did you enjoy your labour?

[Cassius2]

ooooh what a great thread!

hmmm, overall the birth of DD was not enjoyable, like Dee and Lisa have mentioned, this was due to the external factors of the birth attendants and not to do with how Leila and I were travelling and experiencing together.

what i did enjoy however, was having my waters break niagra falls style (just like in the movies). i loved the mad dash with a million towels wrapped around me to the hospital with my best friend and i in hysterical laughter. i loved that we raided the OB gowns cupboard and played dress-ups...

but one the most enjoyable things was when i was starting to get the fevered 'i really can't do this anymore, i'm so alone feeling' and a contraction hit (proper, get ready to push one) and Leila kicked and squirmed so hard that i realised that she was there and helping us to get through this birth with me. to me, that was priceless.

[Willow]

DS I think was too hard & fast. 5 hours from 1st twinge to end. Not too bad though.

Exactly the same as my DS....I'm a bit scared about #3!!!

[Jellyfish]

Yep!! It was lots of fun. Me and DP laughed and talked -- just hung out. It wasn't extremely painful, bad but bareable and I didn't have any drugs so felt completely in control. It was about 12hrs from the first twinge but only just over 2hrs of active labour. I am scared to do it all again but only because it was so good this time -- could I be lucky twice??

[Janie]

Yep, I loved it and can't wait to do it again!!!! 14 hours from whoa to go, and it was amazing. I just hope that next time is another enjoyable experience

[BellyBelly]

Many people who have a normal, physiological childbirth who are well supported with good care and informed and educated on normal birth (not just hospital based classes), enjoy their births.... I know I felt so much better about mine than my interfered with birth. I know I am going to love my next birth, a beautiful home waterbirth around my partner and children, with my own midwife.... I can't wait (but I can argh 3 children!!) LOL

[Olive]

Many people who have a normal, physiological childbirth who are well supported with good care and informed and educated on normal birth (not just hospital based classes), enjoy their births....

oh sooooo sooooo true!!

my first was also a not so pleasent experience, induction, peth, epi, episotomy stitches.. just plain bad.....but
second time around i had a doula, was more informed and educated, no drugs yes i tore had stitches but still better, even the PPH and lagging fatigue hasnt dampened the experiece, loved the experience so much i could do it all over again!!


so glad so many others loved their labours!!

[Khaleesi]

I enjoyed both my labours.
My 2nd labour was only 2hrs & 30mins, so it was very intense but i still had a wondeful experience.

[mbear]

#1 labour - hated it. Didnt know what was going on. Very hard, intense labour. Afterwards had retained placenta, had to get manual removal - just awful.
#2 - fast and furious.....almost had her in the car. Ended up having her in emergency - no time to make it up to maternity ward. Still had my shoes on and pumpkin patch skirt on whilst giving birth. 2 pushes and she was out....i think i did all the hard work at home and in the car. Loved this one.
#3 - Again, fast and furious, but a case of mcdonalds food poisoning brought about this labour, so was vomitting my guts up on the operating table.....she again was born quickly, but i really felt the contractions were more painful this time round......
#4 - really looking forward to this labour actually. I know the pain, i know the feelings im gonna be getting......i feel im in a good frame of mind.

For me im really proud i havent had drugs for my last two labours, im really proud i havent torn either. (#1 - dont ask !!!!). For all my births, i must say i love the empowering feeling you get once giving birth and the few hours afterwards....i really do feel like superwoman !!!!!

[Lolli]

No way. It was so scary to start- a massive, unexplained bleed, and then way too hard and fast- 3hours of confusion, fear and pain, most of which I don't remember and don't want to.

In a way, I'm terrified of doing it again. But I am glad I'm doing it again too- I get a chance try this experience again, to educate myself and accept the pain, rather than trying to fight it.

[Daydream Believer]

To start off with I was because my waters broke at home at 1.15am, about half an hour after getting home from a 21st & DF was drunk.
I enjoyed it for the most part except when I had to have an episiotomy (sp?) cos DD was stuck.

I cant wait till the next one however, I will have a Doula. I think things would have been better with a doula there

[AliBaby]

YEs, looking back I can say I really did enjoy my labour and the birth of DD.

I had great midwives, a very supportive DP of my wishes and was in a good state of mind. I think staying at home as long as possible helped as well as reading up on hypnobirthing. I also found the shower so wonderful and helpful.

That expereince of transition will never leave my head. It just astounds me that all of a sudden you know its time to push...

I didnt do antenatal classes, I just believed in myself that I could do it and armed myself with info from everyone at BB.

I really wish that everyone could have had a positive experience with their labour.

Also at the time I was thinking to myself there is no way I can do this again, but it hasnt put my off having more children. The pain has gone from my head.