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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Did anyone 'enjoy' labour?

104 replies

Ghost88 · 01/08/2019 14:47

I have heard so many horror stories about labour. I just wondered if anyone had any positives experiences?

I am 12 weeks today with 1st baby and must admit it feels me with dread and anxiety.

Is the pain as unbearable as they say????

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MintTeaLady · 01/08/2019 19:12

Yes! I loved it. I can’t wait to do it again! Never in a million years thought I would say that. Definitely keep going with the hypnobirthing. I practised it every day for 3 months and it made such a difference.

PirateWeasel · 01/08/2019 19:13

Enjoyable isn't the right word. I would say the worst bit is how relentless it is rather than the pain. If you're lucky enough to get a short labour and plenty of sleep the night before, it will be a very different story to if you are up all night and then have 20+ hours of labour. But once it's over it's over and you quickly forget!

duckme · 01/08/2019 19:21

@SadieContrary
My sentiments exactly. I never worried about it because it was going to happen. I didn't go to any classes or watch any videos as I just knew I'd be comparing what I was going through to their experiences and would stress if my experience wasn't the same.
The only regret is that with my first, I asked for an epidural when I don't think I really needed one. I had been told that I would need to make sure I got one as soon as I thought I might want one as the anaesthetist May not be available later and then it could be too late.
But with all of them, I felt like a bloody warrior. It's such an empowering moment. Especially with my third labour, I literally just let my body do the work and it was honestly incredible.

MrsXx4 · 01/08/2019 19:25

Yep! Amazing experience for me! No where near as painful as I had built myself up for! I found the pushing stage absolutely fine, hard work don’t get me wrong but not painful, the contractions were the worst for me. I was in labour for 3 days and did just gas and air and in and out of water for relief! Best thing I’ve ever done in my life!

madcatladyforever · 01/08/2019 19:31

I didn't even attempt it, I know I am useless with pain. I opted for an epidural and felt nothing. It was great and a brilliant peaceful experience for me and my baby.

boosterrooster · 01/08/2019 19:39

I was enjoying it until it was decided I needed an emergency C section.

I had a lovely midwife, she was very calm and chilled and kept us well informed. It was during the night so it was quiet in the labour ward. We were all very relaxed and I imagine it would have continued that way had DS continued progressing.

I know lots of people who had a nice experience.

Positive vibes all the way

DontDribbleOnTheCarpet · 01/08/2019 19:42

My 5th was lovely. I was absolutely off my tits on Entonox! I had some slightly strange hallucinations (or might have been delusions I dunno), but otherwise great. Also, I refused to let my husband attend so I didn't have him making the whole business all about him- lovely!
From my waters being broken to the actual delivery was less than 2 hours as well.

DramaAlpaca · 01/08/2019 19:50

My first two births were fine, long & at times painful, quite exhausting but no major issues. My third birth was amazing, so easy & empowering. It was a planned home birth, I felt so comfortable & in control & it was one of the best experiences of my life.

JustMe9 · 01/08/2019 19:51

I had an epidural so it was pain free :)

BendydickCuminsnatch · 01/08/2019 19:56

Yes, absolutely loved both my births!! Would love to do it again (but probably not going to)

DS1: induced 10 days overdue, went from 2cm-born in 40 mins, forceps, 3rd degree tear, 1.5 hours stitching, but was amazing and empowering and I was just astonished by the NHS. Took a long time to recover physically (18 months id say) but was supported throughout and into my second pregnancy, across 2 different areas as we moved house. Really brilliant.

DS2: planned c section, so not a labour per se, but again really fab experience despite losing half my blood 😬

I don’t know the stats but although things can go wrong, a lot of women do have very straightforward and empowering births. My SIL just gives birth without even breaking a sweat, perfectly timed within the preschool day and home for tea time so doesn’t even need to worry about childcare. Seriously, not kidding!! 😄

HB2019 · 01/08/2019 19:59

I loved every second of mine. I did a hypnobirthing course and wanted to have my baby at home in the water. When one of my midwives got to me all I said was "I've forgotten everything! That's £180 down the drain!" I had a short labour 7 hours and went from waters breaking to pushing in 5.5 hours

Lunafortheloveogod · 01/08/2019 20:01

Once I had the epidural I was fine, the beginning wasn’t fun I won’t lie. But I was induced and went into labour at 4am in the ward and by the time I was due “checked” and the pain killers I’d requested (shouldn’t have waited) it was shift change over so there was a hold up. It wasn’t the end of the world it was just uncomfortable and more the being alone that made it worse once dp and Dm arrived i was much calmer, perhaps just feeling that i could have someone advocate for me rather than pressing a buzzer and hanging around till someone came.

Once I got onto the labour suite my midwife was a gem! I was dilating really quickly so she got my epidural sorted while her assistant was trying to talk me into gas n air, it was 10am n I’d had paracetamol n codeine so I was tired and wanted real relief as I’d heard a first labour was long.

Epidural in by half 10 had something to eat and drink (literally a few chocolate buttons) checked again and I’d gone from 1cm at 9, 5cm at 10 to fully dilated. I had control over the epidural and could top it up when ever and she let me keep the gas n air until I was sure it was working for me.

