Giving birth is not scary!

Earlier this week, I received a lovely message from Sara B, a friend of mine from the local booby group. She read my birth story, and wanted to share her own with me. She has very kindly allowed me to publish her message here to share with all of you. Thanks for sharing your inspiring experience with us Sara!

Hi Lisa,

What a lovely story! And you were very well prepared it seems – I wish I had heard of Gentlebirth before Master E was born.

I had a much more positive experience the second time around. My daughter was eleven days late back in 2000 and I had a very medicalised birth – I was induced and Miss M was eventually born with the help of suction.

It wasn’t until Master E was born that I realised how different it could be. I had been to yoga classes with both pregnancies but with Miss M, because the doctors took over so early, I didn’t get to use the techniques at all. When I went into labour with Master E, I had a birthing ball and was able to breathe my way through early labour. A bath helped as well and I was much more relaxed.

Being able to walk around is key – there is no worse position than flat on your back!

I opted for an epidural and the gas and air helped as well as I waited for it to take effect. As with Miss M, I had a very long labour – over 24 hours in both cases. I am quite small and both my babies were big. The second time around, however, the birth was managed by midwives rather than doctors as I had not been induced. I needed forceps in the end to help Master E (and was therefore thankful for the epidural) but overall the birth was much more natural, much easier and I felt much more in control.

Giving birth is not easy but it does not have to be a nightmare. First time mothers would be much less frightened if they knew that in most cases, giving birth is not scary!

Sara B, with Miss M and Master E