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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

All the positives about childbirth up to and including meeting dc obviously.

68 replies

coneywonder · 31/05/2015 19:20

Just that really.

35 weeks and wanting to focus on the positives after hearing a lot of negatives.

Might be nice to share our stories?

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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BossWitch · 31/05/2015 20:27

Crossed post - keep going with the hypnobirthing! I'm actually looking forward to doing it again with number two in (hopefully) a couple of years!

Good luck.

Original poster

coneywonder · 31/05/2015 20:36

I'm quite emotional now!

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Whatabout · 31/05/2015 20:38

I will never forget feeling his head coming out and feeling his nose (whatever it was it felt like a nose!) coming out.

Coastingit · 31/05/2015 20:38

I had two sections and they were really positive, calm and peaceful experiences. Skin to skin, I was awake and heard my babies cry, everyone was lovely, music on and just perfect, can't actually imagine birthing differently, nothing like a failure or anything you might think from some threads

Just adding that as if you do end up having a section, it can come as a shock and a disappointment, but 25% of women have one and it might be you, so don't worry!

The recovery isn't as bad as I'd thought, my oxytocin levels are through the roof, I'm blissed out even now and he is 3 weeks old. And the scar is practically invisible after less than a month.

And actually, the birth is just one day - parenthood is forever and you do pretty much forget it all as soon as you are home.

JasperDamerel · 31/05/2015 20:42

I really enjoyed giving birth. The first time, it felt really relaxed and didn't hurt very much. The second time hurt a lot, but my body responded by producing something that felt that I've always imagined heroin to feel - I was literally in a state of bliss, and I was broody for a whole year afterwards just to get that amazing high again. And all the oxytocin afterwards made me love everyone in the room. I still feel a bit giddy when I remember it.

duplodon · 31/05/2015 20:44

I had three births, two were very beautiful (first was just a bit meh and he was stunned at birth and I wasn't prepared for it, so it took a few days before I really felt the rush of love etc).

My second was a waterbirth and my third was born in the caul. They were lovely experiences, I wouldn't change them for anything.

Original poster

coneywonder · 31/05/2015 20:45

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duplodon · 31/05/2015 20:46

Oh but with my first, when he was stunned and they had to whisk him away, I was all in a tizz, but he wasn't gone long and I was having stitches, and then they brought him back and swaddled him and put him beside me on the gurney/trolley and wheeled us to the ward. I still hadn't seen his face, but I put my hand on his bottom and "recognised" it as being my "bump". That was a special moment.

Original poster

coneywonder · 31/05/2015 20:51

Aw that's amazing!! How strange that you recognised that!

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Hippymama1 · 31/05/2015 20:51

I'm also 35 weeks and LOVE this thread - brilliant idea Coneywonder! So lovely to hear so many positive stories after all of the horror stories... I am starting to look forward to the birth now rather than dread it - please keep them coming!

Original poster

coneywonder · 31/05/2015 21:11

I'm exactly the same hippymama. Exciting :)

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Tonicandgin · 31/05/2015 21:16

As others have said. Absolutely. Totally. Overawed by my body.

Not only had it grown a full person, with limbs and eyes etc but all it's little organs in tact. Plus I'd birthed it and fed it all by myself in and out of my body.

Women's bodies are incredible.

My favourite moment was as I felt the head come out she turned and I looked down (was in the pool) and saw a little face looking up. Weird, but just lovely.

Then she came out and mw handed her to me and I cuddled her and told her I was her mummy.

All emotional now!!!

FlossyCat · 31/05/2015 21:18

Gas and air - I quite enjoyed getting high!
Looking into my son's eyes and feeling as though I already knew those eyes, and finally getting to see what he looked like.
I kept saying 'I'm freaking amazing!' straight after giving birth because that's how I felt. Quite excited about doing it all again :)
Hope all goes well for you x

Tonicandgin · 31/05/2015 21:20

Coney-just read through the thread. Another hypnobirther here too. Was utterly amazing!

