Are positive birth stories welcome?

[bluebellaa]

I wouldn't want it to come across as gloating or anything because I know a significant number of women experience birth trauma, let alone just "not what they'd anticipated". I personally found positive stories uplifting when I was expecting and would be happy to share my experience if there are people who would feel the same way, but wanted to ask first in case it was more likely to be distressing to some.

I'd like to hear more positive stories, I think it would help ease anxiety!

Absolutely, alot of the time people are more willing to share bad experiences so would be happy to see some positive ones! The thought of birth terrifies me tbh so would love this

Lovely idea for a thread - think how birth is portrayed in the media as well as the number of negative stores on forums (understandably, people need advice and support after trauma so more likely to post those stories than positive ones) sets women up to expect a terrible time by default, which is then self fulfilling.

I'd encourage anyone reading this thread to read The Positive Birth Book by Milli Hill and/or Give Birth Like a Feminist

I had a beautiful birth. I didn't do a hypnobirthing course as such, but listened to hypnobirthing meditations on YouTube before bed during pregnancy and during labour. I was almost in a trance during labour- I had no idea what was going on, all I did was breathe slowly in and out for the whole time, until I got told to turn over (I was on all fours) so that they could put baby on my chest. The only times when I felt a bit of pressure and I'd pant a little, DH would tell me to take a deep breath, and I was back in my trance. Very strange how my body just took over and did everything. I didn't even push! I did have some gas and air right at the end, but I found it helped me to slowly breath in and out through the mouthpiece.

No tears, no stitches needed, I was up and about straight afterwards and even the first poo that I was warned about was just like a normal poo the next morning.

Definitely, it's good to hear both sides. I've had two labours, both were very different. One straight forward on the birthing unit, and the other an induction that was quite stressful.