Moms who had great labors/births

Basil27 · March 2012

So I know labor is labor...but mine sucked and after the birth was very scary too..I ended up with PPD and PPA as well...sooooo needless to say things were pretty crappy and now I am 38 plus weeks pregnant with my second child and I am having alot of anxiety about the birth and afterwards so moms that had a great experience tell me your story so that I can have hope that maybe just maybe I will end up with that great tv birth that we all want..or at least something like it!!!:o)Thanks ladies!!!!

lildevil968 · March 2012

No two births are the same! DD and DS's was like night and day. Labor with DD was about 17 hours from start to finish. I had back labor with her, and it was terrible. I couldn't wait to get the epi in place with her. With DS I walked in for my induction at 39 wks 4 days, and it was a breeze! My labor with DS was 5 hours from start to finish. I did have 3 failed epi's, and I decided not to try for a 4th, so I had him pain med free with the pit. It completely sucked, but his birth was much better than DD's.

madhatter2003 · March 2012

Hugs. I had PPD/PPA after both of mine, that is hard. It was easier for me to get/ask for help after DS since I knew the signs in myself better. I wasn't 'depressed' in the traditional, mopey way. I was very angry at myself and constantly felt like I was failing as a mom, being too hard on myself, etc. it's hard to see that as PPA but it was.

My 2nd labor was a breeze! I had a 4 day labor with my DD so it was like night and day. I woke up with some mild contractions, ended up getting stronger, went to the hospital and walked around some there, watched the plane land on the Hudson river Stick out tongue reminded everyone standing around my room watching tv that the baby was coming, pushed a couple of times and done. Easy as pie....no tearing, milk came right in, recovery was a breeze.

jessandandy09 · March 2012

both of my births were pretty great, but the second one was easier! The first one was 12 hours total (labor and delivery) I did it med free (well except a glass of wine before the trip to the hospital) The second baby was 6 hours total and med free. With both babies I took a nice warm shower right before delivery and I think that helped, plus my mom gave me a glass of wine before I went to the hospital to "calm me" it is an old family tradition. You will do great and I believe you can have an easier happy birthing experience!!!! I am sending good L&D vibes to you!

Chelsey68 · March 2012

My water broke on its own at 7:30 am. I got to the hospital around 1030. My contractions werent too bad but I got the epi anyway. It didnt hurt at all just a little pressure. Then at 3:00 my little boy made his entrance. I was up and walking showered and visiting with my friends and family in no time. The next day I got released at 4:00. The whole staff was nice and I had the best labor and delivery nurse.

I think I expected labor to be awful so it ended up making it not bad at all.

sunflowergrl · March 2012

This is my birthstory from DD's birth.

I can honestly say I enjoyed it (after the fact) I am currently worried that this one won't go as smoothly as DD's did, but we'll face that when we get there. I hope this time around is easier for you and you can "enjoy" it to a point. Also, lots of good thoughts for you in dealing with any PP issues. Would you consider encapsulating your placenta, it is supposed to be very very helpful for PPD/PPA. Lots of luck to you!

hewinked · March 2012

I had a great labor and delivery with DS (my 2nd). I had pitocin because my water was broke and my contractions weren't doing anything to move me along. So that was like 3 hours of hell before I asked for an epidural. After that, everything was great. The labor and pushing was very smooth and enjoyable. I had a really hard labor with DD (first kiddo). PTL and 4 hours of pushing and she had some very minor health issues. I did have PPD both times, but expecting it the second time around, I got help much sooner, which helped a lot. Good luck to you!

alice2Bcheshire · March 2012

Lurking, obvs.

My med-free labor and delivery with DS were exactly what I wanted. I went into labor around 1 am at 40w5d and was able to sleep (off and on) until 5:30. Got to the hospital at 6:30, my water broke around 8:30, and he was born at 10:25 after about 45 minutes of pushing. We were home by early afternoon the next day.

GL this time-- I hope it's better for you!

