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

Original poster

Thoughts/ experiences in labour

14 replies

ClaudiaRoseAitken · 05/01/2020 14:03

Heyy! What is everyone's experience or feelings on labour? Im due my little girl in May and I can't wait intill she's in my arms but as the due date creeps closer and the more stories I hear I am terrified!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Bluerussian · 05/01/2020 14:06

I was excited, hopeful all would go well and that it wouldn't be a long, difficult labour. It wasn't, it was a good experience and i remember every bit. Took us a bit by surprise as our baby was born five days early but that really isn't much - however, I remember my husband when I told him I thought I was starting labour, saying in a panic, "You can't be - it's too early!". Typical :-).

nicciw87 · 05/01/2020 14:09

The thoughts of labour imo are scarier than the labour itself iv been through it 3 times and now going on to my 4th labour in April. There are horror stories out there but they are few and far in between though for some reason people only like to tell the bad and not the good. Iv had 3 spontaneous labours first was slow labour for 3 days but meant my body was prepped and I only had 3 pushes and he was out. 2nd and 3rd labours were very fast. It is painful no getting past that but once in labour u know in ur head it's nearing the end and baby is nearly here. I found in early stages bouncing on a ball and watching comedy helped me to have distractions. Don't worry too much and Google pain relief and birthing options rather then labour stories every single labour is different but most come out fine with no complications but if something does go wrong u have midwives and doctors there who are trained to cope in those situations. Please try not too worry too much

BlueEyedFloozy · 05/01/2020 14:10

No labour or birth is the same.

On paper my first was an absolute nightmare but in reality it wasn't half as scary as it sounds!

My second was an elective section due to breech presentation but I'd have laboured if I could have despite my first experience.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 05/01/2020 15:39

Also following this with interest! Im due in march and I feel the same - everyone is so willing to share horror stories, but the 'normal, average' birth stories get left out.

CL1982 · 05/01/2020 15:57

I was excited and had decided to have an epidural prior so wasn’t worried about the pain :) I enjoyed it! Weird I know it it was incredible to experience.

PixieDustt · 05/01/2020 16:01

I loved my labour. It was a long labour 4 days in total.
I managed on gas and air and for me it wasn't as bad as was I thought it would be.
I had a bit of trouble getting DS out. I pushed for a long time eventually needing to have a break as DS was showing distress. After that break for me and DS I continued to push and he came into the world 🥰. The most difficult thing for me was the pushing. I just didn't think he would come out. He did and I was just exhausted at this point hence why it took me so long. DS did turn back to back in labour but a lovely doctor managed to turn him back to the right position. I didn't feel a thing when he moved him.

The burning sensation when you're pushing can be sore but you're so focused on getting baby out you just push past it.
I did have a 2nd degree tear but you wouldn't know. They stitched it really quick (didn't feel a thing for that either even when they numbed the area) I was up about after the labour.
People are so quick to share horror stories but it isn't all that bad for some people. ☺️

LajesticVantrashell · 05/01/2020 16:02

I was booked in to be induced. Went into labour the night before. Slept through early labour. Got to the MLU at 7am to be told I was already 7cm. An hour on gas & air, five pushes and he was out, weighing 7lb 7oz.

Stayed in the same room all day, snoozing, feeding, cuddling, was discharged at 8pm, home for 9pm.

annlee3817 · 05/01/2020 17:25

Remember that people are more likely to share a bad experience or anything that isn't straight forward, at least that's what happened to me. My labour was very straight forward, and I only share that if asked in all honesty. My waters started to go at 1.30am, contractions started at 2am and DD was born at 7.17am, so all pretty boring really :) I did hypnobirthing CDs from 34 weeks to practice breathing and to keep me calm, it helped on the day

piperk · 05/01/2020 17:28

Aw it's a horrible feeling I'm very anxious just because let's be honest it hurts.

However my labours have been very straight forward. First I was induced had him after a 5 hour labour and second my waters broke and had him 1 hour later. No it's not nice but so so so worth it!

Xxx

Darkstar4855 · 05/01/2020 18:55

I had a tough labour and deliver (baby face up, couldn’t rotate with first lot of forceps so had to deliver him with different ones, 3rd degree tear plus episiotomy, 1.5l haemorrhage and baby went to SCBU with suspected sepsis). But you know what? It was actually a really positive experience and I was so proud of myself for getting through it.

Labour IS painful but you know it’s not forever and you’re going to meet your baby at the end of it and that makes it exciting and strangely bearable!

Original poster

ClaudiaRoseAitken · 05/01/2020 19:29

Thanks everyone. I still have 18 weeks too go I'm excited and don't think the nerves will go but Reading these stories is great prep 💞

OP posts:

Boymummy3 · 05/01/2020 19:35

I didn't mind either of my two labour's... Both was pretty quick I didn't tear/rip I didn't need help.. Used gas & Air and diamorphine (although got given diamorphine a bit too late with first baby and he was being a lazy bum coming out)
Every labour is of course different my 1st was different to my 2nd. The way they started was Completly different which I wasn't expecting so now I have 3 week till no3 is here and I have no clue how it's going to start or what it's going to be like.. I nervous but being through it two before I think also puts your mind at ease a little...

Whilst in labour it feels like it's taking forever but before you know it you have your baby in your arms and you pretty much forget what you have just been through.

june2007 · 05/01/2020 19:38

I thin one problem is your told it will be like this... Your contractions will feal like this..... The trouble it,s not always like the text books. First baby waters broke(no real conrtractions before.) baby born 1hr 15 mins latter,(at 34+5). 2nd again no contractions before braking of waters and baby born 2hr 20 min latter this time at 34+2. Every baby is different. My sil showed signs of labour xmas eve baby born 2nd of Jan.

Danni12 · 05/01/2020 19:43

I went to pregnancy yoga and listened to a hypnotherapy birthing CD. I laboured in a birthing pool which was amazing!! Definitely recommend and carried on listening to my CD. It was a long labour and eventually ended with an emergency CSection but I thought the whole thing was amazing. I had A LOT of gas and air!!! That is brilliant stuff!!

Flip