Unfortunately ds was trying to look out the window (sideways head tucked facing my left) so it was decided I’d need forceps and taken to theatre, if they didn’t work it was a c section. Even in theatre they were lovely I wasn’t in pain and the minute I told the anesthetist I felt nauseous he put some antiemetic stuff into my drip so I wasnt sick. There were scary bits but that was his position and won’t happen to everyone.

He’s 4months old and I’m doing it again next year.. literally I didn’t give a toss after I had him in my arms.

MrsPworkingmummy · 01/08/2019 20:04

Yes, loved them both. It hurt of course, but not in a bad or unmanageable way. I felt empowered, strong and in control. Really loved giving birth to both babies xx

Squashpocket · 01/08/2019 20:06

My first labour was horrendous and felt traumatic (although it was technically a textbook first birth). I loved my second labour. It was nothing like as painful and I felt calm and in control. I was very earth mothery and empowered lol.

I think I thought that labour pain was one universal level of pain, but now know that it can vary massively depending of loads of different factors. Not pointing fingers but this was not mentioned at the stupid NCT class I went to.

Having experienced my second labour I now think I should have just had an epidural with the first one. It was objectively very fucking painful.

runninginheelsisnotfun · 01/08/2019 20:14

Definitely invest in the positive birth company digital pack and if you can a hypnobirthing or daisy birthing class.

I came out of my first birth thinking I was Wonder Woman but had a few wobbles and it felt pretty intense.

Second time I did hypnobirthing, made it to the hospital just in time, I was pushing in the hallway. It really didn't hurt the whole labour except right before I started pushing and even then it was totally manageable. Bit of gas and air in the pool and i birthed, delivered and caught my own baby. It was the most amazing experience of my life!

Fear is the enemy of birth and can make it very painful, please get the digital pack and pay attention to the science bit then it all makes sense

Littlefluffycloudos · 01/08/2019 20:18

I did Natal Hypnotherapy and literally did breathe my way through it. I mean it did fucking hurt but I was confident I could manage it. And I did. Start early and practice practice practice. The hypnotherapy not the labour...

TripleSeptic · 01/08/2019 20:22

I had a great day, except for being starving and tired. I was induced on Fri, nothing happened, ward too noisy to sleep. They work me at 7, had cornflakes, oxytocin drip. Contractions, gas and air. Then they broke my waters. Pain was bad. Then I had diamorphine. Nothing happened. The drugs made me so warm and chilled out. It was like drinking cider in the sunshine. After no progress I had a spinal and a section and I breastfed my baby. She was a wee natural, and a wee beauty. I was so happy to get snuggles, toast, and the catheter out. That was the last day in my life where is was "all about me". I remember it fondly, and now I have my wee chicken. Its wasn't natural, or the way I'd have planned it, but it was perfect.

Buyitinbamboo · 01/08/2019 20:26

I can't say I enjoyed labour, at the time it felt pretty horrific, but I enjoyed that complete bliss feeling on that last push when she was born. I would take another 12 hours of labour for 1 second of that feeling any day. My birth was very easy and straight forward and in my high on love state afterwards I told the midwife that it was a piece of piss 😂

Daddylonglegs1965 · 01/08/2019 20:27

I wouldn’t say I loved it. But it certainly wasn’t as bad as people say and I was scared of giving birth for most of my adult life.
I bought a book having a baby at 35 by Julia somebody or other read that beforehand and practiced yoga breathing. I saw each contraction as bringing me closer to my much longed for baby. Also I didn’t have strict birthing plan said I would go with the flow and was happy with a student midwife who were absolutely great both times. When I got to hospital I laboured in the birthing pool as it happened to be free which really helped with my contractions.

IDontDrinkTea · 01/08/2019 20:28

I loved it. At the end I felt like Wonder Woman, so empowered

DannyWallace · 01/08/2019 20:31

"Enjoy" is maybe not the word I would use, however I didn't hate it.
Honestly, I've never felt more powerful and strong in my life!! And it made me look at DH is a whole different light (he was amazing throughout!).

The shit hit the fan a bit at the end, but I took the pain relief and the birth option offered to me, and I can't say I'm traumatised.
In fact, I still feel a bit like a goddess when I think of it all!

Justneedaflippingtemporaryname · 01/08/2019 20:37

Yes, I loved it. I did hypnobirthing and there was no pain, just pressure. I felt really in control and .... exhilarated at the end of it. That was DC2. DC1 was completely different, but that's what made me look into hypnobirthing the second time round.

seven201 · 01/08/2019 20:43

I had a c-section (breech baby) and really enjoyed it. Didn't feel sad I didn't get to have a vaginal birth. Just saying for anyone who ends up needing a c-section and feeling disappointed or worried about it.

yikesanotherbooboo · 01/08/2019 21:08

I had an epidural with DC1 ( various reasons) and labour and delivery were enjoyable . There was the nuisance of numb legs for six hours afterwards and the vague sense that I hadn't ' done it properly' but the massive plus was that I wasn't exhausted. DC2 was back to back and I was keen to have an epidural again but the delivery was precipitant and rather violent and frightening. I only had a handful of contractions but felt pretty she'll shocked afterwards. DC3 was a planned Caesarian and certainly not a difficult experience but of course it took longer to get going afterwards which is a pain.
I know I was lucky.

BrutusMcDogface · 01/08/2019 21:13

I haven’t got time to rtft (sorry!) but I loved labour and birth, too! The most incredible experience ever. I kind of Hypno birthed but without any classes or anything; just focusing on my breathing and listening to music.

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