Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

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

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

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????

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

TinyTickler · 01/08/2019 21:15

I mean I didn't enjoy it but it's really not that bad. Totally doable. Hire yourself a tens machine and don't panic.

tiintoon · 01/08/2019 21:47

I enjoyed my first from the second we got to the hospital and I felt I was being looked after. The pain is bad and it is always worse than you remember and the pushing part is totally otherworldly - I also had my body pushing and I had no control over it.
The second one was too fast and too scary to be enjoyable (I was told the baby was too small so was beyond worried). Spent only 3 hours in the hospital though and pushed twice before she was out. First one was 15 minutes pushing (which is also very fast for first labour). I think they let you push for 2 hours if everything is OK with the baby.

The baby wasn't small by the way, in fact, she was bigger than my first.

Regarding the diarrhoea pains - I would say the same pain level is at the beginning of a birth but then it gets increasingly more painful.

GreyDuck · 01/08/2019 21:49

Birth is definitely different for everyone. My baby started back to back, and I had a very quick labour. Even so, it wasn't exactly painful for me- more just intense. I didn't have any painkillers at all (no gas and air, no paracetamol, nothing), and it wasn't because I was being brave. It didn't even occur to me to ask.
I was quite scared before hand and found the "positive birth book" by Milli Hill really useful. I also did a hypnobirthing class, but was not very good at it. I think I only managed about 5 minutes of meditation twice before falling asleep.

IABUQueen · 01/08/2019 21:49

I enjoyed labour actually and was having giggles, up until I got induced. That’s when it felt out of the norm for me.

But I have a friend who had s c section and apparently she was hysteric with laughter throughout. 😂 and the doctors kept asking her husband if she has mental issues because it wasn’t normal for someone to giggle so much while being cut

ballsdeep · 01/08/2019 21:52

I loved both of mine. I do shit pregnancies but lovely births! I'd do my labour's again in a heart beat

AudacityOfHope · 01/08/2019 21:52

First birth: awful
Second birth: loved it, would love to do it all again.

You'll be grand

RedSheep73 · 01/08/2019 21:53

No. It was horrible. And I only got to 7cm both times. God only knows what the latter stages are like!

ExpeditionEverest · 01/08/2019 21:53

I wish I could say that it was enjoyable. But no, it was fucking torture. Baby was back to back though which didn't help matters.

However, afterwards I felt on top of the world and couldn't believe what i'd just done.

Livingmagicallyagain · 01/08/2019 21:58

Yes! Two wonderful labours, both induced (very post dates). Both babies almost 10lb. Second back to back (no pain relief).

Google “labour hopscotch” and keep yourself moving, change positions often. Hypnobirthing.

I had no birth injuries. Was able to move despite constant monitoring.

The end bit, the actual pushing, is intense, but once you know you can do it, it’s fine!

Shireslass · 01/08/2019 21:58

Totally!
I was (still am) the biggest wimp going. I was quite nervous and found hypnobirthing useful.
I didn't go to any classes, I brought a book and did the visualisations. Without sounding daft- I have never felt so strong in my life. I was so proud of myself and would very much like to do it again.

Livingmagicallyagain · 01/08/2019 21:59

Oh, and both around 6 hours (induced by ARM - nothing happened - and then drip!).

HelenaJustina · 01/08/2019 22:03

Enjoyed all births after the first one. The first was the only one I had an epidural for, was very prolonged and I didn’t trust my body. Next three were problem free home births and I have always told people that I enjoyed them.

AngelasAshes · 01/08/2019 22:08

Enjoyed labour?
No, no I did not. It’s more a feat of physical and mental endurance. The closest I cam compare it to is mountain climbing as I used to do that as a young adult. It’s thrilling. You feel like a goddess but enjoyment is not an adjective that properly describes it.
Enjoyment for me comes seconds after the birth not during the labour and it’s more a rush of euphoria much more heady than enjoyment.
But I have heard of women who actually orgasm during childbirth...so as others have said every woman and every labour is different.
Each of my labours were different...first was incredibly painful so bad I had out of body experience 30hrs due to back labour, but last was a quick almost painless 8hrs and 2 pushes. I did natural homebirths so keep in mind, I had zero pain relief not a choice you have to make!! And tbh with my first if there had been any pain relief on offer I would have taken it with no regrets.