BettyBookworm · March 2012

Summary: Unmedicated, vaginal birth with 2nd degree tear
Total time in labor: 12 hours (Started at 4pm, labored at home, went to hospital when water broke at 1am)
Total time at the hospital: 1am - 5am when she was born plus recovery.

I labored mostly at home. Just walked around and yelled curse words. Ate some, drank tea and chilled out on the couch while riding out the intense contractions. When they started getting 2-3 minutes apart I decided that it was probably time to get serious and get to the hospital.

I am not going to lie-- I was in a lot of pain up until it was time to push and then it was all business. The pain seemed to kind of melt away and you just want the baby out! Transition was intense (last 5 cm to complete dilation) but I only had to push for an hour.

My recovery was good. I was swollen, no hemorrhoids & I was minorly sore from my stitches.

My birth experience was really quick. In fact, many were thinking since I was a first-time mom that it would take a long time. So did I, but no-- arrived around 1am at 5 cm dilated, and into my recovery room by 5:30am. The only issue we had was that the delivery was a little hard on LO, Abby. She had some rapid breathing at the beginning and couple heart rate dips during my contractions.

My midwife was concerned, but just let me know that we had to do this.

So far the only thing I've noticed post-partum has of course been the sleep deprivation (until DD STTN at 6 weeks old-- extremely lucky) and some irritability.

I hope you all have a happy, healthy, safe and positive birth experience. Congratulations on your babies!

DevonPow · March 2012

I don;t want to jinx myself for this next one, but DS1's labor and birth was awesome. I felt fantastic all through my pregnancy (and was sleeping through the night, not even getting up to pee!). On my due date I slept in, felt great, and at about 11:45 Am had my first contraction (ever - never felt braxton hicks or anything else prior). My contractions started at 1-1.5 minutes long and 3-5 minutes apart. I couldn't believe it was real labor since it started so suddenly and I thought I was being a baby about the pain (it HURT!), so I went to my regular 40 week OB appointment at 1:30 PM - I was obviously in labor and when he checked me I was at almost 6 centimeters. He sent me right to the hospital (about 5 minutes away), and when I got there they gave me my epi right away (since my OB had called over and I skipped triage, etc). After the epi they checked me and I was at 9. My epi was perfect - I felt no pain or pressure but could still move my legs. It slowed things a touch, but I pushed for about 10-15 minutes and DS was born at 5:47 PM,. so about 6 hours from start to finish. No tears.

Now, I will say that I had fabulous pregnancy and delivery/recovery, but I still developed fairly bad PPD and am having a lot of anxiety about that again. I was proactive this time (I was untreated last time and it was a BAD situation) and have met with a psychiatrist who gave me a prescription to use if need be and obviously I will be checking him with him after the birth. My OB is very aware, as are friends/family so I feel I have a better support system in general and am more aware of what I need to be looking for. PPD/PPA can occur no matter the circumstances surrounding the birth, so take care of yourself and don;t be afraid to ask for help!

erindawn · March 2012

I think it depends on what you want from it. I was TERRIFIED of giving birth and I feel like it went so well and I feel so proud of myself for taking it gracefully.

I labored at home as long as I could and got to the hospital at 6cm. I got an epidural (loved it- had a face up baby so major back labor) and literally laid in the bed singing songs, telling jokes and waiting for push time. It took forever, I stalled out, had a mean a$$hole doctor lecture me and try to push pitocin on me (my DS was a preemie and I absolutely refused pitocin) and I still look back at it in a good way. I held my own, I stood up for myself, and in the end I can say I had a positive birth experience.

My anxiety is all about having a newborn. DS was a colicky, refluxy mess and didn't STTN until about 4 months ago. I dread having another baby like that.

nickert2000 · March 2012

I have been very lucky and had 2 great births and 1 ok birth.

1st: med free water birth, was awesome, everything I could have ever wanted but I too ended up with postpartum depression

2nd [23 months after the 1st]: attempted med free waterbirth, ended up delivering outside of the tub b/c midwife made be get out bc I was too relaxed in the water....he was 8lbs 12 ozs and I was exhausted and had a hard time breathing during pushing, was screaming to get him out [this was after there was a very "zen" experience with the 1st my husband still is tramatized by this] and he was born so quickly that his whole face was blue and bruised for 3 days..not the greatest experience but not the worst. Had some PPD but was not as bad at all in comparison as I did catch it sooner.

