the placenta/being stitched and he couldn't take his eyes off her will never forget the look on his face.

I am very envious of him he got to see everything (said it was amazing) without the pain. I'm shocked cos I thought he would have been up the head end all the while.

The cup of tea afterwards and seriously, with DS1, it was the rush of love I felt, just as he was born. I have never felt anything like it - truly out of this world.

With DS2, it was such a relief that he was OK - I was three weeks over and starting to obsess that things were going wrong.

Ah, forgot to mention pethidine - worked for me by taking the edge off the pain.

The way the pain stops the instant the baby pops out

Watching my mum cry as Darcie was born!

Oooh yes - that cup of tea is the best tasting tea ever!!!

Gas n Air too.... Lovely floaty stuff.

The excitement when it all starts.

The first few giggly intakes of gas and air.

The total absolutely mind blowing feeling when you see that little person for the first time who has just come OUT OF YOU!!!!

I will forever be amazed!

Not being pregnant any more, such a relief.

Definitely agree about not being pregnant anymore.

The huge sense of achievement that I'd grown a whole new person and feeling very close to DH as we cuddled our little boy

The half hour after my waters broke and before dh got home - I was ecstatically happy and excited.

The pool - Go pools!

Feeling completely myself again about 3 seconds after ds emerged.

Most of the things I was scared of either not happening or being infinitely less awful than I thought - e.g. tearing.

with ds, the way he was delivered straight onto my tummy, screaming happily after rather a tense ventouse/forceps episode. with dd, pushing her out myself in 10 minutes & watching the amazed expression on dp's face as i did. epidural was wonderful both times!

Touching the warm sticky head as it was starting to crown. Wow! Nothing like it.

time off work and the great drugs

Meeting the new baby, seeing what it looks like, finding out what sex it is. Seeing what pressies all your friends and family bring for the new baby!

the epidural - tommy, i also had a lovely anaesthetist
fantastic, encouraging care. a great mw who let me cling on to her in pain and really 'spurred me on' during pushing
the sense of calm and momentousness that descended after he was there. my little angel, all curled up and smeared with vernix and blood, so beautiful with his wide eyes and little cry, was put on my tummy and we said hrllo, then whisked off to be checked over. i turned to the clock, looked at the time (nobody'd been checking) and thought 'a new era dawns - now begins my new life'. amazing.

best bit - just after when you know it's over.

really best bit ever - just after dd3 knowing i would never do it again.

sorry i am so un-reassuring to first time mums I am in danger of being banned from mumsnet.

The amazing feeling of recognition you get when you meet your baby - she was no stranger to me, I felt she'd always been a part of my life, like we were all truly meant to be together.

Listening to DH talk to her whilst I was being stitched up

Gas and air - fantastic.

How proud I feel that despite all my doubts about being able to get through it, I did.

The fact that DH was in awe of me for weeks afterwards (doesn't last so milk it)

And not being pg any more and (in theory) being able to touch my toes again!