POSITIVE birthing story - tell us about it

[whensmydayoff]

If you had a positive birth could you please tell us all about it, as much detail as you can be arsed typing!

No screaming, tearing, drugged up horror stories PLEEEEEEEEEASE, we get enough of that from everyone who hears you are pregnant. Even a shop assistant felt it necessary to fill me in on her 3rd degree tear !

I just think it would be nice to go into my first natural labour in 6 weeks time (c section last time so im a birth virgin) with my head full of positive possibilities.
Im sure lots of other first timers would love to hear them too. Thanks x

2006 - birth of DS (my 2nd birth, DD 2.5 years older)

Contractions started whilst walking on Hampstead Heath on a Sunday afternoon with DD, DH and my parents. They were very mild so we continued with our walk but by around 5pm my parents took DD with them. Mooched around our house, wathced some films - contraction every 10 mins or so but not uncomfortable.

By 10pm getting a bit bored, still every 6-7 mins, went to hospital. They just took temp and blood pressure listened to fetal heart beat with hand held monitor and left us on our our.... they aroun 10.30pm waters broke and contractions speeeded up - had tens and gas and air but all very manageable... was chatting to midwife!

They started to fill up birth pool, and I was encouraged to get in around 11.20pm. All very calm, lights dimmed, music, aromatherapy etc by 11.50pm felt urge to push, and I think had around 10 mins of discomfort whilst I pushed him out, he came out perfectly pink, breathed straight away, I didn't tear. All in all totally perfect!

Mine had LOADS of intervention, but was still positive. You can still have a good hospital birth...

Waters broke with an almighty gush at 6am, allover the bed. Stained with meconium so heaved myself to the loo and shouted for DH to ring hospital. Told us to come in.

Waters continuing to GUSH everywhere in car, all over the floor, through trousers into socks etcetera. Waddled into hospital and promptly given pile of sheets to sit on. As meconium brown looked like I'd pooed myself. Didn't care!

Had monitor put on, and given nice comfy bed to sit in. No contractions yet. Managed to leave long wet trail which midwife promptly slipped in and banged her head. She was told to go home. Bit embarrassed but more interested in watching sunshine through curtains. Amusing photo at that point of me with sick basin on head smiling at DH...bit spaced out I think.

Given 2 paracetemol when contractions started, and trying to keep noise down (cos in ward). Breathing through contractions and imagining flower opening (does help!). Taken down to delivery room where discovered 4cms dilated. Pants. Thought it would be much more.

Had already decided on epidural but to be honest I think I could have done it without it. Yes, contractions hurt, but if you concentrate and breathe you can get through them. Epidural in - didn't work! Well it did apart from around my fanjo - on gas and air at this point.

Then everything slowed down. Yawwwwwwwwnnnnnnn. Put on drip. Had itchy bottom. DH scratched itch. Slept a bit. Told off for "roaring away" on gas and air. Go away stupid midwife I think I said. Took all night. But still felt in control. DH fell asleep.

Then told to push. Couldn't feel a thing, but was told I was doing it right. Couldn't get baby's head over lip of cervix, so whisked away for forceps. That is the ONLY thing that I didn't like. Forceps without epidural HURT. But grabbed onto midwife's shirt and pulled (pulled all muscles in my arms!) and dd came out. Then epidural kicked in so didn't feel stiching (had small episiotomy which healed beautifully). dd had little blister on her head where she had been bumping against cervix.

A lot of intervention. And a 36 hour labour. But I never felt out of control, never felt not listened to. THe pain was never so bad that I couldn't cope.

Had tea nad toast after that with man pulling out bits from fanjo (clots? placenta? never asked) and looked at new baby. DH cried. I was too tired to feel much, but first night dd slept 8 hours hoorah!

In hospital for 5 days trying to get hang of breast feeding. Found weeks after labour bit harder than actual labour - and did bottle feeding.

Am due again in May 2010. Looking forward to it!!

Actually reading the above, it's occurs to me that the epidural DID work, but just not round the actual birth canal, so I felt every bit of the forceps but not much atall of the contractions...

Thanks Bicnod. I have done the course and I fall asleep listen to the CD everynight and it is good. Im not convinced I will be able to go into a hypnotic state though, thats the bit I find hard to believe! Mainly because my head is way too busy 24/7.
Everytime she tried to hypnotise me id be thinking 'this isn't working I have an itchy arm, I can hear DH snoring OMG, I wonder if we have bread in the house' and so on!!

I feel much much more positive about it though and thats why I want to hear everyones positive stories, it really is helping.

I didn't go into a hypnotic state during labour but I was relaxed, in control and not frightened which I think is the main aim of the course... I think there's a lot to be said for going in with a positive attitude.

