Tell me positive birth experiences. Please!

[Two4One]

I am due fairly soon... next week, officially. And starting to feel very uneasy about it all. The last 4 births I'm aware of (3 from my NCT class and my sister before that) were all quite dramatic ones involving either early delivery, ventouse intervention, hospital stays, emergency sections or vast amounts of stitches. I'm starting to wonder if it's possible to have a normal, straight-forward first birth at all.

I know I have to be prepared for anything. I know it doesn't matter how they come out so long as the're ok. I know I won't care afterwards.

But please, please can anyone offer me any glimmer of hope at all that it is actually possible to have an unremarkable birth?

I got really scared before DS1 was born and nearly opted for a c-section as they kept telling me how huge he was. In the end I was induced a week early. It wasn't a blissful, pain relief free water birth experience. I had an induction, waters broken, episiotomy and ventouse. But I was fine with the whole thing and don't consider it a bad experience at all. I healed really well afterwards and most importantly the baby and I were both healthy. Oh and he was 7lb 13 oz so hardly the monster they'd predicted! I find it a bit annoying when women tell horrid stories to each other. Whatever happened to the supportive sisterhood?!

Most fantastic day of my life.
Had a fantastic birth with DD. Twinges during the night, two paracetamol, went back to sleep.

Woke up at 8am took the dog to the vets and bought a newspaper. First contraction was in the queue paying for newspaper. 2nd contraction was about 10 minutes later, by 9.15 they were every 3 minutes so called hospital, who said come in.

Got to hospital at 10am, was 8cm dilated. Had gas and air through contractions until 10cms, when I gave three pushes and she popped out at 11.55am. Waters didn't break until I started pushing. Had one stitch which healed well. Did feel like I had been kicked by a donkey for a few days but you are so busy just staring at your gorgeous little bundle you don't really think about it

DP was pleased to get his lunch as he missed his breakfast lol

you don't hear the normal natural births, they don't tend to be a story as such.
I've had two, straightforward, gas and air, fairly quick (as in a couple of days from first contraction to birth), no interventions or tearing. They hurt and were hard work but they were such a positive experience and the post birth high made it all worthwhile even if you ignore the fact you get a baby Both times I delivered late in the day (evening and then midnight), and both times I was up, ready and waiting to be discharged at 7am.

IME even women who don't have straightforward births tend to say it was a positive experience and completely worth it - after all most of them go on to (try to) have another so they're not empty words.

You need to prepare yourself for the fact you won't be in control but remember your body is designed to do it and you are not ill, you are doing something that millions of women have done before and are doing at the same time as you as well

Good luck for the birth.

DS was 3 on Sunday!
He is my first (now 24wks with no3!) and my waters went a little bit when I sneezed while lying in bed talking to DH who was getting ready for work on Tuesday morning. I wasn't convinced it wasn't a 'pelvic floor' moment so didn't say anything to him at the time. I had no contractions that I was aware of, so drove 1.5hrs to have lunch with DH Grandma as arranged cos I didn't want to disappoint her Did put my TENS machine in the car though. Decided to come home that night as had considered going to my parents for the night (another 1.5hrs) and had a lovely meal with some contractors who DH was supposed to be having a meeting with the next day. A couple of twinges during the meal, but nothing to get excited about. I told DH on the way hom ethat I thought my waters might have gone that morning, and if nothing happened by the morning then I would have to phone a midwife for a check - hadn't said anything to this point as I didn't want watching and a clock ticking, leading to possible induction and 'interference' Woke at 3am Weds needing loo and was aware of contractions, went to bed to breathe and relax until 6 when DH woke, told him it looked likely to be today but he could do a half day in work! He ignored me, put his out of office email on and started his 'dad' leave that day (dyslexic - couldn't spell paternity!)
Booked for HB, MW arrived at 1130 as I was leaning on DH saying I don't want to puuuuush! She had a fairly good idea where I was up to be fore I'd taken my trousers off!
DS was born at home in a birth pool at 1214. DH is still smug about not listening to me about going in to work!
The gas and air never made it into the house from her car!

I used to think I agreed with you on "I know it doesn't matter how they come out so long as the're ok. I know I won't care afterwards." (did tour of maternity unit at local hospital so if I did get transferred it wouldn't be strange) but then at 11wks with DD I was found to be GBS+ from a urine sample and my community MW was very blunt that I would need ABx, constant monitoring, no pool delivery - and I left that appt in floods of tears (hormones)
She was also a home water birth without ABx and fine after phoning local MLU and speaking to a much nicer and more knowledgable MW.

lol at lunch with contractors and contractions

My first (only) labour was LONG but went well, in the end. I started contractions on a Wednesday afternoon and my daughter wasn't born until 9.50pm on Saturday. I just tried to relax, stayed calm, but active, and when things finally kicked in properly at around tea time on Saturday, I was feeling okay. It all happened in a rush from then, and it was all right. Of course it HURT, but I managed to stay just about sane. It was a home birth, so only had gas&air available for the purposes of pain relief, but that was fine, and I only used it right towards the end, once the pushing began. I was a bit in shock, once it was all over, but within a half hour I was myself again. Loads of people have perfectly normal births. Of the people I know that have given birth, none are 'horror stories'. It's always going to be tough, but it doesn't have to leave you traumatised.