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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Surely ALL first time births cannot be horrific?

65 replies

ChineapplePunk · 09/01/2012 01:47

This is sort of leading on from a thread in the childbirth forum where someone is asking if second labour is easier than the first. I understand that subsequent labours are often shorter and easier, however, it just makes me feel sick to my stomach reading about all the really negative first time birth experiences. I'm still going through cycles of being quite chilled out about labour and then panic strikes and I play all the worst potential scenarios over and over in my head. Pointless and silly, I know, but I do it nonetheless.

Anyway, I'm trying to convince myself that trauma and agony is not the norm for a first time birth and I wouldn't mind others trying to convince me of that. Due in April. Can't I just skip to May and have the bub in my arms? :-)

OP posts:

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Spuddybean · 09/01/2012 17:52

My mum had me (first and only!) in 45 mins and no pain relief. The midwife said it would take ages as it was her first - she had an urge to push, so did and by the time the midwife was back my head was out! She left the hospital wearing her size 8 jeans!!

I'm hoping it runs in the family!

NCIS · 09/01/2012 17:54

My first birth was untraumatic despite being 28 hours of back to back. Painful-of course but I kept thinking it is time limited pain ie you know it will end. It's not like back pain or ear ache that has no definite end.
I do believe that raspberry leaf tablets helped but have no proof except that after two hours pushing I delivered without forceps or ventouse and the midwife said that the raspberry leaves would have helped.
No epidural as I'm too much of a coward, gas and air plus a shot of pethidine which was about as much use as a chocolate teapot.

ItsTimeToBurnThisDiscoDown · 09/01/2012 18:10

Hi, my labour with DS (only one so far!) was quite straightforward; 2 hours 15 from start to finish, only gas and air needed and 2 stitches (only because he came out with his little hand by his face!). Also, when you've got your lovely snuggly newborn it's amazing how fast you forget the pain!

Alligatorpie · 09/01/2012 18:22

Another fantastic first birth story here. I went into labour around 9, my water broke at 1130, got to the hospital at 12:30, dd was born at 1:07. We were ready to leave the hospital at 8 am. no painkillers, but I did need a few stitches.

I really hope this one is as easy!

Original poster

ChineapplePunk · 09/01/2012 18:30

All smashing stories. :)

OP posts:

notcitrus · 09/01/2012 18:54

Long and tedious, and more intervention than planned but avoided a cs and recovered pretty quickly.

Not great but certainly not horrific - MLU and delivery suite staff were all fantastic.

Hoping second is less long but otherwise wouldn't be too bothered by similar again (in about 6 weeks...)

tenderheart · 09/01/2012 19:03

My LO is just over 2 weeks and I already look back very fondly on her birth! I was induced by pessary at 9am on the 23rd, cxn started at 1pm and she was born 8.30am on the 24th. Not sure if the pessary made cxn more intense but they were definitely close together from early on which I don't think is usual. I managed on TENS though until 10pm and then off to labour suite for GandA (bliss). I was so thrilled to have a waterbirth (didn't think I would be allowed one due to induction) and floated around in there for a good 7 hours till she came. The truth - it was much sorer than I thought it would be and immediately after it was over I thought "thank god" and "I can't believe people say they would do that again"...guess who is one of those people now?? The whole experience is one I look back on as very positive and I think I was just thrilled to not have the more medicalised birth I was sure I would be having due to being induced.

Good luck!

Yorky · 09/01/2012 19:49

I had a lovely birth with my 1st (well, with all 3 :) #4 due in May)
Waters broke 630am Tues, n contractions so drove out for lunch with DH Grandma, then had a lovely pub dinner with the contractors Dh was supposed to be having a meeting with the next day, couple of twinges before bed but nothing major
woke at 3am thinking 'this is more what I expected'
woke Dh at 6, so he went into work to put his out of office email reply on
Put tens machine on, decided I needed to go for a walk around the block (it had snowed (a little bit) overnight!)
DH struggled to time cx with a stopwatch with sticky buttons!
MW arrived at 1130, as I was leaning on DH saying 'don't let me puuuush'
DS arrived at 1214!
Placenta arrived without injection, he fed happily - did it again less than 2yrs later :D

I'm sure you'll be fine

nearlymumofone · 09/01/2012 20:00

I had an extremely positive experience. After my 5th sweep and 10 days overdue contractions started at 4pm, ds1 was born 2.45am. All on tens and gas and air. I believe the key to a successful labour is breathing and keeping your calm. I'm not particularly a calm person but somehow I was that day. It hurt. A lot. But didn't bother me at all. I almost enjoyed it. I'm pregnant with dc2 and looking forward to the experience again. Good luck and stay positive.

