Did anyones labour go alot better then expected?

[tommitikes123]

Hi just wondering how many people expected the worst and got alot more postivie experience in labour then they thought they would?

I thought this might help people who are feeling very nervous about labour and are getting fed all the lines such as 'its the most horrific pain youll ever have'.....'good luck youll need it' etc, surely its not just me that got fed this almost everytime i mentioned me going into labour.

I gave birth 6 weeks ago and was dreading it, to the point i was waking up in pools of cold sweat every night!! I was being told constantly how bad it was, i never went to any antenatal classes and id been in hospital with high blood pressure a few days before labour. I even had an induction booked for 40+3 days.

I went into labour at 38+4 days with my first baby. I had noticed the day before labour my bump had changed shape and my tummy looked so much flatter then previously. I put it down to the baby dropping down ready for birth but was definately expecting to be induced. Then the next day i felt abit of period pain in the night but barely noticeable. That day i felt abit more, but still not enough to consider labour at all. I had a bath later on, went online etc, then had my daily go on my birthing ball. Later on i went to the kitchen and had a contraction that doubled me over, i was on my own but didnt panic. Sat down and then felt some tightenings in my back every 30 minutes or so, had my tea and rang my husband who told me to keep him updated (he works away in army) then the tightenings came more often but still only about every 20 minutes, had NO pain whatsoever in my tummy just burning in my back and tightenings which were uncomfortable in the fact i didnt want to move as i felt abit locked but not painful. This carried on, so rang delivery who basically didnt believe i was in labour, told me to stay on ball incase i was to make things move quicker and to take paracetamol. I was happy with this as i too didnt think i was in labour. Then an hour later they came more frequently and abit more of a burn in my back, got in car went to hospital and then was stood there for 10 minutes waiting for midwife to come to reception.

Typially as soon as i got into delivery room they stopped and i was smiling and chatting to midwife, she said she didnt think i was in labour as contractions werent coming frequently. She asked to do an internal which i have had horrible horrible experiences with at 16 weeks pregnant, i was so nervous but i accepted and to everyones suprise i was 5cm dilated!! She said she couldnt believe it herself as i was too calm. I was then in labour for 7 more hours, i had gas and air and pethidine as i was worried incase it was going to suddenly hurt loads when i had to push. I got to 8cm and got the urge to push, and knelt over the bed and within 20 minutes my little girl was born. Unfortunately hubby never made it back in time to see his daughter being born but baby was happy and healthy I was ringing him up whilst he was abroad in the delivery room talking so much crap because of the mix of gas and air and pethidine!! The pushing was fine, my waters didnt break until i started pushing. I was on such an adrealine rush that i really cant wait to do it again, but not for about 4 years as newborns are alot harder work!!!

Just wondered who else had a good experience? I think women need to support other women and stop all this negativity and scare mongering when it comes to labour, of course there is bad labours but theres also some good ones. And im the biggest drama queen going!!

 

[mrswoody]

I dreaded labour but had a positive experience and looking back it wasn't as horrific as people tell you. I do know some ladies do have a horrible time but mine was truley positive. I've posted in the birth stories for everyone to read
We should all shout about our positive experience and stop the scare moungering x

 

[MrsT2011]

Good idea for a thread!

I have the worlds lowest pain threshold and to be honest was dreading labour. I had an epi planned for my birth plan and everything organised for a csection as I knew I wouldn't cope.

Well to cut a long story short I realised I was having painless tightenings in the middle of the night - times them 1 every 5 mins.
Had a bath at 6.30am and shaved my legs just in case!
Contractions every 3 mins but no pain but used tens. Rang labour ward at 9am as contractions every 2 mins but no pain just tightening.
Arrived at hospital 9.45am to be told I was 8cm! Shock does not cover it!
I spent time in the pool but kept falling asleep and midwife didn't feel things were moving along so got out and had waters broken at 9cm and had to be monitored as LO had slightly pood inside me. At 10cm I was chatting away and in no pain still!
During transition I found that intense and needed some gas and air but calmed down and used a birthing stool with hubby on a rocking chair behind me supporting me and it was amazing! A few pushes and I felt Bs head pop out (no ring of fire) then his body and my hubby told me we had a boy!

