OB-GYNs Debunk 13 Childbirth Myths | Debunked

[@ilivace]

I love these two doctors. They seem very open and non judgmental

[@bibbidi-bobbidi-boo1043]

If I ever have kids, i would want one of them to be my doctor lol

[@amplemedicallectures]

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[@avichal6630]

Almost all doctors are open and non judgemental It’s few that ruin it for all

[@janetstewart7709]

I had one of these wonderful women as my doc with my last child almost 7 years ago and she was the BEST. Her whole team was incredible, like family.

[@xoxo.cc1]

I know!! I’m 15 weeks through my pregnancy and I want one of them to be my doctor 😭

[@nothanks1239]

My labour was 53 hours and I ended up having an epidural as I was so exhausted. Honestly, epidural for me was the best decision; I got to sleep until the nurse woke me up and told me it was time to start pushing. The only advice I can give you all is to not compare your pregnancy/labour with other women. They will often try and give you advice as well, and I would just let it fly over your head unless you really do consider it useful. Your morning sickness, pain tolerance, delivery, breast feeding, etc... you cannot predict how it will go.

[@mellocheers9062]

Exactly! The most important thing is that at the end of the pregnancy and birth, the healthy mom can hold her healthy, and look back and say "I did it!" with pride

[@Cantetinza17]

I would add. Don't let other people's bad experiences derail how you want to birth.

[@kaorimg1230]

Totally agree! First baby I was ill all 9 months! He was ten days late, long Labour, TENS, entonox, epidural, and finally an emergency caesarean under full anaesthesia. Second baby-20 minutes labour and he was born! No time for epidural, but with entonox only I was ‘present’ but ‘high’ lol …Dream delivery! Both pregnancies I was overweight, over 35, never had regular contractions, lost 20 lbs during pregnancies. First was in Oxford, second in the UAE. Excellent, professional, supportive care in both cases-midwives and doctors. Agree that c section should NOT be your first option-but we are so lucky to have this medical backup! Did I mention how much I liked the entonox? Common in the UK and UAE- hope it’s available in the US these days!

[@p.t.9171]

Nahahahhahaha, thank you for this! No child is ever coming out of me for sure now! Great job!

[@nothanks1239]

@@p.t.9171 I can't decide if you're being genuine or passive aggressive. Either way, always do what you feel comfortable with; don't want children, don't have em! But, that decision is yours and I certainly cannot and do not contribute to those decisions.

[@courtneylewis2415]

The pro-eating-placenta argument is crazy to me. Wild animals eat their placenta for a few reasons: It degrades very fast and is very smelly, which can attract predators who threaten the lives of the mother and/or the young, especially altricial young who cannot get away on their own, so eating it hides the evidence. Secondarily, it can help restore nutrients that are otherwise hard to come by for carnivorous animals who may not be able to access food or hunt while heavily pregnant or labouring, allowing them to support their offspring better. I am SO sick of hearing that eating the placenta is "natural because the animals do it therefore we should too"! We do not have those issues and have not for many many years. There are many 'natural' behaviours that are not necessarily helpful or safe! Please don't fall for the guise that natural = best hahaha. The risks outweigh the benefits in our world of modern medicine, lack of predatory species and easily accessible food sources (for many). Edit: If you WANT to eat it and understand the risks, go for it. I'm not saying it shouldn't be allowed, but if you want to do it, understand the risks and benefits, and make sure your reasons are informed and not just feel good :)

[@Marinaswe]

Thank you for saying it! So tired of the natural = good argument.

[@courtneylewis2415]

@@Marinaswe Right! There are SO many natural things that can kill you bahahahah

[@SONGbyrdRYzing]

This was great info. Thanks!!

[@courtneylewis2415]

@@SONGbyrdRYzing No worries, I have a zoology degree so learned a ton of awesome stuff about animals! And as a by product: how we accidentally mistakenly apply a LOT to humanity hahhaha

[@courtneylewis2415]

@Miriam Svenson OH NO

[@RockinTheBassGuitar]

I thank God for all of the high risk Ob/gyn specialists; some hard working Ob/gyns and neonatalogists saved my daughter. She came at 30 weeks.

[@marissafarr1346]

Same for my 27 weeker!

[@julissasalto9382]

My daughter came at 24 weeks 5 days she's my world and I love her so much and I'm so grateful for the medical field and all of my daughter's doctors.

[@oatmealtruck7811]

Thank God for your healthy babies and the professionals who helped safely deliver them!!

[@MrLakers92]

My gosh, best wishes to you and your new baby congratulations 🤎🤎

[@ranch260]

Aw I'm a high risk Labour nurse. Nice to know people appreciate the work

[@ThePrivateAwesome]

My mom came to the hospital in labor, but because the nurses didn't deem her ready to have the baby, the nurses ended up taking a smoking break and left my mom all alone in her delivery room. And she ended up delivering my brother on her own, with the help of a janitor who hear her scream for help when my brother was already half way out. They changed the rules to NO SMOKING ON SHIFT after that. horrified me as a kid when she told me that story. Really funny considering my brother, today, is still ALWAYS in a hurry to be somewhere lol

[@maricamp1833]

What a wonderful janitor! I’d be scared shitless 😂

[@TheVanillebluete]

I was my moms second and she knew how things felt and told the nurses that the baby is coming, they did not believe her and then had to rush her in as I was almost out...all in all took 30 to 45 minutes

[@pri_shay_dior]

​@@TheVanilleblueteI had a similar situation with my 3rd child. They wanted to send me home, but I was adamant on staying. About half an hour later when I knew I needed to push, they told me I wasn't ready because they had just checked a few minutes prior. But one of the nurses rushed to check for a room, and they sent me up. I tried to bypass paperwork, but they wouldn't let me. I got to the room and there wasn't even time for me to put on my gown. They were putting IVs in me as I was pushing. 🙄😒 They really expected me to hold my arm still, too.

[@janelleg597]

Wow.

[@taylorharbin3948]

Sheesh, that is a malpractice lawsuit waiting to happen!

[@Lynn-vs4uu]

Every time I learn something new about pregnancy I am more sure I’m going to foster or adopt. I still watch these out of morbid curiosity, I have so much respect for my mom lol

[@ThatOneGeekyFamilytoo]

I remember thinking that. Then after giving birth to first, I realized that labor and birth are my favorite part of pregnancy. The rest totally sucks… I’m on my fourth and it’s my last because pregnancy itself is just so hard. If my pregnancies were as easy as my labor and deliveries have been… then I could continue indefinitely. Lol.::

[@daliab8493]

The worst part would have to be the afterbirth contractions … with each birth it gets worse. Oh, and worse than that? The “uterus massage”they do after the c sections.

[@aprilchow-chee5281]

@Korina Patchet pregnancy and labour are very difficult for me. I'm usually in pain or placed on bed rest during my pregnancy from complications and end up having long labours 12-24 hours.

[@dacoolfruit]

It is the most amazing experience... painful, but empowering. :) and lots you can do to ease the pain and prepare for labor. I would definitely take a birth class with a midwife if you want to give it a go. Fostering and adopting are amazing too Inam sure! Why not do both?

[@rennleisaber3371]

I was getting phantom cramps from watching/listening to the demonstrations. It sounds so uncomfortable the entire time!! I agree though, lots of respect for my mom. Pushed 3 of us out, all with some kind of complication lol

[@mmloverjm]

Just had my first child 5 days ago. I was only in active labor for about 5 hours. She also came on her due date so I truly think she’s special.

[@samara6189]

Congratulations!

[@dharnasahu2506]

That's amazing, congratulations and best wishes🤗

[@daughterofthemosthigh8064]

Wow, nice! Congratulations! I just had my baby 2 weeks ago, I thought I would have a short labour but it was 42 hours 😳

[@s_impeccable3872]

Congratulations!!! My oldest came on his due date, my second was 2 days overdue. Currently pregnant with my third so interested to see when this one comes.

[@rachelblenkin437]

Congratulations! I was born on my due date as well. Funny story about that: because I'm the oldest, and my due date was my cousin's birthday, my mom figured that would be the one day I *wouldn't* arrive. So they planned the birthday party, and I showed up at 2:30 that morning! It's the one time I've been on schedule, and it was only because it threw a wrench in everyone else's plans! 😆

[@breannarandall3050]

As a student nurse midwife I really appreciated hearing 2 OBs discuss and promote minimal intervention labors (when it’s appropriate) & shared decision making! Love to see health professionals who want what’s best for the patient!!

