I would love to hear your birth stories if you feel comfortable sharing! Please be mindful of who may be reading though and let's keep it supportive :)

So special to hear about such a personal moment. Very glad you are healed and all doing well now!

I MISS YOU, you were my gateway the current topics in the literary world and a break from reality. I always feel like I'm behind on what's happening in books since you left! I've always been super fussy about booktubers until you were the only one I still watched. Hope you and your family are well!

thank you for sharing, Lauren!

Hi Lauren. Thank you for sharing such an intimate experience. Glad everyone is alright. I do not have children, and mostly because I’m terrified of birth. I either hear horror stories or such flowery stories they feel unrealistic. De piste the challenges yours feels so... balanced and reassuring. Like hey, things did not go as planned, but you’ll be fine. 😊 thank you for uploading this!

Thank you for telling your story Lauren, this was really helpful! It could be any day for me at this stage, so it was comforting to hear your experience particular with a C-section as that's something I could potentially need so feeling better prepared now :) Glad the experience for the most part was generally positive, despite the issues

I have become obsessed with peoples birth stories since having Jude, you can bet I’ve made myself a cup of tea and am sitting down to watch this! Ceri :) x

Thanks so much for sharing this!

Thank you so much for sharing this, Lauren. Takes a lot to be so vulnerable on the internet and I'm so glad to you and everyone else who shares their birth story online - I binged A LOT of these videos before giving birth to my baby girl in July and it was very interesting and helpful. I also did a hypnobirthing course and I agree 100%, the breathing techniques helped massively with pain management during labour. My story is one that people would consider "traumatic", but thanks to the course and the fact I kept in control of the situaiton throught the whole ordeal (and it was a LONG one - went into labour on Sunday, the due date, and my baby wasn't born until Wednesday!). At 39+5 I had a midwife appointment and asked her to check my cervix and do a sweep - I could feel the bump had "dropped" and lots of pressure in my hips, turns out I was already 2cm dialated and within 24h my mucus plug and my bloody show came out. I was in such denial that my first night of contractions (Sunday 40+0), I was sure it was just cramps. That was the last night I managed to get some sleep for about a week. My waters broke the following morning as I was walking my dog, but I still proceeded to deny that I was in fact in labour and just concluded "I must have pissed myself" (lol). An hour or so later, still "leaking", I called the hospital and was told to go in. My partner was at work and I called his workplace from the bus I was on (again LOL!!!). Examination showed my waters had indeed gone and was given the usual "you have 24h before baby needs to come out" spiel. As soon as I got home contractions ramped up and I somehow managed to break a mirror we have in the bathroom. A huge shard of glass went into my thigh and I literally had to pick it out, disenfect the wound and sort of continue with the labour. That damn shard of glass must have been a filthy one because from then on everything went downhill in a way. My contractions sped up a lot, and by the time it was 3am on Tuesday (40+2, about 16h after my waters had gone), I was having contractions that lasted up to 4 minutes each. I laboured at home until I could no longer take it, then went into the hospital (the Uber driver is probably still scarred from the ride - he tried to blast Magic FM as I was breathing HEAVILY in the back). When I got checked it turns out I was still just 2cm dialated but I couldn't take the pain at all. I asked for an epidural but it took them another 5 hours before I could get one. Gas and air was truly wonderful though. By the time I was able to have an epidural (the man who administered it to me is my new hero), I'd gone up to 5cm but it was also now about 24h since my waters had broken. My heart rate started to be irregular and I felt very faint and spaced out. After another 4h I was still just 5cm dilated but I'd also developed a temperature and my heartrate was all over the place. I was examined and told if my heart rate didn't stabilise by the evening, I'd have to have a C Section. Was put on hormone drip to speed up things. A few hours later there was a doctor shift on the ward and the doctor was the very first one I had my appointment after I got pregnant - it was nice to see a familiar face! My heart rate at that point was 160bpm, I was feeling extremely hot and by then my partner was constantly using cold compresses on my body and head to keep me more comfortable. She warned me she thought I may have been developing the onset of sepsis and before we could do anything to me or baby, they had to bring my pulse down to a more manageable range. She took plenty of blood samples and started IV broad range antibiotics right away. After a few hours my heart rate went down to 120bpm and my hormone drip was switched to a different one since my labour had stalled at 6cm. I was given 4 hours before they'd take me to theatre if nothing happened on its own. With my heart working a bit less strenously and the new hormone drip, I immediately felt a change and after 4h I was at 9cm. I asked the midwife and doctor if I could try get to 10cm and push, and since my temperature was also going down, I was given another 2h. Within 30 minutes I could feel the urge to "push" even if I was still hooked to the epidural and once the midwife checked I was indeed ready to push. By then it was nearly 2am on Wednesday (40+3, 2nd day after water broke). I hadn't slept since Sunday so I was shattered to say the least. I would fall asleep in between pushes. After 1 hour of pushing the midwife said she had to tell the doctor the baby hadn't come out yet and said I'd "likely need to get an episiotomy or CS". My partner reports I simply looked at her in the eye and said "NO". He says after she'd said that she went to fetch the doctor and I pushed like there was no tomorrow. Apparently the doctor came in about 30 min later and said I was doing great and no need for intervention - I have no recollection of it all, I was "in the zone" haha. After 2 hours and 19 minutes of pushing, my baby daughter was in my arms. Delivered by a student midwife (her last delivery before getting the qualification!!!), with no tears or grazing and a total blood loss of just 150ml (which turned out to be cord blood which we donated to research). The hospital stay after that was more traumatic than the birth itself, but I'm so beyond grateful to the staff at KCH London. Hope this also helps others x

Hope you and your family are doing alright. We had our son in September 2021, so not too far after you had Edith. In the last month or so, his speech has taken off like crazy. Several new words every day, putting together multiword sentences. It's such a delight to see him actually be able to express his thoughts and wishes.

