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?

[janeybops]

just a note about the not drinking. I was having coffe made for me by the midwife in the earlier stages.

[flowerfairy]

When ds was snuggled inside my nightie against my skin, it's a feeling I never want to forget

[meggymoo]

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[Ags]

I am the biggest scaredy cat in the whole world and have an almost phobia of doctors, hospitals etc. However, even though everyone said I had a hard time and did eventually end up with an emergency caesarean, I loved every single moment of the whole thing.

I felt loved and cared for and special throughout the whole process.

By the way I am reading this back and marvelling at how soppy that sounds but it is really true. I had a great birth experience.

My biggest advice is know lots before it happens. I watched Discover Health until I think I could have performed the caesarean myself! I knew all the things that were happening and I believe that helped me to keep relaxed.

I was in hospital with high bh when they decided to induce and the moment that sticks most in my head is when one of the midwives said "GEt your baby bundle together, you'll meet your baby later today". Still makes me cry.

Favourite moments were when I beat my dh on a quiz even though I was in agony. His face was a picture! And of course the moment when I finally saw my beautiful boy.

Sorry to go on but you've opened the floodgates here!!

[pinotgrigio]

Having my baby. My DD is the best thing that has EVER happened to me. EVER. I would go through the stirrups, 32 hour labour, days without sleeps, stitches, piles, sleepless nights (for 2.5 years) and everything else, all over again, because she is so worth it. Nothing else comes close.

[angie0201]

to be honest i went through 20 hours of labour and i enjoyed every bit. was painful but as i had each pain i knew dd was coming ever ccloser and to see her look up at me with those helpless eyes and know she depended on me for everything what a lovely feeling cant wait to it all again get goose pimples thinking about it

[mandyc66]

the best bit is that final swwosh when baby is born!! Its lovely and then of course holding baby for the first time and Dh crying with joy!!!

[milward]

Actually getting through it & feeling like you've done the best in the world.

[dizietsma]

Thanks so much for the positivity guys! At 37 weeks the whole prospect of birth is a little daunting to me, some of your comments have been very reassuring. I have to say I cannot let myself look at the thread about the worst bit about giving birth because I just know it'll majorly freak me out and I'm trying to minimise my birth=horrible mental associations at the mo.

[highlander]

the spinal. Felt amazing. And the casual paediatrician. She said 'he's totally fine - shall we let Dad take some phtots before we bundle him up?' It's great - we have loads of photos of DS all gooey. Screaming his head off. The writing was on the wall there.....

[Pruni]

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[evansmummy]

The end, when the feeling of being so full up downstairs you're gonna burst goes, and you have your baby in your arms, and you feel so proud of yourelf for doing it. Well worth all the 'worst bits'!!

[alux]

the end product.

the rest was crap for me - pre-eclamsia, induction, midwife giving me codeine (which I would have said no to if I knew what it was as it makes me unable to speak and think coherently) nearly having an epileptic fit which then ed to a ventouse.

[snafu]

The tea and toast. No question.

Oh, okaaaay. The bit where all of a sudden there's this brand new person staring up at you, and you actually made him/her, and they're a total stranger and yet you've known them all your life, and all of a sudden you know exactly what love is and how it feels to know you would happily die for someone. And all this happens in the space of a couple of seconds - and then you get the tea and toast.

That's pretty cool.

[compo]

How i longed for tea and toast. My midwife just warmed up dh's half empty cup of tea for me

[evansmummy]

lol, snafu!

[mogwai]

Tea and Toast? I got bugger all - husband had to go out to MacDonalds and returned with cold chips and a melted McFlurry

Epidural turned my labour around from pain and distress to total calm. Pushing the baby out was the easiest and most exciting part. When they put her on my chest, I was overwhelmed.

[highlander]

funny snafu - 'the brand new person that's utterly reliant on you' totally freaked me out. I felt like saying to DS, 'I think your father is the best person to look after you for a while cos your scaring me with your helplessness'.

[starrynight]

The whole entire thing was absolutely amazing, awe inspiring, empowering and something I will never ever forget.

[Stilltrue]

Ds1 being totally awake for hours after he was born (at 2am)and the 2 of us just staring calmly at each other through to dawn and beyond, each just drinking in the newness of it all. I swear his eyes followed me round the ward even that first day.
being able to say "my son" to the world.

[Nik72]

After all the pushing & wailing "I can't do it" and "give me an episiotomy PLEEEAAASE" suddenly I could feel the head with my hand and suddenly was back in control.
The bath afterwards was fab, the midwife left & DH put on some music & cuddled our dd while I had a nice soak.
This is a nice thread, even after posting about the bad bits on the other one .

[mumfor1sttime]

I think the best bit for me was the relief! Seriously - I had emergency c section and I was glad that my ds was safe and in my dh arms. Also it was a nice feeling going home together- walking through the front door with our new ickle boy.

[bumpylump]

The birthing pool was bliss, it's amazing the relief it gives you, especially if you get your partner to pour warm water on your tummy during contractions. Also the pushing stage, loved it in a strange way the excitement that your nearly there and then seeing your baby's and partners eyes in those first few minutes afterwards. Nothing like it in the world.