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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Anyone had a straightforward 1st vaginal birth?

127 replies

JRTfan · 22/05/2024 07:04

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!

OP posts:
PoochiesPinkEars · 22/05/2024 08:25

I did, I'd even go as far to say it was a doddle.
Wouldn't normally admit that as it feels like gloating in the wrong company, but since you're seeking reassurance 😁

SuuzeeeQ · 22/05/2024 08:26

Most women tear with their first. Sorry to say

Roselilly36 · 22/05/2024 08:26

Both of mine were straightforward spontaneous vaginal deliveries, DS1 10hr natural labour, no gas and air, coped fine, of course, the contractions were painful but bearable, I did suffer a bad tear though that required surgery. DS1 was 8lb11ozs and born one day before he was due.

DS2, 2.5hr waters broke, straightforward natural delivery, again no pain relief of any type. He was 10 days early and 9lbs 3ozs.

Good luck OP, try not to worry, lots of women find birth a lot easier than they imagined, I was prepared to have any pain relief going, but didn’t need it.

Brainworm · 22/05/2024 08:27

Mine was very straight forward and I was 36.

The thing that most surprised me, above all else, was how much hard work was involved in the pushing. I had been very sporty and was strong and fit, it didn't cross my mind that I would find it such hard work (I was pushing for an hour).

Definitely a case of the hard work being rewarded!

HotCrossBunnyInTheOven · 22/05/2024 08:29

My first was 8hrs, no problems at all, no interventions, healthy baby, 6 days late!

I then went on to have another 5 babies, labours all very straightforward vaginal births with no issues or interventions.

I hope everything goes the same for you 😊

rwa818 · 22/05/2024 08:29

Personally I had ventouse and a 2nd degree tear with my first, so not exactly straightforward but not terrible either.
I do know a couple of people who had normal vaginal deliveries first time

Tlolljs · 22/05/2024 08:32

I’ve had 4 longest one was third he had his arm up over his head but that was only 10 hours from first pain until having him in my arms.
No stitches. But I was in my twenties.

Waitingfordoggo · 22/05/2024 08:32

Yes, I had a straightforward first birth. It took about 12 hours from start to finish. No drugs needed apart from two paracetamol. Some minimal tearing and no stitches required. Hope you have a good experience OP, whatever kind of birth you end up with.

Waitingfordoggo · 22/05/2024 08:33

And when I say 12 hours- that was from the very first hint of a contraction. The tough bit was only about 5 hours.

WoodBurningStov · 22/05/2024 08:39

14 hrs when I started labour (very minor contractions), I'd say the final few hours were when it really started. Only used gas and air so very straight forward.

muddlingthrou · 22/05/2024 08:40

I was induced after my waters broke and ended up with an episiotomy and a forceps delivery. It sounds like it should've been traumatic, but actually it was a positive experience. I healed quickly, and my baby girl was out with just one push with forceps. The marks on my little one faded within hours of the birth. I'm now pregnant with my second and would be very happy with a similar birth.

Chasingsquirrels · 22/05/2024 08:42

Very straightforward.
Waters went, contractions started 30 mins later, ds1 born 2 hours after that. Gas & air for pain relief. No tearing.

Good luck.

nats2010 · 22/05/2024 08:45

Hey OP. Congratulations with your pregnancy 😊
My first was almost 18 years ago. I was 10 days overdue. Labour between 12-16 hours and baby was 8lb 12oz. Bit of a labial tear but otherwise oll ok. Only had gas and air and didn't have a birth plan. I just looked at it that every pain was one less to endure lol.
All the very best with your new baby when they arrive. X

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 22/05/2024 08:46

My first was gas and air only and no induction I did have a small episiotomy to stop tearing so had a few stitches afterwards but was up and about straightaway.

For my second gas and air and no interventions all except waters broken just before birth as still intact.

It's true that you can't really say that in mums groups as people are jealous.

