did you enjoy your labour?

[Smoke Jaguar]

Oh, Alexis, wanting to string someone up right now reading that Bypass those medicos next time and get someone who knows the variations of NORMAL labour
I looked forward to both labours and really only enjoyed the first, because it was a longer affair and gave me time to really spend time visualising and appreciating what my body was doing and how.
The second time, last week, was fairly fast and it was the sharpness of the contractions (I called them surges at the time, in keeping with HypnoBirthing talk!) and the speed with which they came that meant I couldn't sink into the experience itself and had to channel my thoughts and concentration into keeping up the breathing to catch up with the uterine surges to get the baby out to stop the surges! It wasn't horrendous, I just didn't have the time to sink in and enjoy it, as such.
Still, they were great in their own ways

[me83]

I wouldn't say I enoyed labour, especially not the part where I was pushing and my tailbone was stretched to the point of agony for 45 minutes, but the actual contractions were fine. The whole process was very intense and was worth every minute once we got to meet our little boy. I have positive memories of the experience, having forgotten the worst parts. I found the first couple of weeks after bringing him home and the healing of the tailbone and episiotomy site much more challenging.

Overall tho it was a lot better than i expected and 10 weeks later am totally ready to do it again when the time comes.

[Artechim]

First time round not really, induced, really painful and ended up with an epidural so I didn't even feel him being born.

However, DD's birth was the most amazing experience of my life. Stayed at home until contractions were about 2-3 minutes apart, rocking and the shower dulled the pain very well. Went to the birth center and got in the bath, bliss. In between contractions I was falling asleep in the bath. I felt bub move down, a huge pressure, gave a small push and she was out. I would not have believed it if someone had told me that it is possible to birth with almost no pain (only got as bad as period pain). Absolutely amazing and perfect.