Anyone had a straightforward 1st vaginal birth?

[JRTfan]

So I'm 35 weeks now with my 1st baby I'm 40 and it's IVF. Will be hoping to go in to labour naturally but may be induced if go beyond 40 weeks. I am not scared as such of vaginal birth or being in pain but I don't know a single person lately that's had a non traumatic birth experience! They've all ended either in an emergency C section or an instrumental delivery with haemorrhage and tears.
I know a couple of people that have had planned c section and none have had a bad experience and recovery been fine..I'm just hoping for some positive vaginal 1st birth stories if they are out there. It's been a 12 year journey to get here and obviously all I want is a happy healthy baby but I'd prefer not to be ripped in half in the process!

I had a drip induction that I was dreading because of all the horror stories about epidurals and instrumental deliveries. I was actually holding DD 3.5 hours later, having managed with just gas and air and 2 tiny stitches.

Me. I was 35 when I had DS1. I had a straightforward vaginal birth with no instruments or even an epidural (too late for it). No cutting. Tiny tear, no stitches. Just gas and air.

Yes I did. 12 hours from first contraction to her being out. It was only really painful for the last 3 hours. Managed at home for a long time and was 8cm when I arrived at the hospital.

Just had gas and air and a water birth. Only pushed for 12 mins and had a second degree cut so a few stitches. Had her at 2.33pm was home on the sofa eating pizza at 7.30pm.

Wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Second labour very similar but slightly longer, no stitches that time though.

Good luck OP. WouLd recommend tens machine and hypnobirthing x

Yep. Only unusual thing was I went straight into three contractions in ten minutes. No lead up for me.

it was wonderful. Straightforward, no need to worry or panic, and over inside 5/6 hours (I’m a bit hazy not on the timing but it was over a decade ago). I felt great, recovered pretty fast, etc.

You only usually hear about bad experiences, but for many it’s simple and straightforward. Followed by snuggles and a cup of tea.

Me. Textbook birth in the MLU, used the birthing pool, literally all the midwives did was catch him. No tears or injuries - just stood up and walked away. Wonderful experience.

Thanks all that really reassuring. The people I know are a few close friends that didn't want to tell me about their birth stories because they were a bit scary! And a few colleagues who when pushed revealed their not so pleasant stories. I've also watched all the programmes where it's obviously not going to be straightforward.
I've got a pretty decent pain threshold and am fit and healthy so don't have any reservations I can do it but you just never know how things will pan out, so it's good to hear stories where it has actually gone smoothly.

My son was a straight forward vaginal birth. On the labour ward for 5 hours. Baby came out without any help, midwife wasnt even in the room. Had a small tear which they we're debating about stitching. In the end they put one stitch in.
Birth was just before midnight. I slept the night and was up and about as normal the next morning. Stayed in Hospital a few days as Baby needed observation but we were Home on the morning of the 3rd day

I’m listening to a really excellent podcast called The Kick with Australian obstetricians. They explain all different types of interventions and why you
might have them - it’s so helpful and really took some of my fear away about “not having a straight forward v-birth”.

They give a commonly quoted stat for first time mothers: 1/3 C-sections, 1/3 instrumental assistance, and 1/3 unassisted vaginal birth.

My mum had 2 unassisted labours (I took about 45-60 minutes apparently!), so
I’m crossing fingers it runs in families!

My first was a straightforward birth. I opted for an epidural which worked brilliantly for me. Can't say it was a pleasant experience but not unpleasant either. Second one was similar.

I did. Textbook really. 12 hours from start to finish at 40+2

Woke with period like cramps around 5am. Dozed for another while. Pottered around at home and sitting on birthing ball. Over the day things got progressively and steadily stronger and more frequent. Went to hospital around 3.30pm and had a waterbirth 90 mins later. 2 small stitches that healed well.

Our sons.
First was four hours from water breaking.
Second was a precipitate labour (Total time under an hour, delivery within 10 minutes of arriving at hospital)
No interventions for either birth.
Both times out from hospital in under 12 hours.

Mine wasn't traumatic... Although maybe not straightforward.

Woke at around 3am with an urge to run a bath! Halfway through the bath running felt quite wet so checked underwear and found dark green discharge.
At 4am decided to phone the the maternity unit and they told me to come in via taxi - I may have had some pains by that point but can't remember.

I told them I was on my own so bad a bit of a 'discussion' with them and they agreed to send an ambulance. Had pains in the ambulance but nothing more than period pain type stuff.

Got into the delivery suite, I was sure the baby was "right there" (my exact words) and the midwife scoffed saying I couldn't even be completely dilated yet. She checked, her face went white and she said he was indeed right there!

