https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 21 May 2026 04:10:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery/page/2#post-914068 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 20:19:02 +0000 lovehoneybee 914068@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, I was on the ball/walking/doing prenatal yoga constantly from about 30 weeks on, did Kegels and drank RRL. My delivery wasn't awful, but I was in back labor for 32 hours, had two failed epidurals, pushed for 2 hours and had 2nd degree tears (plus an episiotomy). But looking back it doesn't seem bad at all. </p> <p>So I'm of the mind that certainly, prep all you can, but it will ultimately come down to you and the way your body reacts to labor (and how your LO is positioned, I think him being posterior made my L&amp;D harder). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery/page/2#post-914061 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 20:13:24 +0000 sslm 914061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pushed for an hour and had a deep 2nd degree tear but the recovery from that was a breeze. It wasn't nearly as scary as I thought. Also, I didn't have an epidural and definitely didn't actually feel myself tearing, which I was really scared about too. </p> <p>I drank RRL tea and sat on an exercise ball a lot from about 37 weeks, delivered at 41+5. Not sure if either of those things helped but my labor was short (albeit incredibly hard and painful), only 11 hours, so maybe some of that contributed? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery/page/2#post-914009 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 19:51:30 +0000 cmomma17 914009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: I had a relatively easy vaginal birth in my opinion. I was in labor for thirteen hours and had three tears, two lateral and a third degree tear all the way to my rectum that required tons of stitches. But it was a good experience, very low intervention (broke my water at 9 cm, catheter for my bladder because I couldn't pee, and a little pitocin at the end when my contractions slowed).</p> <p>I never did many kegels or any perineal massage. I did do tons of squatting, stretching, and tailor sitting. I stayed active til the very end (mostly tons of walking, including stairs). I ate as healthy as possible and drank tons of water. I read a lot about the birth process and different positions for labor. I hired a doula, and I had a supportive husband and an OB who knew and respected my wishes for labor (even when she didn't 100% agree with me). I had a positive attitude going in and trusted my body.</p> <p>I don't think a few more kegels would have prevented my tears. What was meant to happen happened. Exercise built my endurance up for labor and being so knowledgable about birth helped me push through to the very end even when it was painful and I was exhausted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery/page/2#post-913959 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 19:28:52 +0000 LazyLightning 913959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did most of the things people listed here but still had to push for 1.5 hours, after 21 hrs of labor, and a 3rd degree tear with a terrible recovery. I think it's luck of the draw. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery/page/2#post-913919 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 19:04:28 +0000 Tidybee 913919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pushed for a little less than an hour and had a minor internal tear that required 2 stitches. I did nothing to prepare. I had the strength to push pretty well because I was in labor for only about 10 hours before that and I could walk and talk through contractions until about 3 hours before I started pushing.<br /> ETA: My doc did perineal massage as she was crowning and coming out. She said that it helped prevent tearing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery/page/2#post-913910 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 18:59:36 +0000 mediagirl 913910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a relatively easy delivery. I bounced on an exercise ball the last month when I was uncomfortable (a lot). That's all I did. My labor was in my back, which blew but I just did what felt most comfortable while in labor. I sat on the toilet. :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery/page/2#post-913908 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 18:58:04 +0000 sorrycharlie 913908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: same! I was bearing down when they let me get the Epi and I labored down for another 20 m. She flew out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery/page/2#post-913907 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 18:57:16 +0000 sorrycharlie 913907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: i had an incredibly fast labor and delivery - but tore a lot because she FLEW out (on her own - just a small taste of her current personality lol). From water breaking to birth 4.5 hours, first contraction to birth a little under 4. I spent most of months 7-9 on a yoga ball for my back, and did the EPO orally and vaginally the last month or so. Who knows what really worked though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery/page/2#post-913900 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 18:54:40 +0000 lemondrop 913900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did RRL tea daily from 37 weeks on. I didn't work out, but I walked a lot every day and had a very active job. </p> <p>My water broke at 39 weeks, and I had the baby within 8 hours of that