Want to hear a really positive birth story?

[CantThinkofFunnyName]

My best friend had a baby boy on Monday 26 April, bang on his due date. Her second DC by IVF. I was present at the first and tbh, it was amazing and "pretty easy" for her. The second birth was quite incredible and should give inspiration, particularly to first time mums out there that it doesn't always have to be intensely painful and/or animal like screaming that you see on One Born Every Minute.

So the story goes....

She woke about 5am needing to poo - which she did (tmi)! Then realised her tummy was tightening. Tinse of backache, period pain like cramps, but not bad at all. Got back into bed, couldn't sleep, realised the tightenings were regular but not painful AT ALL. Just the same as she'd been having for weeks. Her husband woke up and said, why are you awake, you in labour? She I think I might be. Tightenings are regular, but doesn't hurt at all, so we've got a while. They went downstairs had a cup of tea. Repacked hospital bag, called mum, called another friend who was going to be present at the birth. All the time, talking and walking absolutely fine. No intensity in pain (barely any at all), but she knew the tightenings were every 5 minutes and each time just like a period cramp. I should point out that she has always had really bad period pains .

Anyway, called the hospital, they said to come in. She got to hospital about 10am after faffing around, drinking more tea and thinking, nah, I've got ages yet, it just doesn't hurt. Midwife examined her at 10:15 and said, oh, you're not going anywhere, you're 6cm dilated. You've got another contraction now haven't you? My BF said, really? Can't feel it.

Midwife said "Fancy the birthing pool?" Alright, she said. Walked to the pool, got in, no breaks in walking, chatting away. Smiled in the water - nice and warm, lovely. Oooh, she said, I think the baby is coming out. A minute later she screwed up her nose and said OUCH! Note I said she SAID ouch. Didn't shout or scream it. The baby's head and shoulders came straight out. 10:56. 10:57 baby completely born.

I still can't quite believe it. More than a little , but so incredibly proud of my very best friend.

How's that for a positive birth story? Wish my 3 could have been so easy

that was beautiful! thank you for sharing!

Wow. Congrats to your friend. that is like a dream birth. What's her secret - is she mega fit or just have a mega high pain tolerance. Or is she one of the 'lucky' few?

But it is lovely to hear stories like that, instead of all the horror stories. especially for me who is 33 weeks pg with my first and dreading it all.....

congrats again

lovely story, but your friend was incredibly lucky to have no pain, very lucky.

I think she's just plain lucky tbh. She certainly isn't mega fit, doesn't have a high pain tolerance. Bitter sweet though as she'd love to have more because her labours are so easy but being IVF - she just can't afford it!

I have two wonderful birth experiences.

Honestly, in neither case could I have asked for anything better and I wouldn't change a thing in either case.

I have nothing but wonderful, wonderful memories of those two days.

Both were CSs, both elective. Not everyone's choice, but it worked for me and I wouldn't ever change a thing!

Harimo - my last (DC3), 4 months ago was an elective CS too. First wasn't great, second was really super and third rather surreal. I think everyone's experience is different, every labour and pregnancy. I just couldn't quite believe my friend's. Very very lucky indeed .

Thanks!!!! I am PG and I seem to have been reading some real shockers recently

LUCKY FRIEND!!!!!!

Ok here's mine... DC3 born 2 weeks ago...

On Friday night was having CX but no worse than the BH I'd been having for weeks - except they didn't stop when I sat down to rest. At 10pm said to DH should we call someone to come and sleep here to look after older DC incase have to go to hospital - both decided no point as it was probably BH.

At 3am still very mild but couldn't get to sleep, went to toilet and had a show, hospital said come in so called our nanny to come and stay and we went to hospital.

Arrived at hospital at 4.30am - me apologising to midwifes that I was wasting their time as it was probably just BH. Contractions still not painful but couldn't sleep through them IYSWIM.

Midwifes agreed early on in labour left us on our own. At around 5.30am they were a little stronger asked for G&A but still not particularly painful and still irregular, chatting away normally to DH inbetween them, just having a little suck on G&A at start of each one then breathing through them.

At 6.35am asked for midwifes to come into room and for them to fill the pool but they stil though I wasn't in eatablished labour (I was too calm) and anyway it was too late, minutes later my waters broke, and DC3 (DS2) came down birth canal in around 90 seconds. Had a total of maybe 5 painful contractions in whole labour and even then wasn't that bad. Did not feel any need to scream / shout / swear / complain - apparently only thing I said (other than chatting - was telling midwifes previous birth stories!!!!) was "I can feel the baby in my bottom!"

No stitches, brusing, swelling either. Tiny 1st degree tear that healed itself within a few days.

I attribute the easy birth in part to me not being fearful at all - and hence being able to embrace each contraction, I think as a result of doing extensive reading, particularly of Ina May Gaskin's books, which I read several time and they contain lots of lovely birth stories!

Hats off to you MumNWLondon. Congratulations on your new baby btw. I can't say any of mine have been even relatively pain free - am uber .

Love it, that is such a brilliant story, so often people concentrate on what can go wrong and 'brag' about the pain (which everytime they tell it it seems to get 10xworse!!!!)
just lovely! Well done!

