Stories of birth

No I haven’t written anything down and would only talk of it if anyone purposely asked me
Although my first ( of three); birth experience was quite unusual and traumatic

No. I have occasionally mentioned the funny bits, but very rarely.
I think it scares the pants off them, I know my mothers’ friends sharing theirs was terrifying!

When my DD2 was growing up, she would love to hear her birth story on her birthday, usually over breakfast whilst the rest of the family slept. (DD1 was adopted)

Yes, DS1’s arrival was very special. DS 2 was a home birth and DS1 was present so we can all talk about that one.

I have three adult children and they have never asked about their birth so I have never told them.
However my mum told me about the birth of her first child (my brother). She had been told nothing to do with giving birth and indeed didn't even know how the baby was born (She hadn't even been told how women got pregnant in the first place. That was left to my dad to explain!) So she made sure that as soon as I was old enough I knew all about how babies were born. Mind you she swerved the 'how thay got there in the first place' conversation ... that was left to the Human Biology lessons at school!!

I have told them if were interested or spoke of it themselves.

Like BlueBell the first was "stolen" by the medical profession so was traumatic- but after that they were all home births and were beautiful and yet perfectly unremarkable.

The oldest 4 remember the births of their siblings. Some of them chose to be present like PernillaVanilla's but mostly they remember it taking a long time, being a bit boring and having other adults over to look after them. The oldest ones remember having "bought" animal-shaped biscuits!

I haven't written any births down.

'Told them the story' in any formals sense? No. But have Ireferred to various aspects of their births, yes.

DD's arrival in this world was as rapid as DS's was slow, which was an immediate introduction to their personalities. Comments made by the midwife etc., but sitting down and telling them the nitty gritty detail, no.

In fact I did just as my mother did. I know I was 3 weeks overdue, I know that, in wartime London during bombing raids, I was 2 days old before my mother had any contact with family members. It was 4 days before the proud father could make any contact from his army posting. I know my sister was born at home and was a breach baby, but again no gynacological detail.

I had two very easy births so had no difficulty in telling DC. My mother said I was born in a wheelchair on the way to the delivery room.

You’ve spiked my interest now, what happened?

That sounds like an interesting story, what really interests me is what is remembered strongly enough to be included in the stories.

Sorry I’m a new retiree and haven’t really got the swing of replying and writing on here. My first comment was for Bluebelle and the second for M0nica. Are they seen as replies? 😂😳

Helen63. Welcome!
It helps if you name the person to whom your comments are addressed. Use asterisks at the beginning and end of the name to make the letters bold.

Only very basics, e.g. induced for dd2. I certainly wouldn’t give any off-putting details.

For her 3rd baby, a dd had a relatively easy water birth, the last stage of which was filmed by her dh from over her shoulder. Gdcs of then coming up to 4 and 5 were able to be shown their baby sibling arriving very calmly into the world - she didn’t even cry.
They’d already been told the very basics, so I thought it was a lovely idea - they were very interested to see it.

I have boys they know one was an emergency caesarian and one wasnt. I haven't described the midwife and the consultant arguing over my head and the fact that thankfully the consultant 'won' and therefore saved my childs life.

I had to tell my DD's about their births, DH 's family had a genetic problem that had to be monitored and my mother had had the same problems as I had with my first. So they had to be aware as they were asked at the hospital when they first visited.
I think in some ways things were more open in the past I knew that someone had been born down a toilet !!!!

When I was in the early stages of ‘delivery’, of my first, my sweet Aunty E , came to me and said ‘don’t scream too much’ - ‘you won’t have any voice left, for later, when the pain gets really bad’. 😂 Thankyou Aunty E - that really made my day - NOT !!!

Only occasionally, and the funny bits mostly. I don't think they want to hear the gory details really. Daughters might, but I have sons.

My mother told me about my birth and also wrote about it in an article for a newspaper! She had got interested in "painless" childbirth (emphasis on relaxation and breathing) which was becoming popular in the early 1950s and wanted to share her experience.
I think my birth must have been relatively fast and easy. Interestingly my own 5 were easy births and both daughters also had fairly rapid labours. One grandchild has already been told the story of his birth as he was born on bedroom floor, delivered by his dad- not a planned home birth!

No more than to periodically remind my daughter that she like me is rhesus- and if she has more than one child she needs to be aware of the blood groups. It is very important to be aware of theses things. Although “ blue babies” are not really heard of now mistakes do happen.

Not really except one of them popped her head out during visiting hours on the ward and the nurses didn’t believe me so my husband had to drag them over to me. I told my daughter about that. Not a good hospital, hope it has improved now and dealt with the cockroach problem it had in the 1970s!

Farmor15 Did you keep the article from the paper? What a wonderful record.

There was a wonderful tv series (and book) called Labour of Love that had an episode about birth. I was thinking that now I’m retired I could duplicate the record of such experiences of women today who birthed many years past. What do you all think?

Our DD knows about her birth as not only was DH with me but her Godmother also, it was a bit like an old time comedy farce at times.

Thank goodness for epidural pain relief…

The DS’s are not overly interested but they know a few basic details, they were more interested once they had their own babies.

The GC all know about their births, even the two little ones.

My fifth child had a very traumatic birth. Well, he was ok but I wasn't! Planned section, sterilised, stitched up, haemorrhaged, back to theatre, general anaesthetic, surgeon couldn't stop bleeding, emergency hysterectomy, came round on Intensive care on a ventilator having had 14 units of blood. Good recovery. Child is wonderful- now 27.