[@frankiefavero1666]

I agree but to a point... they OBGYN's only compared life-threatening/immediate risk to mothers between natural and c-section... they did NOT comparable long-term effects of each procedure on the body of the mother, probably because natural birth carries way more long-term sequelae than surgery! Over 80% of first time mothers will need surgical opening of their labia (with stitched in an area way more prone to infection than lower addomen), not to mention the damage to the vaginal wall muscles which cause incontinence and other related issues!

[@erindonahue3237]

@@frankiefavero1666 this is absolutely not true. Caesarean is a highly invasive procedure and so much can go wrong. It Carrie’s substantial short term and long term risks. Women were designed to give birth and natural childbirth when possible is safest long term

[@eduardadiniz9205]

@@frankiefavero1666 This is completely wrong. No woman needs opening of the labia, doing this is considered OBGYN abuse on the mother. If she tears, she tears, but no one is tearing it for her. The incontinence and potential hemorrhoids comes from the pressure the baby puts on the mothers pelvic floor during the entire pregnancy, so again not true.

[@frankiefavero1666]

@@eduardadiniz9205 I don't know what country you come from, but in the US, UK, Australia, NZ, and Chile (all countries I've lived in), it's routine practice to make incisions in a women's labia if she isn't dilated enough... also, the pressure that a fetus puts on the internal organs is not nearly as much as tearing and forced "natural" births put on the mother's urethra/bladder... Google it! You've been fed myths.

[@frankiefavero1666]

@@eduardadiniz9205 I'm guessing you're either Brazilian or Portuguese, in which case, my comment stands. In both those countries they won't cut the labia, they will choose a C section instead :)

[@phylo242]

With my second, the staff told me I should get up on the bed so I could push. I had no ability to put any pressure on my hips, even to sit. So I gave birth standing and bracing against the bed. Things were *much* easier in that position and had no tearing and only slightly more bleeding than I would expect from a period.

[@randzopyr1038]

IIRC the tradition of sitting/reclining in a hospital bed was for the convenience of the doctors. Standing/squatting/leaning birth was much more common - but it's based on the comfort of the mom (let gravity do the work, sliding slowly a few inches to the ground from squatting is NOT gonna kill a normal baby).

[@tryphenarose384]

@@randzopyr1038 Being forced to lay down in a hospital bed and having machines strapped to you during labor and birth, is one of the big reasons I chose to give birth naturally with a midwife. When I was early into my contractions, trying to lay down and sleep at night was horrible. Laying on my back especially. I knew I made the right choice. My birth experience was amazing and one of the best experiences of my life.

[@kirashields7383]

@@randzopyr1038 apparently a French king 400-500 hundred years ago had a thing (yes, apparently a fetish) for watching his many kids be born so insisted on the mothers giving birth on their backs so he could properly sit like a king and watch it, despite it being harder on the mothers and doctors having to be called in more because of things going wrong, and being more painful and less comfortable on them. Apparently other people in the royal household then started doing it as they thought "well if the royals are doing it it must be a good thing" and it spread from there. That's the theory I've heard of most. I think there's a few theories about how it came about though. 🤷🤣

[@helentee9863]

@@kirashields7383 Royal births weren't just observed by the King, father of the child, but by most of the royal court This was to stop a possible substitution of the child with another baby if it was born the wrong sex (female not male),or was born dead/died shortly after birth. I wouldn't be surprised if something similar didn't happen in some other upper class,aristocratic households too on a smaller scale ,because the birth of a healthy,male heir was so very important in the past when it came to inheritance rights/order of inheritance/the passing on of property A number of times records show political opponents suggesting (in posters/hand bills) that a substitution has taken place. Babies smugglied in ,in bedpans etc to the royal chambers. Though never proved or upheld :))

[@yanyuet]

That’s amazing, good for you and thanks for sharing

[@haileyoconnell5129]

My water broke at 11 pm, I went to the hospital because mine was more of a trickle and I lived about 20 minutes from the hospital. I didn’t have any contractions until 7 am, got to a full 10 centimetres but as I was pushing my daughter was facing up and got stuck even with forceps only the very top of her head could get out, both of our heart rates dropped and I was sent for an emergency c section. Every story I heard before from family or friends were nothing like mine. To every first time expecting mother reading this, every labor is different!

[@geetikaharmukh6434]

Thank you for sharing your experience. ❤️

[@terynb4407]

All my aunts and my mom had different birth stories from having C-Sections for all their children to being on their hands and knees delivering the baby.

[@Iheartyt5596]

I too was the black sheep of my family. The only to have a C-section for my first baby last year and it left me feeling so alone and wondering why couldn’t my body open to push him out. Every birth is definitely different and there’s no way to know what kind you’ll have

[@Kimberly-1996]

I’m so grateful Having my first child was quick 1 hours after arriving to the hospital and 20 mins pushing

[@dianaval6082]

Wow I hope I get the same experience

[@Humanity894]

Did you get epidural or was it natural?

[@Kimberly-1996]

@@Humanity894 Yes I got epidural But it was a waste because soon after I had to push I wish I waited two more minutes to have a natural delivery

[@blaqmermaiid]

I wish they can address some myths tied to c-sections as well. One that i can surely agree with is.. c sections are not "the easy way out". There is definitely pain with that process as well

[@ClaireEmilia]

It’s still much more comfortable and faster

[@blaqmermaiid]

@@ClaireEmilia c sections are comfortable? Is it the part where ur under anesthesia ur talking about? The surgery can be quicker than natural labor, yes i agree..

[@ClaireEmilia]

@@blaqmermaiid I said it’s more comfortable 😌 I am an assisting theatre nurse btw

[@blaqmermaiid]

@@ClaireEmilia it varies from patient to patient. Comfortable sounds like its easy.. which it definitely is not. There is pain long after recovery... and the recovery period is longer. But as i said, it varies from patient to patient.

[@ClaireEmilia]

@@blaqmermaiid I def agree. However, let’s just say you are much more passive than giving birth yourself. And the procedure is less painful

[@maricamp1833]

I’m from Brazil and the ‘normal’ practice there (at least where I’m from) is to do elective c-sections at around 37 weeks. They deem it safer and more comfortable for mom. I don’t know a single woman (other than my mom who refused) who have given vaginal births. And it’s crazy to me that this is normal practice given all the reasons they mentioned. Plus taking a baby out before they’re ready!!! I live in the US now and my family/friends thought I was the crazy one for not wanting a c-section unless medically necessary. The discrepancies between what’s normal in different countries is crazy.

[@jussandraalves8065]

Também sou brasileira e provavelmente isso é uma coisa de onde você é, porque eu sou a única mulher que eu conheço que teve uma cesárea. Todo mundo ao meu redor teve normal e eu fui induzida ao normal até começar a ter risco pro bebê. É realmente algo por região.

[@lacee7494]

terrible, sounds like they just want to make money, or maybe so many women asked for it they just don't consider anything else

[@sarroumarbeu6810]

The placenta acreta percentages must be crazy high over there... I can only hope the health care centers are well staffed for emergency hemorrhage control

[@noone-sr1ps]

Countries with no free healthcare push for c-section because the hospital can charge more. Countries with free healthcare push for vaginal delivery as it saves the hospital money. Women were deisgned to give birth. Vaginal birth should be selected unless there is complication. Vaginal birth signals the body to recover. C-section doesn't. In that, the body doesn't "know" birth has taken place, so normal birth-related healing mechanisms don't work as well. C-section recover then becomes regular recovery from a surgery, not customed by the body to deal with child birth

[@KateLate____]

Brazil seems more highly medicalised and not into natural things. Eg there is more plastic surgery and more "mummy lifts" and more obsession with appearance.

