Feeling so grateful.

[PumpkinZulu]

I have been reading a lot of old threads on BB of late, especially here in the birth section, and I can't help but feel extremely grateful for the way the birth of my DD went. I keep reading threads where women were cut, bullied, told what to do, given shots without their permission, intrusive examinations, time limits, complications etc. The more I think about it, the more thankful I feel that I was simply allowed to do my thing. Our midwife just stood right back and most of all, she trusted *me*. I wasn't asked to be examined, I wasn't poked, prodded or cut. My birth wasn't just something that happened to me, it wasn't traumatising or stressful. I didn't once doubt my body, and nobody around me ever questioned what I was doing. I wasn't told what stage I was or 'should' be at, I was able to move from labouring to transitioning to birthing in one fluid, unspoken motion. I was never spoken down to, condescended, patronised or intimidated. I never had to ask permission to do this that or the other. I think after such a wonderful experience I may have taken for granted just how peaceful and beautiful my birth really was, it wasn't until I started reading about all these other things happening that it even occurred to me how special DD's entrance to the world was. To me, it just feels normal and perfect, but I have to keep reminding myself that that isn't always the way.

Just wanted to share the joy. I think if I could, I'd birth over and over and over. I loved it, I loved pregnancy (even though I was over it near the end) and I love women. We are incredible creatures, and here we all are, all bound by the love of our beautiful children, the longing to be mothers and our journeys to get there

[Aimee89]

It's sad that its not really the 'norm' to have a natural birth, the way nature intended it to be. It's sad that we even have to feel grateful for being 'allowed' to do something our bodies are fully capable of doing by itself.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Arimeh]

My second vaginal birth was like that, first one I was still a bit fearful and had absolutely no faith in my body.

I'd definitely birth again - anyone want a surrogate?

[PumpkinZulu]

I know I don't have to (or shouldn't have to) feel grateful...I know I had a normal physiological birth. I still feel grateful that I was able to experience what I did. I'm a strong believer the 'system' often let's women down...it's not women that are 'failing' at all. I was very nervous about having a hospital birth after planning a homebirth, so yeah, I feel grateful I was not caught up in the big machine that hospitals can be, and was able to birth the way I had always imagined

[Harriet]

I'm pretty sure you had the MW I had been seeing PZ... but unfortunately she wasn't available on the day/s I needed her
I think being a part of the program we were helped things for both of us... To have that extra support at home and in hospital.
My DD didn't want to come out... and I ended up having a c-section, but I think I seem to have dealt with it a lot better than other women I speak to. I know that I gave it my everything, so even though I didn't get to give birth the way I wanted to, I'm grateful that I was given the chance to try.

[LaDolceVita]

Awww that's beautiful! And ditto! I totally understand what you're saying and feel exactly the same! I always say I LOVED giving birth and would do it 100 times over if it meant I didn't have to have 100 babies hehe! Wasn't a big fan of the last month of pregnancy but birthing was perfect!! Can't wait to do it all over again in a few months!

We are very lucky hun and what's even nicer is that we realise it and can be grateful! x

[onthefly]

That's good

[Glass half full]

Thats great to read PZ. I feel exactly the same way. It is heartbreaking hearing some women's stories, both on here and in real life. I agree that we shouldn't have to feel grateful to have a normal, interference-free birth, but after hearing no much negativity surrounding birth, of course we are going to feel grateful when everything goes smoothly. I always say I was lucky when telling people about my VBAC.
Big hugs to all the amazing birthing women of the world

[TeniBear]

I'm so happy to read this Both times I've walked away thinking "I want to so that again, but do it RIGHT!"

[*LittleMissSummer*]

I'm glad you had such a positive experience

I hope to have a much better experience being pregnant and birth than what i had the first time.

[*TripleJ*]

teni

i feel that way with jazzy PZ it was awesome no rush but i did have my waters broken but i wanted to do that i wasnt bullied into it
but with jamie it felt like a time limit do this do that thing was absolutely craptastic lol

[Cherished]

I'd definitely birth again - anyone want a surrogate?

WOW, you are awesome Mrs NB!! Hope you do get to give that gift to another lucky mummy one day

PZ I LOVED the birth of ds and I also feel very grateful for our amazing 100% natural waterbirth. Not only the beautiful natural birth but the pregnancy too, the connection with my dh, the ob, the midwives, everything was perfect! I also get to take a bit of credit for that experience though - I looked after myself, had chiro, massages, acupuncture, took chinese herbs, practisedd hypnobirthing, did pilates, and I was relaxed and enjoyed every minute of it.

[PumpkinZulu]

I think I'm with MNB...I have a lot more births in me than the amount of children I'd like (3).

[RainbowBrite]

I feel extremely lucky and grateful that I got five wonderful natural, drug free VB's before my body really failed me.
They where beautiful births and the last four I 'caught' myself an d pulled them up.
The last two where so far from the first five it was not funny.
If I could have birthed them all so well I think I would have kept going

[Arimeh]

WOW, you are awesome Mrs NB!! Hope you do get to give that gift to another lucky mummy one day

haha don't think anyone would want me, getting a bit old now - not in my 20's any more!

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

I'm grateful my DD seemed to know how to enter the world all on her own, that my body did what it was supposed to do and that despite the odds we ate both here and managed it drug free and alone.
I'm grateful that DD2 seemed as eager as her sister and my body remembered what to do.

The thing I try to remember and be grateful for is that not everyone is so lucky and we can only do what's right at the time.

People say I could easily birth again, nothing about birthing is easy no matter how easy it 'seems'. I would love to do it again - birthing I mean, but we don't want any more kids :rodl:


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- Sent from my iPhone, more than likely while I should be doing something else!