Did *anybody* have a good first birth? - Page 3

[little feet]

I also had a really wonderful first birth in a free standing birth center

[Kylahroo]

Originally Posted by Rhon

The only thing I am hestitant on is the fact that they release you 12 hours after your birth. Will I be ready to go home 12 hours after?

12 hours? IMO, you'll be totally fine! I was back at work 15 hours after the birth of my last child (she was born in the mid-afternoon and I was answering customer e-mails right away the next morning).

After 12 hours, I'd be going stir crazy in the hospital. If I were to birth in the hospital, I'd be going home ASAP - probably within 2-3 hours of birth, only enough time to do the minimum and get home before I want to crash and sleep.

[elfinbaby]

Rhon - right after I had my first, I was like "Can I go home now?" Seriously. I was in a birth center but wanted to be in my own bed, you know? That's why I just stay home now

If all goes well, you can go home in less than 12 hrs. imo.

[kltroy]

The other thing is that, while it's standard practice to release you after 12 hours, if you're in really bad shape for whatever reason they will usually let you stay a little longer. My sister's birth center birth ended up being like this - she had pushed for 7 hours, ended up with a vacuum assisted delivery (baby's head was oddly positioned and that finally brought it around), had third-degree tears, and was pretty wiped by 3:00 PM when she finally delivered her son (which she still managed to do without pain relief, though they did try and give her a bit of pitocin at the end to help her ctx push the baby out because she was so tired). Anyway, she was ho-hum about going home the next day - was still not feeling like she'd recovered and her midwife suggested she spend another night, despite the fact that it wasn't "standard protocol". My point is, if you actually need to, you can probably get an extra night.

[catholicmama]

Rhon, with my first, we left the birth center when he was 4 hours old. It was awesome laying with my baby in my own bed the first night he was born!

[Jazzmin]

My first birth was good, I can say that in retrospect too.

It was a 6 hour (from start to finish) hospital birth. I was 43 weeks and going to be induced, but my water broke the minute I walked in the door (okay, the minute I got a bed). I had a really nice family Dr. deliver my son and all went well.

I had imagined labor to be so much more scary and hard (I was only 17 and had only read "what to expect when your expecting), but it turned out to be better than I thought.

[LUIGA]

I had a lovely first birth in a hospital, flat on my back (surprisingly turned out to be a very comfy and effective position!) with my husband and a couple of midwives (my doctors got there five minutes late but this wasn't a bother as it all went so well).
When my midwife told me (repeatedly) that the baby was coming I kept thinking she was just trying to keep my spirits up as I was convinced that delivery was hours and hours and hours away and I was delighted to find that the midwife was right! A manageable 7 hour labour and I was up and about soon afterwards.
Try not to get bogged down with any of the melodrama - surround yourself with commonsensical people and believe that you're just as likely to have a straightforward delivery as a complicated one.
Good luck!

[neomia]

I know tons of mamas around here that had great first births! In fact, if you don't mind graphic pictures, you can see one here:
http://sagefemme.blogspot.com/2007/1...-pictures.html
That is my midwife's blog. I don't know the first family, so not sure if that was first birth, but the second mama is an MDC member and friend of mine. Total birthing goddess her first time around.

ETA: Sorry if you were only looking for hospital stories. I still think her birth was pretty cool though! And I had another thought. What about writing up a birth plan to give to the staff? You should go over it with your OB and have him or her sign it. My friend who is an HP always says to bring it in with a plate of cookies or other goodies and it will get much better attention!

[imbarefoot]

I had a crappy first birth, due to a crappy midwife. But in the end, my babe was still born vaginally and healthy so that's what important.

Just make sure you have the best possible care provider and be very prepared yourself. Know what you want and make sure you get that!

[Krystal323]

my first birth was the best one!! Birth center with midwife, labored in the hot tub--my son was born into dim candlelight, soft piano music and a loving circle of friends

good luck with your birth, mama!

[newlywaaz]

I had a great unmedicated, low intervention (I had to have a hep lock, the doc caught the baby since I was balancing on the toilet, and gave me a couple of stitches) first birth experience in a public hospital with a high rate of c-section, no doula or official midwife (one of the nurses had been a midwife in europe prior to coming to the states) and I did NOT have to force it. I'd deliver there with that staff and doctor again any day. It is possible!

I presented a well-thought out and polite birth plan well in advance, was extremely polite to the staff, and had my doctor's approval on every point in my plan. I felt like the hospital bent a lot of their rules and standard procedure for me because they realized that I was capable and informed and already close to delivering upon arrival. One of the nurses was even skimming my birth plan while sitting on the floor next to me holding the heart monitor during my first couple of pushes! Actually, I had such a great first experience that I'm even more positive about this second birth going well. I am condensing my first birth plan and adding a few new elements (I want to catch the baby and give him/her his/her first bath), and can't wait to see how this new hospital, doc, and staff rise to the challenge of a crunchy mama.

