did you enjoy your labour?

[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 !!!!!

[Jaycee]

I wouldn't use the word "enjoy" to describe my labour.
I am at peace with it but my labour was 2 hours 5 minutes long, for a 1st baby that 's pretty quick.
I think I was in shock with how fast the labour was, I don't remember a great deal of it, that's what upsets me the most, I don't remember all of the details of how my little man came into this world.
But I am lucky that my DH does and often reminds me of what a great job I did, even if I don't think so!

[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