Thanks for sharing your birth story. It sounds like my own & most birth stories I hear of now. I think most expecting Moms & Dads are totally shocked when events like yours happen. Not sure if that's good or bad. Like you said at the end, we all get through it, but for most of us, it's very, very hard & nothing you have imagined. Unfortunately, once you go to a hospital, we have no control.

We had similar births by the sound of it. I was induced and did progress all the way to pushing with that joyous drip. I remember telling the midwives off as they kept turning it up and I was only on gas and air - 'don't turn that drip up!' In the end I had an emergency c section as I couldn't push her out after two hours of really going for it :D But it's funny to hear you talk about the shaking after birth because for me this was the worst part, I felt trapped in my own body and was also clamping my teeth together. Anaesthetist was stroking my head trying to get me to calm down, poor man. I also had infection markers so was on loads of drugs afterwards. But in general (and hypnobirthing helped) I still found the whole experience to be a positive one and can talk about it fondly even and I think hearing you have the same attitude will really help others about to go through labour for the first time.

I am due in April of my first baby, and this was so super insightful and honest. Obviously a bit scary as well, but more so very reassuring ❤ thanks Lauren

Thank you for sharing this story, I love hearing about people's birth stories because everyone's is so unique. I had my baby in August 2021 and also ended up being induced. We ended up having an episiotomy and vacuum delivery because baby's heart rate kept dropping during contractions (found out later she had her cord wrapped, but she was/is absolutely fine). Your story about peeing on the floor cracks me up because I had a toilet incident as well: after delivery I went for my first bathroom break and passed out on the toilet. I woke up to 5 nurses holding me upright and asking me if I knew where I was lol. Childbirth is crazy and nothing can prepare you but that's motherhood in a nutshell, I think.

Thank you for sharing! I'm due in April and a bit apprehensive as it's my first!

Thank you for sharing your story, Lauren! My birth experience has some similarities, I had to be induced just before 38 weeks as my little boy wasn't growing as he should. My body wasn't yet ready, so I was put on the oxytocin drip, also was hooked on a machine that was measuring his heart rate, so I couldn't exactly walk around. Gas and air didn't agree with me, so I had another drip for pain relief that took the edge off (I had to press a button and got some relief every 2 min, I'm in NZ). I didn't need to have a C section and both of us were good and healty. Just like you said, that's the most important thing in the end.

This brings back so many memories for me and my children's births. My first I needed to be induced because I had high blood pressure due to pregnancy. (this only happened with my first birth). They gave me Pitocin which kicked in right away and was painful as it caused labor right away. Plus they gave me "laughing gas" which made me and my baby sleepy. My second birth was much nicer as by the time I got into the hospital I was already 8 cm dilated and so it wasn't long before my second son was born. I remember walking around at home thinking I may be in labor but not 100% sure as I wasn't in that much pain and my previous pregnancy was an induced one so I couldn't relate the two. I remember calling my Mom and Dad to come and look after our oldest who was just 2 years old at the time and me deciding what to wear to the hospital and my Mom literally panicking that I would have the baby at home!!! But, after my son was born I felt really sick and it was because I had gotten the flu from my 2 year old. So nothing like giving birth and having the flu. LOL My third birth was for my daughter and again I wasn't 100% sure if I was in labour as I have a high tolerance for pain and was able to go about my night. I do remember walking up my husband at like 3:30 in the morning because my water had just broken. He panicked thinking I may have this baby at home and quickly called some friends to look after our two sons. We lived in another province then. We got to the hospital and the staff said we may not need to stay as I didn't seem to be in a lot of pain. Well, we stayed because I was almost 9 cm dilated. No medications for those two births as they were not offered at that time in the two hospitals. I do remember almost giving birth while on all fours as it felt so much better for my back. Our children are now 26, 24, and 19.

So good of you to share such a personal experience. Women are definitely the stronger sex!! I'm sure Will was traumatised seeing you go through it. Glad everything was ok in the end & you recovered well.

When I had surgery that was in the end unnecessary, in order to resolve the feelings, I found getting access to my notes really helped. Maybe you could request them? x

Thank-you for telling your story. I was a practicing midwife when I had my boys. I was so scared of labour after watching hundreds of women, that I chose elective caesareans. They were calm and private. I'm glad I chose that method of birthing. It was the right choice for me.

I had a long labour and a natural birth. It was extremely painful but I agree I felt like the after part with the no sleep, new baby, learning to breastfeed and just adjusting (again on no sleep and raging hormones) the really difficult part. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you for sharing your birth story. I’m due in April and I’m enjoying hearing about different positive experiences. What was the app called you used to track contractions?xxx

Hi , I hope you are good . we miss you

Thanks for sharing your experience Lauren, would like to have a child one day it’s always helpful to listen to what other women went through. Hope this is not too personal but do you think you’ll have a second? Friend of mine said despite all the pain she forgot about it months after and was ready to have a second. But then I hear other stories and some women just can’t bear to go through it again. Anyway, great video, thanks!

I expect they needed to check her vital signs Lauren, plus seeing to you. Shaking is shock. I understand your emotions though. Xx

I clicked on this so fast… I had a baby 2 months ago and I completely understand the unresolved issues. Luckily my husband recorded it and I watched that video a million times to understand what happened…

You are fantastic on telling stories indeed, it was like being there with you😉👍

This is such an interesting video to watch as someone who has chosen never to have children. I’m always curious what birth is like considering I will never experience it.

Everyone's birth stories will be different and the most important thing to remember is to have a healthy baby and a healthy mother.

Yep, everyone I know who's been induced has ended up having a C-Section. If I ever had a baby, I think I'd just go straight for the C-Section and not bother with the induction 😂