Positive labour stories....

[Hevava]

I'm 38 weeks and starting to feel pretty daunted and apprehensive about going through labour for the first time.

I'd love to hear some positive stories about labour to kick-start some positive thinking! Thank you :-)

Squizita on here had a really good one earlier in the week - search for her name. Quite amusing in parts too.

There are quite a few on the childbirth part of the board too.

I have been lucky enough to have 2 great births.

DD1 - waters went at home, contractions started an hour or so after that.

We went to hospital 2 hours after contractions started because the hospital wanted to check me over as my waters had gone. Once we got there it turned out I was 4cm dilated and progressing well, and at this point I was using tens machine and was coping really well.

An hour after we got to hospital contractions ramped up so I got in the bath and used some G&A and an hour after that got out of the bath to push DD into the world. Had no tearing or stitches and stayed really calm throughout. Had a fab midwife who knew I wanted it all to be as calm and natural as possible and she really supported me in that.

The whole thing from waters going to baby was about 6-7 hours.

DD2 - we went to hospital as waters had broken but contractions hadn't started. Turned out only hind waters had gone but was 2cm dilated (I couldn't feel any contractions at that point) so midwife broke the forewaters. DD arrived 3 hours after that. My time in active labour was 40 mins and pushed for 20 mins. Just used tens, birthing ball and G&A in the final stages.

I did do hypno birthing cd's during each pregnancy so I think that helped to keep me calm. I also repeated the phrase 'i am in control' in my head during each contraction which helped me to stay focused.

In my experience birth has been fantastic but I acknowledge I have been very fortunate. Good luck!!

Thanks Southpaws- your experiences sound great! I am thinking about trying to find some hypno-birthng tracks for free on the internet that I could pop on my Ipod but I'm wondering whether Ive left it a bit late......?

I think if you did it every day it would still have a benefit, even if it's just teaching you to breathe deeply through contractions as I found that really really helped.

DDs birth was pretty much as perfect as I could have hoped.

I'd gone in to be induced, got there at 10 and it was decided they'd start the induction after lunch. In the mean time I was hooked up to the CTG machine which measures the baby's heartbeat and any contractions.

I played some games on my phone, read my kindle, face booked etc then started watching the numbers on the machine. Noticed after a bit that DDs heart rate kept going down ?? so I called a midwife. It took a little time as it was busy (it was about half 2 by now and my induction still hadn't started) but she came, looked, pretty much did a double take an then asked if I minded if the registrar came to check on me as I wasn't showing any contractions.

He duly came and checked and I was quickly bundled off to a delivery room - DD had decided not to wait to be induced and despite apparently no contractions I was 4cm.

They broke my waters at 3.15 but warned me they usually allowed an hour to dilate another cm so none of us expected anything to happen for ages. MW kept nipping in and out and DP and I carried on playing games on phones and stuff :geeks:

Started getting back ache and asked for some pain killers. Was offered paracetamol. then, very quickly I needed to poo. A lot. I had bad poo fear from before DD was even conceived but I remembered needing a poo was also a sign of needing to push so we called the mw back.

She was a bit dismissive as it had only been 45mins since they'd broken my waters but she checked and suddenly things were happening! She called for a second midwife who turned out to be the registrar who had examined me as he was walking by at the time and 'fancied dealing with an uncomplicated birth' and as he walked in my body started pushing of it's own accord. I was given G&A (wonderful stuff) and DD was born approximately half an hour later. Clever girl :) She will be one in November.

I'm currently pregnant again (10+5) and by a nice coincidence my consultant this time is the registrar (consultant I guess!) who delivered DD with the MW. I may not end up seeing him (I think I saw a different consultant each time with DD) but it's made me smile.

Good luck, OP. The G&A is marvellous stuff but I loved giving birth.

I went to hospital at 33+5 and was diagnosed with a uti (was in lots of pain) i was given antibiotics and codine.

The next day I lost my show and was advised to come back in, I was assessed and was deemed to be 1-2cm's dialated.

It all got very busy I was rushed through to delivery where I was put on a drug to stop labour and given steroids.

2 days later I was taken off of the drip and given more steroids, labour started within a few hours, after being in severe pain for the previous 7 days I asked for an epidural at 4cms. That was heaven, they broke my waters and then I slowly progressed. At some point they decided I needed a section as ds hb was dipping, the double checked me and I was fully dialated I pushed 5ish times and then they used forceps he was out in one pull. Unfortunately I did tear along with the cut but the healing process has not been to bad, even with an infection :)

I also have the cutest baby as a result :)

I had a very straightforward and easy (compared to stories id heard) birth. I attribute it almost entirely to reading the most marvellous, empowering book called Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, by Ina May Gaskin. It made me believe unfailingly in the capability of my body to birth my baby without fear and with positivity. I cant recommend it enough. Im 37 weeks pregnant with number 2 and am rereading it :0)

I found this website tellmeagoodbirthstory.com/category/good-birth-stories/

Lots of positive birth stories on there! I also like a site I found about home births. www.homebirth.org.uk/hbstories.htm

It is nice to read positive birth stories. Watching any of the American. Ironing shows always terrorises me. Especially one born every minute USA. That show is SOOO dramatic and OTT. things dont have to be like that!