TrippleBerryFairy · 09/01/2012 20:42

My first birth experiance wasn't bad at all either... Eventhough labour took some 30 hrs (according to medical notes) I was managing all of it with gas & air, didn't let out a sound (my male midwife was impressed and said I should have lots of babies as I have good control over by body, hehehe...). And just at the very end I had spinal and went into theatre as pushing wasn't working - turns out DS's head was at an angle and with help of a ventouse he popped out straight away.. No tearing.

Just found out today I am pregnant with #2 - if this labour goes the same I'll be happy...:)

LotusPalm · 09/01/2012 21:01

First labour was wonderful! DS was born on the day after due date, at home after less than 6 hours active labour. We dis hypnobirthing and found it so helpful - the fear/pain connection makes loads of sense and because I wasn't frightened at all, and knew that I wouldn't have to go into hospital, we just sort of hung out and enjoyed the day. No pain relief at all, and though the last 15 mIns or so was a little hard work, I don't remember actually feeling pain as such.

Plus I got to eat Chinese take away and sleep in my own bed only hours after he was born. It was fab!

Just hoping same for 2nd one in 12 weeks

boohome · 09/01/2012 22:16

My labour with DS (only one so far) went pretty well - I went to hospital at 11:30pm and was 2 - 3 cm dilated, and DS was born at 3:30am with half an hours pushing. He took the midwife by surprise as they'd been saying not to expect him before lunchtime :)

Contractions were painful as he was back to back, but it was manageable with keeping upright and moving and a bit of gas and air. I had to have a few stitches, but they've healed well.

blackeyedsusan · 09/01/2012 22:22

can't remember much of mine. pethadine, epidural and sucking on gas and air for all I as worth means I can not remember much from the 2 hours from fully dilated to birth.

slimyak · 09/01/2012 22:29

I had DD1 in 8 hours start to finish. Thought something was up the day before so DH took the day off and we had a lovely day walking on beach in sunshine and a nice lunch, nothing baby wise happened.

Middle of the night my waters broke as I turned over in bed, went into hospital with mild contractions and told I was 3cm. Gas and air and 7 hours later I had my little girl. She was back to back and I found standing the only comfortable position, gravity is your friend.

We were home for lunch the next day and the overnight stay was only because I was diabetic.

Number 1 is more scary as you don't know what to expect, but you have to remember the pain is useful and doing something and if it's too much take the help on offer, their are no medals for childbirth.

minimuffin · 09/01/2012 22:38

I think my first was the best - it's the one I remember most vividly as an incredibly magical night in some ways. Second was fast and furious - more intense pain over a shorter time (3 hours) - I had barely got my head around being in labour by the time I delivered the placenta! Third was worst - just felt long and hard work.

First labour was 7 hours from being uncomfortable to baby, used TENS and water - no other pain relief. And I was utterly, utterly terrified of giving birth. I think part of me didn't actually expect to survive it so coming out the other side without a stitch or any other intervention left me in total shock for a few days!! Think part of the reason it was the best (other than it being the first, which is sooooo special) was that I didn't know what was coming next. So when I thought the pain was pretty bad after 6 hours and decided I might try some gas and air, the midwife informed me I was actually pushing and would have a baby within 30 minutes so a) I was too late and b) I didn't need it anyway and I just thought "oh, ok, fine". Whereas by the time I got to DC3, I had a 7 hour labour again and it seemed to really drag so I got bored (weird) and I was dreading the ring of fire of crowning because I'd been through it before. Though I also knew that that means you are literally seconds away from a baby so it's exciting too...

Don't panic - good luck!

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