Would love to hear some positive birth stories please!

[Babycakes1989]

Hello lovely ladies. I’m pregnant with my first a little boy and I’m approaching 34 weeks.

I’m doing as much research as I can to prepare me and make me understand what will happen in birth as learning some hypno birthing techniques to help me. Don’t get me wrong I know is not going to be a walk in the park but I think by being as positive and calm as possible will help towards a more calm experience?! All my life I’ve been told how horrendous child birth is as well as nothing but horror stories.

Would be lovely to hear some positive stories ladies so please if your happy to share I’d love to hear them ❤️ Thank you x

I had my second child, my DS at home. It was absolutely wonderful. I could relax in my own surroundings. I felt so in control of everything. In the end I had 3 midwives attending, one was there as she'd never experienced a home birth. We laughed and joked, I had a relaxing cd of my favourite classical music, and had scented candles burning.

We had entonox and pethidine on standby, but I didn't need them at all.

Mind you when my DS made his entrance into the world, Tubular Bells was playing (theme to the Exorcist!)

You'll be absolutely fine- it's not all horror giving birth! and congratulations on the forthcoming birth of your Son! X

Ah that story got me all teary duchess thank you so much for sharing! What a wonderful story!!! ❤️❤️❤️

I've had two babies and both were great.

First was long but I got an epidural and it was fab (one of the ones you can walk around with). I had to have constant monitoring due to bleeding so couldn't do the whole hypnobirthing/ water birth I thought I wanted but it was still calm and lovely. Birthed mainly on my back.

Second baby was born 30 mins after we got to hospital so just had a bit of gas and air! Delivered on my knees crouched up the back of the bed which felt easier.

Both babies were big (10lb +) and I had minor tears with both.

Hypnobirthing theory helped me know what I wanted and what I didn't and gave me the confidence to trust my body could do it.

Good luck!

Look at the positive birth company - they have a private Facebook group too which has positive stories every day. I find them wonderful and helpful to read.

Remember, positive doesn't mean that it has to be drug free, intervention free and pain free. My first wasn't great but that was because I thought positive was a natural drug free water birth and I ended up with complications and an emcs. I had dismissed stories as "horror stories" because I hadn't realised they were just true accounts of other people's experiences. I felt like a failure.

My second was a longish labour at 38hrs and another emcs but I laughed and smiled throughout. It was a total joy. Because I felt supported and in control and worked with my particular set of circumstances, not against them.

I had my 2nd son within 3 hours and used visualisation to help with the pain.
Honestly, I didn’t find it very painful. I thought it’d be really bad, screaming with pain etc. But I didn’t believe I was in labour for ages as the pain wasn’t that bad.

Firstborn birth remains the best day of my life by a country mile. Not easy but I wouldn't change a single detail. I wish for you the experience I had. God I thought the world would stop in its tracks when they wheeled me out with that baby. It's the only time when I unquestionably believed in a beautiful, loving, higher power. I just can't put into words how wonderful it was. And that was a 17 hour labour and a third degree tear and a baby that wouldn't latch for love or money.

Both my babies were quick and easy, 1st was born 3 hrs after arriving at hospital, 2nd only an hour (an things had only started an hour before that at home). Gas and air both times, slight tear and a few stitches first time, nothing second time. Both were born at 11pm on a Monday and was home by lunchtime the next day.

Good luck, try to just go with it and relax 🙂

I’ve had 2 births- one traumatic, one positive. The mistake I made first time (IME of course) was not being properly informed and educated prior. I bought into all the stuff about ‘don’t bother with a birth plan’ and ‘put yourself in their hands and be grateful for a healthy baby’ as a result I was totally out of control when problems arose in the labour and had little say in how things went.

2nd time round I researched more and had a birth plan. As a result I felt way more in control. Even when problems arose again I had firm idea of which routes I was willing to take, what things I wouldn’t consent to and the alternative options. That’s what really made all the difference for me.

I've had three positive childbirth experiences.

DC1 was long (27 hours from waters breaking to birth) and I had an epidural and an episiotomy in the end, but it was still a positive experience because I felt in control of my pain relief choices and supported by my DH and the midwives. I started off in a birth centre but had to move to the labour ward when I had the epidural.

DC2 and DC3 were both quick and easy births, only gas and air needed.

I had an elcs for my first due to breech, and a Vbac for my second. My Vbac was far more positive for me - I bought the positive birth company digital pack and watched the videos (highly recommend - only £35 I think) which made me understand what was happening. I ended up having to be semi-induced but never felt panicked or out of control once. I also don't think I made a sound the entire labour I was so in my own bubble - which completely surprised me! I thought I'd be a real screamer!
I think understanding what your body is doing helped me so much and I had such a positive experience I would love to do it again and I look back on it as such an amazing day. As weird as that sounds - sure I wasn't saying that straight after...!

