Stories of birth

Hele63 My first labour was 'eventful' including discovering someway in, when it was all pain and no action, that a close neighbour had been killed in a major air accident that happened the day before I was admitted and, yes, I do remember it in a lot of detail because it included events like that, plus being moved from the local to the district hospital halfway through and other features.

I remember DDs birth because everything happened so quickly, there was nothing to remember, which made it memorable, if you see what I mean.

I felt that nobody had warned me how awful it would be, particularly my mother who, in spite of having a forceps delivery with my elder brother, implied that childbirth was nothing much. Having my first child (induced) was a terrible shock for me, and haunted me for at least six months. The gynaecologist, a lovely man whom I adored, had been worried that the baby was small. Well, he was wrong there - he was 9lbs 6oz!

For my next child I insisted on an epidural. What heaven. I actually enjoyed his birth. He was only just under 8lbs, so maybe it would have been easier anyway. I only went through birth for this second time because I wanted a girl, which I didn’t get. However, he has been an absolute joy (mostly!) and also provided me with a granddaughter.

before scans in '68...doctor said very big possibly twins, baby was 6 and a half pounds!.. midwife was older lady and on her own in the night with me, gave me confidence.

second child horrendence pain with two nurses ho couldn't care less until gave birth and baby was sunny side up 'facing up' and more dead than alive at 4 pounds full term incubator in special care for few weeks. survived thankfully

It is one of DD3's claims to fame that she was almost born in an ambliance.

One one and only pregnancy was an odd one.
Due date given was 22nd of December. All was well but nothing happening.
Christmas came and went, nothing. January came so they took me in to try and turn her ( breach) they thought that might start thins off. They couldn’t, and nothing happened 😱
At the beginning of February they took me in again to monitor what was happening.
Finally on the 3rd of February they broke my waters and 26 hrs later she finally made an appearance, phew 😂
No one could give an explanation only that she wasn’t ready.

MerylStreep At various times in my second pregnancy I was given three different due dates, spread over 2 months. I decided which date I favoured and stuck to it, and she arrived at about 1.30am on that date.

I had a rough time with DD1, but when I queried an epidural in ‘83 for DD2, I was told my hospital didn’t do them!

I told my daughters what mum told me.

It hurts, you heal, you have a sweet baby (or two).

Mum was correct.

My daughter will probably not have children. I’ve told her and my two sons that I had dreadful pregnancies but giving birth was like shelling peas. Four hour Labour for the first, six hours for the second and two hours for the third. With number two I had quite an audience. A medical student needed to deliver one more baby for his baby delivering badge; he had to be accompanied by the chief midwife. Two or three obstetric nurses asked if they could observe and a couple of trainee midwives were there too. I could have refused but the JR in Oxford is a teaching hospital!

I have no daughters my two both sons
I have told them they were both born by caesarean section and they have never asked why etc so I have bot told them anymore
My DS1 is still unaware that he and I almost died during his birth , and both unaware they were were bought out more dead than alive and needed resuscitating
I only got pregnant with DS2 because I badly wanted a girl, but after another very traumatic birth I decided this is the last.Now DS2 is the father of four daughters so I got my girls!

Mine have never asked and my mum has never told me

My three birth experiences were all rather traumatic.

I was about to have a D&C after a suspected miscarriage, my last pregnancy
There was no available bed and I was sent to the local maternity hospital instead, where after a scan ( unusual in those days) , it was found I was still pregnant with my daughter. I could never share that with her. It was a very close call.

it was a bit like an old time comedy farce at times

GrannyGravy DC3 knows about her birth because it ended up like a Carry On film; we were in hospital but she was delivered by her father because there were no staff around.
When he went out and yelled for help they rushed in like Hattie Jacques, Kenneth Williams and Barbara Windsor.
With a touch of Victor Meldrew "I don't belieeeve it"!