My blood pressure dropped at one point,obviously baby was distressed hence the meconium, they talked me into Pethidine which spaced me out terribly and so I couldn't really push, so they had to use the ventouse and give an episiotomy.

So yes, intervention but from early labour to birth it was about 3 hours so in the grand scheme of things, I'd say not too awful?

I was at the shops the next day with the baby (I was a single mum) so can't have been too bad, lol

Mine was straightforward and short - I was only 22 though and quite fit at the time. I don't know if age makes much difference.

Yes, but I went private to have her at home. Under nhs care they would have induced me for being a little late, I know it's "my choice" but you're very vulnerable when you're pregnant and they actually hounded me ringing and leaving nasty messages. I think I'd have cracked under the pressure.

I gave birth at home, no complications or tears but paid for the privilege. It wouldn't have happened if I'd gone with the nhs

Can I recommend Birth Ed whilst I'm here, amazing for helping you feel empowered to make the right choices for you

Mine was 7 hours, vaginal birth, aged 34. I did tear when he crowned but tbh I didn’t feel it because the crowing itself was so painful I couldn’t distinguish it - but that was only a minute or two. I was stitched up painlessly under a local anaesthetic and healed really well. No pain moving around or going to the loo or anything. I consider myself pretty lucky.

I had a long labour and it ended with an instrumental delivery….but it was fine! I was up and about thr next day, recovered fast and had no lasting trauma. So even if it doesn’t go exactly as planned it can still be fine 😀

Yes, I've had 2 straight forward vaginal births. First one (5.5 years ago) spontaneously at 38 +1, my waters broke and by the time I got to the hospital I was 8cm. Got in to the pool and just under 4 hours later with 30 mins of pushing he was here. No intervention or gas and air and only a small graze.

2nd one (6 weeks ago) slightly more complicated as I had gestational diabetes so was under the consultant (managed by diet though) again spontaneously went in to labour this time at 39 +1, got to the hospital quickly so was only 4 cm however got in to the pool and around 3 hours later with 15 minutes of pushing my youngest arrived. Same again re just a small graze and no intervention.

I do feel fortunate that I've managed 2 straightforward birth, in some ways the first one meant this time I had more anxiety around it because I knew what a 'good' birth could be!

Good luck x

I've had 2 vaginal births, no testing or stitches. Using just gas and air and for one I got an injection into the hip as the labour went on a long time. Can't remember what it was called though. Second birth was quicker

Also got into the birthing pool but had to get out both times to actually deliver the baby

Statistically, most women have straightforward vaginal births.

Remember, they are less likely to talk about it than women who had issues.

(I was one month off 39, labour started about midday with ouchy pains- went to hospital after a normal day, a big dinner and a couple of hours sleep at 4am. DD born at 9 with epidural. <<<Magic medicine. )

Yes, here!

Baby came naturally at 38+6. Waters broke at around 11am when I was sitting ready for a fry up with my DH in a pub. At 3pm he was born so it was a quick first birth! I only got to the hospital about an hour before he was born because everyone thought the labour would be a lot longer. I was coping with the pain of contractions so well that nobody had examined me yet when I was fully dilated and ready to push. DH had to run and find someone! I only felt like I needed gas and air for the pushing, so for the last 20 minutes of labour. Never felt like I needed more pain relief (even if I had time!). I had 4 second degree tears but I didn't know I had torn (and 2nd degree tears are very common!). I wonder if I was lucky because DS was a small 6lb 7oz too.

Yup me! Started getting mild contractions one evening, went to bed, woke up at 4am contracting 3 in 10. Went to hospital and was 4cm. In the pool 4cm-fully dilated in 3 hours (!!). No pain relief, just breathing and husband massage my arms and back etc. Pushed them out on dry land in the end as needed an episiotomy (big head!). But all fine - couldn’t feel the stitches and healed really well. So that was probably 12 hours in total start to finish? I’m hoping number 2 is just as easy / comes just as quickly.

Went into labour at 40+5, birthed DS vaginally at 40+7, no interventions. 1 stitch needed.

I have 1 friend who had a vaginal birth too. All the other friends ended up in emergency sections. Does make me worry for my 2nd as I've noticed alot more inductions and sections.

Mine was easy. Long slow build up with lots of false alarms but when it got going he was out in just over 4 hours. Didn't need any pain relief apart from the pool, although that was really good, getting out and shuffling to the toilet mid way was agonising. Bit of a graze, no stitches and he was nearly 9lb.

2nd was back to back but mercifully quick, third was similar to first but not allowed the pool so used gas. 4th was elcs at 35 weeks, nightmare, and 5th was failed induction and emcs at nearly 37 weeks, nightmare again but not as bad as the elcs.