happening. I'm told that I pushed for a 3 hours (it didn't feel like that long), but I was not a good pusher and would have wanted to labor down for longer if we hadn't gotten some heart rate decelerations. </p> <p>All in all, I still consider it an easy labor, it was fast, I tore- but not too badly. I'd be happy to have a similar experience next time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery/page/2#post-913849 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 18:11:41 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 913849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Easy delivery here. 3 pushes, no tears. I swear by laboring down :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery/page/2#post-913842 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 18:07:44 +0000 Boheme 913842@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: He still won't let me live that down! Haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery/page/2#post-913837 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 18:06:04 +0000 Running Elley 913837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had an easy delivery (pushed for less than 20 minutes with very minimal tearing) and I didn't do much to prepare. I was pretty much on denial about actually giving birth throughout my whole pregnancy. I sat on an exercise ball quite a bit the week before I delivered and I drank some RRL tea. My nurse was amazing though, I honestly attribute the easiness to her. She didn't have me pushing until I was for sore ready and I did quite a bit of bearing down with a peanut thing between my legs before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery/page/2#post-913767 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 17:44:33 +0000 luckypenny 913767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it was just luck and the fact that I let dd crown for a few minutes to stretch everything so I didn't tear </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery/page/2#post-913724 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 17:25:06 +0000 Navy_Mommy 913724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't read any of the responses yet but I did pelvic tilt exercises regularly for my back, but it's supposed to help with labor, and I walked almost daily. I definitely think both of those helped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery/page/2#post-913717 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 17:22:42 +0000 Ree723 913717@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a super easy vaginal delivery but didn't really do anything to prepare other than my Kegels regularly. I did go through most of labour pre-epidural standing up and had spent a lot of time sitting on my exercise ball during the third trimester. I think a lot of it is luck and depends on way too many factors that are out of our control. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery/page/2#post-913651 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 16:57:33 +0000 ALittleP 913651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Overall, it wasn't easy but the actual delivery was pretty quick...my water broke at 31 weeks (followed by hospital bed rest) and went into active labor two weeks later. I woke up in labor at 5am and was ready to push by noon. Pushed for 30 minutes and had 1 degree tears. My daughter was tiny though at 3 pounds, 14 ounces, so she was probably easy because of being a preemie. I did have an epidural because labor went so fast, it was incredibly painful, and I didn't want to deal with it after being on bed rest for two weeks. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery/page/2#post-913628 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 16:45:51 +0000 duckduckkristen 913628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a pretty easy labor - I went from 4 to 10 cm in under an hour and pushed for less than 30 minutes. No meds, no tearing. I was already 3 cm at my last appt 3 days before i gave birth. I really think it was just luck. I did prenatal yoga once a week, walked a couple times a week, and sat on an exercise ball occasionally towards the end. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery/page/2#post-913594 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 16:24:46 +0000 Pepper 913594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a really easy and nice labor and delivery. I did absolutely nothing to prepare for it! I say really nice, though my epidural didn't take in my abdomen, so I felt my contractions. I put on music and powered through them, and although they were really painful, I was glad I could feel them when it came time to push, as it made me an effective pusher. My legs were numb, so I couldn't feel myself tear or anything, so that was a plus! My doctor did a perineal massage, which probably helped, as I only ended up with a first degree tear. I went from 3 cm to 10 cm in an hour with the lowest dose of pitocin possible (labor stalled out) and once I was at a 10, I pushed him out in 30 minutes. Easy enough! Recovery has been way harder than childbirth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery/page/2#post-913552 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 16:09:00 +0000 travellingbee 913552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did use RRL tea but that's it. I had an epidural, 8lb baby, 2nd degree tear, 35 min pushing, went from 4-10cm in 1 hr after having water broken. I think it was pretty smooth and my contractions were strong and effective, so I think the RRL tea helped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery#post-913551 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 16:08:44 +0000 Cherrybee 913551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: Not to mention the prisoner of war treatment!! I laughed so hard when I read that you'd said that to your DH!