Can anyone share any positive NHS hospital births?

[PeggyLee123]

I'm due next week and totally bombarded by the latest news i am hearing about mothers traumas etc I'm literally so petrified to go in to labor & was just wondering if anyone had any good experiences of child birth (particularly first child)

I'm having (hopefully ) a natural birth, but some of my mates too have given me horror stories and now it just feels like I am too petrified to go in to labor!

My second birth was great. Vbac (first was uneventful planned cesarean for breech, I found the recovery extremely difficult, but the surgery was great and the scar is invisible, no overhang), precipitous labour. I'd hoped for a pool but I was in too much pain and had diamorphine within 20 minutes of arrival at hospital. It was all very very fast, but I had a midwife and student midwife with me once they realised it was happening fast. I wasn't even aware there was an emergency until the consultants arrived, they were all very calm, which was great as dp was at home with ds. I had 12 minutes of active labour total during which they freed her stuck shoulder, and despite resuscitating her for a few minutes, she's absolutely perfect. They stitched me (deep 2nd degree tear) for what felt like forever, but it healed great with v little pain, and I breastfed throughout. I did beg them to stop and let it heal naturally at one point (gas and air) but they insisted I'd be glad later on. I was really impressed with them and thanked them repeatedly once in recovery! One gave me a hug when her shift ended and said I'd done amazing.

Good luck. Be flexible. It may not go like you hope, but in the end you'll have your baby. And absolutely be pushy about what you need, too many people can't advocate for themselves.

Yes I had a wonderful experience in a midwife led unit attached to a main London hospital so I knew I could get extra care if I needed it. I had a water birth as planned and used gas and air although it was obviously painful it was the best experience it could be. We did a Hypnobirthing course and although I don't think I particularly used the breathing methods it really helped make me feel calm and helped my husband know what to do and advocate for me. I would definitely recommend looking up Hypnobirthing if you haven't already. X

I had 2 reasonably uneventful births. Midwives and registrars were amazing. I was readmitted with both babies due to jaundice and the care on the wards was also good. The only real complaint is that I was in for a few hours longer than I needed to be with my first as my midwife was too busy prioritising women who needed assistance to deal with my discharge which is reassuring in a way.

my best advice would be to not get too hung up on a birth plan. Have an idea of what you’d like but be open to that changing. Child birth is not something you can really have much control over.

I am due next week as well it does have me a bit worried even though this is my 3rd baby and I have two positive experiences to go off.
my first water broke at home went in to hospital daughter born a few hours later on gas and air and aftercare was excellent.
2nd daughter exactly the same birth wise however postnatal ward wasn’t as good but I was home pretty quickly at my request.
I am having this baby at a different hospital so worried about what the care will be like. I am able to advocate for myself and my husband will as well so I think that helps. If you need something or feel something is off trust you instincts you will almost always be right. Good luck

Meant to add - have a plan but don't be disappointed if it doesn't work out. There's a lot of pressure for the 'perfect birth' and women are made to feel like failures which obviously isn't true!!

I've had 4 babies in the NHS (including twins) and the service has been amazing. The nurses have worked so hard answering been so kind and the doctor agreed that I could have an epidural with all of them which took away ALOT of the pain. Remember that the great percentage of mothers will have the same experience and those who haven't will be in the minority. Good luck with your labour xx.

Two positive experiences. First one had moments which with hindsight could have been better but basically fine. Second was a dream. I mean, it's still the hardest thing I've ever done and it hurt etc, but everything went as well as it could.

I had an amazing experience with my first baby recently, midwifery led and they were so lovely and supportive. The birth was particularly smooth, spontaneous delivery, 6 hours total, water birth, baby on breast and golden hour. Was definitely lucky to have such a smooth experience which not everyone has however I believe even if something went wrong I would have been supported.

To echo what others have said, hypnobirthing and breathing techniques really saved me and I really feel like I breathed my baby out which helped make the experience so calm. I read the practical ways to make your birth better book and although a bit preachy at times the information is important and I felt armed with the knowledge to advocate for myself if I needed to. Would highly recommend.

As you've said, they aren't reporting on the good stories and people don't like to tell them either, it isn't as interesting gossip as the horror story births! Rest assured they do exist. My trust does a monthly round up of information for the midwifery unit stats on their Facebook, eg how many births, how many got golden hour etc. Might be interesting and assure you that it is possible!

I have a 5yr old and 5 week old.

Both were good experiences, labouring in the pool and giving birth both times with no pain relief. Both times I had a small graze but no tearing.

I was out and about on day 3 again for both births.

I experienced great care from the midwives.

Consultants this time (I had gestational diabetes) were a bit up themselves but that wasn't reflected in the care I recieved.

I had two fantastic births and got well cared for 😊

I gave birth a couple of months ago and my experience was nothing but positive (except the labour pain itself)!

Midwives and staff were fantastic, couldn't fault anyone at all. They're so hardworking it's such a shame they're stretched so thin in a lot of places.