Willtheraineverstop · 22/05/2024 08:46

Both mine were straightforward and quick. Gas and air for both, in and out of hospital the same day, minor grazing.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 22/05/2024 08:48

Should have said about 12 hours from waters breaking for first birth and about 7 hours for second.

MrsLeavemealone · 22/05/2024 08:49

I had 3 straight forward births. All quick, manageable with entonox/pethidine. Infact pethidine was amazing!

No stitches and quick recoveries. I was on my way to drop stuff into work when I went into labour with my third, so I popped in with the baby on my way home from hospital as the items were still in the car!

sunflowrsngunpowdr · 22/05/2024 08:49

3 good vaginal births for me but I never had an induction, I hear that change things. Good luck!

GreyDuck · 22/05/2024 09:40

My observation is that whether a birth is traumatic or not has a lot to do with mental rather than physical experience. I found the positive birth book by Milli Hill helped me hugely.
My birth wasn't traumatic, even though it could have been. I think understanding what was going on helped a lot.
Physically, I had a fast birth with no pain relief at all. (Because I didn't need it). I felt better walking off the labour ward than I had done waddling in!
Agree with PP, nobody wants to hear the non-dramatic stories. I've also had people tell me I'm lying, or have blocked out my memories. Nope, I remember perfectly well, and it was honestly fine.

Waitingfordoggo · 22/05/2024 09:47

Agree with PP, nobody wants to hear the non-dramatic stories.

This is true and I also think those of us who had an ok or even positive birth experience often don’t tell our birth stories because we know so many women who had an awful time of things and we don’t want to rub it in!

spiderlight · 22/05/2024 09:50

I had a lovely calm natural home birth, no tears, no stitches. I was 35.

Good luck - hope yours goes really smoothly.

DreadPirateRobots · 22/05/2024 10:03

Waitingfordoggo · 22/05/2024 09:47

Agree with PP, nobody wants to hear the non-dramatic stories.

This is true and I also think those of us who had an ok or even positive birth experience often don’t tell our birth stories because we know so many women who had an awful time of things and we don’t want to rub it in!

And many women who had a difficult experience actively don't want to hear it. Birth, infancy and feeding are a highly emotive experience for many people and experiences that were very different to theirs can be experienced as implicit criticism. I actively keep my mouth shut about my "good" births, because many women who didn't have a good birth really don't want to know.

CourtneyB123 · 22/05/2024 10:09

I had a straightforward birth pretty text book really with my first, good luck all will be well! I noticed I seemed to attract all the horror stories in my pregnancy, try not to give it too much thought every person's birthing experience is unique to them x

honeylulu · 22/05/2024 10:11

My first labour was fine. Long, but not traumatic and I recovered well and quickly. My waters broke first, had some contractions which then stopped and they decided to induce in case the broken waters risked infection if left too long. It was all very calm and civilised and they're was plenty of time for my epidural (which was in my birth plan).

The pushing stage was a lot of effort but not painful, except crowning (but that's short and right at the end) thanks to epidural! Baby was fine and had a great apgar, fed straight away. I had a tear and stitches but not bad at all, no pain when going to toilet, sitting etc.

My last baby age 40 was even more straightforward. Very fast birth (no time for epidural), no complications, all was well and again a good recovery.

CS are great for those who need or want them but I was glad to avoid as I wanted to be active, drive etc. I've also heard it's easier to breastfeed after a natural birth as you don't have to worry about baby balancing on your wounded abdomen.

I agree with other posters who say it can seem like bad form to "go on" about straightforward births but there are plenty of them!

frecklejuice · 22/05/2024 10:13

Me! I've had two.. First was 15 years ago and labour was 6 hours start to finish with 15 minutes of pushing, the worst thing I had was a slight "graze" but no stitches needed. Second was 10 years ago when I was 35 and again all was good, I stayed at home as long as I could so recorded labour is 1hr 24.

Don't mean to be one of those women who say "oh it was so easy" because it was fucking painful but I'm just trying to let you know that it's not all doom and gloom.

If you can just try to keep moving as much as you can, good luck.