The hospital I delivered in last time wouldn't let anyone go home until 48 hours after the birth, and let me tell you it drove me crazy! I was ready to go home after a 2 hour nap, and spent the rest of the time nursing and twiddling my thumbs. One doctor was willing to let me go after 24 hours, but unfortunately had the next day off and the new doc was quite a stickler for the "rules". This hospital has the same policy, but I plan to discuss early dismissal with my doc and see what happens.

[soliloquy72]

I had a wonderful first birth. It was in a hospital w/ a CNM and a wonderful doula.

I've learned that so much depends on your region. I am in Wisconsin and was able to choose a very NCB-friendly hospital and a CNM. My post-partum room even had a queen-size bed and we co-slept right from the beginning.

We were living in the Nashville area when I got pregnant w/ #2 and found that the hospitals there are VERY different! That is what led us to look into homebirth (our second was born at home).

We are now back in WI and we could go to the same hospital where our first child was born but, having experienced a homebirth, we are choosing that again. If, however, complications develop and I do need to go to the hospital, I know that I can have a positive experience as well.

Is the hospital you're using mother/baby friendly? Do you have a doula? These things make such a difference. (I didn't read all the replies--sorry if I'm repeating!)

[berkeleyp]

Both my sisters in law had relatively easy, intervention free first births in hospitals and were very happy.

[BiscuitBaby]

I had a good birth in the sense that it was vaginal, unmedicated, at a FSBC. But I was not prepared for how fast it was. Four hours of active labor and that included 45 minutes in the car. I probably could have had DD at home or in the car.

I thought I was dying, I was in so much pain (transition) and telling myself that I could not handle 12+ more hours of that. We took Bradley classes. I just didn't recognize the emotional signposts of where I was in labor. I was in the bathtub during transition and then got out and was trying not to push.

I called the M/W and she didn't think I was that far into my labor. I should have had DH check to see how dilated I was. So we got into the car and I am having contractions the whole way to the BC and trying not to push.

We got there and they checked me and said it was time to have the baby. I got comfortable on the bed, in a squatting position and in 4 pushes she was out. They asked me if I wasnted a mirror etc and I said NO! I just want her out!

Next birth was at the same FSBC but I did not labor at home. As soon as my water broke, we were out the door in 10 minutes. That labor lasted 2 hours.

This time, we aren't even going to attempt to leave the driveway. Homebirth for me!

[crazy_eights]

Compared to what passes for the "norm" around here, I had a great first birth in a hospital birth center. Not as good as my homebirths, but really, I can't complain.

[lmonter]

Originally Posted by BiscuitBaby

But I was not prepared for how fast it was. Four hours of active labor and that included 45 minutes in the car. I probably could have had DD at home or in the car.

I thought I was dying, I was in so much pain (transition) and telling myself that I could not handle 12+ more hours of that. We took Bradley classes. I just didn't recognize the emotional signposts of where I was in labor. I was in the bathtub during transition and then got out and was trying not to push.

Amen to that. My labor with my first was slightly less than 4 hours from start to finish - my contractions *started* off at 5 minutes apart and were pretty intense. And they always go on and on about your first baby taking forever with labor and all. Not *all* the time, thank you very much. No one ever warns you about what to expect with a fast-ish labor it seems.

[lovingmommyhood]

I had a wonderful first birth, in a hospital. Horror stories are common and I know they can be scary. Everything will go wonderful for you. Just be informed.

[BiscuitBaby]

Originally Posted by lmonter

Amen to that. My labor with my first was slightly less than 4 hours from start to finish - my contractions *started* off at 5 minutes apart and were pretty intense. And they always go on and on about your first baby taking forever with labor and all. Not *all* the time, thank you very much. No one ever warns you about what to expect with a fast-ish labor it seems.

And then you share your birth story with people and they laugh at you or roll your eyes when you say you wish it went a little slower.

Because fast labors are soooo easy. /sarcasm

[jesslynnbo]

I don't have the time this second to read all the posts, but for a first time mom to be I highly recommend reading A Good Birth, A Safe Birth. It gives you some insight into the kinds of things you really might need to be ready to speak up about if you're having a hospital birth. If you don't have time to read it, one of the things it suggested that I thought was a wonderful idea is having another female whom is nurturing and whom you trust to be at your birth in addition to your husband/partner. Your partner, as a first time dad, will also have his head spinning and he will be very concerned about you. Having someone else there with their wits about them and who has even given birth before to act as an intermidiary (sp?) between you and hospital staff could really make the difference. Her other role would be to support you verbally and physically while your partner takes bathroom/sanity/breathing breaks so you aren't left alone to labor with the nurses that luck gives you. HTHs.

By the way, I'm one of the ones who gave birth in a hospital for my first and, while it turned out ok, it wasn't what I would call a wonderful experience.

[jesslynnbo]

Originally Posted by BiscuitBaby

NO! I just want her out!

LOL....I told them the same thing when they asked me about a mirror and if I wanted to touch his head as he was crowning.