3rd [over 5 years since 2nd baby]: Induction...kind of:

was just a few days ago and I had to be induced b/c the 41 week ultrasound showed low levels of fluid. I ended up starting labor myself as I was being monitored before they started the induction...so out went the plan to use the pill that helps open up your cervix and in came the possible use of other methods. This made me less than happy. My Dr did have me walk around, break my water and gave me 6 hours to see how far I would go on my own....then came the we have to use pitocin and my nurse reminding me that the contractions would be different and tend to be worse than when you naturally go...plan was still med free water birth but I knew this may need to be revised.

After them upping the pitocin once they did not have to do it again. Two and a half hours of pitocin later I asked if I could get in the tub b/c I was gettin super uncomfortable [but had needed to be monitored constantly bc of the pitocin]. Instead of relief like I was used to when I got in I felt the opposite and was thinking I could not handle hours more of what I was now dealing with and this pitocin was horrible.

The nurse checks me and says the babies head is right there and to try and push but not too much b/c she did not want to deliver the baby. Then she runs out of the room and tells the Dr to get in the room and yells for someone to come in and be the babies nurse. 3 pushes later I had my baby girl on my chest. Still got a med-free water birth even with pitocin [which I was not confident I could do].

This time I know again how I feel if the PPD starts. You too will know if it starts again and now you have the tools and know how to make sure you get it before it gets you. Enjoy the last days of your pregnancy and try to remember that each pregnancy, delivery and everything after is going to be different.

Cranang · March 2012

I was induced at 38 weeks because my doctor wasn't happy with my NST. I was only 1cm dilated. Got to the hospital room at 6pm-ish, hooked up to small doses of pitocin. Watched TV, talked with friends, surfed the net...and had contractions. About midnight they broke my water and I was up to 3.5cm. I labored until about 4:30am, with a couple of doses of some sort of pain med that made me feel gloriously drunk for about 20 minutes a pop. Finally, after the last dose wore off, I asked for my epidural. I felt two more contractions after that. They checked me an hour later and I was at 9.5cm. They called for the doctor, who got there just before 6am and I was at 10cm. Woke my husband up, telling him I was about to push, texted my best friend at 6:03am that I was about to push. I pushed 3 times, and even though I had an epidural, I could feel the contractions without the pain. My daughter was born at 6:27am. When we heard her cry, we both gasped because I literally felt nothing so I had no idea she was out. I had to get two small stitches. She was perfect. And I was up in shower a little less than 2 hours later.

I couldn't have asked for better. It was literally perfect. I hope the same for you mama!

Asquared · March 2012

well, my second was ridiculously fast- I woke up w/ contractions and less than 2 hours later, she was born- recovery was great!

My sister had her first 6 weeks early and ended up w/ post partum psychosis and had to be hospitalized for a week- crazy stuff!! But her second was a scheduled vbac induction and everything went great and she got to bf her second till almost 2 years old.

I'm sure everything will be much smoother for you this time around, too!

[Deleted User] · March 2012

It was 27 hours, 12 of those at home. I spent my labor in a birthing tub and in my husband's arms, swaying to music, breathing and moaning like an animal, and letting my body go limp during contractions. It's hard for me to remember what it was like because I was in a trance. It was wonderful. My brain was completely focused and yet totally empty at the same time. A deeper kind of meditation than I'd felt before or have felt since. I've never been so in the moment. I pushed for almost two hours, and I really felt like I was accomplishing something. When she was born, in the water, I felt the most incredible euphoria and relief I've ever experienced. I felt so alive. She was 9 lbs, 2 oz, 21.5 inches. I had a small, internal tear that required one or two stitches.

It sounds crazy, but if I could go through labor and delivery again without the whole pregnancy and raising another baby thing, I would do it in a second.

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