Birthing in 2016 is wonderful .

Lovely for her! Many congratulations to you all!
I am always grateful for the miracle of birth but could have wished for my 39 year old DD's first recent experience to be better than being in labour for 4 days, including walking round Bloomsbury for 2 1/2 hours in the middle of the night to get to the "magic " 10 cm dilated, and then still not give birth for another 10 hours.
Yes she still managed a 'natural' birth and a lovely healthy baby, but Granny 50 miles away was a wreck!

Many congratulations, SusieB50 . However, not everyone has an easy time by any means.
My average-sized 34 year old DD has just given birth to her first child. She and her partner had a birth plan but her waters broke 3 weeks early and labour was delayed, protracted and agonising. She had no pain relief either because it was too late, but didn't enjoy the experience. The lovely midwife in the birthing suite was sticking to the birth plan but DD would have given anything for a caesarean! Then she had a retained placenta and after having no pain relief had to wait in pain on a trolley for a theatre to be free - 7/8 hours shaking in pain and fear, unable to bond with her baby or enjoy his arrival. She had 2nd degree tears and so had to be stitched as well as have the placenta removed. She was discharged the following day as the postnatal ward wasn't conducive to recovery and learning to breastfeed.
As a result of the trauma her milk was delayed by several days and the baby was sleepy and dehydrated and had to be readmitted and tube fed for several days as he was too sleepy to breastfeed. She is still struggling, pumping milk to keep up her own supply but needing to give him formula and feeling rejected and frustrated that she can't breastfeed her baby as she would love to do.

Luck of the draw, I'm afraid - some have a far better time than others.....

Congratulations Susie and how I agree with your comments about pethidine, enemas etc! Every birth is so different and leaves either joyous or horrendous memories! My youngest DD had both her babies within an hour of going into labour, the first arriving on the floor of the admissions room and my eldest was in labour for 2+ days with both hers and ended up having caesars, while the middle daughter took after me, labour for about 12 hours and out they popped!

Congratulations Susie and hope the little one is settling in well.

All births are different, and the important thing is a healthy baby and comfortable mother, although sadly Rowantree shows things don't always go smoothly.

Our DD delivered her second baby in a birthing pool in the kitchen. We hardly had time to fill the thing with water when the baby slid out; no pain relief just soft music playing and smelly candles round the room. I must admit I was sceptical, but it worked! And two midwives turned up who had very little to do.

Congrats to you and yours, Susie!

Wonderful to hear of your DD's beautiful experience, as well as those of other people's DDs!

So sorry, of course, to hear about the more difficult experiences. But, as Lille says, "the important thing is a healthy baby and comfortable mother."

Still, Rowantree, my heart goes out to your DD. Is she working with a lactation specialist at all? Or has she joined a support group online or whatever? I hope the situation will resolve itself soon and that she is enjoying her baby otherwise.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

No, it is not all wonderful these days and I am so thankful that DD survived a natural birth when she should clearly have had an emergency caesarean but midwives thought they knew best (then she spent two hours in surgery after the birth). Luckily the consultant arrived at the last minute and hauled out baby - literally.
Baby was fine!

So glad everything went well for your DD, Susie, congratulations on the new arrival.

However, there is still an unacceptable rate of maternal and neonatal deaths in this country.

Apologies - it was not this year so perhaps things have moved on in those few very short years!

Young friend of ours should have had a ceasarian long before the hospital doctors got their heads in gear to give her one. Result, she lost her womb, nearly died, and now, of course has no chance of adding to her family. I'm glad to say they won their compensation claim. Not much comfort in that though.

Many of us "back then" gave birth completely naturally with no drugs. Natural childbirth and relaxation techniques were all the rage.

Sorry to all who did not have such a good experience, I was still euphoric at the fact my DD managed to have the children she had longed for so long . She didn't meet the "right one" until she was 35 and was beginning to think it was all too late . Also wanted to give our much maligned NHS a thank you too.

I am happy for you too susie, my DD is 39 so felt quite old to be having a first baby, and until her pregnancy was at most a size 8. She lost a much wanted first pregnancy at 14 weeks, 18 months ago, so like you, I was very happy for her to have her baby at last. When things have gone wrong in the past it doesn't mean they necessarily will again, but you are more aware that they CAN,
Always grateful for a healthy baby and a healthy mum. I just take my hat off to these young women for their courage, stamina and determination.
The miracle of birth is indeed wonderful, giving birth or "birthing" as they say now, - well that depends!

susieB. Congratulations and every good wish to you and yours.

SusieB congrats from me too - it sounds a very positive experience so she was very lucky. Back in the 70's when I gave birth life was so very different and thankfully different again from back in the 20's when my mother was born!! My youngest grandsons were both born in NZ and my DIL in her mid 30s had an horrendous time with the first one ending up having to have a caesarean - the second one was born the same way. Even though the operation was planned and booked in that time she went into labour beforehand so they left her a while hoping she would give birth naturally but once again it wasn't to be. Just thankful they were both healthy babies.

A lot of it is down to luck. My dd had a very difficult first birth, despite a fantastic hospital and very good care, loads of stitches, very uncomfortable for ages. All her idealistic notions of a completely natural birth flew out of the window, through no fault of her own.

2nd time, only just made it to the same hospital, 3 hours start to finish, not one stitch.

I had my two late 70s and early 80s, and yes, there were enemas and whatnot, but I was very grateful for excellent care both times with births that were not easy. I remember being so thankful for a modern hospital and help available, as opposed to a granny of mine who was in first time labour for 3 days at home - such a traumatic experience that she never had another baby.

I had mine late 70s early 80s, but no pethedine, no enema, no shaving, no monitor, no drip, I just had gas and air. Delivered in 2 different hospitals so there must have been places where this happened. We were kept in, but it was nice especially after 2&3 to have the chance of a rest. Congrats to your DD but it really isn't new.

I had a tough first labour and delivery (1976) also with precursor emema/shave and & then during labour a baby heart monitor. She was a big baby for me (9lb 3oz) and was brow presentation. I needed surgery after she was delivered to repair internal damage. I found it hard to feed her as she had been bottle fed when I had been in surgery so my hungry girl was used to easier access to food! I tried for 6 weeks to breast feed but she always needed a bottle too. Second (unplanned pregnancy) DD was a straightforward and easy delivery and a baby who latched on and suckled quickly.

DD2 had a similar first experience in labour to me but her baby fed easily. Her 2nd delivery was straightforward and a few short hours! DD1 had both her boys at home in a birthing pool. No complications, no stitches,
Everyone different, all much loved and, thankfully , healthy too. The birth, like a wedding, is just the start!

Congratulations susyb glad everything went ok all births are a miracle aren't they I had mine late 70 early 80 with no pain relief was very excited during labour but hated pregnancy no two births are alike though