1st labour. Are they always long drawn out and traumatic?

[bippitybopityboo]

I haven't heard any positive stories about 1st time labours. All of my friends have had traumatic births ending in forceps delivery, emcs or 3 day labours. I know all of this can happen I just haven't heard any positive stories and I'm a total wreck due in just over 3 weeks!

[Tootle10]

I had a relatively boring first labour, show at 6:30pm, followed by waters breaking minutes afterwards. Arrived at hospital at 9pm and was 5cm dilated, jumped into the pool and started on the gas and air, ready to push just after midnight and baby arrived just after 2am. I actually had a third degree tear and was stitched up in theatre. Couldn't feel a thing when being stitched, pretty sore for the first few days, but all healed really well quickly. I actually enjoyed the labour in a weird kind of way! My tip would be to focus on your breathing and stay calm, it makes such a difference. I've heard lots of positive first labour stories, people just tend not to talk about them too much for fear of sounding smug!

[malvinandhobbes]

My first was born 5 hours after I realised I was in labour. I had been having a lot of Braxton Hicks, so it could have been going on for ages before I twigged.

We planned for a long, drawn out night. I rang the hospital and they told me to come in ASAP because I had to stop talking during my contractions. By the time I was examined I was already 9cm.

[DesignedForLife]

Waters broke 8pm. Major contractions from 1am. Baby born 3am. Very smooth but tore.

[Dixiechick17]

My labour was just over 5 hours from the first contraction, no intervention, no pain relief, no drama.

[superwiper]

My first labour was about 7 hours, went very smoothly, I had an epidural so didn't feel any pain whatsoever and I didn't tear. Went home next day as the birth happened at night.

[loveulotslikejellytots]

People love to tell you their horror stories! On paper mine looks horrible; 21 hours, meconium in waters, constant monitoring, on a drip to bring on labour, ended in emcs.

In reality, yes it was 21 hours, but I didn't go into hospital until I was 6 hours in, and that was only because my waters changed colour on my pad. Once there, they confirmed there was meconium in my waters which did mean a drip to bring on labour and monitoring.

DH and I spent the rest of my labour watching crappy movies on the kindle, listening to music, talking. It was actually quite a nice day! I was exhausted that's why a c section was mentioned. I agreed and as they were prepping me dd's heart rate dropped slightly which meant they just sped up the process anyway!

What will be will be. My 'birth story' reads the opposite of my 'birth plan' but it wasn't horrific. It wasn't great but dd arrived healthy, I was fine. Don't panic and don't put too much pressure on it having to go a certain way.

[DramaAlpaca]

I had a long labour first time & ended up with an episiotomy, forceps and stitches, but it still managed to be a very positive experience. It wasn't in the least bit traumatic and I healed very quickly.

Next two deliveries were much quicker and very straightforward.

[CityDweller]

Completely straightforward first labour here too. About 9 hours from first twinge to baby, I think. Water birth, at home (planned), no tearing. Painful, but manageable using just the water as pain relief (tried gas and air and didn't like it)

I strongly believe (rightly or wrongly) that one of the reasons it was so straight forward is because I had complete faith in my body's ability to labour and give birth. I have no idea why, but I just knew I could do it and it would be fine. Hynobirthing and reading Ina May Gaskin's books probably helped with that.

[KleineDracheKokosnuss]

Nope. 6 hours start to finish and could've been quicker if not for the hairraising ride to the hospital. It was fine.

[Louisa111]

I had a lovely drama free first labour. Started contracting lunchtime, admitted into hospital by 6pm where I was halfway and baby born 3 hours later. I had to have ventouse and ended up with second degree tear but it was all drama free and was looked after really well. Only had gas and air too.
People love to tell you horror stories and they love to over exaggerate too but it's not all bad
However I'm about to do it all again and I'm getting quite anxious... Don't know why because I enjoyed my labour the first time.

[underrugsswept]

That's because people enjoy scaring first time mums with their horror stories. My first labour was lovely

• less than 3 hours from being 2cm dilated to delivery, no drugs, water birth. I'd shut anyone down who tries to tell you about their labour. Your labour will be your own journey and it will be vastly improved if you go into it feeling calm and confident.

[GherkinsOnToast]

I was induced for my first, 7 hours from start to baby, no other intervention apart from epidural as she was back to back. Once I got to 10cm it was 15 minutes until DD appeared.