[@decaytale]

I think people should know that pain is different for everyone. When I was having my first, I called the hospital because my contractions were getting close and they told me that if I was really having contractions I wouldn't be able to walk or talk through them and that I wasn't ready to come in yet. I know my own body and told them I was coming in anyways and I called my doctor myself to let her know I was on my way They put a monitor on me and after a while brought a new one in without explaining why and asked if I was having a contraction and I told them that I was. Turns out I was having strong contractions and it was showing on the monitor, but they thought it was broken because I was just walking and talking through it with very little difficulty. The person wouldn't stop saying that she'd never seen someone at that phase not be curled up on the bed by then. Idk how true that was but I wasn't too bothered by it and just kept doing whatever I wanted I was only on the bed when I felt like and they started trying to coach me on when to push but stopped in the middle of the first because I was pushing on my own when I felt the urge to push. I was actually confused because to me it seemed obvious when I should and shouldn't push. I can understand being asked not to push if something was wrong, but it seemed pretty obvious when I should push. My labor was super short and easy for me, but I know it isn't like that for everyone and can last a long time and be super painful. But if you have a high pain tolerance, listen to your body. If I had waited until I was in too much pain to walk like they suggested, I would have had a home birth since I only stopped walking when I was seconds away from pushing. That is my personal experience

[@silverbat5873]

Was not "curled up" in any labor. I feel no new nurses should be allowed to help with the births because have been given horrible advice

[@toteswurmelein]

When i hear "you're unable to walk"... What a BS to tell first time mum's! 🤯 I was in the hospital quiet early since it's almost an hour away. I was walking around in the hospital the whole day until the contractions felt "different". I asked a nurse on the station I've had my bed at, when I'm supposed to walk down to the delivery room. "You'll feel when it's time" Yea..thanks for nothing. So I went down to the delivery room to ask the midwifes down there. "Sounds like you're actually in active labor, can we examine you?" Turned out I was fully dilated, not even an hour later my daughter was there and pooped on my stomach. 🫡🤣 I personally never heard in person, that you can't walk anymore when youre in Labour (I'm German). I always hear that from Americans, Britains,... Where does that come from? Does anybody know? I mean I have to admit, after pushing several times, I really wouldn't have had the strength anymore to walk around. But! At this time the head was sticking out 🤣 I'm not sure how many women would walk around when their baby is half outside tho.

[@streetchurchdc164]

Thank you for sharing this! My labors have always been extremely painful. Both of my children came out face up (posterior). It troubled me so much, because I was always led to believe that if I relaxed enough, prepared enough, embraced the birth enough, then it wouldn't be as painful. I tried everything, including hypnobirthing, and despaired during both labors because the pain was EVERYWHERE and I wasn't even getting a break between contractions (another false promise). And the YT birth vlog certainly didn't help - so many of them seem to be practically floating through labor! And good on them, but that was not at all what I went through. As I prepare now to have my third, I'm under no illusions of a pain free birth. My main focus is that it's likely to be shorter. And I look forward to, hopefully, my husband catching the baby this time! I caught the last one, so it's his turn lol I'm happy for you that your labor was quick and easy! And thank you for not talking down to those of us who don't have that experience.

[@TheSuwanneeMama]

When I arrived to have my second baby the triage nurse told me “There’s no way you’re having this baby today- you’re way too calm!” Four hours later there she was.

[@cateo.b.8043]

I’ve never given birth (not sure about having kids yet or if ever, still deciding) but your story resonated with me because I had a reproductive issue as well where I was essentially told the same thing. I went to the hospital because I was experiencing severe pain in my pelvis on the left section of my lower abdomen. When I arrived at the ER they gave me every test in the book (so so soooo thankful I had pretty good insurance at the time) blood work, X-ray, etc. The X-ray and ultra sound revealed my left ovary had torsion or basically twisted itself because of a cyst that was on it. Also, there was a lot of “debris” from the ruptured cyst just floating around in my abdomen. By that point my left ovary had been twisted for close to six hours. The doctor was shocked and baffled because I was walking/pacing the waiting room and speaking with staff when they spoke to me with coherent words and a calm tone. The doc said with my current condition he couldn’t understand why I wasn’t on the floor writhing in pain screaming my head off or at the very least passed out from the pain. But the thing is, I had looked up my symptoms on Google and had narrowed it down to something to do with my ovaries or maybe even gallstones but the medical staff refused to listen to me because, “you’d be on the floor in agony if those were the case.” I was in moderate pain but the walking and talking with other people actually helped. Just wish they would have listened to me because then I could’ve been saved a slew of unnecessary tests. Kind of funny/strange side note: all that happened in summer of 2012 and in summer of 2020 I had to have my gallbladder removed because of huge gallstones. I was in severe pain for that one but I still drove myself to the hospital (hell no can anyone afford an ambulance in the states) and was walking around and speaking with medical staff when spoken too, again, in a coherent and calm tone. Again, I had shocked doctors when tests revealed it was my gallbladder and I’d need surgery to remove it. Again, I was told, “how are you not in pain and still walking around?” Wish I’d had a camera for their faces when I told them I’d heard that before and told them about my ovary story lol I feel pain and even severe pain but walking around and talking just helps me I guess? I’m sorry, I don’t mean to hijack the convo or take away from your story but how I show people that I have empathy and can sympathize is by retelling similar situations I’ve been in like, “hey, I know how you feel. I’ve been there too.” But you’re right. Doctors and nurses and techs, etc. need to not make medical decisions just based on someone’s pain alone. Every person tolerates pain differently and handles pain differently and shows their pain differently. Like you said, if you hadn’t stood your ground you could have ended up in a dangerous situation giving birth at home and I nearly lost my ovary in 2012. Idk man, medical personnel just so badly need to listen to their patients at times.

[@newgabe09]

I had a relatively easy time with my first birth.. and there was no question at all when to push.. my body pushed, not 'me'! Second birth was an elective C-section due to daughter's dreadful position and my spinal injury from an accident while pregnant. I loved it- the anaesthetist and surgeon were wonderful, so communicative. It was great to arrange it all in advance. They agreed to low lighting and delayed cord cut, it felt like we were in it together saving her and my lives. They left the epidural in an extra 24 hours to give me a break as I'd had crippling pain during later pregnancy . All round so grateful to such caring medical staff.

[@katiemurphy3601]

I thought "I must not be far along yet, because even though I've been laboring all day my water has not broken. " ... Well, I was pushing and she was almost born in the caul. My other two babies both times my waters also broke while pushing, within 10 minutes of the baby being born. So broken waters definitely do not always signal the beginning of labor.

[@AllysonWonderlandd]

Correct!! That that’s awesome. You don’t need to break the water. Some babies have been born in the caul and it’s totally safe and ok. Not breaking the water is better for you if you’re not risking anything by keeping your water intact. There’s always risk of infection when you break the waters unnaturally.

[@katiemurphy3601]

@@AllysonWonderlandd So true! Especially breaking water before labor starts - like the video said. That was one intervention I didn't think I would ever need, yet with my first baby that is the only intervention I had. (Sharing just to showcase one reason it might be necessary) I was pushing & the caul was crowning and I was stuck there for what felt like forever. The midwife said she usually doesn't break it, but then my daughter's heart rate started showing signs of distress, so she broke it and baby was born minutes later.

[@decker8202]

Yes, exactly. My water broke at home and I didn't start labor until a couple of hours later.

[@JessMurgatroyd]

I don't even know when mine broke lol

[@freetobree5323]

Same for me. My water broke 2 minutes before birth with each of my babies. It’s like a water balloon bursting, very dramatic. If my water broke at home there would be no way to make it to the hospital

[@cameronward4644]

I wanted a natural birth but had to get an epidural because I was having such intense back labour! It’s ok if your birth doesn’t go as planned. It may seem scary now but in the moment, you’ll know what’s best for you :) I pray for a healthy and safe delivery for all the mamas out there☺️♥️

[@jesstolley7193]

my 2nd and 3rd were unmedicated... those labor pains are no joke! I have only empathy for anyone who needs pain relief through it. I can absolutely understand why others would not want to experience that!

[@urgentcaredr]

So many patients want a natural birth and then once they go through it they’re like oh never mind I want an epidural. It’s so stupid and then it’s so much work for everyone else. If patients were to decide that they needed an epidural at the beginning, it would be smoother for everyone else.

[@lacee7494]

@@urgentcaredr well except no one knows how bad it is going to get until it gets BAD so........and how is it "so much work"? I had 4 babies and they were ready and waiting to give the epidural when I needed it

[@rogenniedominguez8291]

@@urgentcaredrwhy do they have to decide as soon as they get to the hospital? Shouldn’t women get the epidural when they deem it’s time?

[@deec3561]

@scpcp It’s about the mother and child!!! You get paid to WORK for them. Stop complaining about your job or find a new profession

[@lauralewis1898]

I'm a first time mum and had been told labour would likely be 12-24 hours and that waters usually didn't break until established labour. Well, my waters broke at 5.00pm before I even noticed contractions. Went to the hospital at 9.30pm (my midwife having told me to come in but that she didn't expect I would be very dilated). Turns out I was at 10cm and my son was born at 10.15pm. I feel very lucky when I hear what some other mums have had to go through.