I started having a Waterbirth and ended up having a spinal and ventouse in theatre but it was absolutely fine, so please do not be scared of the possibility of instrumental deliveries and possibility of Doctors intervention. I had a very quick recovery from the episiotomy and stitches (which were 'beautiful' according to the midwife who checked them 2 days after!) and was happy as anything 30 mins after the birth, chilling in recovery eating Haribo ! I even liked being on the ward over night as I just lay awake all night, cuddling and feeding DS and buzzing for nice midwives to being water and take him to change him as I couldn't move! And I loved my breakfast :) and I found the whole ward experience very supportive and I had time to ask midwives a lot of questions. Even the drips and catheter weren't painful, I was quite comfy and in very little pain. I had been terrified of this outcome having had it hammered in at various antenatal classes that a natural birth was best and doctors are bad and intervention is bad.

I started losing plug and having on and off contractions from my sweep at 40+1, they would stop after a few hours but on the evening of 40+1 they started and got progressively more painful so I moved to the spare room to watch relaxing videos on YouTube! Tried some hypnobirthing but it didn't really work for me as I find it difficult to switch off. I got through my contractions more physically than mentally, I banged things, drummed my feet, got DH to rub my back incredibly firmly etc. I found I didn't do anything I'd 'learned' to do during pregnancy, I just had to do what felt right at the time. Got in the bath at midnight and stayed in for an hour or so. Pains were getting a bit much (like very strong period pains, then started feeling like someone twisting something on and off inside) so I woke up DH for company and we went downstairs with duvets , had coffee and tried to watch a film but I was really lying over my ball thumping it during contractions and getting him to time them. Rang the MLU at 3am when they were twice every 10 mins and lasting nearly a minute. When I got there I was 4cm so got to stay thank god! I was in the lovely birthing pool for 4 hours sucking on the G&A and remember it as being lovely. (Getting in it was a blessed relief, so warm and makes you feel so much lighter and free to move so much). Sadly after that time when I thought is progressed and was near birth I was only 5cm dilated! So I had to get out and had a bit of meptid so I could relax a bit (didn't really stop the pain unless you could really lie and zonk out, and with having to have the heart rate taken every 15 mins I couldn't really zone out. From 9 am to 11am I speedily dilated from 5 to 9cm. I remember lying on my side chugging gas and getting really strong urges to push, when I turned to tell midwives they already had aprons on as my grunts had clearly indicated this! I pushed for about 10 mins and then suddenly babies heart rate dropped and it all kicked off with head midwife coming in and suddenly there were doctors and I was whisked down corridors screaming my head off as I did lose control of my contractions a bit then and was in a lot more pain. But I also had an feeling of relief oddly as I knew they were about to get him out as fast as possible and so it was about to end. There were a LOT of people in there asking me questions about consent etc and what I wanted to do, whether to try ventouse or jump straight to Caesarian which I was too spaced out to really answer, but the overwhelming feeling I got from all the doctors was kindness and reassurance. I kept apologising for 'not being able to do it properly' and it 'all going wrong' and one doctor was kind enough to hold my hand and tell me that this was a very normal occurrence and there was nothing 'wrong' with it. This all happened incredibly quickly by the way and then I was in theatre sat on the bed being held by a student midwife while they gave me a (blissful!) spinal block. Lay down and in a few pushes (that I couldn't feel) they'd sucked him out! He was straight on me as in any other birth. All the team were very smily afterwards and congratulating us, it was lovely. I felt so cared for and safe in their hands. I'd not be scared if I had another child and had to be ventoused. The pain of contractions is intense but I never felt out of control with pain (until the end and that was so quick before spinal went in). I don't dwell on the birth anyway, as soon as DS was in my arms I was over it, he was out and that's all that matters to me, not the birth 'experience'.

Lol at the capability of my body to birth my baby - mine was totally rubbish and required lots of help! Nevertheless, with an epidural, syntocinon drip and a bit of help getting him out, it wasn't a bad birth. The epidural was beyond blissful, and all went well in the end. I would recommend an epidural - so so nice! It also leaves you totally 'with it' which is handy if your DH is a bit useless at making any decisions!