My DM loved to tell us about our births. I was #2 girl and she was so disappointed that I wasn't a boy, she cried. My father allegedly said "never mind we can always try again" and "this is the one who will look after you in your old age!"
DM also said she'd been unconscious and when she came round, the midwife brought me to her all cleaned up. My hair combed into a single curl.

My own DC never seemed very interested in their births though I told them anyway!
DS, who was born at home, likes to take his own DC to show them the house.
DD loves the story that her dad picked flowers from the garden it was December to bring me in hospital. She now has that rose in her own garden grown from a cutting.

DS2 was born in a snowstorm with difficulty making it to hospital and home again. Now he lives in NZ so has Summer birthdays.

One DGC was born in the hospital lift. That must have been traumatic.

Farmor15

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!

My mother was involved in this "movement" too and took antenatal classes in relaxation, breathing and later self-hypnosis. They were a small group of women working with a consultant who believed a more relaxed birth was better for both mother and baby.

My mother-in-law was the first mother to have the father present at the birth (in that hospital) and although she didn't write it she contributed to a newspaper article about having him with her and they had photos taken.

One of my grandchildren had a first baby that took 30 minutes from start to finish, no stitches and lucky for her she was at the hospital for a check up! None of mine were that easy but she was only 18 so I suppose that helps. She has 3 now and none of them were more than an hour from start to finish. Lucky, lucky lady.

My mum never said a word until after I had my first baby. She then told me the horrific events surrounding my birth which was really upsetting. She suffered the results the rest of her life and in old age made me feel guilty. Consequently I have said little but my two daughters know my son’s birth was difficult as I was in hospital for six weeks beforehand. He knows he and I had a rough start but that is all.

Yes, I have tild my three daughters about their births. The oldest is child-free by choice but the younger two have two and three children, respectively, so it didn't put them off.

Funnily enough, It was my son's birthday on 1st November and a bunch of went out to dinner.. he is 36. We have often joked about his birth over the years.
Back then, we didnt have a phone in the house so my (ex) husband had to go to the telephone box at the end of the road. At around 9.45pm I asked him to go to the phone box to call an ambulance - we werent allowed to take our own car as we would have to drive around 25 miles to the city. His response
"Yeah ok, after Match of the Day"
He eventually went to the phone box and the ambulance came and drove like a bat out of hell to the hospital - we got there at about 11:50 and my son was born at 12:05 - Phew!

A very interesting question. As a doula I find that most pregnant women have some sort of family birth story which they often cling to as a predictor of what their own experience will be like.
The most unhelpful thing is when mothers hand down fear and trauma - usually without meaning any harm.

@NotSpaghetti many still are!

Interesting question. I’ve only ever spoken about it to my daughter as she’s asked. My son never showed any interest about his birth but my daughter is interested in both, particularly how awful women could be treated and spoken to back then, 1975 and 1981. I asked to see the afterbirth after my first (normal) birth. I was fascinated by what had kept this little baby alive, there was no google then of course. The midwife said ‘Why? You’ll be wanting to take it home for the Sunday gravy next’ and wouldn’t show me. She also wouldn’t allow me to go on ‘all fours’ as I was feeling the need quite desperately when pushing, but was made to stay lying down. I’m glad those days are over and women have a say in the way they wish to give birth wherever possible; AND that’s it’s no longer acceptable to be rude and sarcastic to people (though I know it can still happen, but professionals are more accountable now). Also, for both births, the nurses running around my very good looking husband like flies, getting him tea and toast, and biscuits and regularly checking he was feeling ok was quite incredulous given I was the one doing the work. Good old days eh?

I knew much of the detail about my own and my siblings’ births, and my sons knew very early about theirs. Unfortunately, I forgot to tell them soon enough that not all babies were born by Caesarean, resulting in my 6 year old hugely entertaining his pregnant teacher with an explanation of what to expect…

Only the amusing bits - such as going to the cinema when I was a week overdue and coming back home with a new baby brother for my 18 month old daughter, who never trusted our evenings out after that. My husband (a good Yorkshire man) insisted that we saw the end of the film before going to the hospital. My son (now in his 40s) still loves film.