[@mindfulivingwithmaya]

Did you exercise through your pregnancy?

[@Vesperrv]

I think this is so important to normalize this information. I had no idea what giving birth was like, there is this odd stigma around it, similarly with menstruation. It's kinda weird.

[@e.asterbunnymund8148]

I had a planned c-section, I had best case scenario with minimal bleeding and my son was born with minimal issues. The recovery was extremely taxing and if I hadn’t had major abdominal surgeries before my c section it would have been a major shock of how difficult and scary it is to move right afterwards. My advice for c section mum’s to be, move as soon as you can it will get easier. It’s terrifying to move around and it hurts but moving around assisted as soon as you’re medically cleared will mean you can pick up and carry your baby around a lot sooner. Also if anyone tries to give you crap about having a c section, kindly remind them you had major abdominal surgery while awake and that’s freaking metal as hell

[@AandM8]

LOL if I have a c section I am NOT going to be awake. Put me the hell out 😭😭

[@sleepy_pandaa9472]

@@AandM8 lol same

[@goodiegoodygumdrops]

@@AandM8 They can! Don't let them tell you they "can't." It's bs. I was put out for my 1st but not my 2nd and I really wish I had been put out for that one as well

[@stephsaguudefan1753]

My mom knew a woman who had the shortest labor EVER with ALL of her kids. Her first baby was maybe an hour of labor. She had 3 or 4 kids, by the time she had her last baby, her water broke in the car as her husband was pulling into their driveway and she had JUST enough time to go inside and climb into bed. As she was laying down he caught the baby.

[@IchStrickeGerne]

I had a coworker whose third baby came so fast it was shocking. I messaged her at noon one day asking how she was and she said that there were no signs of labor. I kid you not, 3 hours later I got a text from her with the photo of her baby girl.

[@isabellaavila623]

I was petrified of child birth and when I got pregnant I couldn't sleep or eat properly because of how afarid I was of a vaginal birth. My therapist suggested a C-section and after some research and speaking to my doctors I decided to go with the C-section. I only had to endure 8 hours of labor and the surgery went amazingly well, I was extremely happy with my choice. What feels right to you is the right choice ❤

[@Boddah1991]

Thank you for this comment! I am a psychiatrist and I have seen many patients suffer from the severe fear of birth and in my experience, it is often not taken seriously enough by ob/gyns. A psychiatric indication is a medical indication as well! I hope that everything went smooth for you and you didn't have to argue with the ob/gyn team too much (in my experience, a lot of women unfortunately have to do so). Of course a C-section is a higher risk and you get surgery where there is no somatic need, but we need to take the psychological stress seriously and sometimes, a C-section is still the better choice. Still, the decision is never easy - can you make any recommendations on what helped you with the decision process? Thank you so much for sharing - I am so happy for you, and it's so great that you went with this decision and feel good with it!

[@isabellaavila623]

@@Boddah1991 What a lovely reply, Thank you taking the time to write this 💕 It'd be a pleasure to share that with you. After watching and reading as much online as I could about C-sections and asking my doctors questions ( I was in a maternity program at my local hospital) I decided that pros out weighted the cons for me. Indeed it was a higher risk of infection but I have a surprisingly good immune system so I wasn't that worried about infection. I also have an amazing support system to help me after the surgery and they supported my decision which really made me feel comfortable. The biggest reason was I didn't have to be afraid of a traumatic vaginal birth (I almost lost a dear friend because her birth was so difficult) I was able to enjoy the rest of my pregnancy. Both my sleeping and eating got better and the day wasn't full of worry and fear, I was excited to have a baby instead of fearful. My doctors did try to convince me to have a vaginal birth as I was experiencing contractions in the hospital but I told them that wasn't what I wanted and they proceeded with the surgery. It was a very positive experience for me and I feel so grateful that everything worked out so well.

[@harringt100]

Why did you do the 8 hours of labor if you were just going to have a C-section anyway?

[@isabellaavila623]

@@harringt100 Well the first 4 hours were spent in my bed telling myself it wasn't contractions because he was 2 weeks early and the next 4 were in the hospital waiting for the surgery room to be available 👍

[@jesstolley7193]

Yes, we cannot dismiss the mental and emotional health of the mother.

[@missusmelvin]

Thank you to all high-risk OB-GYNs! I'm a type 1 diabetic, and my high-risk care was outstanding for both of my births.

[@meganroberts8721]

I think these two should film a prenatal film for preparing for the birth, I find the way they explain things and visual aid they use better than the material the standard hospitals present now a days

[@wb624]

I would like a video of these two discussing postpartum hemorrhages and the risks of it happening. A lot of people don't know that its still one of the top reasons for maternal mortality in developed countries as well as it will effect 3% of pregnancies. I survived a delayed hemorrhage and I still would like more information about them and want to spread awareness that they do happen and they are a life or death serious complication.

[@grayowl167]

@Rachel Rogers and then there's the risk of not being listened to :( I hate how most of the medical industry fails to prioritize women's health. It really does reduce these beautiful, life-giving mothers to nothing less than an incubator.

[@samyloaiza98]

My aunt almost bled out because of it. She had to get stitched a lot too and sex has never been the same after. She told me to get a c section if I ever have children, and yeah seems like the only reasonable way to go. She was healthy through the pregnancy and doctors could not have prevented what happened during the birth. She had to get 6 units of blood back, and she's B-, so every person in her family had to donate. It's was hella horrible for all of us.

[@Perpetuallychloe]

My birth with my first was long and crazy 38 hours but my second was a breeze at only 8 hours and less than 5 minutes of pushing!

[@mailboxxy]

Damn.. blessed delivery! Any hours that are shorter than 9 hours are better than longer than 11 hours of labor lol.

[@QJJ245]

I wish they would talk about the realities of dealing with OBs when you are in labor. I called 5 different numbers and no one answered the phone. Eventually just went to the ER and no one really wanted to talk to me about my options or my birthplan. They just told me what they were gonna do despite my protests. Obviously experiences vary but all the OBs I talked to this time confirmed that its random who you are gonna get when you are in labor. I wish all the doctors were like these two. Sadly my experience so far has been extremely poor bedside manner and manhandling despite me trying very hard to advocate for myself. My first birth experience left me not trusting OBs and labor and delivery people. Now that I'm on kid #2 I have alot of anxiety about giving birth at a hospital again. Sadly since I'm high risk I have to do it again. Hopefully a different center will be better. But I seriously doubt it.

[@streetchurchdc164]

A different center might just be the change you need! I'm actually astonished you received that kind of treatment. Prayers for your little one and your labor

[@Krmcgchy]

Same I told them what I wanted they basically went " aww that's cute. Yea, we're not doing any of that. We're gonna do it the way we wanna do it". Felt like I was on an assembly line. I'm also pregnant with a potential #2 and I'm freaking out so bad. The hospital is an hour away so as much as I want to do a home birth or something so I can have some control Im worried that it might be too risky in the unlikely event something happens. I'm absolutely petrified.

[@NoctLightCloud]

go to a private clinic. Don't expect any special treatment in any public facility, be it medical, educational, or juridical.

[@konichiwaUT]

Have you considered a doula? I know they can be expensive, but many doulas who are training and don’t have as much experience offer services for much, much cheaper or even free if they need more births to get their certification. They do not replace any medical professional on your birth team, but they provide emotional and physical support during the labor (many also visit with you before and after the birth), help you understand all your options, and advocate for you and your choices. It is a lot to try to advocate for yourself while you are in the middle of labor, so having someone else in your corner who can worry about that can make a big difference. Good luck with everything, I hope your experience with new providers goes better ♡

[@floracrestanello]

I had the same ob that I chose the entire time , from first month of pregnancy to the end

[@gkalenaki]

The advice to listen or read about other pregnancy and birthing experiences but not take any word in about your case is very much true! I am the first and only baby that got to be fully grown and being born out of my mother's three pregnancies. She experienced everything for the first time with me. I got in position during late morning hours upon the day I was born (at around 10:35 am) and my mom felt that and had a little blood on her underwear ( her MIL and SIL had visited her and she got really embarrassed by this fact, until her MIL told her to not worry and her body was preparing for labour). A couple hours after that she was in the hospital after having spoken with her obygyn on the phone and, because her cervix wasn't dilated enough, they had her walk for almost two hours around the neighborhood the hospital was. It was a hot summer midday by that time and she even had an ice cream in order to cool herself down. Around 1:30 pm she got back in the hospital and after they measured her at 8cm dilation, her water broke and she started having some really heavy contractions. I was out of her body at 2:45 pm, so she had a really quick birth! She had two more pregnancies after me, but unfortunately both were automatically terminated around the third month 😢

[@shanacharlie9940]

As someone who has lived with a cerebrospinal fluid leak headache for 2 years now, I would just like to say that it’s not just a headache… it is literally a life-altering, debilitating condition that leaves you unable to be anything but horizontal without excruciating pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and tinnitus. I know these doctors don’t mean to minimize it, AND we should also normalize things that people go through postpartum that are disregarded because everyone only focuses on the baby.