I did have a second degree tear and collapsed later due to blood loss but that pales into insignificance when I remember having my boy put in my arms.

Best experience of my life and will say it was a lot less painful than kidney stones!

 

[cosmicgirl]

I had my best labour and delivery yet.
6hrs, with pitocin, 5 pushes and baby was out.
It was calm and enjoyable x

 

[Emily0505]

It was the most amazing thing i have ever done. Yes, it hurt but i would do it again tomorrow if i could!

XX

 

[fresh]

I had been dreading labour all my life yet amazingly calm about it through my pregnancy, I'd heard horror stories and went in open minded, it was nowhere near as bad as I expected but every labour is different

 

[hellywelly]

I had a very quick labour (5 hours) and although it hurt like hell getting to 10cm, I was pleasantly surprised that pushing wasn't particularly painful, just hard work, and I ended up with only 20 mins worth of gas and air to get from 5-7cm dilated before giving up on it as it didn't work for me, and no other pain relief. I have to say, I'd practically booked my epi 6 weeks in advance I was that worried about the pain!! It was definitely more positive than I imagined. I was only upset that some other woman was hogging the pool so I didn't get to go in the water!!! lol

 

[lizsamuel80]

My best labour so far was my second. I went in because my hind waters had broken at 7 am on Sunday and by 5pm no contractions. Anyway I went in they had a look and confirmed that it was my waters that I was leaking and I was dialated 2cm so they decided to keep me in and if I hadn't gone into labour by the morning they would break my fore waters to help get things going. Anyway They put me on a monitor to keep an eye on the baby and the MWs were shocked that i had not complained of pain because I was contracting regularly but I didn't really feel anything. They checked at 7am the next morning and I still was not in FULL labour but I had dilated to 7cm. they were still shocked that I was not feeling anything but they were able to reach in and break my fore waters to help get things going properly and they did I felt the contractions then. 1hr 37mins later my daughter was in my arms. I had no drugs and the labour was so smooth that the MW let my husband deliver her just by telling him what to do. I can't wait for Feb to go through it again!!!!!

I found that talking to myself worked as a good pain killer. I remembered the longest a contraction would last is 40sec that is 3-4 deep breaths.

My first labour I had no idea of what was going on so I was a little freaked out so I think I had the drugs to calm my nerves. LOL!!!! But it was only 4.5hrs start to finish but once again I was admitted because I went for my weekly appointment and they did an internal because it was my due date and found I was 4cm dilated. Once again I was contracting but did not feel it.

 

[sophs85]

Brilliant thread!!! I was really worried abou labour a few weeks ago but no feel calm about it. I feel like I shouldn't panic now because it's going to happen and panic will make it worse. I'm open to all pain relief options, I just want to get in the pool!!

Thanks ladies for this, you only every hear about the painful of bad experiences xx

 

[KarenC]

Lovely to hear positive stories.

I had a home birth and had no idea what to expect and was a bit nervous that something would go wrong.

