Does anyone enjoy giving birth?

[summerhillgang]

Just that really. Looking for some positivity... I am a 39+2 FTM and hoping for a home water birth x

Yes, I had a nice birth with DS2. I mean, I won’t lie, it did hurt, but it was chilled and lovely and just perfect. He was born at home in my bed, with the winter sun beaming through the bedtime window and a beautiful song on the radio.
I’d do that again in a heartbeat if it wasn’t for the logistics of having three children.

I had a water birth with my second DC. It was painful but I didn't hate it. It was a good experience

All I'll say is: expect things to not go to plan.

I had a water birth at home with DC2 and it was wonderful. Crowning hurt like a bitch but contractions were manageable and straight after he was born I said I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Good luck OP :)

I didn’t dislike it if that helps!

Yes. There’s obviously discomfort, but they’re also the only two times in my life where I’ve felt so adrenaline-fuelled, intuitive and just superhuman. It’s just the most powerful thing. Pregnancy on the other hand…I can’t stand it.

Positive water birth for me too. Taught myself self hypnosis and was so relaxed I didn’t need to push! Wasn’t pain free but ok. Had some gas n air…. Because why not?!

I absolutely loved it (but had a planned section, so might not be what you're asking).

Looking back I absolutely treasure two of them (first one was pretty rubbish). Yes, they were painful and awful- but they were also bearable. I'm going to be annoying and say that the pain is the whole point- or I felt that, anyway. When you actually give birth, and have the baby there, it's so amazing in comparison that I feel like it's the most exciting thing I've ever done.

Sorry, also, OP, I inadvertently didn't have pain relief. I wanted it, but nobody believed I was that far into labour. I'm quite an active person and was walking round a lot- so that's not the midwives fault.

I found the thought that loads of women have done this for millennia

My second birth was very positive :)
It hurt but it felt very manageable

With my second - water birth. I wouldn't say enjoy exactly, but more that it was a good experience, I felt strong and in control, felt I could cope (water brilliant for that, you can float and position yourself exactly where naturally you want to be) - went in at 9pm and he was born at 4am.

Eldest - induction on a sunday afternoon, epidural, forceps, born early Tuesday. Not a bad experience as such - because lovely midwives, but I felt much more "at the mercy" of something rather than in control of it. By the end it felt more like a desperate push to get her out before a cx became needed, more frantic and close to the edge.

Just relax and let it take its course. It might not happen as you have planned (I had planned a home water birth for my first!) but then again it might! If plans change, go with them and don't worry about it.

Yup.

DD1's birth was AMAZING. No pain, just pressure. 18 hours total. First 12 with TENS at home and then into the pool at the midwife unit.

DD2's was more painful. I needed gas and air. It was faster though. I gave birth on a mat as the pool was filling.

The pain with my second was a bit like the pain of running - it hurts and its hard but it is kind of good and sends your endorphins crazy.

By the time you are pushing you are not in an "ordinary" state - you are high on pain and endorphins - in an altered state.

Oops!
...and in many different countries really comforting and a bit magical. It's just that idea that loads of women have been successful at this before me that made me think it was bearable and positive, I guess!

Good luck. It's not too bad. People do it loads!

Although I wouldn’t say I ‘enjoyed’ DD’s birth, it was straightforward, I managed the pain well with breathing techniques and a TENS machine. Overall it was a very empowering experience and afterwards I felt like superwoman.

I enjoy having given birth. The high is amazing. Also I love gas and air. I had two water births, both bearable - I mean, it hurt, but in a positive way.

I always say they were the best two days of my life. Yes it hurt but wasn't unbearable. I was lucky in that no complications, just me and my partner in the maternity hospital, and they left us on our own until the actual birth. My step mum just said go with the flow and you'll be fine.

@Tiddlerslate1987

Yes. There’s obviously discomfort, but they’re also the only two times in my life where I’ve felt so adrenaline-fuelled, intuitive and just superhuman. It’s just the most powerful thing. Pregnancy on the other hand…I can’t stand it.

This is exactly how I felt (although I enjoyed my first pregnancy as well).

I like giving birth. It’s a very special thing and the feeling of euphoria and relief is spectacular. If you could bottle that you could sell it for thousands. Just the sheer fact of no longer being pregnant is bloody great. I remember a couple of hours after I gave birth quite literally jumping into my lovely, squishy bed face down and just wiggling around. If you’d told me I could get such pleasure from such a simple thing as laying face down with no bump in the way!

The process of giving birth, well I guess it’s not my favourite thing, exactly. But as long as everyone leaves me alone to get on with it and don’t touch or stare, I do quite enjoy it. It’s very interesting to feel so many different things you rarely feel, and it gives a respect for the body’s processes I think, that I often forget day to day. It’s a powerful thing to create a new human being, and it might sound cheesy but for me there is an element of feeling connected to the world, the natural world but also other women in general, a shared experience I guess.

But yes, I enjoyed it, and I hope you do too.

I loved my first birth! (Second due in a few weeks). It was painful with no pain relief but also kind of got a weird high out of it and almost liked the intensity. I felt so proud after like I could do anything (even though I was really just lucky!).
I’m looking forward to my second birth ...if I knew it was going to be like that anyway!

I do! The first one was very fast so a bit of a shock, no time for pain relief/ birth plans etc but I actively looked forward to the next 2.
Felt it was like running a race. You'll get to the end no matter what and end up with a baby. It's so exciting really.

I wouldn't say I 'enjoyed' it but I did have two good, fast births! They were fucking agony and I cried both times but by that point I was almost there and too far gone to do anything but push like fury to get the baby out asap. I used gas and air for both. I agree with @JasonMomoasgirlfriend about not being set on a specific plan.

@PiesNotGuys I can totally relate to wriggling around face down on the bed after! I cannot wait to sleep on my belly again instead of straddling a huge donut (pregnancy pillow) that my toddler usually ends up sneaking inside at 3am and laying horizontally....

I had a water birth at home with my first, and it was absolutely beautiful. I feel very blessed that everything went to plan and it was honestly the best birth experience I could’ve hoped for. Yes, it hurt a lot, like A LOT, but being in the safety and warmth of my own home really helped me escape into my labour - I didn’t fight it or panic, if that makes sense. I just went into a space in my head and concentrated on my body - exactly how hypno-birthing teaches you. I found being at home, surrounded by my own things, with no interruptions, really helped me focus. You’ll get a lot of scaremongering about home births, particularly if you’re a FTM, but I felt so incredibly safe and had far superior midwife care than my friends who had hospital births. And the aftercare is exceptional too. Awww… it’s actually making me miss my birth!! Good luck OP, I really hope it goes wonderfully for you xx