I also felt well prepared as we'd done a lot of practice breathing etc. I think it just gives you back the feeling you have some control and that you are an active participant in the birth.

The CD is hilarious isn't it? DH never heard past the first 2 minutes

Good luck - I'm looking forward to reading your positive birth story on this thread once you're little one arrives

My first (and so far only) birth experience is a positive induction story - was 10 days overdue, sweep had done nada. Went into hospital at 5pm one evening for prostin pessary, due to be induced the next day. Pessary started working within 1 hour. Got in the bath on the antenatal ward for a couple of hours, when I got out I was checked and was 5 cm dilated, so was taken downstairs to the labour suite. By 11pm I was ready to push. My daughter was born (after some dithering from me during pushing stage - one disadvantage of induction for me was that I didn't have that instinctive urge to push I've heard about so often) just after midnight.

It was painful but not unmanageably so. I had gas and air and a very nice midwife. I couldn't honestly say I was never scared or worried, but overall it really was the most straightforward experience, and I was hugely exhilerated afterwards that I made it through.

Hi Whensmydayoff just wanted to second Bicnod's hypnobirthing experience, I had my DD in April and was in denial and terrified about actually having to get the baby out until I did the hypnobirthing course. Aside from some of the cheesiness (and stifled giggles from DP) it really really worked and I had a fantastic birth. This is what I wrote to the lady who had done the hypnobirthing a couple of weeks after (sorry it's a bit long...):-

After a routine visit to my community midwife, four days before my due date, I had to go straight to the hospital where they confirmed I had pre-eclampsia. They sent me straight up to the labour ward and started to induce the labour with a gel. This had not been in my plan at all, I had been hoping to be watching films and sitting on my birthing ball relaxing at home right up until the last minute! I hadn't even had time to print off my hypnobirthing plan...

After a sleepless night in the labour room where the baby's heartbeat and my blood pressure were monitored hourly, I was getting worried that one intervention would lead to another and I would end up having a ceasarian. DP and I also heard other women shouting through their labours and had got quite rattled about the whole thing. In the morning they said nothing had happened and administered another gel. DP and I went off for a walk around the hospital, had some lunch and hoped that something would happen.

Back in the labour room I put the hypnobirthing cd on and started to relax run through the hypnosis process. Around 12.30pm I thought I felt a few minor surges (hypno speak for contractions ) and practiced breathing through them. By 4pm I was sure labour had started and the surges were getting stronger and more regular. The breathing was working and I had the cd on a loop! By 6.15pm my waters broke and I was really focussing on what my body and baby were doing. DP was brilliant acting as my spokesperson, keeping the cd going, and getting me drinks and snacks. By 10pm the surges were very strong with DP was counting me through each one just as we had practiced in the class. The breathing/relaxation techniques were really working as afterwards the midwife told me she had to check the monitor to see when I had a surge as she couldn't tell by looking at me.

The only time I really lost focus was when the consultant who had started the induction called in to see me. He was very surprised the labour was so advanced under it's own steam, talking to him broke my concentration and made the surges difficult to deal with. I asked for drugs at that point thinking I had had enough, but DP encourged me to keep going, and with the aid of some gas and air and all the hypnobirthing techniques I got through to the end of the labour. It was intense, but manageable and I now look back on it with joy. I was standing up in the dimmed labour room listening to DP's encouragement when DD was born just before 1am, with no medical intervention bar the gels and gas and air. We were both euphoric and had time to bond with DD, who was bright eyed and alert (despite having slipped through DP's hands onto the floor on her way out!). DP cut the cord after it had stopped pulsing and the placenta came away at 2.30am.

Knowing how terrified I was before starting the sessions I was amazed at how positive the whole experience had been.

Good luck for the next 6 weeks and the birth.

I had a pretty "normal" birth and overall it was a positive experience - contractions started 4am, went to hospital 11am, DD born 2:15pm, used TENS and gas and air. Loooved TENS, wouldn't use the gas and air again as it didn't seem to be doing anything apart from making my mouth dry.

Have to say it was really really painful, but like others on this thread I never felt out of control or frightened.

DD also took to breastfeeding like a duck to water (latched on at 1 hour old and that was her set for the next year!), so there's another positive story to counter all the nightmare cracked nipples breastfeeding stories!

Good luck Whensmydayoff!

I had the most fantastic experience with DD and DS2 after a very difficult experience with DS1.