BunnyJumps · 01/08/2019 22:18

I enjoyed my first which escalated gently and was a positive water birth experience.

The second was fast and intense and I didn't know why to do with myself as it was so painful. DC arrived before the birthing pool was full enough for me to get into. Perhaps the water made a difference to the pain threshold!

Sammy867 · 01/08/2019 22:19

I did
It was painful, but empowering. I had a midwife led centre and birthing pool and opted for no other medication. I didn’t have a birth plan and just went with the flow and I think this is what made it such a positive experience as I had no unrealistic expectations. I would go in open minded.

My dd came 2 weeks early at 8lb4 after a 3 hour labour. She was back to back but had tried to turn so head was facing sideways, her shoulder was wedged and thankfully the midwife just tugged her free but at no point did I ever feel unsafe. I needed a few stitches after which was fine. And I still think it was a really good experience.
You need to trust your midwife 100%.

Mammyloveswine · 01/08/2019 22:19

I did with number 2! Had a water birth and used hypnobirthing techniques, it was so calm! I soon relaxed into my contractions and let my body just take over. It was amazing, I could feel my baby moving down with each contraction. The midwife didn't keep "checking" she encouraged me to trust in my body. Shortly before delivery I had a bit of gas and air and then he was crowing! (I had a second degree tear which felt like i was being ripped apart in a machine by the killer in Saw ) but that was so short lived. It was just an amazing experience! I healed well and I used to relive the labour all the time in the early days!

Bubbletrouble43 · 01/08/2019 22:26

Yes! My first labour was perfect, I swore at the pain at one point but a tens machine and gas and air and it was far shorter than I thought it would be ( 6-7 hours from start to holding baby) it was as pp said, very empowering .

Lumene · 01/08/2019 22:28

I was on a lot of (hospital administered) drugs at the time of my two c-sections (emergency followed by planned which went badly wrong), which helped make it a more positive experience.

lv20 · 01/08/2019 22:32

I have birth 3 weeks ago and It might be too soon for me to comment but my god I did not enjoy it it fucking hurts. Also had a retained placenta and having people elbow deep up to my chest trying to dig it out was beyond horrendous.

lv20 · 01/08/2019 22:34

Saying that I've recovered really quickly and had no after pains and was back in my jeans 3 days later so it's not all bad.

LooseBerry · 01/08/2019 22:35

Yes! Although 20 and 18 years ago, it's amazing how Mother Nature can make you look back with fondness 😊.

missmouse101 · 01/08/2019 22:36

Yes, both were amazing. Swear by taking raspberry leaf extract for the last month. It really helped.

Leftiefterson · 01/08/2019 22:41

When I used to read people’s labour stories as “beautiful and wonderful” I used to think 🧐 as if.

I had a very fast labour, I couldn’t believe it and it really was so special. I thought I’d have all the drugs under the sun but went with gas and air in the end. I had all of my family at the hospital which turned out to be so lovely and it truly was one of the best experiences of my life. I’m not gonna lie, it is painful. The worse pain I’ve ever felt but it’s bearable.

Post-baby I was a little sore, I had an episiotomy but I healed very quickly and a few weeks later my DP and I were able to have sex without any issues. I was also worried about sensitivity and differences post sex but there was no difference whatsoever.

Good luck OP!

elliejjtiny · 01/08/2019 22:45

I loved giving birth to dc3, quite liked giving birth to dc1. Dc2, dc4 and dc5 were all awful births and the day dc5 was born was probably the worst day of my life.

NotSoThinLizzy · 01/08/2019 22:54

For me the contractions wasnt the worst part it's the stingy bit at the end that bothered me the most. But very straight forward births 6 hours my 1st and 5 hours my 2nd was back to back. Was up and having a shower after half hour no painkillers needed after about 2 days. All in all I would rate it 3 stars out of 5 just for pain 😂😂

Flip

1 2 3 4 5