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery#post-913529 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 16:03:03 +0000 Boheme 913529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think a lot of it is luck. I took 12 weeks of Bradley classes, did their recommended circuit of squats, Kegels, and pelvic rocks every day, took EPO and RRL tea, worked out, and still had 32 hours of back labor, 3.5 hours of pushing, and second and third degree tears. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery#post-913505 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 15:50:11 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 913505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A friend of mine swears by the perineal massage. Her doctor did it for her during both of her labors. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery#post-913491 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 15:46:03 +0000 googly-eyes 913491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: I had a long labor but aside from LO being sunny side up (she has a small head though) the pushing and delivery was pretty easy (yay epi!) and no aside from Lamaze class I did nothing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery#post-913422 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 15:25:48 +0000 MrsStar 913422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't do anything to prepare - I was happy to go with the flow. I was induced so actual labor was horrible without an epidural, but lo was born with one (tiny) push - I joke that she birthed herself. I also didn't tear but had a slight labial graze (which they gave me 2 stitches for since I have a bleeding disorder). Throughout labor I was so scared about the pushing aspect (was expecting a few hours at least) and because I was getting so exhausted I was super worried but pushing ended up being the opposite of how I predicted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery#post-913421 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 15:25:18 +0000 Silva 913421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pushed for 40 mins and got 2 stitches for "superficial tearing"</p> <p>I sat on a yoga ball at work my whole pregnancy, walked almost every day, and did yoga once a week. </p> <p>Mostly I think it was my reward for a really long, difficult labor!</p> <p>But yeah, exercise is probably the most helpful. I was in good shape pre preg too </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery#post-913388 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 15:19:19 +0000 swurlygurl 913388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Minimal pushing (around an hour of light pushing) and a small tear - I did nothing to prepare. I wasn't fit in anyway, overweight actually. My mom had horrible deliveries and I'm pretty much her clone, so I would guess that a lot of it is luck </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery#post-913301 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 15:00:44 +0000 lamariniere 913301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it totally depends on the person and your body. I was very fit and swam until 3 weeks before birth and walked everywhere the last three weeks. I didn't do any of the prenatal things you mentioned though. I arrived at the hospital at 7cm without having felt a single contraction. Had an epidural and ended up pushing for about an hour. DS was just under 8lbs. Ended up with one very minor tear that needed 2 stitches. I don't know if all of that would be considered easy, and parts of it were very painful/uncomfortable, but I expected it to be much worse. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery#post-913289 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 14:58:22 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 913289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: i definitely don't think it hurts to give those things a try! i had easy deliveries with both. with the first one, i did prenatal yoga regularly, walked nightly, and ate a lot of protein (bradley classes recommend 90 grams of protein daily!). the only thing i did that you listed was i had my husband do perineal massages on me too, but i still got a 2nd degree tear. i think i was just pushing too hard though and it could've been prevented if i wasn't so desperate to get that baby out.</p> <p>with my 2nd pregnancy, i took RRL tea and evening primrose oil. the tea i started drinking at 28 weeks, and the evening primrose i took orally 2x/day starting at 38 weeks, and i didn't tear and had a very easy/smooth recovery. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery#post-913287 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 14:58:10 +0000 lawbee11 913287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBoecksMom: @pelikila: We have our childbirth prep class on Saturday so maybe I'll ask if it's standard...I don't know why but I feel so awkward asking that question! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-relatively-easy-vaginal-delivery#post-913243 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 14:48:00 +0000 yin 913243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pushed for almost 3 hours and didn't tear with my vaginal delivery. LO was small at only 5 lbs 13 oz. I didn't prepare in any way but very glad that I didn't tear. It helped a lot with recovery, and I was back up on my feet within a day or two. </p>