What a great thread!
I'm going to jump on board and tell my bith story!...
Woke about 2am with a tightening pain across my tummy. I thought I needed the loo! went for a wee (tmi!), went back to bed. 10 mins later, had it again. Thought that this could be it (!), so thought best thing to do was try and rest. Dosed until 5am when they got a bit more intense and I felt I needed to move around. Went to hospital at 7am (when contractions were 5 mins apart). I remember thinking they would examine me and sned me home, as it didn't seem that bad. When examined I was 7cm dilated!
Was put in a lovely (clean) birthing room. Had birthing ball, mats etc, as well as cd player ( & cd selection if desired) and a kettle with tea & coffee.
Birth was straight forward, only needed gas & air. My midwife was lovely and so supportive. DS started crying a soon as he appeared and I got to have lovely cuddles with him straight away. Midwife helped him latch on for a feed (really gently, no grabbing boob!).
For those interested, this was at Ipswich Hospital.

For anyone reading this who has one on the way, I hope it has reassured you. Birth can be an amazing experience. Just try and relax and go with it.
Also I love being a mum so much, it really is the best job in the world!

I love these birth stories! Please can we have more positive ones?

I'm expecting my first baby and am sick of everyone focusing on pain and the negatives of birth (especially on TV). This is NOT to detract from the awful experiences that people can have - my Mum had a terrible birth experience, and it can be very traumatic, I'm not denying that at all.

It just seems that, for the lucky people who don't have complications, the more relaxed and confident you are, the easier and happier an experience it is - and this can only be reinforced by lovely positive birth stories.

Our NCT teacher says people often don't share their positive stories for fear of sounding smug. But I want to hear more! I'm considering starting a thread to request them...

Glad to have obliged on starting this thread ! Wish I'd heard these type of stories 11 years ago with my first.

Lovely birth stories, and I can join you with both of mine

With DD1 it was almost exactly as houmous's was - woke at 3am, went back to sleep til 5am, in hospital at 7am - 9cm dilated and DD was born at 10.17am, with just G&A as pain relief. Healthy 9lb 9oz, one tiny tear, no stitches.

DD2, who is 5 weeks old today, was even easier. Woke at 5am, got to hospital at 6.45am, in birthing pool an hour later and DD2 was born at 8.12am. Again just G&A. No tears at all this time and she weighed 9lb 3oz. She latched on straight away - and has barely come up for breath since!!

I have had two good birth's
The first one was not exactly txt book but I woke at 1am with waters breaking, cc started, went to hospital because I was told I had too because my waters had broke. I lounged around the hospital then at about 11.30pm I told the mw the pain was starting to hurt and she looked I was 9cms she rushed me down to delivery ward ds born at 12.30pm Gas and air no stitches he latched on perfectly. But we had a bit of a surprise because he was born star gazing and no one even realized he was op.

DD cc started about 4pm they kept on most of the day went in too hospital at 12.30 not because I was finding it difficult but because the cc were on after the other and I wanted to check sadly only 4cms but 1.40 I said the pain was starting to get worse at 1.43 I wanted to push dd born at 1.46 no tear and she again latched on brilliantly. I am very lucky I only hope more were as lucky.

Wow Rindercella , both 9 pounders with G&A! I was chuffed with my 8lb 2onz, on G&A

Just goes to show that even bigger baby births don't have to be a nightmare!

In addition to good birthing stories we should have a thread for good hospitals. They can make the difference between a good or bad birth

My two c-sections were both positive birth experiences. The second was an emergency section but I still have positive feelings towards the birth and wasn't scared at all.

I had my DS2 6 months ago and had a very positive experience. I woke at 3.05am and needed the loo. I soon realised that actually I could feel a head and I was in labour. I gave birth to him on the bedroom floor 45 mins later. Very quick and fairly painfree for me, MW managed to bring G&A for the last 2 pushes, poor hubby nearly passed out though, he thought he was going to have to deliver on his own!

So nice to hear some lovely birth stories. Thanks you x

I think it's such a shame that we get exposed to so many 'nightmare' childbirth stories. It's a vicious cycle - we hardly ever get to hear about the more normal experiences and as a result get really scared about giving birth which makes us all tense and interferes with the normal process making it more difficult.

I had a wonderful home-hypno-waterbirth for my 8lb 9 DS. Didn't need any stitches. Wonderful midwives were completely respectful of my birthing preferences, and helped us get breastfeeding off to a great start with no boob grabbing involved . The whole experience was peaceful, relaxed and joyous. Didn't feel any fear and only a little discomfort for the last couple of pushes.

I was quite careful to avoid people's horror stories throughout my pregnancy, and to seek out positive ones. I know a homebirth isn't for everyone, but this site has some lovely birth stories - including ones where things didn't go to plan and they ended up in hospital, but it was still a positive experience. I found it really reassuring to be able to completely relax and trust that, whatever happened we would both be fine.

These are great, thanks. I´m terrified of giving birth, so it´s really helpful to read of the times when everything goes well.

Lovely thread. I've had two pretty positive births. The first was about 7 hours, just gas and air for pain relief, no intervention. Only downside was spending a lot of the labour in the car being sent from pillar to post- not ideal!

My second was a waterbirth at home; about 5 hours, didn't need G&A this time. I listened to Nat King Cole and sang along in between contractions! DS was nearly 9lbs. Had a small tear but no stitches. It was wonderful.

Wishing peaceful and positive births to those of you expecting!

You lot with easy births - you need to have more children as you're clearly all really good at it!

37 weeks 1st timer and loving this thread... am going just going to STOP reading about tears and traumas etc and read this thread only! thanks all.

thanks, first time preganant, 7weeks... still struggling with nausea but can't wait for childbirth after reading this!