[@mizfeng1442]

Is that a result of an epidural? I’m sorry you’re suffering with that, doctors don’t listen

[@hollyjollyxmas]

Thank you 🙏

[@honeybunch0128]

I noticed that the focus is only on the baby too. And I don’t feel bad for recognizing that maternal and fetal health should go hand in hand and I even think the mom’s health should be more greatly regarded b cause that will increase the chances of healthy offspring

[@streetchurchdc164]

Wow, I'm really sorry to hear that. I've heard of other complications too. When I had mine done with my first, they went down a whole list of possible outcomes that I barely listened to. Basically I was like "Yes yes, ok I could die, great, give it to me!!" The first attempt at the epi didn't take and they had to redo it. That one did the job, and I haven't observed any lingering effects. But I've heard directly from other moms how recovery was more difficult, or even worse, debilitating effects like you're still experiencing. May the Lord heal you in His mercy 🙏🙏

[@JanelleReneArts]

I had this as well, it was awful! But fortunately mine healed on it's own after a couple weeks. I was told that the doctors could do a spinal cord patch if it didn't resolve on it's own. Would this be an option for you? I would hate for you to endure this pain any longer if there is a possibility of fixing it! Just making sure.

[@beverleyhirst9380]

My second Labour was recorded as 2.40 hours, at 37 weeks and 2 days. I've had 4 children all born between 37-38 weeks no complications, all adults now. A Dr once said when I asked why, - that's just how you cook 'em - I appreciated his sense of humor. All my labours were relatively fast, but intense.

[@geetikaharmukh6434]

This was really helpful it had most of the questions i had in mind. Feeling great after knowing I'd still have time to get to the hospital after water breaks no need to panic 😊

[@viictoriia0]

Kind of. Don't take your time, make sure you have your hospital bag packed 1 month before your due date. My water broke and I gave birth the same hour (that's fast FYI)

[@flBambi]

Also this depends: my best friend, first child, water broke and she had her baby in 30 minutes. I will tell you not to panic but to go

[@roniahurquhart3689]

@@viictoriia0 I gave birth seconds after my water broke but I was having contractions and was about to get epidural but they told I had fully dilated and I decided to push and was literally like a minute doctor wasn’t even in the room

[@erinangel9452]

Other side.. my water had to be broken after almost 30hrs of contractions and then she still didn't come out for 8hrs after that.

[@pluto587]

I think the takeaway on the whole water breaking is that it’s not an indicator for when you will actually give birth. It could be 20m or 20hours. Every person is different.

[@ThatOneGeekyFamilytoo]

Myth: Push like you are having a bowel movement. Truth: NO!!! Unless you want hemroid city!!! We already struggle with that enough! A male OB must have come up with that one... Pushing is more like a reverse Kegel. So be sure you are strengthening your pelvic floor. Instead of clinching, you are relaxing and pushing your energy to those muscles. Reverse your Kegel and listen to the nurses. They will help you prevent tearing by their instructions and sometimes that means not pushing with all your might. My push times have been 1)15 min, 2) 8 min, and 3) 4 min. But that is if Baby's head and your pelvis is a good fit.

[@hannahbaker2856]

The "myth" would actually be true/helpful if more people breathed to relax their perineum while having a bowel movement . . . as a PT, I am forever telling patients to not hold their breath while pooping or otherwise bearing down.

[@ThatOneGeekyFamilytoo]

@@hannahbaker2856 I don’t know. I think part of it is thinking about your anus instead of your cervix area. They are really two different areas. I know I’m a epidural girl, but the visualization really helps.

[@hannahbaker2856]

@@ThatOneGeekyFamilytoo Good point. I know different people visualize things differently - if mentally separating the parts of the pelvic floor is helpful, then go for it! It takes a lot of practice for most of my patients (and me postpartum) to isolate the more anterior muscles focused on during Kegels and not co-contract the glutes which would be felt more in the anus area.

[@ThatOneGeekyFamilytoo]

@@hannahbaker2856 Maybe with all my physical therapy over the years, I figured it out. 😀 At least I got something out of it!

[@hannahbaker2856]

@@ThatOneGeekyFamilytoo Proprioception is one of my favorite benefits of PT! So glad for you 🥰

[@reannonking5514]

I started going into labour on a Tuesday and gave birth on the Thursday. Contractions started Tuesday afternoon, got stronger throughout the night, lost my mucus plug the next morning, contractions got stronger and closer together throughout the day. Went the hospital to get checked out. They confirmed I was in labour but water hadn’t broken yet so they sent me home so I could try and get some rest and to come back in a few hours. (It was also a super busy day for babies and there were no rooms or nurses for me yet!) On the drive back home my water broke but since we were about 2 minutes from home we just went home. After about 4 hours my contractions were 5-6 minutes apart and getting real painful. So it was time to go back! I didn’t give birth until the following day in the afternoon. About 48 hours from start to finish.

[@AllysonWonderlandd]

My first labor/birth was 3 hours from the start of my first contraction to my daughter being born. It was wild. I think what I did to prepare for labor definitely helped me along with genetics. Dates, walks, drinking red raspberry tea everyday starting at 30 weeks, doing perineum stretches and using primrose oil everyday at 36 weeks. It all went really well!

[@marcelaleyva6700]

WOW that sounds magical

[@AllysonWonderlandd]

@@marcelaleyva6700 I was very lucky I didn’t have to endure a longer labor. It crazy how different every labor experience is from one woman to the next.

[@crittyrae]

did you use an epidural?

[@Bettybarnes42]

How did you use the primrose oil?

[@AllysonWonderlandd]

@@Bettybarnes42 you insert it as far inside of you as possible so it can touch the cervix and soften it. It’ll melt inside and ripen your cervix. Just one pill every night and you’ll wear a pantyhose liner so if it leaks it stays contained.

[@natalieitliongfechter6073]

I was terrified to give birth but ended up ok. I had epidural and most of my nurses were so supportive, kind as well as OB team.

[@tessat338]

When my mom worked as a nurse in labor and delivery in the 1960s, they would tell a woman who was full-term but who hadn't yet gone into labor to go home, make a big pot of spaghetti, and eat it, then to clean the house and scrub all the floors. They said that this would either induce labor or just keep her busy and tire her out enough to get some rest.

[@AkiTheDenglishQueen]

When I was pregnant I wanted to go for a squat like position for birth so gravity could help me. When I was actually in labor they forced me onto my back due to complications, which made it much worse, both me and my son almost died because he was stuck. In the end, we both made it, but I'm still so mad

[@lacee7494]

complications??? maybe they had to do it that way??

[@jesstolley7193]

Thank you SO much for addressing "laboring on your back". I get so damn miffed at media for depicting birth that way. My 1st was a c-section (water broke, no reason for it lol, 5 weeks early), the next 2 were not. I could barely sit during labor let alone lay on my back while trying to handle what felt like period cramps on steroids. Just having to lay there for 30min while they used a bellyband monitor to get a basis for my son's heartrate (cuz he was my 1st vbac) was hell. I HAD to move around to handle it. I actually ended up kneeling while leaning against something both times. Hard on my knees but it's what felt best lol. With my 2nd, water broke during labor during one big contraction, and with my 3rd child, my water didn't even break until she came out! She was ALMOST born completely still in the amniotic sac! But yeah. Definitely 3 different experiences lol

[@TheBeetress]

Call the midwife is great for depicting women labouring and delivering in positions other than on their back

[@streetchurchdc164]

Just guessing, it's probably just easier to see the actresses face during the scenes. But I always laugh when they depict labor as moving so quickly! I don't worry about it though, for the initiated we learn pretty quickly that it doesn't reflect reality (like a lot else about movies)

[@finnic7959]

I think i was in high school reading an ancient Egypt textbook when I came across how they gave birth in a squat or kneel position and it changed my whole world because for the longest time i saw those shows and had a brain cramp with the visual because it didn't seem physically comfortable. Anyway looking at that book it clicked well in my brain going "yeah, this squat kneel position makes more sense. If it helps with pooping why not a baby." 😂

[@jeniferjohnson374]

“Great for taking away the discomfort”-girrrrrl-it’s straight up dire pain😖

[@fabyjimenez196]

I may not even be a full fledged adult yet, but I'm still educating myself about pregnancy and childbirth to know a bit about it in advance and I have to say, I did NOT now how hard labor was and that a C-section isn't an easy way out! I always thought I'd be less painful and more safe than naturally giving birth, mostly since my birth and my brother's was C-section. I'm sad this isn't taught in schools and stuff.