I also heard horror stories but I didn't let it freak me out because my mind set was this baby has to come out one way or another 😂. I was also very chilled out about the birth, i liked the thought of vaginal delivery but didn't get my hopes up on this as I really was not in any control of it, so if I needed a c section or forceps so be it as long as my baby was healthy.
My actual labour was really nice, it wasn't no where near as painful as I'd expect it to be 🙄 (maybe I have a high pain threshold). Don't get me wrong it bloody hurt but I was expecting to not be able to cope. I was in labour for 4 days, once I was in established labour I dilated from 3-10cm in one hour (I'd suggest going on your knees!) I was pushing for 3 hours and that was exhausting but my little boy finally came out with no help or interventions and delivered the way I wanted ☺️. I had pethidine and gas and air in the end. The gas and air was good 😂

Although I had a very traumatic birth, I have to say all the midwives (it was that long o think I saw 5 in the end before DS arrived!) and all the other staff at the hospital were all lovely and have been since (still under the consultant), that's my positive part of giving birth and it's actually the thing I try to focus! Good luck - remember everyone is different, have a plan if you would like, but don't be disappointed if it doesn't go to plan

I've been incredibly lucky so far and 3 very positive births, 2 of which at home. They were all about 15 hours, all in water so I could move loads and both with a husband who I had fully briefed about what I wanted so he could remind me to breath and tell the midwives what I wanted when I had retreated in to my own world. I think what helped was breathing properly (easier said than done), remembering that a contraction is like a mountain, once it's peaked, it gets easier and then you have a break, and to let your body do what it needs to do. I tore with my first because I was so keen to get him out and really pushed, so next time I let my body push.
I think it's also really important to realise that it will not go exactly to plan and midwives might have to suggest or intervene. That is why they are there and that's ok.
Good luck and enjoy your last few weeks of peace.

I've had two babies, both vaginal births lasting less than two hours and both managed with gas & air. My second was one of the most positive and genuinely lovely experiences of my life, yes it was sore but manageable and I felt so calm and in the zone. I think hypnobirthing really helped me.

It's perfectly possible to have a positive birth experience, but unfortunately that seems to be down to luck more than anything else. I'm now pregnant again and keeping an open mind, this time might be totally different!

I had a failed induction and emergency c section. 51 hours from getting to the hospital to the baby being born. It was wonderful.

The induction didn't work, so even though the trace was showing lots of contractions I couldn't feel them. I was more uncomfortable just from being 9 months pregnant and having to stay on the bed to be monitored.

At one point they turned the drip all the way up, I went to sleep and they made DH a bed on the floor so he could catch some zzzs too.

The section was so calm, I strolled down to theatre and even though I was technically an emergency case I was bumped for an elective who was actually more urgent. The anaesthetist chatted away to me and DD came out screaming. DH had cuddles while I was closed and then I breastfed her in recovery, she was a great feeder and the section didn't seem to delay my milk coming in.

I know I was very lucky and some people have a similar but much less positive tale to tell. Before I had DD I definitely would've thought an EMCS was a horror story so just wanted to share a happier take.

I hypnobirthed my son at home and it was beautiful. You are right - staying calm and breathing is key.
Read Effective Birth Preparation by Maggie Howell.
Good luck!

I had a decent birth with my dd.
I was in early labour for probably 12 or so hours, but I didn't really know because it wasn't how I expected as it didn't start getting worse or building up. It was just on and off random contractions (which did keep me awake and were painful)
My waters went the next morning after getting out of the bath and we arrived in hospital an hour later. I got straight into the pool at around 6cm. Gas and air and 50mins later (20 mins pushing) I had a baby.
I suffered a substantial 3b tear so had to have surgery to repair it, but it was absolutely fine. I didn't notice the tear and don't feel I have suffered any long term side effects.
Yes, it was sore sitting for quite a few weeks, and the first bowel movement was scary, but I still look back in it in a very positive light.
Hopefully I will be able to take that positivity forward for this time.

Congrats on your pregnancy OP. Not long now eek!

I used to think people were weird saying they loved their birth experience but I totally get it now. I loved it, every second of it. Did it hurt? Christ yes, at times it was unbearable but I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.

I had a really fast labour, only 15 minutes of pushing, gas and air and then an episiotomy. The stitches hurt more than the birth. When they gave me my daughter it was the single happiest moment of my life.

You’ll be amazing xx