DD - contractions started around 8pm, and so tried to get a bit of sleep as my first labour had been in excess of 35 hours and I thought that I would be in need of some rest. Around midnight, they were more regular so I ran a bath and got into it. Woke DH around 2am and said the contractions were starting to get a bit painful and asked him to find the number of the friend who was coming to sit for us. At about 3am I thought that it was time to go in, but didn't want to wake my friend too early - so called the delivery suite and said I was going to wait for another half an hour. They listened to me and agreed, but said that under no circs should I leave it longer than 30 mins. DH called my friend who arrived about 4.30 am in the end, and we then headed off (very speedily!) to the delivery suite. I think we got there at 5 am and DD was born at about 5.45am - the most painful bit was the useless nurse trying to get the canula into my vein (I need IV AB during labour) - the actual contractions were perfectly fine on gas and air. About an hour after DD arrived, I'd had a bath, and was drinking tea and eating hot buttered toast. DH went home to get DS1 and we all went home around lunchtime - bliss!

DS2 was very speedy. As DS1 arrived on his due date and DD was 1 day over, I was getting impatient when I got to due date plus 1. So, I spent the whole day sniffing clary sage oil, had some reflexology, ate a very hot curry, and had a clary sage bath at bedtime. WEnt to bed around 10pm, first contraction at midnight, got to hospital at 2.40am and said to the MW that I had lost count of the contractions - she told me to come through and deliver the baby - which I did, literally 5 minutes after arriving at the delivery suite door!!!

so both DD and DS2 were born very quickly once I got to hospital, and I only had gas and air for both.

Am hoping that number 4 is as easy!!

kittymch - hahaha, I can totally relate to stifled giggles from DH

DS was born in April as well - whereabouts are you? We didn't do the same course did we?!

Hi Bauble I'm in Edinburgh and my hypnobirthing lady was Pauline - she served very good choccy biscuits at each session which pleased DP no end.

I've not really had a bad experience despite back to back labour, would give birth twice to skip the pregnancy so it can't be that bad can it ?

4 births all ok, and the one piece of advice I offer is don't panic when in labour as when I did it was the most painful contraction of them all!!

The one thing I find is I can't speak to anyone I just go into my own place and generally get left alone as its how I want it.
I do have quick births but i'm sure its because I relax, 6hours, 2 hours, 1 hour 50 mins and 55 mins and thats from the first twinge.
2 in hospital, 1 in the ambulance and 1 planned at home.
2nd birth was also back to back and no probs, I always give birth on all fours and no midwife has yet managed to get me to move!!

But I reckon I deserve good births as I get hyperemisis when i'm pregnant and with the last 2 births I ended up on a drip wishing I was dead. I also had the split pubic bone with the second pregnancy and couldn't walk.

I would never say enjoy the birth positive thinking goes a long way to making it bearable.

Both times I put my total trust in my midwife, I had a male midwife with my first and he was great, a lady with my second, who was great too!

I felt secure and looked after and they listened to me and suggested things that we had not thought of that really helped.

I think there is a common misconception that giving birth in hospital is a clinical cold experience, but for me the oppostite was true for me. It was calm, I asked the midwife to be quite firm with me about things, I wanted to be told what to do and when to push etc, I can't do with whispy whispy- ness iyswim! Balancing that with me saying what I wanted and needed.

You have to trust yourself too, be reassured that your body knows what it is doing.

Good luck.

Hey kitty - i guess we weren't at the same one then, i'm in sw london we had fantastic choccie biccies at ours as well (taste the difference no less!) which kept DH happy...

hope you're enjoying your april baby - if you ever fancy a chat with some other april mums the postnatal thread is really friendly...

take care x

2 very positive labours with ds and dd2. Yes, they were painful but with the help of breathing techniques, back rubs and gas & air I was able to cope.

Ds was born in 2 hours in hospital. Dd2 was born at home in 10 hours but just 2 massive pushes and she was out. I had the most amazing mw's with dd2 who said just listen to your body, when you're ready to push just go for it! I had the curtains drawn, just my bedside lamp on like i was in a lovely warm cave lol.

DD has just turned 3 months and the birth was fine - I only read positive birth stories and watched lots of home births on YouTube (I had a 'home-from-home' birth at a birth centre).

Waters broke at home (in the bathroom) at 3pm on Monday 24th August - Day One of our garden renovation. Having gone through several pairs of trousers and maternity pads I still wasn't sure and proceeded to Google urine incontinence . DH came home from work and I phoned the birth centre who suggested I pop along so they could check if it was my waters. Went there about 6pm and they confirmed my waters had broken - although I'd had no contractions or anything. I was booked in to be induced on Wednesday but at 7pm that night the contractions started.