Original poster

coneywonder · 31/05/2015 21:23

Thank you tonicandgin did you do all the visualisations? The only thing I haven't got into as such are the scripts. I'm listening to the affirmations and the relaxation every night and it's sending me off to sleep x

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threenotfour · 31/05/2015 21:24

I found it exciting. Really exciting. Especially my third. I was super excited to go in for induction then. You are going to meet your baby and a new chapter is starting. I also found the whole experience empowering and mind blowing in a positive way. I am actually jealous when I read posts about peope in labour or about to give birth. I had a terrible birth in some ways with DD1 but I still felt so amazing after delivery. I had done it. I had brought new life in to the world. That could never be undone. I had delivered a child. It sounds weird in writing as it kinda can't be described.

Original poster

coneywonder · 31/05/2015 21:27

It makes.perfect sense to me. I think it's such a shame I have wasted weeks being so terrified when really I should be excited about meeting my baby.

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Ladypug · 31/05/2015 21:42

Hi Coney,

I just want to say what an amazing thread, this is my favourite thread I've ever read on here! I'm only halfway through the pregnancy but whenever I feel afraid I'm going to read this thread again :-)

captainproton · 31/05/2015 21:44

I know that some women die in childbirth, and there are thousands of women who suffer hideous injuries through birth, but some do not find it as hard as others. My contractions were very powerful, but I didn't try to fight them or let them scare me. I sort of let them wash over me. If you have suffered awful period pain in the past then you are already aware of what it is going to feel like (contractions anyway). This is the advice my stepmother gave me and I found it very helpful and boosted my confidence.

I also did a lot of reading about birth, how some women were so terrified and frightened of giving birth they sort of clammed up, and things slowed down and they needed intervention. For their second births they got more into it, did a lot more things in preparation like walking up and downs stairs to help get babies head down in early labour. Using a birth ball to sit on instead of a chair and just rocking side to side. Giving birth kneeling and not laying down. Gravity helping the baby out. I made sure I did all these things and I am sure it helped.

For me at least I couldn't believe how strong the pushing was and it wasn't like TV, my uterus just did it. I couldn't have made myself do it if I tried. Amazing things our bodies.

I don't know if anyone else has discovered this but after having a baby my periods have got less painful, I now no longer need medication to relieve the pain because I don't have any pain. It was an unexpected bonus!

enviousllama · 31/05/2015 22:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Snowflake15 · 31/05/2015 22:15

I love this thread! Making me feel much better about birth (still got a while to go) and even more sure that I want to do hypnobirthing

Original poster

coneywonder · 31/05/2015 23:04

Glad you like it ladypug. Think we are owed some positivity. Thank you all so much for replying. Keep them coming :)

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Tonicandgin · 01/06/2015 01:15

Yep I did the visualisations. Found the ones for stage 1 were easy to do and helpful but by stage 2 I was in the zone (and frankly high on gas/air) so didn't really need them. They did help with first toilet trip post dd though.

Scripts were amazing! I got dh to record them on my phone and had them in a loop when I went into hospital. Helped keep me in the zone.

Also the induction script actually got me into labour. Dh and I did the script, I felt this weird shift down in my abdomen, I then woke up a few hours later win the early stages.

Roseybee10 · 01/06/2015 02:48

I used hypnobirthing but more the breathing than visualisations. I found you're natural reaction to s contraction is to tense up to fight the pain but going limp and breathing deeply makes it much less painful and keeps you in control.

I forgot the pushing. With my first I did coached pushing as she wS back to back so needed help from me to get out. With my second my body completely took over. I didn't intentionally push once. My body just had waves going down it and pushed her out on its own. It was the most incredible thing I've ever felt. Also crowning in the water wasn't really that painful at all.

ishallnamehimsquishy · 01/06/2015 05:13

I'm almost due with no 3 and your thread is making me cry!

I head a bit of a hard time with DC1, the good bit was DH telling me in theatre whether it was a girl or a boy.

No 2 was amazing in comparison. I used natal hypnotherapy and had a fast labour that felt very intense, but not painful. I loved having my baby placed on my chest and just getting to lie and cuddle for a while.

I actually feel quite excited for this next birth, more confident than before. This well be my last baby and I can't wait to meet them.

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