[@SuperGirlCK97]

I am going to be delivering my first baby at Cornell/NYP Lower Manhattan in February, so it feels reassuring to see doctors from that hospital system promoting low intervention labor. Thank you!

[@katr5432]

How did it go?

[@natasharail6219]

Started contracting at 2am with my first baby, at the hospital by 6am, delivered naturally (no epidural) by 9:35am, home with baby by 12:30pm same day. It was very fast and very intense. My midwife was not expecting my delivery to go so fast because it was my first

[@ahhwe-any7434]

This is bringing back memories. Mine was "fast" 🙄 too... But early night, prob early early morning time frame. I forgot about that time frame part. But for me, I think that was the funnest part about having a baby. Not that I didn't feel like hell going through it. But I think I spent about 3 days, 2 nights there being completely pampered. I just stay lazy & push buttons while everyone's at my call. They were like you can't sleep w/ the baby tho. Me: sleeping with the baby. Waking up like oh yeah, wow. Still can't believe I'm a mom. She's so wiwhoa & peaceful 😍

[@catherinedurbin9298]

I LOVE showering during labor. It makes contractions much easier. My second child I was in the shower for what felt like hours. Would get out to get checked and jumped back in. It was much easier than my first.

[@MaroonRose3216]

Maybe you would like water births in the future

[@Ahmed-ii7up]

Women, you have my respect.

[@RainbowFlowerCrow]

And you have our love 💜

[@TheActualRed]

Ive spent longer reading through the comments, all the wonderful mothers sharing their birth stories, than watching the video. Thank you to all who shared.

[@Lillemor16]

My water broke at 36 weeks but I didn't had any contractions. The doctors were determined to keep my baby inside until I was 37 weeks. Eventually my baby girl was born at 36 weeks and 6 days, so I walked around 6 days with my water already broken

[@iqrakhalidzakariah4842]

Vaginal birth?

[@esmeeadriaansz1567]

Wow congratulations on your babygirl. I didnt know a baby could survive a week without waters/fluid. I had a friend who needed to have a emergency plannend labor after her waters broke cause of the risks.

[@Lillemor16]

@@esmeeadriaansz1567 Your body makes new fluid so the baby is never 'out'. So all 6 days I kept losing fluid (so yes I had to wear diapers 😂). It's like peeing your pants the whole time. The risk are getting a infection.

[@dawnhapgood2907]

I spent most of my labour on my side. The midwive told me off for this and wanted me to sit up but it was too painful for me. I stayed on my side right up until pushing and im glad i did because I saved the energy to push.

[@llkapriziukell]

First child 4 hours labor. Water broke 3am, contractions 3:30am, baby was here 7am. Second child 2 hour labor. 6:30am water broke, 7:05 contractions, 8:28 baby was here. Just want to let you know that this also can happen, cause I was ready for 12 hour labor & didn't want to go to hospital too soon. Glad my husband convinced me to go.

[@TK-yc1ij]

Same

[@ShootingStars728]

I was in labor for 26 hrs & push for 5 hrs my first pregnancy. When into the hospital at 3 in the morning of Friday & had him on Saturday morning.🙏🏼💙🥰 Best gift ever 🙌🏼🙏🏼💙 8lb 8oz 21 inches 1/4

[@meghanboudreau9096]

I’ll never forget about 28 hours into my labor my Dr complained I was taking too long and tried to convince me to get a C-section before the next shift started. Not saying there’s anything wrong with a c section but I was so mad that the dr tried to convince me to do it based on her being inconvenienced I was taking too long. She left and ended her shift before I gave birth , naturally after 43 hours. I’ll never forget how upset she made me.

[@LuciTerra666]

I'm a massage therapist and they teach in school that you can't massage a certain spot in the heel/ankle area because it could start labor or have a negative effect. I never took it seriously and couldn't find anything supporting this claim. Any insight?

[@courtneylewis2415]

If you can't find any scientific evidence for that then I wouldn't trust it!

[@kmonti1]

I gave myself foot rubs all the time during my whole pregnancy and nothing happened. Even at 39 weeks when I was desperate to have the baby I massaged those specific pressure points constantly and it didn't do anything other than help my foot pain/swelling

[@DaveTheMagicalChiken]

It may have to with an increased risk of blood clots in pregnancy/ post partum, and the fact that most blood clots form in the lower legs. For post partum assessment, nurses are taught NOT to do a dorsifexion test for DVTs anymore because it can dislodge a clot. And massage is very likely to dislodge a clot, so that's the only thing I can think of.

[@DaveTheMagicalChiken]

But depending on where that spot is and stuff it may have nothing to do with this.

[@chelseymuller1922]

My mom is a reflexologist so she knows all the pressure points in hands and feet. There is actually a spot on your ankle that can produce contractions but not necessarily put you into labour. I know this from personal experience, pressing the spots did give me a contraction like pain but idk if it could really kick start labour.

[@dianadaschel8646]

Great info here. I’m an L&D nurse and I always feel so bad for women who just want so badly to be admitted in labor instead of doing the early hours at home in comfort. Once you’re in the hospital your options are limited.

[@liz21304]

How are your options limited?

[@xabsxntlovex2]

​@@liz21304probably the way you can move and such. A lot of hospitals still force you to labor on your back. Also they may not let you eat during labor so it's better to be home where you can move how you feel and eat when you feel like it

[@kristinatroxell9561]

My water broke at 35 weeks, it felt and sounded like a balloon popping. Followed by large gushes with every contraction I assume. I never felt the stereotypical contractions. They only felt like menstrual cramps on steriods, until it felt like my back was breaking in two 🙃

[@jesstolley7193]

Mine broke at 35 week with my 1st, too! Didn't feel a pop though, just woke up around 4am to a leaking sensation and immediately knew it wasn't pee. Never went into proper labor with that one... lol

[@cc_celeste]

The last sentence is hilarious I can totally relate lol😂

[@kinakonako360]

Mine popped during contraction. I heard bop! Sound and felt something in my tummy. Then my bed was wet. That moment contraction become ten times more painful. Lol Now I am pregnant with twins. Haha

[@joyt458]

It would be interesting to have an OB and a midwife both answer the questions and give feedback. Totally different approaches. I labored with my first 7 hours and second in 3 hours. I had about 20 mins after water breaking before baby arrived both times. Important to talk about precipitous labor too. I wasn’t prepared for how fast it was.

[@sonianoreau9772]

I am so proud of my medical team for teaching me all this during appointment. Nurses and doctors are the best!

[@dorissaclaire]

I got to cut my brothers cord (I was 7!) it was a very special experience. I was well prepared for what it would be like, but it was still really intense to see my mother in labor! It was a very quick labor and a special experience for our family.

[@samanthal133]

I am 28 weeks with our first & I REALLY love our OBGYN. But phew I wish these two Drs had a show together!!!!

[@abigailloar956]

My labor was 32 hrs. My water broke the minute I entered the hospital but with my son being sunny side up I just would not progress. Finally did a cesarean because I was too exhausted and they were worried about infecting. That kid just would not come out. My surgeon was wonderful and very sweet but I really wish I hadn't had one. The healing was excruciating. Even after the six week phase it was hard to sit up and slouching to breast feed was agony. Not everyone has that experience but I'm hoping my next one is a little smoother

[@mailboxxy]

Damn... Mine was only 13 hours..

[@anabelapires5505]

My daughter was sunny side as well, it was an hard labour end up with episiotomy

[@hawkfeather6802]

My mom had problems and pain after her C section for me for almost 20 years. Her muscles just didn't grow back together.

[@patsyk.1563]

I am glad to hear other people using the term sunny side up. I taught Prepared Childbirth from the aim of classes was to 'not have any meds' (according to my certification- I never agreed with that) to the process of labor, normal variations, what is going on and what it means. In talking about pushing, I used that term for the variation of a posterior position. And -having worked with mothers for years, your next should be smoother. You won't be exhausted and you will be more comfortable, for lack of a better word, with the pain since you will have it without the exhaustion. Just the normal new-mom lack of sleep.

