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!

My contractions ramped up around 8pm and my son was born at 1.30am. No drugs or interventions apart from an episiotomy just before the last two pushes (he had a hand up by his head which was making getting him out slightly difficult!). I recommend a hypnobirthing course if possible as it really prepared me in terms of what my body was capable of (indeed, designed to do!) and also very informative about different stages of labour and what to expect etc. It also really helped me to think in terms of the contractions and pushing as powerful rather than painful. It is an unusual feeling, and you are using muscles that don't often get used which is why it can feel strange, but thinking in terms of an intense work out really helped me!

I also would have been very daunted by the idea of the episiotomy before the fact, but in the moment it was honestly fine and you just get on with what is needed!

Yep. I was actually induced as I was overdue, but just had 1 dose of gel, contractions started shortly afterwards, I had a lovely waterbirth after a 2 hr labour. Absolute dream birth. I had a minor tear which was stitched with no issues. Baby was 9lbs with a huge head!