It took longer for the epidural to wear off than for DD to arrive!

[underrugsswept]

I'm 100% with City. The mind is an incredibly powerful tool and it's never too late to read up on hypnobirthing. I loved it.

[whiteychappers]

Love this post!!! I'm so sick of hearing about horror birth stories!

[RatOnnaStick]

under 7 hours here from the first contraction to baby born. My mum was the same with all of us. I wonder if it runs in the family?

[Maybebabybee]

I'll be honest with you, mine was hideous. I'd done hypno birthing classes and they did help with the actual pain but DS was back to back and stuck so was in labour for about six days before the doctors finally listened to me and realised I was experiencing actual full on contractions and I was not a wussy ftm complaining about early labour.

Ended up with EMCS which was awful.

However 12 weeks on its a distant memory. I can remember being pregnant and totally terrified of labour, but honestly even if it isn't what you'd hoped for you will be fine.

[museumum]

Mine was long - first twinges around 5pm Friday. Ds didn't appear till 8pm Saturday.
But no trauma. I went to hospital in the night then came home again. Went back at 4pm already 8cm dilated, Ds born after four hours in the big birthing pool.

[Bails2014]

Nope!

I finished work at 1pm, went into town and did some shopping, went to the supermarket, went home and had a nap at 4pm because of the pesky stomach cramps I was having that hospital had told me not to worry about. 5pm I called the hospital again and asked to come in (they weren't keen).

Arrived at hospital, waited around, examined at 6.30pm, was found to be 8cm dilated and popped sprog out at 8.30pm.


Much easier than I was expecting, no time for an epidural though.

[StandoutMop]

No. My first I wondered if in labour about 4pm, thought I was by 6. Called midwife at 7pm, she said "get some rest, see you tomorrow".

By 8.30, was certain was in labour and called mw again. Met her at hospital at 9.30pm, waters broke just before 10pm, baby arrived 10.18pm. No gas and air, no other pain relief, no stitches.

Honestly, it was a really lovely experience - painful, a little scary, but amazing and positive. It can happen. Good luck x

[AliensInUnderpants12]

I had a good first birth and felt very good about it afterwards. I woke up at 5.19am feeling a bit funny, got up and did some soduko in the living room. Then felt I had some period type aches, which progressed to period type pains and then contractions. I woke DH up at 6.00am and had a bath at home. We went to the hospital and arrived with around 1 hour to spare and gave birth in a birthing pool with gas and air. It all felt manageable and in control. The contractions are painful but if you really focus on breathing and just deal with one contraction at a time you'll get through. Baby was born just after 11am.

I had a second degree tear but I healed up fine and the midwife gave me gas and air while she stitched me up and some other painkillers too if I remember correctly.

I think the hardest thing actually wasn't the birth for me. It felt like a long time for me to physically recover from the tiredness of giving birth. I think if you have a straightforward quick birth you still need to put your feet up and rest afterwards, I think I tried to do too much afterwards like putting the washing machine on and making cups of tea etc.!

I felt like I recovered faster from my second birth (that was 4.5 hours from first sign I was in labour to delivery) because I stayed in hospital overnight and did nothing except feed the baby when I got home!

Good luck with the birth

[mumto1babyboy]

1st time was practically textbook don't be scared by other people's experiences!! I was and I wish I wasn't now!!

[Blueskies80]

Not for me, 8 hours from star to finished and it ramped up very quickly (nothing to painful contractions in about 2 hours) and arrived at hospital 6cm dilated (midwife said to me, I'll just see if we need to keep you here or if we can send you home, she was slightly shocked to see how far gone I was. I was happy to prove them wrong

Slowed slightly once in hospital but baby was born five hours after getting there, 2.5 of pushing (quite inefficient pushing in retrospect).

Baby was just under 6 lbs tho so probably had an impact. Not sure a 9lber would have been as fast.

[geekaMaxima]

Mine was long - 48 hours from first twinge to baby out - but the first 40 hours weren't that bad

(Seriously not that bad - they were annoying as they were all in my back, but i could still sleep at night).

Then a straightforward water birth with gas and air. One stitch that healed with no problems. No horrors!

[Blueskies80]

Also had water birth and gass and air. No tearing either, was very lucky indeed.