I had a great birth! Waters went in the early hours of the morning (on my due date!) and contractions started around breakfast time. Whacked the tens machine on and spent a few hours timing my contractions. Went to the hospital about 11 to be told I was already 8cm and whisked off upstairs to the lovely midwife led unit. Baby born at half 3, just had gas and air and very active labour. Didn't need the mountain of food I packed in my hospital bag! It was a gorgeous sunny day, two years ago tomorrow and I have very fond memories, bizarrely

I was induced at 37 weeks due to complications. Pessary at 11am. Active. Not much happens. 6pm waters break. 7:34pm, baby born Had a shot of diamorphine at 7pm as they were planning to give me a c sec at 8pm and I couldn't sit down at all let alone for an epidural so diamorphine given for that, but ended up not needing it!

Next one, few twinges but nothing significant till about 10pm. Didn't get painful but did get much closer together so went in to hospital. Waters broke at 11pm. Not much happens. Checked at 1am and midwife broke my back waters. Baby born at 1:40am with just a smidge of gas and air as again, closer together but not that painful.

They were my second and third babies. Won't tell my first as it was horrendous. But three babies, three totally different births.

I had an awful first birth and a wonderful second birth. I really think the difference between the two came down to my state of mind and attitude. That's not to say that if you think positive it will all be fine because it's not as though you can control anything that goes wrong of course! But I went into the second birth determined that it would be a positive experience no matter how it happened. I had been so traumatised by DD's birth by feeling out of control and like things that went wrong had been my fault and I just decided that for DS I wasn't going to blame myself and I wasn't going to let anyone do anything to me without me fully understanding and accepting it first.

In the end DS swam into the world with a bit of gas and air and I've never felt more powerful or peaceful or brilliant. It was incredible and I'm still on a high 6 weeks later.

Also, get a doula. Best decision we EVER made.

My first labour lasted about 12.5 hours from first contraction to pushing baby out, which I think is quick for a first timer. He was back to back, so was in a lot of pain throughout, but had done a hypnobirthing cd and pregnancy yoga and just went into the whole thing feeling so positive and confident, I just felt that I could handle whatever happened. I didn't use the CD during the labour, i just spent whole time concentrating on my breathing and being 'in the zone'. A midwife that I saw early on gave me the best advise. Breathe in slowly through your nose and then out of your mouth and it will help you more than any pain relief (although G&A is awesome!!!), but that did make a massive difference. I counted 8 counts for the in breath and 8 counts for the out and I think all the counting gave me something to focus on and keep me calm. Now 14+4 with my second and looking forward to doing it all again!

Ha Bronya, you wouldn't be laughing if you'd read the book. You'd be remembering your marvellous stress free birth ; 0)

Waters broke at home at 9pm on a Mon night. (39+3)

Contractions started immediately. Called MW at 10pm (contractions 5 mins apart). She said to come in (as waters were broken) but I'd probably be sent home.

Seen about 11pm. Measured 2cm dilated. Had to go to the loo (ahem for a while). On the loo in hospital for about 45min. When I was done MW said "time to go, come back Weds morning (!!) if nothing's happened, have a bath and a cuppa".

Home about 12.30. DP runs bath. I get in bath. Fling myself out of bath and roll down the hallway corridor like a giant naked soggy rock from Indiana Jones gathering carpet fluff and making one hell of a racket.

Call MW. Say I prob need to come back. I'm back on the loo, but it's not a poo!

Back in car. At the hospital around 1.15. Rushed back into the labour suite as the receptionist could hear me hollering in the loo and knew I was pushing!!

DS born 2.15 am.

1 stitch. Shower, cuppa and all of us home by 6am. Didn't even have to pay for hospital parking.

Pretty much as good as I could have hoped for (except for the shuttling back and forth, but was something for DP to do, I suppose!)

However it turns out, you'll be fine. Good luck.

I was 2 weeks overdue and was induced, had my waters broken for me, synto drip, epidural (with dural puncture for fun) and it was still a pretty good experience! The pain relief is pretty amazing. I found it all really hard physical work, like doing a mountain climb, but the most painful bit by far was the initial internal exam, it was all downhill from there. Pretty quick too. Gel at lunchtime, backache started early evening. Contractions started around 10pm, but I managed to sleep on and off until 5am. Back to hospital at 8am, waters broken around noon, synto drip and epidural around 4pm and DD arrived just before 9pm!

You'll be fine, there are lots of different ways to have a good birth! I was terrified beforehand, but once you are there you just get on with it. I had a lovely midwife (and trainee) which helps a lot. Don't forget if you don't feel comfortable with the midwife you are allocated you can ask to change: our NCT teacher told us it happens fairly often, you don't have to give a reason, and it is not a big deal, so don't be shy if you need to.

Best of luck. It really is the most amazing experience!