Started with period-like pains at 4.30am coming every few minutes. Got up and had a bounce on a ball, and by breakfast time they'd got fainter so I thought it was just early early labour. So we went out for the day despite these pains coming every now and then. We walked up Beeston Castle then had lunch at an antiques centre. During lunch the pains were getting worse and then as we walked around the antiques centre they got bad enough for me to say 'let's go home now, I think it's starting'. Got home, took two paracetamol at 4pm but they did nothing so I rang the midwives at 6pm who said to ring back when I thought I couldn't cope any more. At about 8pm I rang the midwife again and asked her to come to our house as the pains were getting worse. She arrived at around 9pm. Examined me, whilst I writhed on the bed, at 9.15pm and OMFG I was 10cm dilated and ready to push. Second midwife was called to attend immediately. I had no pain relief, just a while in our birthing pool. It hurt a hell of a lot but I never thought at any point that I couldn't cope with the pain, so I never thought to ask for pain relief, not even gas and air. My contractions slowed down in the pool so I got out to push. Tilly was born at 11.16pm fit as a fiddle. She was totally happy throughout the labour and had an APGAR score of 9. It was the most amazing experience of my life and I feel so happy about it. I was very lucky to have had such a great experience and will definitely try to have a home birth again for my second, when it comes xxx

 

[Princess81]

My labour was 22hrs and only really got painful at transition. I stood and danced around for the majority. I spent all of my labour in the hospital as lo was a bit prem, I had an infection and daddy had to make his way home from work (also in the forces). I did it all on a couple puffs gas n air during transition. I did go in with a calm attitude about it, though and had no fear. It was the most amazing experience of my life, I cry when I think about it. I can't wait to do it again.

 

[Nicnax]

Nice thread- I am nearly 34 weeks now, & all anyone will tell you is the bad stuff. I am very open-minded, & accept that, one way or another, that baby is coming out! & quite honestly, I would rather, all being well, give birth as naturally as possible, than have to have, what is reallly, mjor surgery.

 

[katie_lou]

I was terrified of giving birth but I had a great experience , yes it hurt but not as much as I thought it would of. TBH my IBS cramps are worst and I mean that . It's all depends on the Individual and what there pain threshold is . Xxx

 

[Princess81]

Yes I have IBS as well and the pain from that is worse than the majority of my contractions x

 

[sophs85]

I've had ibs during this pregnancy and the cramps have had me doubled over, they did make me realise how painful labour will be as I'm sure they were mild compared but it's too late to worry now. Just want my baby xx

 

[Sammyxo]

Phew this is putting me at ease seeing as I have an induction in over a week and been freaking out about it.

 

[lizsamuel80]

I was terrified of giving birth but I had a great experience , yes it hurt but not as much as I thought it would of. TBH my IBS cramps are worst and I mean that . It's all depends on the Individual and what there pain threshold is . Xxx

I remember going to the er with gas pains once. I was vomiting and all sorts from it. The nurse was shocked when I said that the pain was worse then Labour.

 

[Ceebump]

Yes!! Well i had tricky pregnancy so was do worked up for birth however.. At routine weekly scan and monitoring 2 weeks bfor my due date the noticed fluid was extremely low.. His growth kept tailing off and repeated DFM from about 28weeks they decided to induce me i was kept in on the night due to repeated high bp.. I was crapping myself..
However following morning was induced at 9pm (tablet with string attached inserted behind cervix left for 24hours) .. Started getting pains on the eve about 6pm ended up falling to sleep .. Woke up following morning 6am with no pain went shower got dressed midwife did bp and baby monitor checks .. Around 7am pain started niggly nothin to bad around 8.30 pain got worse bounced on ball walked around .. 11am i was in quite intense pain' on bed strapped up getting strong contractions midwife checked i was 4cm! Then just kept feeling like needed poo and pain got worse'
got took off triage and onto deliveryHwhere i tried get out as needed a poo but bought me a bed pan lol' so sat on that then all of a sudden jumped up screamin somthins coming out (lool) got on the bed..
Checked me i was ready 45mins later i pushed my lil man out' he was born at 1.07pm ..
Had no pain relief not even gas and air (until was stitched as was so tender and sore) only bad thing was in the shower after i passed out as has water to warm lolol would do it all again!!

 

[Ceebump]

I found keeping calm doing exactly what midwives say and shutting off focusing was the best' try not get fristrated at pain u will lose it' xx

 

[Ceebump]

Oh n pain in back felt worse then tum' but that went n came back