[@abigailloar956]

@@patsyk.1563 I can definitely live that. Thank you for your response. It was traumatic, I wish I had done things differently and I will implement with the next. It is really hard to understand what you are in for when you've never gone through it.

[@andywest7934]

I woke up at 4:30 am and felt the baby kick then a big pop and a gush. We had about a 35ish min drive to the hospital. Got to the hospital fully dilated and 4 pushes later my baby was born. Also he was my first baby.

[@nicoleperron3315]

I was doing groceries at 930 pm. Had a cramp saw a bit of blood called the hospital and was told to come in the next day. Take a bath and go to bed. Got to the hospital at 10 pm water broke at 10:10, half on the bed, pushed 3 times son was born 10:32. He was my first and only baby😂 Doctor said there's one percent of people that skip the first two stages of labour. This was during a nurses strike, so glad I didn't listen and got to the hospital.

[@paulablancopalencia3525]

First time mom here!! It was crazy when my water broke ( I was getting induced and moving all the time) my baby was born after an hour🥰

[@CoincidenceandChaos]

I am so ready for this. This is the only thing I ever wanted or ever truly cared about. I’m also all for women being open, learning more, & advocating for themselves.

[@klaudiadunk7483]

I didn't want a c-section, but my baby stopped moving at 34 weeks while I was at the maternity ward to monitor my problematic blood pressure. He came out the size of a 30wk baby, with a true knot in his umbilical, and it wrapped 3 times around his neck. He then had to be airlifted to a NICU, because our hospital only has a level 3 maternity centre, and the nearest level 1 hospitals are about 600km away. The OBs were great, but the midwives were absolutely bloody brilliant.

[@deltamp787]

When my wife and I had our first baby. Her water was broken for 36 hours or more before she could even start pushing she was pushing for about 3 to 4 hours before the Doctor decided that a C-section was needed. And all of our children were born by C-section. I stand 6' 1" and she is only 4' 11". Our 1st weighed 8 lb 1 oz our second weight 6 lb 8 oz our third weight 6 lb 6 oz and our last he was our little guy at 5 lb 11 oz and nearly 8 weeks early. All of our boys spent time in the NICU from 4 days with our first born son, 3.5 weeks with our second and 5 with our youngest and he came home with oxygen, breathing monitor, and an O2 saturation. But my little girl my daughter came home almost immediately came home and actually immediately came home with Mom

[@Elizabeth-yv6bn]

Another myth: If you have a natural birth, afterwards, you can get up and walk around just fine and you have no pain afterwards and no problems! This is what I was told by many people when they found out I had elective c-section x3, I was in pain for a day or so, but was managed with pain killers and by day 5, I was fine to walk around and just use tylenol. I know some people have births with no issues, but many people can't walk around, need wheelchair, have tearing and so forth, it differs from person to person.

[@wendymtzc]

Most women who birth naturally can move right away, of course there are exceptions but that is not a myth. Many are just exhausted from the labor, a natural birth is usually very painful and exhausting.

[@LifeOfCandice]

I had a c section. They had me up within hours afterwards. I was able to do it. My issue was that after about 10-15 minutes I would get hot and dizzy. It took a couple days to get past that. Then after that I could move I was just sore.

[@edefyinggravity]

I've had 2 c-sections and 5 vaginal births. 3/5 of my vaginal births, I was up and going within a few hours. One of the others, I had an epidural, so I took a little longer to get moving around. That other birth though. Whew child. That was a solid month of recovery, and I didn't even tear. I can't even imagine how recovery would have been with a tear/episiotomy. 😬 It was still easier than my c-sections (first one almost sent me 6 ft under, and the other was just a REALLY hard recovery), but not unicorns and rainbows like people sometimes make it out to be. My sister had 3 c-sections, and had super easy recoveries. I was jealous. 😂 Every birth is SO different.

[@rogenniedominguez8291]

I was able to move right away after my first. Never had a problem walking or peing or pooping (my tear was small and inside the vaginal wall- I never felt it). My legs were a little tired but that’s it. I was actually expecting to be bed ridden and was petrified to start walking when I realized I was perfectly fine lol.

[@myeramimclerie7869]

It's my first time seeing a placenta. I didn't know it was THAT HUGE! I'm 26 years old and still learn something new about basic reproductive biology since school sex ed is just... unfulfilling.

[@devinmilanwyatt3762]

I remember giving birth to my 4th baby, the nurse was prepping me for an epidural. I stopped her because that was against my birth plan they had on file. She literally said “oh we’ll see about that as you go along.” Little did she know that would be my 4th unmedicated birth, I was so excited to see her face after my baby was born :-) my drs have always been great about my choice though, but I’ve had a good amount of unsupportive nurses.

[@talesofavloggingmommy8479]

The headache they mention as a risk to an epidural is no joke. Its constant unless you lay flat on your back. I had to get two blood patches to treat it over the course of two weeks because the first one didnt take. It impacted my ability to breastfeed, care for myself, and care for my family post birth. It didnt go away on its own, so that second blood patch was such a blessing.

[@angiep.4362]

So WHY are Hospitals still having women deliver on their backs!? we still see so many…it’s frustrating

[@KateLate____]

I think it's an American thing. If a woman hasn't heard about it and has just seen delivery on the back in the movies, then she might not be open to new ideas whilst in labour.

[@blakedunaway7584]

Epidurals

[@kayleighweldon7855]

Well when men entered into medicine and used enslaved women to learn about women’s anatomy they decided what was best while creating the field of obstetrics and gynecology making a torture machine in the process many women were handcuffed to beds and forced to give birth on their backs.

[@s.c.2424]

​@blakedunaway7584 has zero to do with epidurals and a lot to do with old traditions that work in favor of an OB vs mama. 5 kids no epidurals and was extremely pressured even when told no.

[@golbatgirl]

I wish this video was out when I had my first child 9.5 years ago. I'm currently pregnant with child number 2 and the amount of information I would have needed for child number 1 in this video alone would have probably saved me a longer labor and possibly a c-section. I was rushed into the epidural and it made the progression to the second stage of labor really slow. I have to have a c-section with child number 2 but it's due to a whole different issue.

[@themrsteddybear1044]

I had 4 kiddos via c-section.....Im SO glad I did. All my babies were BIG!! 11 lbs was my biggest and smallest was 9 lbs 8 ozs. Big babes for my family a norm.

[@Mary-sh2bp]

My mom’s labor was actually 65 hours. The interns had to manually help my mom along by pushing on her stomach. I don’t know what this is called but my mom said she hit one of the intern’s arm because it hurt. Sorry mom 😅

[@neuronstellingstories5694]

76 hours here. The exhaustion, lack of sleep and food, left me with very few memories of my daughter’s birth. My midwife let me labour at home till 8 cm dilated. Had I gone to the hospital earlier I’m certain unwanted interventions (epidural, c-section) would have been made.

[@maryburger1232]

With the very premature twins ( born at 25 weeks 5 days) the first contractions started at 19.00 , first baby ( boy) born at 21.30 second baby ( girl) arrived at 21.40. With baby number 3 ( born at 32 weeks) the first contractions start at midnight, he was born at 1.40 in the morning 😂 With both births I was already in hospital.

[@shahraad]

I was in labour and didn’t know until I went for my routine checkup with my midwife. Apparently I was 5 cm. She broke my waters, immediately went to 8cm and felt the contractions for the first time. Over an hour later my baby was born. Was my third baby and first vaginal birth. I was lucky to have had an “easy” and quick labour ☺️

[@Yaritza_R]

My first labor was awful. I was induced and it took 27hrs with 4.5hr of pushing. He was in the wrong position and my doctor was in back to back c sections. My second was 7hrs and 20mins of pushing.

[@phylo242]

How on earth did you manage over an hour of pushing? My first took all of 3 contractions/ 8 minutes to push out because I was so fed up with being in labor. My second was much smaller and took 4 contractions but was much easier to get out.

[@Yaritza_R]

@@phylo242 baby was 8lbs 6oz and in the wrong position. Once the doctor came he did an episiotomy and he slid right out. Trust me I was fed up too but he was sort of stuck. I was absolutely awful. I had gestational diabetes for both my pregnancies so I had to be induced. With my second I was supposed to be induced the night I went into labor. He was 8lbs 12oz and he was out much quicker.