Spent the evening skim reading the Birth Skills book (at this point DD would have been 2.5 weeks early!!). The iPhone contraction timer app got me through the early part of the night but my contractions went straight to 3mins apart, although not too painful at this stage. I let DH sleep while I headed downstairs, using breathing techniques to keep me focused. We headed to the birth centre at 6am Tuesday morning and I was 4cm dilated. Spent the next few hours kneeling on a squidgy mat against the bed using gas & air. As long as I had the G&A nossle in my mouth and the contraction timer app going on my phone I was fine. Took the G&A a minute before the contraction started and felt nothing. I was sick a few times but quickly moved to 7cm dilated and headed off to the pool. G&A stopped at MW request and I gave birth to DD at 2pm on Tuesday 25th August 2009.

Even though I was transferred to the local hospital for a retained placenta and that DD had a whopping bruise on her head from headbutting my pelvis for 40 mins it was all good. Was in hospital for 3 days (mostly because of DD's head, I think), then returned to the birth centre for 24hrs to help get BFing established. DD is fine now, but don't talk to me about piles

I love the ethos of this thread, totally agree that there are far too many negative birth stories flying around, very off-putting and downright scary, esp to first time mums.

So in contrast here is the uplifting story of the arrival of my son Charlie !

By mumofshortie73 Mon 26-Oct-09 21:46:27
So embarrassed to be getting round to doing this after so long but here goes ...

I got my vbac after many anxious weeks of wondering whether I'd really be capable of pushing baby no.2 out myself, following an emergency c-section 4 years ago.

The staff at the hospital were great- they did really seem to have read my birth plan and my wishes were followed as much as was possible-

I was able to be pretty active & upright throughout, lots of 'kit' was supplied at useful points- birthing ball, gym mat, heat pack for my back, plenty of offers of tea/biscuits/sandwiches ... very good communication, explanations of everything that was going on throughout ... I was labouring for a long time before things really properly kicked off contraction-wise but I never felt like I was being rushed along, no clock-watching, FAB !

The whole thing was really in the hands of the midwives, even though I was higher risk due to the previous emcs- registrar only appeared towards the end when I was about to push which meant I was nicely relaxed (so to speak) and things progressed nicely once they did get going.

A couple of wobbles though-

a big sudden bleed when i was prepped for surgery for emcs just in case ('either you're ready to push OR your scar has ruptured')-
this turned out to be the former thank God!

they put a scalp monitor on his head, the beeps slowed right down then suddenly stopped! I was entering transition so totally freaked out, imagining the baby's heart had suddenly stopped ! I start crying, my husband starts crying because I'm crying .... the staff then realise what's going on and reassure me everything's just fine, now just relax ...

I desperately wanted diamorphine by then as had gone from about 5cm to 10cm fully dilated in about 30 mins, was shattered having been contracting all through the night then all through most of the day (waters broke at 2am, this was now about 6.30pm the next day)-
midwife just kept avoiding answering, knowing it was way too late for that.

So I did it on gas & air alone !!!!!!

I was suddenly on my side, they are setting up the stirrups thingies, 3 other midwives appear from nowhere, I feel this massive urge to push (had never felt this with DD as had epidural/doped up to the max)and really try hard NOT to push, is extremely tricky- blow blow blow (as I was blowing into my husband's face, he was doing the same back to me!)

The next bit is not half as bad as I'd imagined, though very surreal- legs up, told to give it all i've got from about 5 midwives- felt like they were shouting on a football team lol !! Only 15 minutes of pushing later and my gorgeous son Charlie is born, looking up and all around him, amazing moment of euphoria and excitement and achievement and exhaustion and wonder ....

Hugely proud of myself but also very grateful to the staff who were fabulous- always felt they were on my side and were doing their best for me.

What an adventure and an experience i shall never forget !

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article5924063.ece

Apparently more common than people would think. It happened to my mum when she gave birth to my sister.

sorry, link above doesn't work, but if you google orgasmic childbirth you can see the article.

ds2 - 11 days overdue, almost given up hope of escaping induction, 11lb4 baby delivered naturally at birthing centre with no drugs and no stitches. Feeling his head crown was the most amazing thing ever.

It bloody hurt of course and I was minutes away from being transferred to hospital but in the end all was exactly as I would have hoped.

Good luck

Whensmydayoff, I too love the idea of this thread, its a really good idea.

Just wondering if you've read this

DS small contractions started at 3 am, but managed to get some sleep on and off. Eventually went to hospital at about 10 am. He was delivered at 5.40 pm. Did have an episiotomy but it healed quickly. Had gas & air. I wasn't allowed pethidine due family members having very bad reactions to it and I didn't want to have anything else. All in all in was very positive.

DD born 3 years later. Had first contraction at 11 pm. Got to hospital at midnight. Had Gas & Air again and she was born at 2.45 am. Take a look here