Talk to MNHQ about the practicalities of labour – £50 voucher prize draw

[MichelleMumsnet]

In the run up to BumpFest (which we’re VERY excited about we’re looking to get a better understanding of the experiences Mumsnetters have had around different issues surrounding childbirth.

You can read every book under the sun, attend every class going, but nothing every quite matches up to experiencing labour for yourself. That’s why we’d be interested to hear from Mumsnetters who have been there, done that and bought the t-shirt (after getting meconium on it, obviously)

Following on from another thread we ran, we’d like to ask you about the practicalities of labour.
How did it compare with what you expected? Did you feel you knew how to push during labour? Did your natural instict take over, or did your natural instinct have to be coaxed out by a midwife?

As they say, hind sight is 20/20 - so is there anything you wish you would have known in advance which would have helped you know how to deal with the practicalities of being in labour?

We know that everyone’s birthing experience is different, but we would love to hear your story to uncover what the different misconceptions and struggles are around labour.

Everyone who shares their thoughts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £50 John Lewis voucher.

Thanks,

MNHQ

first labours do not always follow the pattern of ten hours to dilate to ten cm or whatever it was. two hours plus one hour pushing.

second labours. apparently the cervix can be 1cm dilated to start anyway due to the first labour.

I would just say don't listen to the horror stories but do educate yourself on eventualities. Try to relax and don't panic. It does hurt yes but I never thought I was going to die. Both of my labours were very quick and straightforward - 4 hours and 40 minutes so first time babies aren't necessarily marathons, mine was definitely a sprint!

I had great antenatal classes, watched lots of obem, heard lots of stories from friends, but nothing quite prepared you!

I was induced, waters broken, then in the pool through to an hour if pushing, then CS as DS wasn't coming out. I actually thought that labour was ok! Yes it was painful, but the worst bit was 3-6cm sitting on a chair in a hospital bay cause of induction with just a tens machine and paracetamol. I was frustrated and it hurt. Once I was in the pool it was amazing. I found that really helped and when it came to pushing I found my body just what it needed instinctively. Whilst obviously painful etc, I found labour ok.

Our classes were great for preparing us for what would happen if things didn't go to plan, and it was incredibly helpful to us when we ended up with a CS, took a lot of the fear and uncertainty away which was great.

Labour was awful! I remember thinking my bum would turn inside out when I was pushing and that totally put me off. There were many more interventions than I would have liked, I was on a drip, pushing against a very full bladder (no catheter) and in the end had a forceps delivery. Nothing could have prepared me and to be honest being warned prior to birth would have terrified me!

DD2 was born via elective section which was much nicer!

Learnt not to listen to the birth stories everyone seems compelled to tell, especially the awful ones!

I was ok until it came to pushing
Didn't know how to do it 'right' got it hopelessly wrong and tore spectacularly.
Not fun