[@mailboxxy]

Good to know I'm having my second in a month and a 1/4

[@umbrelladay]

I pushed for almost 7 hours, too, after a very slow induced labor. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

[@culinaryjen]

My contractions with my first started at 7 minutes apart and ended at 7 minutes apart. My water never broke. After 14 hours of labor, I went to the hospital anyway. They rolled their eyes. Checked me, and I was 9.5 cm dilated. They broke my water at that point. 3.5 hours later, he was born. On his due date. He’s a very timely young man.

[@xmylittleworldx]

Wow nice. I was given eye rolls too when I was induced and ended up being 8cm dilated. Baby was born within 2 hours after that. They said "we can't tell you're in that much pain unless you are rolling around on the floor" so that's what I'm gonna do this time. Just drop and roll and maybe get taken seriously then lol

[@JourneyLi]

I used to work at Columbia Irving Medical Center as a research assistant! Loved it there; they are amazing people

[@tinadsouza2167]

This video has a totally different effect on you after childbirth. Watched it twice before and once now. Everything you said makes so much sense. I had a super fast delivery! Wanted a c section because of fear of birth but my baby came earlier and very fast that a c section would’ve been dangerous. Glad I trusted myself and my body. It was incredibly hard because I was so scared. The pushing part was much better than the contractions before.

[@aileencrane7700]

With my first baby my water broke but I didn’t go into labor. So I was induced and 46 hours later I had to have a c section. Definitely didn’t go as planned but I was safe and ended up with a healthy baby girl. Getting ready for round two with another baby girl in 8 weeks!

[@alyzeaaa]

I hope your pregnancy ended well!

[@aileencrane7700]

@@alyzeaaa it did, thanks! Went into labor at 38 weeks and had another c section right away. Everything went well and the hospital nurses and doctors were wonderful. 4 weeks postpartum now and feeling great!

[@sumayyahnash]

8:54 I was not breathing when I was born, everyone said I was a dead baby. Then a nurse grabbed me by my feet and hanged me in head down position in her hands. Then she slapped me hard 😅 on my back 3-4 times and I started braething and crying. My sibilings make fun of me saying that "Sumaiya was beaten up even when she was just born". 🤣🤣🤣 My destiny is to be beaten up. 🤣😂 No, just joking! Everyone respects me and love me. 😊

[@weaver2609]

Thank you for these two educated women for sharing what they know

[@thegreenbergfamily7804]

I had a breech baby at 37 weeks. Went in for scheduled c-section at 39-baby was head down! Listen to these doctors. NO ONE told me that could even be possible. Stay informed.

[@Vibrativeaxis]

Did you still have the c-section? Or did they let you labor?

[@thegreenbergfamily7804]

@@Vibrativeaxis they let me labor

[@TheCerealluvr]

They earned my trust as soon as they said laboring on one’s back is the worst.

[@aaine7412]

Thank you so much for encouraging me to go for normal delivery. My due is on 10/8/22

[@melindaswanson9670]

All I heard during pregnancy was that first births take ages so I naturally thought the same for me but No baby came quick and it was too late for any pain relief baby was coming. I wish I had heard more stories about first time births being quick to know that it could indeed happen that way, as it did for me.

[@lkhwjs2985]

After my water broke, my baby arrived 10 hours later. I went from 5-9cm in about 10 minutes, and pushed him out in 17 minutes. He was my first! It all went rather quickly. Everyone tells me subsequent deliveries will go even faster.

[@Titus-2-Mom]

Really, nobody's birth story is going to be the same. Thats why they say "it depends" a lot. There are general guidelines but labor and delivery is just different for all

[@madiantin]

14:25. When I was pregnant with my first my neighbour was pregnant at the same time. She had her baby around the same time as I had mine. Her labour: 45 minutes. My labour: 56 hours. SO not "a couple of hours" for either of us.

[@raeannaroylance5401]

Get on your bed and get in the position of your elbows and knees and sway your hips back and forth. This helped my breech babies turn at 36+ weeks and avoid C-section.

[@kritstweets]

The doctor with glasses is so funny and dramatic and the doctor without glasses is professional and sound knowledgeable....both are great

[@rosemariekury9186]

I think things are so much better than some 53 years ago when our daughter was born. My water broke and was sent to the hospital. I had what they called a slow labor and then was too exhausted to keep pushing. Also she was choking in my cervix, so had to have a c section. I remember most of the nurses were not sympathetic when I was in labor. Then after she was born they complained because she was crying and disturbing the other babies in the nursery( because I had a problem breastfeeding). I was so glad to go home! She was born in a small town hospital so maybe that’s why. Other I was scared, and there weren’t classes around then. Husband wasn’t allowed in the delivery room either. Later, I found that my mother also had a last minute c section with me!

[@TaraWilson1010]

I'm almost 53. 😊 It's so interesting to see how much things change with L&D between generations!! My kids are 32 and 25, and I'm fascinated by all of the scientific advancements from then until now. I'm sure it was much different 53 years ago. 💙💙

[@yellowiris123]

I had a c-section with my twins. I had trouble breastfeeding as well. I think my body just needed to heal me and couldn't figure out how to make enough milk. I would breastfeed one and bottle feed the other and the next time, I would switch and breastfeed the one that got bottlefed. I kept that up for 3 weeks before I couldn't do it any more. I would sit and pump for an hour and get 2 oz. That definitely won't feed 2 babies. I did the best I could and they grew up just fine. The important thing is that they were fed.

[@hatjodelka]

When my last baby was born I kept being told I wasn't in 'proper' labour because my waters hadn't broken. They sent my husband home because they said the baby definitely wasn't arriving any time soon and he should go and get some sleep. Just over an hour later my son was born in an unbroken amniotic sac. So, my waters were broken after giving birth! The midwife said it was the first time she'd ever seen it in over fifteen years of delivering babies in a busy London teaching hospital. She did know it happens occasionally but she doubted she'd ever see it again.

[@kayavibes]

My water never broke for any of my pregnancies. I was fortunate to have easy deliveries. My first, labor was for about 4 hours, second labor was about 5-6 hrs the last one I almost had him in the car. He was impatient then and at 9 remains impatient and always in a rush

[@MadeWithLove791]

Same. Two pregnancies and my water was broken right before I was being prepped to push. First labor 3-4 hours, second labor 1 1/2 hours, delivered in one push. I wouldn’t do it again though.

[@aangelinasinha17]

How does it come to people's minds to eat placenta?! HOW?

[@shaq9361]

cannibalism is in some of our ancestors dna. things don't change much over centuries. (iTs NoT cAnNibAlism) so what dna is the placenta made of? fish?

[@abgamma]

Most animals eat their placenta after giving birth. Humans are actually an exception to the rule, not the norm.

[@AllysonWonderlandd]

Yeah placenta, I would NOT eat. There are better things for you postpartum.

[@TKCH00]

Women and men will eat anything they're programmed this way

[@jehovahthickness9224]

There’s a video of people living in 3rd world countries doing this because they don’t have the nutritional resources we do. Not sure how beneficial it really is but it’s a practice in other countries for sure.

[@akemi86]

Im not even pregnant but found this super informative!

[@melanders556]

My first baby arrived after an hour and forty five minutes of labor. My second was two, I did not have pain, just intense pressure.

[@NotHPotter]

The fact that that practice dummy blinks is unnerving af.

[@shellybarnes5429]

I birthed two boys. Both pregnancies and births were really different. Something that I noticed about them both, was that I was most comfortable at home, and when I arrived at the hospital, the pain increased a ton all at once. My advice is, birth where you personally feel the most comfortable and safe, with the people you feel comfortable with. Don't let anyone pressure you into anything that you don't want. Other than considering risks of course. I also woke up to my water breaking in bed both times. That was interesting and really peaceful honestly.

[@grcarie]

I tried to do natural labor with both of my kids, but ended up with two emergency c-sections. This third baby is going to be a planned surgery. I am not going to put my baby through an induced, stressful labor that he may not survive.

[@a.m.b.7185]

While I greatly admire the esteemed perspective of these two brilliant providers, I do wish they had included a midwife on the panel, for a full well-rounded perspective.

[@nerdiisage6032]

I felt my water break, it was the weirdest thing I’ve ever experienced. Only 1 out of 3 of my kids water broke naturally. All 3 of my kids were less than 6 hours start to finish…well at least from the start of painful contraction to birth. My middle child I slept through my entire labor at home and woke up and realized I was in pain, showed up 9.5cm half an hour before my son was born 😂